CHAPTER THREE
MAXIMOMy Red.I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since last night. She seemed so innocent until our lips joined together. With her American accent and her optimism, she didn't know what she'd just gotten herself into by coming here.A nagging feeling I couldn't get out of my head was the fact that she looked strangely familiar. I knew I hadn't seen her before, because I never forget faces. And it's impossible to forget a face as perfect as her's. So why did I feel like I'd seen her before? Why did her face strike up an unpleasant pang at the back of my head? It was almost like my mind was trying to tell me something I needed to know, but my eyes and body weren't paying attention.Guttural screams filled the room as I was brought back to the dark reality. I watched Luca snip off the tip of Marco's fingers. His pathetic pleading filled my ears, and I watched how a former powerful gang lord begged for his life in my custody. That was what happened whenever people messed with me"Are you ready to talk now?" I asked between the screams.He sobbed as he yelled, "Go f*ck yourself, Scar!"I smiled, despite the anger I was feeling. Marco was strong and resilient. Too bad he was giving me such a good show by watching the way he was reduced to nothing in my presence."Guess I'll have to leave you to Luca's mercy then," I said as I stood up and yawned. "Your screams used to excite me, but now I just get irritated.""Then just kill me!" He yelled, and at that exact moment, another finger tip was snipped. His groans of pain filled the entire room and bounced between the walls of his dingy prison cell.I hummed. "Now, where's the fun in that?" I asked with a sardonic smile."I'm exhausted," he groaned in pain. "Please, just kill me."I turned and walked towards him. "You won't die until you give me the answers I want, Marco. You will continue to be tortured, until your body refuses to take it anymore. Then, you'll die a slow, painful death," I growled."It won't end there. Your remains will be cut and packaged in perfect little boxes, and then, it will be sent to your little family back in Monza. I wonder if your daughter will be the one to open the box. You know how kids love opening packages."He sobbed louder than I'd ever heard him sob. "Please, not my wife. Not my kid...""I won't kill them, if that's what you're scared of," I grit out. "But by the time I'm done with your family, they're going to wish they were dead.""They have nothing to do with this," he sobbed and I looked at him with disgust."You're right. They don't. This is absolutely your fault. You had the fucking nerve to not only trespass into my territory, but to plan and execute an attack on my shipment," I said with a dark chuckle."You should do the right thing by giving me the information I need. Or else, your innocent family will pay for it "He breathed heavily."There's a rat amongst your men," he grit out as his eyes came up to meet mine.I growled low in my throat as I took out the revolver tucked in my waistband and pointed it at his forehead."Who is it?" I spat and he whimpered."I-I don't know," he cried. "B-But, if you give me time, I'll find out..."I cocked my gun with a dark chuckle."You think I'm stupid?" I snarled. "You think I can ever trust you?"His pathetic tears drove me further into anger, and my hand itched to pull the trigger."I swear, Scar. I promise, I'll find whoever the rat is. Please!" He begged. "Let me redeem myself...""You're irredeemable," I spat and he sobbed."I'll do anything to keep my family safe," he wailed. "Please, let me do this."I relaxed back into my seat. "Fine," I said with a smirk. "I give you twenty four hours,""Twenty four hours to find and bring this person to me. If you fail to do this, get ready to bury your whole family, just before I make you join them."***ARIAI paced around the hotel room as I called the number I found on a Milan housing website. I sent a silent prayer and hoped the person on the other side spoke English. The moment I saw the money Maximo left me and my stepfather's text, I knew I had to find a place to stay. I can't stay in a hotel forever.I grimaced as I looked at the money Maximo had left me. My cheeks heated as I remembered the way I basically begged him for money, only to sleep with him that same night. The thought mortified me, but the soreness between my legs reminded me of how good he felt inside me.I shook my head to get rid of my wandering thoughts. I had a bigger problem to face, which was finding a permanent place to stay. Not just a permanent place, but somewhere a bit hidden and low-key. I was now a fugitive in my own home, just like my mother's family.Tears pricked at my eyes as I remembered the way they'd rejected me yesterday. The realization that I was completely alone hit me, and I tried not to think too deeply about it."Hello," a hoarse voice said over the phone. It sounded like it belonged to an old woman."Hi. I got your number from a website," I said and nervously rubbed my palms on my jeans."You want house?" The woman asked.I released a relieved breath at the fact that she could at least communicate in English."Yes...""I send you address. You come see for yourself, then you pay," she snapped."Okay. Thank..."The beep sound halted my words and I scoffed at her rudeness.As she promised, my phone immediately pinged with an address she sent. I immediately booked an Uber, then quickly put on a hoodie over my simple t-shirt and jeans. As I tied my shoelaces, a notification popped up on my screen, letting me know that my driver was close.I took the wads of cash and neatly arranged them in my purse. I left the room and walked out to the entrance of the massive building. I spotted a black Honda Civic that matched the description of my driver's car. As I pulled my hoodie over my head as I headed towards the car, I noticed I was being followed.I panicked and walked faster. Before I could open the back door of the car, a strong hand harshly gripped my arm. I twisted and turned in his arm and he exhaled a breath of frustration."Vai a dormire," the man growled and covered my nose with a white handkerchief. I tried to struggle but my limbs suddenly became weak.My legs gave in and I fell into his arms. My head became foggy as both me and the man who held me fell to the ground. The last thing I saw were black shoes walking around our bodies before everything turned black.CHAPTER FOURARIAMy body was lying on something cold and hard. I shivered and tried to wrap my hand around my body. My eyebrows creased as I realized I couldn't move my hands. I pulled, but the sound of heavy metal filled my ears. My eyes opened slowly, and I took in the strange room I was in. I couldn't figure out what the room was. It was a dark room that was empty except for the chair that sat in the center of the room. With so much effort, I got into a sitting position. My head pounded as my stomach churned. I glanced at my hands and feet and saw that they were chained to the floor.My heart beat accelerated as confusion clouded my head. I shivered again as my teeth chattered. That was when my memory started to come back to me. The harsh grip, the handkerchief over my nose, the shoes...I heard a deep moan from beside me. I looked to find another man who was chained to the ground like me. My eyes shot to his hands. They were the same hands that covered my nose. Confusion swirled
CHAPTER FIVEARIAI couldn't stop the scream from leaving my mouth as the second man Maximo killed dropped to the floor. Everyone turned to look at me, but I could only look Maximo in the eye. His dark stare terrified me, and I no longer saw attraction or desire in it. Instead, I saw unadulterated rage and fury. In that moment, I wished I could understand what the other man told him to make him react this way.This wasn't the man that saved me from being raped or the man that had touched me and looked at me with so much desire. The man who stood before me was a monster."Who are you, and what do you want from me?" I asked with venom in my voice.He marched towards me, and I subconsciously cowered to protect myself. He got to where I was and crouched down to my level."You really got yourself into trouble, Red," he growled as his hand reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His calloused fingers touched my cheek, and goosebumps rose on my skin. I shivered as I wondered how
CHAPTER SIXARIAI opened my eyes and immediately closed them again, wincing from the bright light that flooded into the room. I opened my eyes again and gazed outside. The sky was beautiful, and the sun’s golden light streamed through the window, casting long shadows on the floor.I would have smiled at the perfect view, but a heavy weight hung in my chest. I felt like Rapunzel—seeing the beautiful scenery through the window but never getting out.Except I wasn’t Rapunzel. I wasn’t a f*cking princess.I am a captive. A mere prisoner waiting for slaughter. The handcuffs that bound me to the bed were a harsh reminder.The door to my room opened and two young women stepped in, each carrying a tray. They both dropped the trays on a small stool at the foot of the bed, and I recognized the look of pity they cast me.I don’t need any fucking pity.“Your food,” the taller of the two announced.I scoffed bitterly. “Is Maximo such a pussy that he can’t even kill me himself? Instead, he’s reso
CHAPTER SEVENMAXIMOMy rough skin slid against her soft flesh as I undid the handcuffs on her wrist, and a strange feeling went through me as I saw the red bruise around her wrists.“I’m not fucking hungry,” she said snappily and a surge of annoyance welled up inside me.“You won’t speak when I don’t ask you to,” I said, gripping her chin roughly.She stared into my eyes and I could only see anger and pure hatred in her hazel orbs.I internally scoffed. It was nice to see that she still had some spark in her. Breaking her would be much more fun than I thought.She remained silent as I dropped the handcuff on the floor and dragged her up. I caught a whiff of her sweet fragrance. A mixture of strawberry and vanilla wafted into my nostrils and I instantly clenched my jaws tightly.“You know, you seem really weak for a Don,” she said. “You’re not as frightening as I expected a whole ass mafia don to be…”I made a low growling sound deep in my throat as I grabbed her neck.“What did I say
CHAPTER EIGHTMAXIMOThe dining room was still tense as Aria left. Lorenzo looked at me with a mixture of anger and disappointment and I found myself getting angry at the look on his face.“I don’t understand,” he started, dropping his fork on the table. The cutlery made a high pitched, tinkling sound that reverberated throughout the entire room.I rubbed my palms together and placed them folded under my jaw.“What don’t you understand, Lorenzo?” I asked, even though I knew exactly why he was acting the way he was.Aria’s father killed our youngest brother. And he wasn’t just some random rival. He was our father’s second in command when he committed the act. Although he had already been killed, it was basic knowledge that any offspring of a traitor should be killed as well.“You’re the don. You’re supposed to lead by example and do what’s right,” he gritted out in a low voice.I knew my other men were pretending not to listen, but I could tell that they were paying attention to every
CHAPTER NINEARIAMy heart pounded heavily in my chest as the cold barrel of Maximo’s gun pressed tightly against the side of my head. I pressed my eyes shut and tried to ignore the way my heart started to race.So this is it. This is how I finally die.At that realization, a cold sensation spread throughout my body, causing my breathing to become shallow and rapid. Fear clawed its way into my bloodstream and I couldn’t focus on anything else but the weight of the gun against my flesh.I heard the sound of the gun cocking and I realized how much I didn’t want to die. If I die now, there will be no chance of me escaping, or even trying to escape.I inwardly scoffed at the thought. Escaping from Maximo won’t be as easy as escaping from my stepfather. Maximo’s weight was pressed on my body, and there was no way I could ever overpower him.“All it takes is for me to move my finger, and you’re gone,” he said in a low growl.The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as a wave of terror
CHAPTER TENMAXIMOI sat in my office and stared at the laptop that was before me. I had been staring at the screen for some minutes now. I needed to be working, but thoughts of a certain redhead handcuffed to the bed in one of my rooms filled my head.I should have just killed her last night. That would bring an end to whatever this was.‘Nothing is happening,’ I said in my head. She’s just a captive who also happens to be incredibly beautiful and sexy.My Red.The door to my office was opened and I had never been happy to get distracted from my thoughts before.“Scar,” one of my men greeted as he walked into my office and sat on the chair before me.“Enrico,” I said in a gruff voice. As he sat down, he dropped the file he was holding on the table and slid it across the table and towards me.“What does it say?” I asked.“The law enforcement are on us,” he revealed and I chuckled.Enrico was a police officer and also one of my most trusted men. He also helped us get intel on what was
CHAPTER ELEVENARIAI woke up before the sun rose. There wasn't much sleep I could get, especially since I could only remain in a particular position due to the way my hands were handcuffed to the headboard. From where I was restrained, I watched as The sun filtered into the room through the window and the light rays fell on my skin. My heart tugged painfully. I don't know when next I'll be able to stand directly under the sun, under the moonlight or even in snow. I don't even know if I'll ever be able to do that.My thoughts were interrupted as I heard the sound of the door opening. Maximo showed up in my room more frequently now and I wonder why.I knew why, even though I didn't want to think about it. He liked seeing me like this; tied up and waiting. I inhaled a sharp breath as I remembered the way he confessed those words to me. I remembered the way his words made me feel things I shouldn't be feeling, and I became angry all of a sudden.“Shouldn’t you be at work?” I asked witho