7: The mansion

AT RICHARD VALENTINO'S MANSION

LAURA P.O.V.

We have arrived. In my prison.

He had to be behind bars, but instead I was under his control.

Yes, I was in Italy with him as it shout be, but things went differently than planned.

I didn't know what to expect from this man. He wasn't listening to anyone. He was a monster in all his form. He didn't care what was my opinion.

As I entered through the front door on the east facade, I passed into a grand hallway. The predominant colors are dark with tan and gold highlights. This combination of colors is repeated throughout both floors of the house. The tall, heavy, varnished wood doors have as the top panel, colored glass panes of amber, blue and pink, in a geometric design. On either side of the main doors are smaller, longer versions of the colored glass windows.

Off the main hallway, to the right, there was a large sitting room.

This room contains original wallpaper including ceiling panels of small birds and orange flowers with vibrant leaves of green and yellow set upon a light blue background.

There was also a large fireplace with candles above it.

Everything was done with taste.

There were two or three pictures of men in black suits with cigars in their mouths.

Typical of him.

We also went up to the second floor, where he took me to a room with a large, beautifully designed bedroom, huge curtains and a beautiful view.

"I see you're obviously trying to buy me with your luxury houses." I said.

"Should I buy you?" Richard laughed. "Definitely not. I just live here, sunshine." he winked at me.

His stupid behavior again.

Arrogant. So arrogant.

"What do you want from me? Why am I here at all?" I kept asking the same question because I really didn't understand.

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"The truth." I looked at him.

"The truth is the same, no matter how many times you ask. And you know it very well. I'm Richard Valentino. I can do whatever I want. And what I want now is for you to be here."

"Why?" I cut him out.

"Because there is no woman who can play with me and you will not be the first. Is it clear enough?" he shouted.

"So this is ... because I refused to sleep with you the night before? And you just decided to kidnap me to another continent? You're not human!" 

"I'm used to being told that." Richard laughed. "You're not the first nor will you be the last. And now pack your bags like a good girl or I might not be so kind." he cut off and went out.

You've never been nice.

He slammed the door and let me unpack my baggage.

What did this man want from me?

It was still unclear to me.

He kidnapped me because I refused to sleep with him?

Was he serious?

Was he such a disgusting man to kidnap women just to make them his own?

I would never be his.

Not sincerely, truly, sensually.

Never.

This man deserved to rot in prison.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

DOWSTAIRS

RICHARD VALENTINO P.O.V.

"You look angry ... doesn't the beauty listen?" John looked at me.

I looked at him with a bad look.

"Don't ask me about her. I wonder what I need her for at all."

"Are you thinking of taking her back to Miami?"

"No. Don't be stupid. She saw too much." I was thinking. "Maybe I should kill her."

"To kill her? Isn't that a little extreme?"

Extreme?

For me, this was not extreme at all.

"I've been doing this my whole life, John, are you seriously asking me if it's extreme?" I laughed.

"I mean, you don't know her well yet."

"And why should I get to know her?" I asked him.

I didn't meet new people. I've been fucking the women all my life and then getting rid of them.

This was my love life.

"To teach her to obey you. Will you give it up so early? It's easiest to kill her. You fall for the harder things, am I right?" John winked at me, waiting for me to answer.

Maybe he was right.

To murder her was the easiest option.

I didn't kidnap her to kill her, at least not right now.

At least I could have had fun with her before that.

"You're right." I answered. "This woman will get what she deserves... I'm going to ride now. I'll be back for dinner. You can go introduce yourself to her." I said and left the room.

IN LAURA'S ROOM..

LAURA P.O.V.

I heard the door open.

I thought it was Richard again.

But it wasn't.

A man came in. Tall, good-looking, and ... smiling.

"You must be Laura."

"And who are you?" I asked him.

It was probably one of the Richard's men.

"I'm a friend of Richard's." he replied in a calm tone.

Of course. I was sure.

Maybe he was coming to kill me?

Was Richard so cowardly that he couldn't do it on his own?

"Why are you here?" cautiously but sharply I asked him.

"I'm coming to introduce myself. I'm John." He smiled. "I'm coming to get you out of this room."

Would he really kill me?

"Before you kill your victims, do you introduce yourself to them?" I frowned fiercely.

"Excuse me?" he asked me with a slight sneer.

"You heard me very well! If you're going to kill me, do it here. And tell your cowardly boss, who couldn't kill me with his own hands, that I'll be waiting for him in Hell."

When he heard this, John began to laugh.

"Did I say something funny?" I was angry that he was taking everything as a joke.

Even the murder of a human.

"Actually yes." he continued to laugh. "I didn't come to kill you. I'm coming to walk you around the mansion. As for Richard, he went to ride his favorite horse, Spirit. When he gets home, he does this first."

Poor animal, had a terrible owner.

"Oh, that means I should feel lucky." I replied irritably.

"At least for now, yes."

"For now?" I got angry. "You don't seem to know anything for sure, do you?"

He didn't answer me. 

"Come on, Laura. Let's go." he pointed to the door. "And by the way ..." He paused and looked at me. "Richard is not my boss, but my best friend and business partner." he winked at me continued.

......

IN THE STABLES

RICHARD VALENTINO P.O.V.

I fed Sky and got him ready for riding.

"I missed you, my friend." I patted him.

In response, he brought his head closer to mine.

My favorite activity was this.

To ride and take care of Spirit.

After all, everyone had weaknesses, even me.

My weakness was this horse.

It was a gift from my mother.