Ch. 1 FREEDOM AT LAST?

Rosita’s POV

As I sat in front of my bedroom mirror, brushing out the long, pitch-black strands of my hair, a soft melody spilled from my lips—a song I had composed myself, a celebration of the freedom I was about to recover.

In just a few short minutes, I would turn 24 years old, the age my father had promised to allow me to step outside the boundaries of this golden cage I had called home for the past decade. After the incident that had occurred when I was just 12, he had kept me locked away, homeschooling me and even arranging for my college education to be completed online.

But now, the day of my freedom had arrived. I could hear the excited activity of the servants downstairs, preparing the mansion for my birthday party. My father always permitted me to step out of my room whenever he was present, though I knew his overprotective nature came from a place of genuine concern.

Still, I couldn't help but feel trapped, longing for the opportunity to experience the world beyond these walls. Applying a lively shade of red to my lips, I rose from the chair, admiring my reflection. I was ready—ready to finally taste the freedom I had been denied for so long.

Hurrying to the closet, I scanned the massive collection of shoes, searching for the perfect complement to my sparkling blue dress. But as I reached for a delicate stiletto, the melody of my tablet interrupted, my best friend, Dolores' face filling the screen as I answered the video call.

"When are you coming over for the party?" I asked, barely able to contain my excitement.

Dolores' expression was exhausted. "I'm on my way, Rosie," she sighed. "My boss was acting like a jerk today, just because I slept off in the store and a customer left without paying for their groceries. I’m so freaking tired of that job, but I can’t quit. I need the money."

I clicked my tongue sympathetically. "You should cherish your freedom, Mami. I'd love to work like you, but you know I'm trapped here." A frown tugged at my lips. "I have a feeling my dad is going to go back on his word, though. You have to help me escape if that happens!"

But Dolores fiercely shook her head. "No, Rosie, I can't do that. Your dad is just trying to protect you. The world outside isn't safe either, it is ruled by dangerous mafia dons. Word is on the street that the deadliest one of them has just been released from prison this morning, so there is a curfew!"

Her words only served to boost my frustration. "The outside world is dangerous, but you are outside, aren’t you?!?" I argued. "Everyone has been acting strangely just because of that one incident. Will you help me or not?"

Dolores let out a tired sigh. "One incident? You almost died!" she shouted in anger. "I'm sorry, I care about you, but I can't risk helping you run away. Just... be patient, okay? I will be there soon."

With that, she ended the call, leaving me to boil in my rising irritation. Glancing at the clock, I noted the rapidly approaching hour of my party, yet my father had still not arrived to unlock the reinforced metal door that kept me confined.

Worried, I tried dialing his number, but to no avail—it went straight to voicemail. I tried again and again, but still no answer. This was highly unusual behavior from my ever-punctual father.

Just as I moved to set the tablet down, a strange scent reached my nostrils. Gas... it smelled like gas. Rushing to the door, I began to shout, begging the servants to check on the source, but my cries seemed to fall on deaf ears.

My heart pounding against my ribs like a hammer, I grabbed my speaker, shouting for someone, anyone, to shut off the gas. But still, no response came.

All of a sudden, without warning, a thunderous explosion shook the walls of the mansion, sending me flying across the floor. The ground shook violently, and the air filled with the horrified screams of my household staff.

Smoke poured in through the windows as flames overcame all the furniture, choking my lungs. Frantically, I reached for my phone, only to watch it shatter as it hit the floor.

Coughing and choking on each breath, I stumbled to the door, pounding with all my strength, my delicate hands protesting in pain. "Dad!" I screamed, my voice ragged with horror. "Dad, are you there? Get me out of here!!!"

The ruthless heat and violating flames had sucked the strength out of my limbs, and I stopped my useless pounding on the stiff metal door. Choking on the acrid smoke, I turned my gaze to the barred windows, my last desperate hope of escape.

But the iron bars mocked my efforts, trapping me in this burning prison as surely as the door. Tears streamed down my dirt-streaked cheeks, a bitter acceptance settling in the pit of my stomach. After a lifetime of yearning for freedom, it seemed I was destined to die in this cage.

A sudden stabbing pain pierced through my foot as I stepped on a glowing coal, and I cried out, stumbling back towards the door. Resting my aching head against the scorching metal, I felt my vision begin to blur; this was it, I was going to die.

And then, the sounds of footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a loud grunt of effort. Mustering the last leftovers of my strength, I turned, squinting through the fog.

There, in the dancing orange light, a pair of powerful hands were braced against the door, straining with obvious effort to pry it open. A rush of hope flared in my chest.

"Father?" I rasped, my voice hardly more than a whisper.

But as the door finally gave way, the figure that stepped through was not my beloved father. It was—it was a broad-chested and extremely handsome stranger. He had deep blue eyes with elegant blonde hair that was packed at the back in a stylish updo, followed by a golden eyepatch that covered one side of his rugged face. He looked every bit the part of a hardened criminal.

"Well, well," he mused, his gaze sweeping over me. "Who do we have here? Isn’t that one tremendously beautiful peasant? Did you know that that old hag had a daughter?"

He turned to a henchman, an assault rifle clutched in the man's hands. "Although that scumbag is my enemy and I can’t wait to get my revenge, I can’t just leave her here to die, right?" the stranger inquired, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"No, Papi, we can’t," the other man replied, his eyes widening as they landed on me. "But...dammit, she is gorgeous, no wonder he never talked about her."

The self-proclaimed boss chuckled, then extended a gloved hand towards me. "Come, you beautiful commoner," he commented. "What kind of king would I be to let such a beautiful peasant perish in this fire?"

Torn between fear and the basic instinct to stay alive, I placed my trembling hand in his. As he pulled me from the flames, my weakened legs threatened to give out, but he caught me effortlessly, clasping me up against his broad chest.

"Careful now," he murmured, a destructive shine in his visible eye. "I know you are simply dying to be in my arms, it’s not every day I grace commoners with my presence."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks; an unwanted tingle traveled down my body as his rough skin brushed against mine. Who was this man, and why was he rescuing me from the fire that had consumed my home?

Clutching his shirt, I tried to protest, to demand answers. "Where are you taking me? I don't want to leave, this is still my home!"

But the stranger simply scoffed. "Silence, commoner. You talk too much." His grip tightened as he began to carry me towards one of the waiting cars that were outside the mansion. "I'm taking you with me because I have a use for you. That's all you need to know."

As he tried to put me in the backseat, I pulled back, refusing to surrender my hold on his shirt. "No! Tell me where you are taking me!"

The man's brow furrowed in irritation, and with a brisk nod, one of his henchmen stepped forward, a syringe in his hand. Before I could react, the needle pierced my neck, and a cold rush of liquid fire flooded my veins.

The world began to spin, my vision greying as consciousness escaped between my fingers. Thrown into the clutches of this unknown man, I couldn’t help but think of what fate now had in store for me.