Present Day
As I pace the floor, my anger rises.
"How do you manage to lose a fucking gun?" I step towards him. My fist clenched.
"I erm, I placed it on the desk." His body quivers.
"You placed it on the fucking desk and turned your back on it?" Stepping closer, he nods.
"I didn't think. I always do it. I don't understand. One second, it was there, then it was gone. I searched and saw no one." His words burn me.
Pushing him back, I stand over him.
"Not seconds. Seconds meant you would have fucking seen who walked in and took it!"
Someone was there, or he is lying. Lying so he can keep the gun concealed, to use later, maybe? I watch him cower on the floor.
"Someone sort him out." Turning, I walk out, Mac follows, and I enter the SUV. "Take me to Al Prato." I hope he knows who it was or saw something.
Sucking in a breath, I count.
Bury the emotions
Hide the anger
Don't feel
Stopping outside, the door is opened for me. I walk in and look at Dom.
"I can tell you." He laughs slightly, and I stare at him in shock. "The other night, a pretty little thing walked straight in here. Covered in sweat and on edge. I took note of her, but only because her eyes were, well, different."
He sighs slightly and grumbles.
"Different, how?" How were they different?
"Her left eye. Half was Blue, half green, and her right eye was all green. As in one side blue, one side green, not the inside blue and outside green."
I stare at him. I get what he's explaining.
"To be fair, I wouldn't have paid much attention to her face had it not been for her eyes."
"So, a woman?" A woman stole from me?
"Barely, she looked about twenty, not old enough to be out of school, to be honest. Her hair was black. As I said, one of her eyes was half blue, half green, and the other was all green. She was a pretty little thing, to be honest." He grins at me.
"Okay, Mac, get Sawyer on it. Everyone should watch out for a woman with black hair in her early twenties or younger. Same eyes as her." Turning, I leave the cafe, knowing that we will find her. Unfortunately for her, her eyes are her downfall.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
I face her, waiting. Her hair is jet black, and Dom wasn't lying. Her eyes are mesmerising, something I have never seen. One is two colours. He wasn't lying when he said she was a pretty little thing.
"What's your name, girl?" Her head rises, and she glares, infuriated at me.
"I apologise, my lady. What is your name?" Her eyes widen as she bites against her lip. I watch her neck roll as she slowly swallows.
"I can see you're not willing to say, so how about we start with the real information? You took the gun, right?" I watch, waiting, and her head shakes. She rolls her eyes, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
Show no emotion
Feel nothing
"Okay." I consider my words. "How about you keep the gun, but tell me where the ring is? It was with it and is worth nearly a million." I smile, seeing her eyes widen, and my mouth slowly opens.
"There was no fucking ring there when I took the gun, so I suggest you recheck your men's pockets."
Chuckling, I nod. "I don't need to check them. There was no ring lady. Now, we have established you did take the gun. Where is it?"
Her mouth clamps down. Then, I watch it open again. "I don't know." I can see she isn't lying.
"You must have an idea. Did you sell it? Give it away, place it down somewhere?" To take it and have no idea where it is is impossible.
"I can't remember, so I'm guessing my socks and shoes are off as you're going to start cutting away toes, right? It's fine. Who needs ten anyway?"
I watch her grin rise; she's fiery, and I like that.
No!
Don't feel
No emotion
Stay calm, stay cold.
"Okay, take her back, give her the guestroom on the east wing. Have a guard outside her door." I stand and turn, watching as her mouth drops open upon hearing my words.
"You can't fucking keep me!"
Smiling, I turn back to her. My hands grip the arms of the chair and lean into her face. I suck in a breath. The smell of her overwhelms me. Shit. Fighting back the groan, I stay over her.
"I can, and I am. Until I am sure you're not lying and not hiding any more information, you're not leaving my sight. Now, what's your name? Tell me, and I may feed you tonight."
"Oh, thank you, big bad mafia monster, for offering me food. No thanks." Her words have me chuckling.
"Pass me a kit." I watch her eyes widen, my hand reaching back. I take it from whoever hands it to me and take out the swab. Gripping her chin, I tilt her head back.
I watch the roll of her throat as she swallows, her eyes staying on mine. Using the swab, I sweep it around her cheeks inside her mouth. If she doesn't speak, I will find out who she is.
I place the swab in the bag and hand it back to whoever is behind me.
"Have them run it, find out her identity. Then, she can hide nothing." I keep my hand tight on her jaw, my fingers digging into her skin.
Her body moves, squirming almost. I need to step back.
Releasing her, I move back, walking away without looking at her. "As I said, get her there. Until I know she isn't lying, she stays." I will find out the truth: she wanted the gun for something.
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Dario faces me, and I know he and my brothers all have questions, and right now, I have no fucking answers. Not even one.
I left our little house guest to get settled, and I worked. This morning, however, the results came back, and I am floored. We're all floored.
"Surely she knows?" Lorenzo quizzes me.
"Maybe she does. Maybe this is a trap. You need people watching her, Marco," Matteo says now.
I know they are right. What are the chances the young, beautiful woman who walked into my warehouse, stole my soldier's gun and walked out is a Salvadore?
Fucking Salvadore, I thought the bloodline ended with Rocco. Apparently, though, when I pulled the blade across his neck, he had a daughter. A fucking daughter!
"Maybe she is here for his share. She was just waiting for the moment to slip through the cracks." Lorenzo laughs.
"If she is here to cause issues, she is dead." My words are cold. Memories of Rocco and his behaviour flood me. He's a wild bloodline. They act on impulse and are crazed.
She reminds me of them, the way she was.
"You know I won't let you hurt the woman brother, not without any warrant." Matteo looks at me. He's too soft for his own good.
"I will watch her. Question her. She won't leave here or have access to the outside world until I am sure she isn't a threat."
I picture her in my mind, her flawless beauty, those eyes. Nothing at all strikes me as Rocco, but she is his daughter. I need to sort this out. We have too much going on right now without adding another issue.
"The bodies are sorted." I turn, looking at Matteo. "News report should be showing any time now. Two rival gangs fighting over drugs."
I nod at my brother, he's a clever motherfucker. As our local politician, he helps cover a lot of the shit that happens. I will need to visit my little house guest.
Ask questions, and figure out what she is up to. Was her taking the gun a game, a way to get brought in? Standing, I stroll out of the room, giving a quick nod to them as a goodbye.
As I stopped outside her room, I knocked and opened the door. Stepping in, I see her sitting wearing my shirt that someone had given her to sleep in. My eyes trail along her legs, my cock hardening as I do.
Stepping closer, I notice bruises across her body. Who hurt her? I look at her arms and notice more bruises there. If she knew what she was, she wouldn't be hurt. Maybe she doesn't know?
I stay staring at her, my heart racing more as I do. She's beautiful and fierce, yet I see no resemblance to Rocco. How is that even possible? I won't lie, Rocco was a good-looking guy, and well, my little damsel is fucking stunning.
"Can I help you? Or are you here for the show?" Her words snap me out of my thoughts.
No emotion
Don't feel
Sucking in a breath with my eyes closed, I centre myself again.
"I came to invite you to breakfast. Please get ready. You won't need your jumper." Turning, I walk out and give her space to get dressed.
Hugh smiles at me, my eyes snapping to him as he straightens. Was it that obvious I was enjoying her body?
I didn't leave it again after being told this was my room. Someone had knocked and brought me food.Thank you, thoughtful kidnapper, for feeding me.Other than that one interaction, I had not seen anyone else. I tried leaving, but Door Jockey Steve, as I called him, told me to stay in my room until he got more orders.I was just grateful the door wasn't locked. I thought it would have been to keep me where the mafia guy wanted me. Now, my friendly, hot-as-hell kidnapper has invited me to breakfast.I'm no fool, hot kidnapper. Breakfast is a way to make me talk. I won't.He was interesting, though. I watched his eyes search my body like he was looking for something deep inside my skin and bones and boy, his bone grew.Laughing, I put my shoes on. Sure, he got hard, but then his eyes fell on the bruises, so I made a witty remark to make him talk and leave. I glance at my jumper. I wore it to hide the bruises, but now, what is the point?He's seen them. Stepping to the door, I open it. D
I watch as she leaves the kitchen. She uses humour as a way to deflect. She uses jokes to avoid serious questions and answers. Strolling to the cupboard, I pull the mop out.Sure, they will clean up, but I may as well. It saves anyone from slipping. Quickly wiping up the coffee, she decided to splash across the marble floor. I stepped back and placed the mop away.Grabbing coffee, I walk back to my room."You took your time."My head snaps up."Sorry, Sir. I didn't mean.""Yes, you did. Just leave." I stand, watching as Roxy walks to the door. She hesitates for a moment."I apologise, Sir, for my forwardness." She nods and disappears. Drinking the coffee, I run through some work before showering and dressing.Stepping into the office, my brothers and some of the men are waiting for the updates."Well, brother?" Lorenzo looks at me. "Is she a spy, crawling her way into this to cause issues to avenge her father?" His smirk widens as he leans back."Son." Turning, I look at our father. C
It feels awkward knowing that he went through my things. I understand, though, that he wants the gun, but I didn't lie when I said I didn't know where it was. I don't have any idea about that fact. I know I gave it to Dan, but I can't say that."So, why do you not have a phone?" My eyes move from the scenery outside to his eyes. I didn't think of this question."From what I can tell, you don't have a bank. Not an active one; the last time it was used was a year ago."My eyes search the car for an answer, any answer.You're not the typical kidnapper, MarcoMy eyes narrow at him."It's strange, no phone, no bank, from what I saw and know, no passport, no family photos." He's looking at me, waiting. How do I lie? I can say I have no need for a phone, which everyone will know is bullshit.Panic rises in me. For all the other questions, I could lie. Find answers that worked, but this, though?Shit dude! There are such things as personal spaceThe longer I fight for an answer, the harder it
TW - This chapter contains r*pe scenes. I’m instantly overwhelmed as I step into the room. There is laughter and talking. I see multiple people positioned around the large wooden table. As I step closer, I sense it is African Blackwood. Stupidly expensive.Chewing my lower lip, I watch Marco pull a chair for me. There are five men, not including Marco, and four women. My eyes don’t settle anywhere. Instead, they flicker around the room, searching for a safe spot.Somewhere that doesn’t have a Pesci family member.“Right, Lucia, these are my brothers. Lorenzo, Dario and and Matteo. That is Iz, or Isridana, although she hates her name.” I nod at his words. Dario, I look at him. I thought it was him I was stealing from. Dan wasn’t wrong about who I was stealing from. Dario is huge, and based on Elmay’s words, I can see the crazy in his eyes. He is enormous, though. Matteo has muscles and a strong jaw but looks exactly as he is, like a politician. My eyes fall on Lorenzo. He’s young, may
After finding those images at her place, I have barely been conscious; my mind is constantly on them, and I know they are not simple photos.One she didn't even look awake in. Finishing the drink, I slam it down."Careful, you just might break it." My eyes snap up at Dario.Shit.Don't feelStay calmI watch as they walk into the room and sit. Lorenzo lazies behind me, leaning against the wall. His eyes are on the monitor. He can't see her. It just shows outside her room."So what are these?" He reaches forward, and I grab his wrist."Don't even try fucking look." I glare at him, watching as he steps back and holds his hands up."You said you found something, clearly not your gun, as you're no happier now than before, son." Our Father looks and waits."I found nothing to do with the gun or Rocco or anything to do with her family, for that matter." Sighing, I rub my head. Her story doesn't add us. None of it."Why are you so on edge?" Dario looks at me.Because she fucking makes me fee
I come around, hearing Iz talking to me, slowly guiding me back to reality, one I wish I could escape from.They all saw the whole damn family watched me crumble and fucking fall. I've never had flashbacks that intense before. I can usually see and hear everything around me in a few seconds.This time, I didn't. Iz walked off and left me with Marco, which is worse."How do you feel?" His words are soft as he edges closer to me."Like a fucking fool. Stupid and weak, embarrassed, your whole family saw." I need to leave."They understand. No one thought badly of you because of it, Lucia."I laugh at his words. "Really? As you all seem to be pretty much floating through life right now without issues." Sighing, I rub my face. "I'm sorry, I just feel on edge.""You don't need to apologise, Lucia. You may see me as a hard rock, brick, or something similar. I'm not, or rather, I wasn't always."Raising my head, I look at him."You know those words you say that your mother taught you? I say s
Her words have me considering what she said. Things seemed to escalate quickly in her life. I want to find out the truth about the deaths that surround her. Give her the peace of mind and answers that she needs.Maybe, if I can see what happened, I can tell her she wasn't the target. Reassure her that it was just some fools with guns. Yet, I can't. Fools with guns don't do that. To open fire in the street is a personal attack.I keep my eyes glued on hers as I consider if the answers are what she thinks. How will she cope knowing those shots were for her? Still, I need answers. Anger boils in me at the thought that Rocco didn't protect his daughter.Sure, he was dead, but she shouldn't have been left. How did he not know he had a fucking child? We all knew he had many women; his wife was like Roxy. There for the show, to be a product of what we are."Today, what happened?" I need to know what caused it. Why it happened and why she got sucked under so damn quick. "What caused it, Lucia
I woke alone, but the scent of Marco lingered around me, ensuring that I knew he hadn't left too long ago. A light knock has me pulling the door open. Elmay stands, grinning while holding a tray.She bounds through the door, throwing herself down on the bed."Eat! Apparently, you're having a ladies' day." I peer at her, confused, and she giggles. "Lorenzo has a fight coming up. You need a dress for it, so Felicity and Iz are taking you shopping."Wait, when is this fight?" He has the gun now, even I know he will have it."Next week." She grins at me."I shouldn't still be here next week." I should be gone. He has his gun now. Why is he planning on keeping me around for longer?"You're his guest, Lucia. I keep telling you that." She laughs at my face."If I'm simply a guest, I can leave." She stops at my words, glancing towards the door. "Exactly, I'm not a guest, as I'm not free to leave." I'm still his fucking captive. I was hoping once he got the gun back, he would let me leave.Aft