CHAPTER 4

I found myself lounging on the couch, scrolling aimlessly through the channels on the TV, trying to find something that could distract me until Salvatore arrives. Never had I imagined that I would wait for the husband I hated to come home, but there I was, hoping he walks through the door. Hours later, I heard Alessandro calling out my name, and I looked up, seeing him walking into the room. 

Why was he looking for me now? He had made it clear that he was not interested in having a conversation with me whatsoever.

“Yes?” I replied.

“Time to leave,” he answered and I frowned.

“Where are we going? Is my family okay?” I asked instead,

“I am taking you where your husband wants you and as for your precious family, you can ask him when you meet him.”

“You didn't…,” I started, but he cut me off.

“Get up. I don't have time to answer your questions and neither do have the answers,”  he snapped.

He might not look like his father, and he might not emanate his father's energy, but he surely was not a good guy. His looks were deceptive. This guy was effortlessly an *ssh*l*.

I was not eager to see Salvatore. In fact, I would have preferred to stay here, being babysitted by *ssh*l* Alessandro while Salvatore went to war with his rivals. But I needed to make sure that my family was fine. I needed to see Ben and Salvatore was the only access I had to my family. So I sighed and stood up and followed Salvatore.

We reached the elevator, and he punched in a code to get the elevator to open and we both stepped in. I awkwardly stood next to him until it opened again, and we stepped into a dimly lit underground parking lot with three expensive looking cars. He opened an Aston Martin and we both got in and he drove off.

Alessandro was not interested in any conversation with me, and I was okay with that. I actually preferred it that way since I needed to concentrate on the road and take note of the environment, just in case one day they brought me back to their house. Then I will know my environment and if I figure out a way to escape the house, it would be easier for me to run away.

But my plan flew out the window. As soon as Alessandro hit the main road, he was literally flying the car on the road. I had to grip the armrest tightly, my heart racing as I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the worst. 

“Alessandro, slow down!” I shouted in panic. But instead of listening, he took a sharp turn, making my body sway violently. A scream erupted from my throat and held on to the seat even tighter. I was getting dizzy and the food I had eaten earlier was threatening to come out.

“Alessandro, please,” I pleaded with him, but he ignored me, totally unfazed by my pleas.

I kept my eyes shut, too terrified to witness what could be my own death in a car crush. He took several more turns and then finally slowed down. 

I slowly opened my eyes and sighed when I felt the car moving at normal speed. 

I took deep breaths, calming myself until my heartbeat was back to normal.

“What the hell was that for!” I yelled, turning to look at him.

“Would you have preferred another dose of propofol?” he retorted, “I thought that would be easier for both of us than having you lying unconscious at the back of my car. Draws less attention to me and you don't get to have another dose of propofol swimming in your veins.”

He said it calmly as if this was a normal everyday conversation, reminding me that though he didn't look like the men in the mafia, he was part of it. He was the one to drug me so that he could take me to the penthouse without seeing where I was going, against my will. There is a word for that. Kidnapping.

I had to remind myself he was Salvatore’s son, and he was probably as twisted as his father.

I looked away from him and took a look outside. The building said we were still in New York but I had never been to that side of New York. 

We approached a neighborhood with old townhouses and I wondered what we were doing here. The houses were old and streets seemed to be abandoned, with nobody in sight.

A few minutes later, Alessandro pulled up in the driveway of one of the houses.

“We are here,” he announced as he put the car to a stop. 

“Okay,” I said, not sure what I was supposed to do. 

Just then, Salvatore opened the front door, and my heart thud and my insides turned.

“I said step out,” I heard Alessandro shout, and I jolted, looking at him. 

“Oh,” I uttered. I certainly had not heard him the first time. I fiddled with the seatbelt.

I reluctantly stepped out of the car, my eyes fixed on Salvatore. 

I took a look behind me and considered running away, but I was sure I was never going to go far. He would catch me. 

And Ben. I had to be strong for Ben. I pushed myself forward, walking towards Salvatore. 

I felt like I was a lamb, taking its  way to the sacrificial altar.

Salvatore reached out his hand for me to take when I was a few steps away.

“Mrs. Conti,” he growled, and my stomach churned at the name.

Why had he not died in that ambush? That would have been my saving grace.

“Sorry our wedding was cut short, but don't worry, I will make it up to you,” he said, taking me in his arms and pressing my body into his. 

Behind me, I heard the car starting, and I knew it was Alessandro leaving. 

“Are you okay?” I asked wise enough to pretend like I cared.

“I am a hard man to kill, cara,” he gloated, sounding way too sure of himself.

I only nodded and then asked what I really wanted to ask in the first place. 

“How about Ben? Where is Ben? And my father?”

“Both if them are fine and are safe,” 

“Where are they? I need to see them.”

“You are going to see them, cara,” he told me as he ushered me into the townhouse, “Right now, we enjoy ourselves. It is our honeymoon after all.”

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach and my palms started to sweat. 

It was time. I knew it. There was no running away from this. 

He led me through the house, still talking, but his voice faded in the background, replaced by the thudding of my heart as the notion of what was to happen haunted me.

He opened a door to a room, and it turned out to be a bedroom. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run away, but the image of Ben flushed in front of me, and I stepped further inside the room.

Salvatore turned my face to him, and I was now looking at his face. His gray eyes glimmering with lust.

His gaze made my skin crawl, and I looked away, disgusted by this man. His hands came up to my chin and forced me to look at him.

“Beautiful,” he uttered.

“Thank you,” I said, though a wave of nausea had hit me, but I knew I had to play along. 

I could fight, but no fighting him was part of the deal. So I was giving him what he wanted. It was safer that way. Not for me. I didn't care what happened to me. But it was all for Ben.