Chapter 5 - A Vision, Goldie

ELLIE

Back in New York, I have a career, a life that I had reluctantly taken a break from just because I'd intended to surprise my brother.

Dylan had managed to convince me, life was too short...she has no idea just how right she was.

Now, I was in Italy and Elijah...

I moved backward, going into the bathroom as the door to the bedroom closed behind both men.

My limbs were jelly, forehead covered in sweat as my mind struggled to keep up.

Normally, I was a person who could easily process and handle everything being thrown at me but this?

This was going to take some time.

I'd been kidnapped by self-righteous criminals who seemed to think they were doing me a favor by holding me against my will.

'Protection' they'd said.

But I knew better.

They were going to kill me.

I saw the look in Silas' eyes, he didn't trust me, he wasn't just curious, he was disgusted by my presence.

How is such a man supposed to protect me?

The bathroom was just as extravagant as the bedroom I'd woken up in, white and cream colored marble walls reflected the bright lights that hung above my head.

By the side was a wide shower stall that looked big enough to contain at least five people, it was hidden behind blurred and ridged glass doors, a toilet right in front of the stall and at the far end of the bathroom was a dark brown tub.

The color was exquisite, unlike anything I'd ever seen before. It had golden faucets and golden-rimmed edges that added to its splendor.

It looked expensive.

Just like everything else in this prison...the only cheap thing in here was me.

I walked over to the sink and splashed my face with water a few times, trying to regain at least a bit of my composure before I walked out. I had to get out of here, and I had to do it fast.

I didn't trust their words, they would say anything to keep me complacent, including trying to convince me that they're my only hope.

The second I'm out of here, I'll book a flight back to New York, go home and put all of this behind me.

At least...some of it.

Terrified blue eyes stared back at me from the mirror, none of my mental confidence reflecting in the glass. I was in a plain white dress I didn't remember putting on, my blonde hair a mess, looking more like a bird's nest. My lips quivered and my sight was slightly blurred.

Right. My glasses. I'd left them back at the hotel in a panic once I got the call.

I was still shaking.

I was scared as fuck.

After inhaling deeply a few times, I dried my face with a towel and then walked out of the bathroom.

I made my way straight to the door the two men had come in through, blood rushing to my ears the closer I got to it.

Whatever was behind that door was something I knew I had to be prepared for.

I went through the plan in my head, sneak out, head out and never return.

I reached for the door handle and pushed down.

It didn't budge.

I tried again, and again.

It was locked.

There was that familiar feeling of frustration again, bubbling up in my chest, stealing my breath and my reasoning away.

I kicked at the door with a frustrated yell, "You can't keep me in here!" I screamed.

No response.

"This is kidnapping!" Another kick, and when that didn't sate the feeling in my chest, I added a punch with my uninjured hand and then another kick.

Repeatedly, over and over until I was out of breath and my arms and feet began to ache even more.

I slumped to the ground, legs weak, head heavy.

They locked me in.

It was expected but...

My eyes scanned the room and landed on the windows and without wasting another second, I rose to my feet, padding over to the floor-to-ceiling window with gritted teeth.

Ignoring every ache in my body, I ripped open the curtains completely, maybe with more force than necessary.

I heard the delicate material rip but didn't care at the time. I had more pressing matters.

Outside the window was the bustling city of Milan. The sun shining down with a heat that I could feel against the thick glass.

There was no lock, at least not a visible one.

I was trapped in what seemed to be the highest room in the highest building.

I watched as tiny people moved beneath me, oblivious to my desperation.

I pressed against the warm window, my mind calculating, refusing to give up.

That was when I heard it.

A shuffle, the unmistakable sound of a person behind me.

I turned abruptly and found mismatched eyes staring back at me.

One green and one dead silver orb met mine, the sight of it knocking the breath out of me.

I choked as my body instinctively pressed against the glass.

When did he get here?

How did he get so close without making a sound?

Noir towered over me like a solid building raised to intimidate, the edges of his lips curled up slightly.

In this light, I could see just how jagged the scar on his face was, the dark, smoldering look in his eyes did nothing to dismiss the danger he emitted.

Yet.

"Noir..." I breathed out shakily, his name leaving my lips in something that sounded dangerously similar to relief.

He was familiar.

He saved me--but that also meant he was one of them.

The curl widened.

"You know my name," His head tilted to the side, "You really are a vision, Goldie."

His voice was deep, like velvet wrapped in forest sounds.

He wore a dark red shirt and gray joggers that hugged his strong-looking thighs.

Even in such a casual outfit, the man still looked like a killer.

Well...I did witness him killing a man, with a fucking axe.

"You look nothing like your brother."

His hand reached out, I intended to pull back but there was no room behind me, he touched my hair, a low breath seeping past his full lips as if he was enthralled by the sight of it.

"Noir you--"

"Shh..." He shushed, "If my friends have kept you in here, it's to protect you," he suddenly said, his tone taking a different sound.

His fingers remained on my hair as he met my eyes, "There are dangerous people out there, looking for you."

"Doesn't mean you guys get to lock me up in here like I'm some prisoner!" I snarled, the words leaving me before I could stop them.

Noir chuckled, the sound was a low rumble and it caught me off guard. Something twisted in my stomach...twisted isn't the right word to describe it.

"You don't seem to understand the situation, Goldie," He finally pulled back and crossed his arms over his large chest, "You are in fact our prisoner, until we decide otherwise."

My heart dropped.

"We owe Elijah this much, to keep you safe, whether you want it or not."

My eyes narrowed as I heard his words, there was a way his voice softened as he spoke of Elijah.

He must've cared about him a lot, could I use that to my advantage?

"Is this what my brother would've wanted?"

"Trust me, Goldie, he would have done worse."

I don't understand his words but something in me told me not to probe.

Warned me that I wouldn't like what would leave his lips next if I asked about Elijah.

My brother who I thought I knew.

"If you're not here to release me," I struggled to steady my voice, "Then why are you here?"

The look in his eyes changed and he took another step back. That was when I noticed the small bag on the bed that wasn't there before.

"They thought I should be the one to tell you," He shrugged yet, there was a certain heaviness in that simple movement that didn't go unnoticed.

My stomach sank for some reason.

Dread permeating my very core.

"We're burying Elijah tonight."

I blinked in shock, "What?"

"Get ready," He gestured at the small pink bag, "We leave in twenty minutes."