4| New Home.

ALMA

I opened my eyes, only to shut them again due to the blinding lights that hit them. I tried to open them again, this time slowly, until my eyes adjusted to the light in the room. My head ached so much it felt like it was going to explode.

Looking around, I realized this wasn’t my room. Where was I?

As I tried to stand up, I realized there was a cannula attached to my hand. As I ripped it off, memories of what had happened came rushing back, and my chest tightened. My insides twisted, chills traveling through my body.

I was still at Lazzaro Visconti’s manor, and my sister was still dead. Tears poured out of my eyes as the memories of how I had watched my sister die in cold blood replayed in my head over and over again.

“Zita...” My voice was barely audible as I clutched my chest, the pain slicing through my heart unbearable.

My sister was gone. I wished it was all just a bad dream, but...

The sound of the door opening snapped me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see one of the maids coming in. She stopped mid-step when she saw me and gasped.

“I’ll get the doctor,” she said quickly, turning to leave.

“That won’t be necessary,” I called after her, as I tried to stand up. But the banging headache hit me again, and I groaned in pain.

I struggled to stand up regardless and approached the door. “I am leaving,” I added.

“What? No. You can’t leave yet. I’ll get the doctor,” she insisted.

She tried to block my way, but I used the remaining strength in me to push her until she crashed to the floor.

I continued on my way, staggering, but before I could get to the door, a man walked in, his gaze holding the darkness all mafia men shared. He first glanced at the maid who was still on the floor before looking at me.

“You just woke up. You shouldn’t be walking around yet,” his voice held no emotion as he spoke.

“I am not staying here. I am going home,” I said. I wasn’t even asking. Lazzaro wasn’t supposed to bring me here in the first place. And I promised with everything in me to avenge my sister’s death. But for now, I had to go back home, to what was left of my family.

He shook his head. “I’m afraid you can’t go home yet.”

“Why?” I spat.

“The boss’s words,” he said.

“To hell with your fucking boss!” I yelled and winced immediately as pain shot through my head. I had forgotten about the headache.

He observed me, his brows furrowing. “You should lie down. I’ll get the doctor.”

“What I want to do is go home,” I groaned, as I tried to push past him, but he wasn’t budging.

I tried with all my strength, but he just stood there, staring at me as though I was a crazy person.

Before I could say another word, the devil himself suddenly appeared behind him, and upon noticing his presence, the man stepped aside.

“You are awake,” he said, looking at me.

“Yes. And ready to go home,” I fired.

“Hmm,” he breathed, then faced the other man. “Mario. The doctor should be somewhere within the building. Get him.”

Mario nodded and left immediately.

“Alma,” he called and nodded towards the bed. “Now.”

“No!” I retorted firmly. “I am going home.”

“Stubborn,” he sighed, and without another word, he lifted me off my feet and carried me in his arms, bridal style.

“Put me down!” I groaned, twisting and writhing in his arms as he walked to the bed and carefully placed me down.

I tried to stand up, but he pushed me back down.

“Do not provoke me, Alma!” he groaned, his jaw ticking.

“Then let me go!” I screamed, not minding the headache that threatened to rip my head apart. “I just want to go home. Please.”

I broke down in tears again, the frustration coursing through me, overwhelming.

“I hate you,” I yelled as the tears continued streaming down my face. “I hate you so much. Why are you doing this to me?”

I was still grieving my sister’s death, and this was happening to me. I didn’t deserve this cruelty. No one did.

“What do you want from me?” I continued, sobbing.

The door pushed open, and an older man in a suit came in, alongside Mario.

Mario stayed by the door, while the other man inched closer to me.

He leaned in, observing me closely. “How do you feel, Ma’am?”

Wasn’t it fucking obvious how miserable I felt?

Ignoring him, I returned my gaze to Lazzaro. As much as I hated and detested him, he was the only one who could order my release from here, as he was the boss.

“Don Lazzaro, please!” I pleaded desperately, my breath hitching. “You killed my sister. At least have the decency to allow me to go home and be with my family. I need them. Please. I beg you.” My voice dropped to a low whisper. “Unless you want to kill me too.”

He folded his arms across his chest, observing me. After a long stretch of silence, he finally spoke. “That is not your home anymore.”

“What?” My brows furrowed, confused.

“You won’t be returning to the Martelli’s manor anymore, as this is your new home,” he said.

My body went cold as I tried to process his words. “What do you mean?”

“I am going to meet your father now to discuss the wedding arrangements. You are going to become my bride, Alma,” he said.

My insides twisted, and I began to tremble as I registered his words. “No.” I shook my head desperately. “My father would never allow such.”

“Oh, yes, he would.” He looked me dead in the eyes. “And he has.”

He has?

I blinked, trying to make sense of his words, but it was as though I didn’t understand English anymore. What did he mean by ‘he has’? That my father had agreed to marry me off to him? My sister’s killer? His decade-long enemy?

No. No. No. I couldn’t be married to this devil. The tears that came pouring down my face this time were unstoppable. I had to find a way to escape this place. I’d rather die than marry him.

After he left the room, I started to think of how to escape from here. Running through the door was a no-no, as he had his men all around the house. Then an idea struck my mind, and I rushed to the window and looked over it.

I realized that I was on the third floor, but the good news was that there were none of his men in view. Jumping through the window wouldn’t be an easy escape, but it wasn’t impossible. And I was trying my damn luck.