Chapter 4

Isabella tightened the jacket around her shoulder as they headed outside.

Mario who had been waiting patiently, spotted them and hurried towards the waiting car.

Some of the other gang members noticed Antonio and Isabella, and they whispered within themselves. It was very rare for a slave to be bought at such high amount.

Pedro noticed Antonio and he quickly excused himself from the men he was discussing with.

"Antonio." He called out.

Antonio frowned impatiently and turned around.

"Sì, Pedro."

"Are you leaving so soon? I thought you might stick around for a while."

Then his gaze shifted to Isabella and he leered at her.

"She's a pretty one." He mentioned. "You lucky bastard. How did you snag her before anyone else could buy her?"

He reached out to touch her face, but Antonio's hand shot out and grabbed him, stopping him halfway.

"Remember my rule, amico." He muttered. "This one is mine. Don't touch her."

Pedro grinned and retracted his hand. "Forgive me. I just thought maybe..."

"I have a lot of things to do today, so have your fun." Antonio cut him short, leaving no room for any other discussion.

One of the bodyguards opened the door and he gently pushed Isabella inside, his hand resting slightly on her back. Next he got in after her and Mario drove away.

Isabella scooted to the edge of the other door as they began to move. Her grip on the jacket tightened and she tried not to fidget when she remembered how easily he had stabbed Vinnie.

The man was no different from a monster. If he could use a weapon so easily, then he could kill with ease.

As the car sped up, her heart began to pound with fear. She didn't know the kind of man Antonio was. Didn't even know why he bought her for such a large amount.

She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eyes. He was seated with his left ankle hooked over his right knee, glaring at the cellphone he held. He looked dashing in his formal outfit. There was another lit cigarette between his lips and the smoke scratched her throat.

When he noticed how the cigarette smoke affected her, he crushed it on the ash tray beside him.

"What's your name?" He questioned.

Isabella gulped nervously before answering. "Isabella Valdez." She murmured.

"Isabella." He repeated the name quietly. "I am Antonio de Marino." He said. "I don't expect you to know me, but as of now you are my property. You will refer to me as Master. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Are you deaf? What did I just say?"

Isabella stole a quick glance at him and quickly looked away.

"Yes, Master." She corrected herself.

"I will punish you for that slight disobedience." He went on coldly. "There are a few rules you will follow, and if you break any of them, you will be punished severely."

Oh Lord, Isabella cried within.

"Yes, Master." She murmured.

"First, you answer to only me. Second, you sleep in my room, beside my bed. Third, you must obey all my commands without question or hesitation. Fourth, you will only put on what I select for you, and nothing else. Fifth, you must seek my permission before you think of doing anything."

The rules went on and on until Isabella felt her head spinning.

"One more thing." He added. "If you are good, you will be rewarded. If not, you will be punished. Do you understand, Isabella?"

"Yes, Master." She nodded.

"Any questions?"

She shook her head, but looked up in shock when he hit her head.

"Did you forget the rules?" He snapped.

She frowned and her hands curled into tight fists. She had to swallow the words in her mouth before answering.

"Forgive me, Master." Her voice came out harsher than she intended, and it didn't go unnoticed by Antonio.

He leaned away, keeping his gaze on her.

"Vinnie said you were a feisty one." He murmured. "I think I will have fun breaking you."

Isabella's blood boiled within her, yet she couldn't do anything. She was a slave now, and she had been sold to this cruel looking, devilishly handsome man. If she was going to escape, she would have to play by his rules.

"Don't even think of escaping me." He said suddenly, as if he read her mind. "If you do, I will find you. No matter where you run to, I will find you. And your punishment will be dire."

Despite the warning he just gave her, Isabella made up her mind to escape the moment she got the chance. She would be damned if she remained with Antonio, working as his slave.

The Rolls Royce slowed to a stop outside an expensive looking villa.

"Come now." Antonio held a hand out for her, waiting for her to take it.

Isabella felt a surge of rebellion and wanted to ignore him, but she knew it would only anger him. She carefully placed her hand on his and he helped her out.

At the sight of the mansion, her jaw dropped. This was what real wealth looked like, she thought. The kind of wealth she had always dreamed about.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" He murmured, and Isabella was surprised to see the pride in his eyes.

"Yes, Master. It is." She agreed. Her eyes lowered to the fleet of cars arranged at different vantage point. There had to be about thirty exotic cars and more.

Antonio's hand curved around hers and he gently pulled her along with him.

As they stepped into the cool interior of the mansion, an elderly woman hurried to greet him.

"Signòre Antonio, welcome back."

"Thank you, Rosa. This is Isabella. She will be staying with me from now on."

Rosa smiled at Isabella and held out her hand for a handshake.

"Welcome dear."

Isabella remembered the rules and she wisely kept her hands beside her, averting her eyes.

"Take her to the bathroom and have her washed up." He ordered. "Then bring her straight to my room when you're done."

"Sì, signòre Antonio." Rosa nodded and pulled Isabella along with her.

As Isabella followed the woman, she turned and caught Antonio's dark gaze on her. His eyes were heated, brooding. She turned away when she felt uncomfortable.

Rosa led her up the stairs and into a room. "Take off your dress, miss Isabella. You don't want to keep signòre waiting."

Isabella gently took off the jacket, then hesitated to pull off her dress. She waited for Rosa to step out from the bathroom before asking for a towel.

"Sì, of course. Wait here while I get the towels." She nodded and stepped out of the room.

Isabella grabbed the jacket and put it on again. She then tiptoed to the door and peered outside.

There was no one there. This was her chance to escape.

By the time Rosa returned with an armload of plush towels, she found the room empty. Isabella was nowhere to be seen.

She gasped in terror and raced out of the room.

"Mario!" She shrieked. "Mario!"

"What's wrong Rosa?" Mario asked urgently, meeting her on the stairs.

"It is the girl." Rosa cried out. "She escaped. Signòre Antonio will kill me."

Mario swung into action immediately. He pulled out his cellphone and yelled into it.

"She's gone. Put the villa on lockdown and find her!"