FIVE.

The gentle rustling of leaves, carried away by the forceful gusts of wind, fills my ear canals.

The dulcet tones of a beloved melody, orchestrated by the very hand of Mother Nature, overflow into the air.

It’s like she is whispering to me in a hushed tone, saying, "Don't throw in the towel. Fight. You got to own your mind, body, and soul, kid. It's the only way to survive in this world. The streets are tough, and the sharks are always circling. But if you're in control of yourself, they can't touch you.” I absorb all the wise words she hums solely for me.

The stench of dust and rotting flesh invades my senses, causing my gut to twist and my lips to moisten as I struggle to hold back the bile. 

I've lost track of time.

I don't know whether it's day or night, and I'm not sure if I'll ever see Savannah again.

Don Valentinos' goons took me for a ride, far from the city's bright lights. They hauled me into a deserted building and tied me up, leaving me here to rot.

His goons had blindfolded me with a rough cloth, muting my screams with a rag.

I'm exhausted, famished, and parched beyond belief.

Every time I swallow, it feels like I am swallowing a handful of shattered glass and my tongue feels like it's grown double in size, making it difficult to speak.

My throat is raw. My body aches beyond belief, and a fever ripples across my skin. 

My mind drifts to Savannah fuelling my hunger to save her, my hunger to survive.

How can I let her live in the Villa with such a monster?

A man who doesn’t have an ounce of empathy within him.

Does he have no compassion for women whatsoever? 

I’m sure there are laws in the Elite Families bible about harming women and children.

He's the devil incarnate, a grim reaper with a heart as black as coal, a grinch who steals joy and a boogeyman, who haunts your dreams all rolled into one.

 Don Valentino is like a dark and stormy night, causing the air to grow thick with the stench of fear and desperation.

He's the kind of night that makes even the toughest of men shiver in their boots. 

But maybe he is haunted by his own demons, his mind swirling like a vortex of nightmares and horror stories. 

It's also possible that he has been cursed by the gods themselves, doomed to live a life of eternal torment that he must reflect upon others.

'You have gone too far!' was one of Don Valentinos’ final statements to me.

Like kidnapping me and leaving me in the middle of nowhere for multiple days in a building that's falling apart with rodents isn't a big deal?

The icy wind whips through my body, sending shivers down my spine. My teeth clatter together like a pair of dice, and my hands tremble. I bring them to my mouth and blow on them through the rag, trying to warm them up.

I sense a presence in the room, someone lurking in the shadows. They're motionless, observing my every move, counting every breath I inhale and exhale.

I groan as I shift my weight on the unforgiving concrete floor. The icy touch of the ground feels like a thousand tiny daggers stabbing me all over. I tug at the chain that binds my ankle to the wall, the metal links clinking against each other.

“Hello?” I croak, “please, is anyone there?” My mouth is as dry as the Sahara. “Water?” I beg with a growling stomach.

Countless days have passed since I last tasted a piece of food, caught a glimpse of daylight, or relieved myself in the bathroom.

“Please!” I croak again, clearing my throat. 

I hear approaching footsteps and instinctively retreat until my back meets the cold, hard surface of the wall. The clink of keys echoes in the atmosphere as the lock clicks open. 

Chains hit the ground with a metallic thud, sending goosebumps down my spine.

The rag is yanked from my mouth and a few strands of hair from my scalp with it. “You listen to me, and you listen well, Miss. Bishop. If I ever catch wind of you trying to make contact with Savannah again, there will be consequences. And trust me, you don't want to know what those consequences are if Don Valentino gets his hands on you again” A gruff voice finally breaks through the silence that engulfs us.

“I. I… I don’t care what Don Valentino does to me.” I stutter, trying to find my voice. “He can go to hell, and I’ll meet him there when my time comes. Together, we can tear each other apart and then dance in the pits of fire for joy.”  

A low chuckle departs between the man’s lips, with an underlay of amusement accompanying it. “I’ve given you a warning, what you choose to do with it is your business.” He grumbles.

I snort, who does this douchebag think he is?

When there is love involved, nothing will stop me.

 “You know what you can do with your warning, you bastardo?” I sigh breathlessly.

“Charming.”

“You can shove it up your ass like a large roll of spicy chorizo. It’s probably the only excitement you’ll have while I’m still living, breathing, and hanging around the Villa like a bad smell until I get what I want.” I give him a little warning of my own.

“Do you truly believe that Savannah needs a gold-digging Aunt by her side?”

“Gold digging, Aunt? Is this what this is all about?” I hiss, feeling deeply offended. “Your fucking boss thinks that I am after his blood money? I’d rather choke on my own blood before I accept anything from him.”

When Rose married into the Valentino family, we never asked for a single dime. She fell pregnant after spending one night with Alessandro, who was nineteen at the time. After our father found out, he was livid, and he evicted Rose from our home following our mother's demise.

Alessandro came to her rescue and offered Rose and their unborn child a place to stay.

All Rose had to do was marry him before the birth of their child, and because she was unable to return home, she accepted his proposal feeling like she had no other choice.

“I don't want his money that's tainted with the blood of an innocent.” I spit out with disdain saturating my voice.

“Cease your foolishness. With the passing of your sister, a newfound desire to become an Aunt has stirred within you. You are fooling no one, not even yourself.”  His hearty laughter echoes through the empty building, causing my confidence to crumble in his presence.

No amount of money could ever purchase genuine bliss.

In this world, there are those who off themselves in pursuit of wealth, and those who off others to maintain it. Money can't buy true love. It's always been the root of all evil and it will always remain that way.

I sense his presence as he crouches down beside me, his firm grip on my upper arm. “Up!” He demands.

“Owww,” I let out a whimper as he yanks me up by my collar with his other hand.

Suddenly, being yanked upright, causes me to lose my bearings and become disoriented.

“Get a move on," he growls, yanking on the chain and propelling me forward with the blindfold still wrapped around my eyes.

Suddenly, my knees throb with pain as I stumble over what seems like a hefty rock. I crash to the ground, my face taking the brunt of the fall, and my head slams against the pavement, rendering me unconscious.