CHAPTER 5

SERA

My father stood immediately after Damian left and walked towards me.

I stood up in fear and shifted slightly.

“You tried to run,” he stated firmly, like he was so sure of it.

I lowered my head and stuttered. “I—I couldn't do it,”

“Of course, you never want to do anything. As long as it involves family,” Isabella blurted out and my father's fist tightened.

“Do you know what you have done?” he asked and I shook my head in fear. “Now he has cancelled the wedding, do you know the deals I would have gotten with that wedding?” I shook my head again, but this time with relief. I was happy the wedding wouldn't hold, because a wedding meant more eyes, more performance from my family, and more of my father using me to get what he wanted.

“I don't want a wedding eith—” I started before the palm flew across my face.

“Bastard,” my stepmother cursed. “You ungrateful piece of shit! You think what you want matters?” She asked, but I was too busy nursing my pains to answer.

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly, I winced. “Oh how I want to strangle you right now!”

“What a way to dig your grave, Mrs. Moretti.” Damian suddenly walked in and she released me immediately. I shifted back and quickly wiped my tears.

“I-I was only trying to discipline her,” she stuttered. Damian walked closer to her and she shifted back slowly, the fear so visible it wanted to burst out.

“She is mine now, the only person allowed to discipline her is me,” he said sternly and she flinched. He grabbed her arms then, pressing them so hard I could see the pain on her face. “The only reason you'll get away with this is because I'm in a good mood. Try this next time, and your husband will be planning your funeral,” he concluded and pushed her towards father and Isabella who looked scared to death.

He turned to me then, his eyes so cold that I shivered.

“We’re leaving now,” he said and my eyes widened.

“W–what?”

He turned to my father then, ignoring me. “Make sure her things get to my estate first thing tomorrow morning.”

My father nodded immediately, surprise and fear mixed in his expression.

“Move,” he said to me and I slowly turned. The tears came back again and I suddenly wondered why I was crying. It wasn't because I would miss my family, definitely not. Maybe because I knew I was walking into a greater problem.

****************************

The drive to his estate was quiet. The type that happens when you know a word from you might mean death. My mind went back to what had just happened and I shook it off. He obviously was trying to claim me, like I was some property. He was no different from the rest, I thought and glanced at him. He sat there at the other end, his cold demeanor filling the car. The other guy sat in the front seat with the driver. Everyone acted normally, like my whole life wasn't about to change with this decision of theirs. The guy whispered something to the driver and the car stopped abruptly, fear engulfed me and I sat up then. What was happening? Was I finally going to get killed? Was this my father's plan to kill me off?

“What is going on?” he asked coldly.

“Dominic has one of Vincenzo’s men,” he replied and Damian hummed, like good news had been given to him. Who were they talking about?

“That's great,” he replied with a stiff smile. “Let's go,” he said but the driver didn't move. The other guy turned towards us then, took one look at me before looking at Damian. I recoiled.

Damian studied me like I was a lab rat that he was deciding on what to do with.

“Let's go,” he finally said. “She's not a threat.”

****

The car stopped in front of a tall building, it was so tall and beautiful but it felt cold, like some beautiful slaughterhouse. I turned to Damian then, he was a known killer. He had killed people without batting an eyelid and now he's brought me here, was he trying to kill me?

“Stay in the car and you're safe,” he ordered, like he knew what was going on in my mind. He got off before I could respond and the driver and other guy followed. The fear came then, I bent slowly and lay on the seat but my heart wouldn't stop beating fast. What if this was a trap? Maybe they had left me here for my killer to find me earlier. I shook my head then, If Damian wanted to kill me, he would have done it himself.

I had lain down for about three minutes or more when I heard the sound, like a whimper of someone in pain and trying to escape. I wanted to keep lying down but my intrusive thoughts won and I slowly got up. I saw the shadow then, a staggering one. It was coming towards the car like its safety depended on it. I covered my mouth in fear as it kept coming closer, I looked again and that was when I saw the face. A lady. Her face was so battered, like she had just gotten out of a fight with someone who wanted her dead, she looked really frightened and I was convinced she was going to die if I didn't help her. I pulled the car door and it opened, I got out before I could stop myself or think about Damian's warning.

I ran towards her then, I only needed to get her to the car and then we'd hide together. That way, whatever she was running from wouldn't find us. She halted when she saw me, like she was deciding if I was a foe or a helper. I waved at her and continued running to her.

“Hey, I just want to help,” I whispered as soon as I got close. “Let me walk you to the car.” I put my hands on her but she violently shook them off.

“Who are you?” She asked coldly that for a moment, fear crept in.

“Seraphina, I’m just trying to help,” I said and she turned sharply at me then.

“Seraphina?” she whispered but the gun cocked before I could even nod. I looked up immediately and my blood went cold. In front of us stood a man in a mask, with a gun pointed at us.

Yeah, I should have stayed in the car.