Chapter thirteen

Gabriella

The plan was simple: wait until dawn and sneak out of the mansion with the key Luca had provided. But little did I know that my plans were about to be an epic failure.

Marcello had been to the House of Hell casino, according to Adrianna, and I was all alone in my room, plotting and mapping out my escape plans.

“You look distant!”Andrianna's voice jolts me out of my reverie, and I feign a smile.

“I’m just sad about my father’s death!” I muttered, leaning against the headboard, and she caressed my hands softly.

“I know what my brother did to your family is terrible and there is no amount of apology that would heal that wound!” She pleaded.

I swallowed, nodding, pretending to understand what she was saying, but deep down I needed her to leave so I could escape. I stared at the wall clock behind her. It was almost six pm.

“Thank you, Andrianna, thank you for keeping me company but I’d like to take a nap.”

“Oh, it’s alright, I’d let you rest.” With that Adrianna stormed out of my room, a heavy sigh escaped my lips, the one I didn’t realise I was holding.

“Good riddance!” I griped, as I slowly opened the door with the golden key. The hallway was unusually quiet today. Usually Marcello had stationed some guards at my door but today they weren’t here. Maybe it was a good day for me.

Somehow I managed to sneak out of the mansion through the back door. It was huge. One could get lost in here but I managed to figure it out. Finally, I was out, the cold breeze brushed against my skin and relief descended on me.

“What do I do next?” I thought to myself looking around, a few guards secured the huge gates, I hid behind the pillar so no one would see me, I stayed there trying to figure out my next step.

I accidentally stepped on a stone and it fell and crashed to the floor, it attracted the guards, they came running to me but I quickly scurried away, maybe that stone was the distraction I needed because they had left their pose, with that I ran towards the big gate, towards freedom, but what happened next made me froze, the door opened automatically and a black Range Rover drove in almost hitting me.

I recognized the face in the driver's seat, it was Marcello, he was back. I swallowed hard thinking of the next line of action to make.

Should I just run towards freedom or….

It was too late, the door had already clicked shut and Marcello had sighted me so I began to shiver nervously, I should have waited for Luca to give me a go-ahead and not act on my own.

He got out of the car slowly , “Where do you think you are going?” He asked, his voice laced with so much authority, he was wearing a black crisp suit and he had a shade on.

“Away from you!” I scowled.

“Who let you out?”

“None of your business Marcello!”

There was no way in hell I was going to tell him the truth!

A rumble of laughter escaped his lips and my heart kept, this wasn’t a good sign. He wasn’t laughing out of happiness and that’s for sure.

“You'd better get back to your room, for your own good!”

“Or what? What will you do, ask your guards to throw me into the cell like some wild animal? I’m your wife I should be treated with respect!”

“Why didn’t you think about that before trying to escape?”

I went quite immediately, he’d gotten me already, I had nothing else to say in my defense.

Then he added, “Don’t let me ask the guards to throw you back into the cell, go on your own accord!”

“No, you need to let me out, I don’t want to be married to you, we don’t even love each other, you’ve already killed my father and taken my properties, what else do you want from me, my life?”

“Then I have no choice but to torture you again, capisce!” He whistled and the guards came running, “Why is my wife wandering around?” he asked them

“We didn’t know she was out here, boss,” one of them answered shakily.

“A little girl lured you and you fell for it, how can I even entrust my estate in your hands?”

“We’re sorry boss.”

“No it’s too late for that, you’re fired, that’s for being careless, take her back to the cell and leave my estate at once!” He commanded taking off the shade and walking back into the mansion.

“No, you can’t do this to me!” I yelled as the guards dragged me roughly back to the dark cell. I passed Luca who stared at me in shock, his face filled with disappointment. They threw me into the cold ground of the cell brushing my elbow.

I sat there for a few minutes, reminiscing on what had happened. If Marcello hadn’t shown up I’d be free in the streets of New York, my life would be peaceful and I’d be a free woman again and then I could plan my revenge.

But now it was just a dream because the white rabbit caught me again, my vision blurred as tears burned my eyes, I couldn’t keep leaving like this!

I heard distant footsteps and I sat up immediately wiping my tears with the back of my hands, at first it was a tall huge shadow then I saw Marcello’s face glowing as the candlelight shone on his face. He had a wicked smile plastered on his face, what the hell did he want this time?

He smiled down at me, “Let’s play a game, shall we?”

My heart began to race but I hid it with a frown, “I’m

Not interested!”

He lifted the key to my face and I stiffened. “Who gave you this? Tell me the truth and then maybe I’d consider letting you go.”

What?

Was this a trap or was he serious about this?