Chapter 4

Catherine

The people here have some basic medical training and one of them is a doctor. At least he is a doctor on paper, but he is so lazy and distracted I suspect he has bought his license. The other three men and women, who have basic medical education, have more knowledge and experience than Dr. Davies.

That thought does not bring me comfort, but instead increases the feeling of dread hanging over me. Why would normal people with basic medical education have this enough medical knowledgement to assist in a surgery? 

I don’t have any time to contemplate this as I work on Nino. The bullet has shattered to some extent and has left a few organs in need of mending, but the damage is not as bad as it could have been. He was exceptionally lucky this time. The surgery still takes a little over two hours and when I’m finally done I am ready to drop to the ground.

I have not had a good night's sleep since the night between monday and tuesday, and now it’s wednesday afternoon. I did have a two hour break Tuesday evening before the car crash victims were brought in. Then add the stress and emotional exhaustion off my short visit to mom.

The people of the house were kind enough to lend me a dress since my clothes were ruined. The dress is nice and from some expensive brand, but it is a size or two too small for my taste. The tight skirt goes to mid thigh and the neckline is way too deep. Add my curves and I feel like I’m spilling over the top and gliding out the bottom. I growl as another attempt to pull down the skirt and pull up the neckline once again fails. A throat is cleared right in front of me and my eyes snap up to meet light brown eyes shining with amusement.

It’s the fallen angel from the parking lot. He has changed his white suit for a gray one but it looks just as expensive as the previous one. His handsome face is impassive except for the mirth in his eyes.

“Um. Hi. Um. The surgery went well and the man, Nino, will survive.” His eyes travel down my body and up again. He’s not even trying to hide it as he takes good time to check out my legs and cleavage. My cheeks burn bright red with embarrassment. His face doesn’t reveal if he finds me pleasing or disgusting, but I’m sure it is the second option. This is why I don’t enjoy wearing such revealing clothes. 

“This was the only thing they could find in my size. Or it is not my size. It is a bit too small. My clothes were all bloody and ruined.” I ramble on like I always do when a handsome man is looking at me. I might be a confident doctor and surgeon with strong opinions and good knowledge. But throw a handsome man at me and I end up a rambling mess. Unless he’s a doctor and we can discuss work.

“Um. Right. Then. Now that all this is taken care of I’ll just be on my way. Do you have any idea where my purse is? The people who gave me the dress didn’t know.” I wrap my arms around my body to hide the rolls on my waist and stomach. The man’s intense staring has me feeling uncomfortable and I really want to get home and sleep. When he finally speaks I almost jerk in shock.

“Your purse is well taken care of. I will show you to your room.” I scrunch my brow in confusion. My room? His voice is as enchanting as I remember but it is overshadowed by the words it forms.

“I am thankful for your concern about my exhaustion, sir. But I really would like to go back to my home instead of resting here.” 

“You will not be leaving this house for the foreseeable future.” I stare at him with shock. I must look like a fish on dry land with my round eyes and hanging jaw. He turns around and starts to walk down the corridor. I look in the other direction and see that the corridor comes to an end there. So I hurry after him to catch up.

“Um. Sir. I really need to go home. And my car is still parked outside the retirement home of my mother. They have a three hour limit for how long you can park.”

“That does not matter. You will be staying here.” I grit my teeth as irritation starts to bubble in my chest. He might be a handsome man but he is so inflated he’s floating high up in the clouds.

“Do you not understand what I’m saying? I want to leave right now! I need to go home and sleep because I need to be back at work tomorrow before lunch!” He comes to a sudden stop and with good luck I manage to stop before I run into him. He turns back to me with his face expressionless but his eyes burning with anger. I take a careful step back from him.

“I understand you just fine, Dr. Catherine Ross. But I wonder if you understand me?” I furrow my brows.

“No, sir. I don’t understand you. I say I want to go home.”

“And I say you’re not going anywhere. I’m saying that you will stay here until I give you permission to leave the building.” The anger is replaced with a sly smirk.

“Why?” My frustration is also replaced, not by mirth but by unease. His smirk turns into a full out grin. It is not a pleasing look or a comforting grin. It is scary, like the grin of a psychotic killer in a horror movie.

“Because I say so. We could use someone of your expertise here and therefore I am keeping you.” His eyes are dancing with amusement and the tilt of his chin is challenging. I narrow my eyes trying to decipher what he means.

“I am not a possession or a pet you can just decide to keep. I am a person with my own life. I have just given you a favor in saving your friend and your repayment is to mock and embarrass me?” I cross my arms under my chest in anger. His eyes dart down to look at my generous cleavage and I see his tongue come out to wet his lower lip. I shift uncomfortably as embarrassment and something else heats my body, but I refuse to back down. Ever so slowly he raises his eyes to meet mine once again.

“Oh, I am not mocking you.” His voice is low and husky as he stares at me with burning, hungry eyes. I barely manage to hold in the gasp that threatens to escape. “I am telling you how it is. Your repayment for your work is keeping your life despite having been in this building. Would you rather I kill you?” This time I do give out a gasp, out of horror, as his hand moves to his back and he retrieves a gun. My mouth goes dry at the sight of the deadly weapon even though he’s not pointing it at me, yet.

“N-n-no.” I stammer as I stare at the gun he’s holding casually in his hand. He smirks at me.

“Didn’t think so.” He turns and starts to walk again, the gun still being held in his hand for me to see. I silently follow a few steps behind him down the corridor, then up one set of marble stairs. My eyes fall to the weapon several times and as if he knows I’m looking he shows it off from time to time. I can imagine the smirk of satisfaction on his beautiful lips. 

To the left there is a landing and a set of double doors. A man sitting in a stuffed chair quickly rises and unlocks the doors to let us in with a small bow of his head and a respectful ‘Mr. Peccati!’ 

“This is Dr. Catherine Ross. She will be staying in this wing as well.” The man in front of me says but does not wait for a reply before continuing. I hardly have time for a quick ‘Good to meet you’ before I have to speed after him. Then he stops in front of a closed door and turns towards me again.

“This will be your room. And this-” He motions behind me and I turn and jump from fright when I notice a man standing behind me. When the fuck did he get there? “-is Pietro. He is your guard. He will be with you at all times except in your room. Then he will guard outside.” 

Pierto is an older gentleman with a haggard face and graying hair. He is slim but I can still see the toned muscles beneath his tight long sleeved t-shirt. On his chest sits holsters with guns in and at his waist I see at least three knives. He looks deadly and I’m sure he is.

“I would not try anything, like running away, because Pietro here is very stern and meticulous.” His voice is bored and his face shows no sign of emotions as he speaks. He opens the door to my room and steps inside. “In here is your space and no one except the maids are allowed in here.” He looks sternly into my eyes. “I mean no one. You do not invite anyone in here. Do you understand?” I nod and then step inside the room and he closes the door behind me. I feel uncomfortable to be closed inside a room together with this man. So I take a few steps away so I’m not too close.

“Does that rule include you?” I raise my brow in a challenging question and the smirk on his beautiful lips tells me I won’t like the answer.

“I am allowed in every room in this building. It is my mansion and every rule is my rule.” He turns away from me and motions for the two doors on one wall. “That is your closet and that is the bathroom. There is no need to try and open the windows.” He looks back at me with another victorious smirk. “They can’t be opened and they can't be shattered either.” I frown at him.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can.” I have to bite my cheek to keep from lashing out at him. I feel uncertain about my feelings for this man. I feel frightened because he is obviously dangerous. At the same time he angers me and brings forth my defying side. I want to test his limits, see how far I can push him, and see what he does to me when he breaks. This brings me to my last emotion, lust. I want him to do things to me I have only thought of in the darkest hour when no one can see or hear me. To hurt me, to punish me, to take me and use me to his own enjoyment. I am sure this man can do it all and more. That one feeling terrifies me more than the gun he has.

“Who are you?” His devilish grin has a shiver of fear, mixed with something dark and enjoyable, running down my spine.

“I am Alessio Peccati. The mafia king.”

It seems like our sweet and good natured Catherine might have a dark side that she hides. I wonder if she will explore these fantasies and desires with Alessio since he obviously awakens them.