Swoosh… “I'm… awake… you, arsehole!” I mutter through chattering teeth as I glare at my captor, who is still donning a mask. “Oh, trust me, mil, I know. But you wreak, and this is my way of cleaning you.” He hums, then starts to whistle a tune. Swoosh… He tosses another bucket full of cold water over my shivering body and I grind my teeth trying not to scream. I don't want to give him the pleasure of knowing that he's causing me grief. “And you couldn't have used warm water?” I shiver uncontrollably as my teeth chatter. “Nope. I am not here for your pleasure. I am here to semi-clean the filth you have created in my basement. Besides, if you open your mouth, you'll be able to catch some water.” He puts the bucket down and starts to scrub the concrete ground with a hard bristle broom. “I'm not going to live, am I?” I whisper in defeat. He stops and looks at his watch. “We still have a few hours left.” He mutters and carries on with what he was doing. “That's a no, then.” “
ALESSANDRO, AKA DON VALENTINO.The alarm on my new phone goes off in my hand, and I swipe the red X icon to the right, shutting it off. Time has expired. Forty-five hours vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving me with nothing to show for them. I do not possess the documents and am uncertain whether they exist.“Capo!” Gio comes barging through my office door. I shut my eyes, saying a silent prayer, hoping he has some good news for me. As I peel my eyelids open, my eyes meet his. Steel-grey clashes with clear blue irises. 'Per favore, just utter the magic words, and we will be out the door in a heartbeat.' My inner beast howls with anxiety. “What is it, Gio?” My voice is cold, full of uncertainty and anticipation.'Per favore don't say anything stupid!'“Your phone, the alarm just went off.” He runs his hand through his light-brown hair. “We are out of time. It's too late.” He sighs with disappointment.I hold my phone up, “Do you mean this phone?” I ask him, astounded by his
As I come to, wriggling about, my body begins to ache. Something is savagely digging into my back and the air tastes awfully shallow.It smells of dirt, timber and… is that rain? I groan, reaching up to touch my throbbing head. "What the…”My elbow bangs against something solid, and I force my eyelids open, only to realise I've plummeted back into a blanket of midnight shadows.Shuffling around, realising I've been imprisoned in a…a...I use my hands to feel out my surroundings and I can feel four walls wrapping around me.I've been boxed in.I've been buried alive! No, no, no, no, no...One of my worst fears coming to life.I try not to panic too much, reminding myself that I need to conserve the last bit of air that I have.Banging on the wall above me, I start to cough and splutter as dirt falls through the cracks, dropping upon my face. “Help!” I croak, pushing upwards. “Please, someone help me…" I plead, feeling flustered and light-headed. I lower my hands, placing them over
I drift in and out of consciousness as a bright beam of light casts over me. Through a daze, I vividly see Alessandro leaning over my body, checking every inch of me as he removes his t-shirt from his torso and uses it to cover me. “Don't give up on us, Farfalla.” He says in a voice that is laced with distress. “We found you, you're safe and Selena is going to take good care of you.” I can see him touching my body, but I can't feel him, nor can I feel the tears that are slipping through my closed eyelids. Giving up on trying to stay awake.I don’t fight to re-open my eyes and drift off, losing consciousness once again.---I do my best to peel my eyelids open, but they won't budge. I can hear voices, whispering tones, but I can't make out what they're saying. I try to focus, but the slight burning sensation that is coursing through my veins overwhelms me and I start to scream, imagining myself pulling at my hair as my entire body feels like it's on fire. “It burns! Ena, Alessandr
TWO DAYs LATER.Needing a good dose of fresh air to clean the soul, I step outside the villa, tilting my face up towards the cloudless sky. I stare up at an ocean of baby blue hues as I soak up the rays and breathe in the clean air. The scent of freshly mowed grass lingers through the early spring breeze. I close my eyes, indulging in the moment. It's good to be alive! I inhale another long breath and smile as I exhale, and slowly open my eyes. "Ciao,” Alessandro smiles broadly as my gaze lands on his. Rolling my eyes heavenward, “can't a girl enjoy a moment of peace all to herself?” I ask him sarcastically with a smirk touching my lips. “Technically, you've had the last three weeks to pamper yourself with some peace and quiet.” He raises his brows with a hint of laughter glazing in his irises. “I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you've never been stuck in your own head before?” “I’m not obliged to answer that. Has Selena given you the all-clear to move about?” He e
“Me?” She screeches, placing her open hand over her chest in utter shock. Riccardo moves to stand beside me and Savannah, waving to one of the men guarding the perimeter to come over. The man jogs over to us, “what do you need me to do?” He asks, sounding serious. “I need you to take Savannah to the kitchen and get Mia to serve her some lunch,” Riccardo orders, looking at the man sternly. "Si, sir. Right away.” He replies and takes Savannah by the hand. “Venga con me, Let’s get some food in that belly of yours.” Savannah sighs loudly as she places her hand in the man's grasp, then waves at me with a sad look on her face. I wave back, blowing her an air kiss as I watch her being led away. When we can no longer see them, Mrs DeLuca continues with the dramatics. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner, Don Valentino. I know for a fact that your Mamma taught you better manners than this. I am your mamma’s most trusted and loyal friend. Yet, you choose to stand by her, some stray
Sucking in a razor-sharp breath, I take a step back. “He was gay,” I whisper. “And he couldn't father children of his own because he was infertile.” A single tear rolls down my face, creating a new trail of heartache. The heartache that I feel for him for losing the love of his life and watching his daughter grow up, calling another man papà. His face turns red, and he bites down on his index finger, trying to mask the roar that is threatening to erupt from his loins. “I told you not to believe a word that left his mouth. He is trying to mindfuck us both, and you are letting him.” He snarls cruelly, which makes me cower before him. “Find him and ask him for yourself. You had to be there to see the truth in his eyes.” I attempt to reason with him. “I can't ask him.” He bitterly snaps. I watch as he drags both his hands over his face and exhales with a murmured growl. I scoff at the realization that he killed my captor. “You murdered him, didn't you?” My brows knit together w
I clear my throat as I stand from the chair and step away from him.Distance. I need to keep my distance from him.“You need to stop doing that.” I breathe out emotionally. He sits on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms, and a ghostly smirk stains his annoyingly handsome face. “Why?” He asks with amusement. “You know why.” I deftly brush my fingers across my abdomen where my scar is. “This is wrong, and I am not my sister – I’m not Rose.”He snorts, “I can see that. When I look at you, I don't see or think of Rose. I see you, Ivy, and only you.” His brows knit together as he speaks, looking taken aback by his own admission.Licking my dry lips, “I can't give you what you want,” I whisper with embarrassment. "And what is it that you think I want from you, Farfalla?”“A good time?” I arch my brows, challenging him to correct me if I'm wrong.“And what's wrong with that?” “Everything. You know about my traumatic past. You are my sisters' ex-lover, and now you're…you're Savannahs