4. Poor Isla

LORENZO

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She shook her head in disbelief and tears started rolling down her cheeks at my words. “You’re lying.”

“It has been almost twenty-four hours since you came here. Tell me, do you really think I’m lying?”

For a few seconds, she just stared at me while crying, but then she started shaking her head again. She was trying to convince herself I was lying, even if she knew deep down that I wasn’t. Her family was gone. There was no saving it. She was lucky enough to escape. I didn’t know how she did it but with a gun wound on her arm, it was quite impressive.

She cried to herself for a while, then it was as if she were a new person. She stood up at once, almost falling over because of how fast she stood up. She managed to catch herself and rushed to the door. She twisted the handle and when it didn’t budge, she stared at me.

She tried to open the door again but was met with the same result.

“If my family is dead, why are you still keeping me here? Did you kill them?”

I shrugged.

“Open the door!” She demanded, a spark in her eyes that wasn’t present before.

“I’d rather not,” I told her honestly. “You’re a fine addition to my mansion. I’m not sure I want to let you go.”

“I’m not going to sleep with you!”

I shook my head with a laugh. She was pretty entertaining. It wasn’t a bad idea to keep her around. She was in a pathetic state. She just lost her family overnight. I was sure she wasn’t in the right headspace. I would wait though. I could wait for her. I wasn’t rushing, I had a lot of time to achieve my goals.

As she struggled with the door, I ran my eyes down her body. Was it worth it to keep her here by force? I wasn’t opposed to it but she would be a lot more obedient if she felt she was here willingly.

With that thought in mind, I brought out the key from my pocket and threw it at her feet.

She picked it up, staring at me suspiciously.

“You’re free to come back if you have nowhere else to go.”

Isla scoffed, as if that was the last thing on her mind, and didn’t think twice as she opened the door and ran out of the room.

As soon as she left, Romano strolled in. “You allowed her to leave, boss?”

“Leave the gate open,” I informed him. “She’ll be back soon enough.”

“Yes, boss.”

I went about my daily business and was in my office when someone knocked on the door. Before I could permit them to open the door, they opened it anyway. I wasn’t surprised to see that it was Ricardo.

I didn’t bother sparing him a glance.

“Your Cinderella is back.” He announced. “She’s in the living room, bare feet and out of energy.”

Just as expected. Her family was all gone. She wasn’t going to survive a day outside this place. The news of her family’s demise had spread in the underworld. Everyone knew she was helpless and vulnerable. Everyone was going to take advantage of that, including me. The only difference between me and them was that I wasn’t going to kill her, not yet at least.

“Tell the maids to prepare a room for her, next to mine.”

Ricardo was silent for a moment, only speaking when I looked up at him. “Why? Do you like her?”

Like her? Such a mundane phrase wouldn’t be able to explain why I wanted her close. I wanted her around for far more sinister reasons; reasons that shouldn’t be spoken of. I didn’t know whether to call her brave or stupid for banging on my gate last night, but she sealed her fate the moment she walked into my territory. I had a hundred reasons to keep her around and none of them had to do with liking her. “You can say that.”

Ricardo’s eyes went wide. “Really? Is she going to be our future Dona?”

“That depends on her performance,” I told him honestly. “A new shipment will be arriving soon. Keep an eye on it.”

“You’re changing the subject.” He accused me, sitting at my table. There was no use pushing him off it. If he fell, he would stand up and sit on it again.

“I’ll be busy all night, so go and freshen up because you’re coming with me.”

“Why can’t Romano go with you?”

“You’re more intelligent than he is. Besides, he needs to keep an eye on my Cinderella tonight.” I shut down my computer and stood up.

Ricardo stood up as well, following me. “Were you serious when you said you liked her?”

I released a breath. He was acting like a child. “Meet me outside in an hour. If you’re late, just shoot yourself in the head.”

“As if you can bear to part with me.” He scoffed.

I paid him no mind as I exited my office, making sure to close the door in his face. By the time I reached the living room, Isla had her face in her palm and her shoulders were shaking slightly.

“Why are you crying after escaping death for the second time?”

She raised her head at the sound of my voice. Her eyes were puffy and her whole face was red. How long had she been crying? Was it really worth it to keep her around if she was this weak? “Can I stay here for a while?”

“Hmm.” I pretended to think it over. “Whoever stays under my roof abides by my rules.”

“What are your rules?” She used her arm to clean her tears. I knew she didn’t have much of a choice but I didn’t think she would give in so soon. Did she have ulterior motives? What did she hear outside? Did she still suspect me of her family’s demise?

“Stay in your room, stay out of my business, and get approval before you leave the house.”

“Is that all?”

“You want more?”

She shook her head. “I’m hungry.” She announced instead.

Isla was an interesting character. I wondered what was going through her head. Why was she willing to stay with me? What did she encounter outside? I knew she wasn’t going to be a threat to me since she was harmless but I wasn’t looking forward to anything that would inconvenience me. I didn’t know what her motives were for coming back to my home, but it didn’t matter much.

She was on my ship and I’d be damned if I let her handle the cockpit.

She was in my home, under my roof, and ultimately under my control. It might take her a while to come to terms with it but we would get there one day.

Her life had changed forever and she hadn’t even realized it.

Poor Isla.