Saviour.

CHAPTER 2 

SOPHIE

AT BIANCHI’S ESTATE.

I still can't believe I followed Vincenzo Bianchi to his estate after he sorted out my bills. The moment I stepped into the boutique and looked up to see his face, I immediately recognized him.

The mafia don, Vincenzo? He was the devil himself.

But something was off. He kept calling me "Alessia." I couldn’t wrap my head around why he was using that name. It seemed he must have mistaken me for someone else.

For the past two hours, I had been brought here, my heart racing nonstop, my hands trembling, and my lips quivering.

Vincenzo Bianchi. Who doesn’t know that name in this city? I do. That name has sent many to their graves without a hint of remorse. Damn it, Sophie, I sighed silently. How the hell did I end up in this place? My husband, Leo, might be a devil, but he’s an angel compared to Vincenzo, the man whose estate I now found myself in.

I slowly approached the window and gently slid back the curtains. I barely knew where I was. As I gazed outside, a deep sense of awe washed over me at the opulence surrounding me. This was the infamous Vincenzo estate, where men were rumored to go and never return.

The estate was a sprawling mansion, with manicured lawns and gardens that seemed to stretch on forever.

I sighed and let the curtains fall back into place. This wasn’t my problem right now. I needed to leave and see my mother in the hospital. That was all I cared about. I hadn’t been able to visit her since Leo wouldn’t let me. Now that I was free, I had to see her.

Turning my attention to the room where I had been kept for the past few hours, I sank into one of the plush couches. Despite the luxury surrounding me, an unsettling feeling lingered. I had no idea what Vincenzo's intentions were. Why had he brought me here? And why did he call me "Alessia"?

I pulled out my phone and attempted to dial my brother's number, even though I knew he might have blacklisted me after countless calls during my mother's illness. But as I tried to connect, I realized there was no signal. It seemed all communication had been cut off inside this estate.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and a woman who appeared to be in her late forties walked in. I rushed toward her, desperation in my eyes.

"I need to leave now. Take me out," I pleaded.

She didn't seem fazed. Instead, her lips curled into a smile. 

"Hello, miss. I understand you want to leave, but you can't right now. You have a deal with Vincenzo, and you haven't fulfilled your side of the bargain," she said.

I gasped. What? These people must be insane. A bargain with Vincenzo? How could that be? I had barely spoken to him.

I glared at the woman. "What do you mean?"

I stepped closer, my voice rising. "Listen, ma'am, I need to leave this place immediately. It's a matter of life and death!"

"I'm sorry, but you can't leave right now," she replied calmly.

"Why not?" I shot back, my anger boiling. Am I being kidnapped?

"Master paid for your bills and has claimed you as his for tonight," she said.

I stumbled back, caught off guard by this turn of events. I never asked Vincenzo to pay my bills. Not that I had the money, but expecting me to repay him with my body was absurd.

"I will pay him back!" I protested. "I will pay him back for the dress he bought at the boutique. I just need to make some calls and get out of here, please."

"I'm sorry, but the network is cut off inside this place. You can't make any calls," she replied.

Desperate, I grabbed her arm and crouched low, pleading. "Please, you need to let me go. I need to be somewhere important or at least make some calls."

"The hospital?" I paused, my brows raised in curiosity. "How did you know that?”

She smiled. “Master is covering the hospital bills. Trust me, your mother has been moved to a good facility as we speak.”

I swallowed hard, struggling to believe what I was hearing. Why was he doing all this for me? He had paid my bills and now was taking care of my mother’s medical expenses. What did he want in return?

An unsettling tension filled the room as I stood there, uncertain about my next move. I couldn't figure out what Vincenzo wanted from me.

The woman extended her hands, offering me some clothes. “Master wants you to submit to him tonight. You need to put on this dress and wear a blindfold before he comes to take you.”

“And after that, can I go see my mother?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Once you satisfy the Master, you’re free to leave after you’re paid.”

With that, the woman left, and I sighed, sinking onto the plush bed. I cradled my head in my hands, grappling with the deal I had unknowingly entered. I should have known that meeting Vincenzo was a bad omen. He was the devil himself.

Clenching my fists, I gritted my teeth and breathed rapidly. All that mattered now was my family. I would do anything to keep them safe. Besides, the deal didn’t seem that bad, right? Just one night in exchange for my mother’s well-being?

Hours later, I stepped into the bathroom and quickly changed into the negligee that had been provided. The beautiful silk red nightgown was sheer enough to reveal my figure, trimmed with delicate lace and fine straps.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling hands. I reminded myself that it was just one night, that this would all be over soon. My mother would be fine, I would be compensated, and then Vincenzo would let me go.

I slowly tied the blindfold over my eyes and sat there, waiting for him to come. Just like the devil, I soon heard the door creak open, and my breath caught in my throat. I gulped sharply, my heart racing and hands trembling as I felt his fingers graze my skin.

"Let's go to my world, Alessia," he whispered, his sultry voice sending shivers down my spine as he gently lifted me into his arms.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, my heart pounding in my chest while anxiety washed over me. Why was I suddenly feeling warm from his touch?

"Come on, Sophie, snap out of it!" I reminded myself. "He is the devil. I'm only here for the benefits he has to offer, and that’s it."

Moments later, he carefully set me down on my feet. His hands rested on my waist, his breath hot against my neck.

"Welcome to my world," he said, as he untied the blindfold. I flicked my eyes open, and my gaze wandered around the room. I gasped silently at the array of equipment: whips, cuffs, candles, oils, and even a picture of a woman.

I turned to him, my voice shaky. "What is this place?”