Francesca was the younger sister of Adriano who was killed by the Russian authorities during their gnag’s illegal drug operation in Russia five years ago - that’s according to the women in uniforms. They also show me her photo, but she doesn’t look anything like me. I pity Giulia, Adriano’s mother, for desperately insisting that I am Francesca. When Adriano enters my designated bedroom, the women in uniforms quickly jog out of the room. I wanna beg them to stay, afraid that Adriano may try to r.ape me again. But, I also fear that he may punish them because of me. I sink my shaking self onto the headboard again. “Don’t be scared,” he says. “I’m only here to talk.” The genuineness and the softness of his expression sends a wave of relief through me. “Mom starts eating properly again, and also stops crying and going berserk again,” he continues. “Name your price. Pretend as Francesca until she regains her sanity.” At first, I find his request ridiculous. But then I realize, I
MARIUS’ POV: Urg! An excruciating pain explodes through my ribs as one of the armed men’s foot strikes it mercilessly. “Stop being an a.ss here! You’re not a big boss anymore, but just a slave!” the armed man says. I hiss as I force myself to pick up the spade and dig the mud for diamonds again. My exhausted and dirty body keeps on moving, but my head is elsewhere - Hazel. Over the last few days since I’m sent to this illegal mining site, I’ve tried my best to find her. But it seems that she’s not brought here with me. Though I’m worried that I don’t know where she is, I’m also relieved that she’s not here. Hazel won’t survive this harsh condition; working under the sun all day, digging and swimming through muds without proper equipment for a diamond that barely exists. I overhear from the other miners that this illegal mining site is being operated by a mafia gang from Italy. But why, among so many others, are we chosen to be k.idnapped by this mafia gang? It can’t be j
“I’ll give you the best, unlimited s.ex of your life, if you can help me get out of this place.” The lie comes out of me so naturally.. Francesca chuckles. “You think I’m that desperate? S.ex isn’t the only thing that makes my world go ‘round.” “Sure,” I say, leaning onto the chair. “I heard that you can’t step foot in Europe, and that you have to fake your death too to save your gang’s a.ss.” Francesca’s face contorts in anger, but she has no words to deny what I’ve said. So I continue, “If you team up with me, I can use my influence and my father’s wealth to change your identity. I did that to my wife before and it worked incredibly for her.” Interest piques behind her eyes. “Now that I have to take a risk, s.ex is off the table. I want to be your equal instead,” I add. She laughs again. “Equal? Hell, no!” “Fine,” I say, standing up. “Then let your brother treat you as his own slave indefinitely.” Francesca flinches, but says no more. I walk out of her tent without looki
Bang! The bullet barely licks my cheek and makes it bleed, before whooshing past me. “That’s a warning! I’ll kill you the next time you run away!” Francesca hisses as she hands the rifle to one of her men. I’ve escaped death several times before, so I’m not feeling even the slightest shiver of fear with her warning. Still, I must be more careful next time. Her men drag me inside her tent, and I’m too beaten up to fight back anymore. They then toss me on a bunk bed, making me moan in pain.Francesca crouches down beside me, and wipes my wounded cheek with a soaked towel. Once her men step out, she whispers menacingly into my ears, “I’ll give you your freedom, if you help me overthrow my brother and become the Boss of my gang.” “I’m so tired of living behind his shadows, always following his commands but never getting the credits I deserve.” Good! This is my perfect chance to take her brother’s role; controlling her! “First, I need to regain my connections from the powerful in
Italy, at last! I have a strong inkling that this is where the Le Distruzioni has brought Hazel, and that we’ll finally meet again. Francesca and I book separate hotel rooms the moment we arrive. I thought it’s just to spend the night and rest, but it turns out that this is where she’ll keep me while doing things on her own. I’m not sure if Francesca is s.tupid or just careless for always leaving me behind. To avoid suspicion from the Italian authorities, she didn’t bring or contact any of his gang soldiers to guard me, which means I can just escape her anytime and tell the authorities about her. I head into her room where she’s already preparing to leave again. “I thought we're in this together?” I ask sharply. “Do you think I trust that you really wanna help me overthrow my brother? Of course not,” she answers with a hint of mockery in her tone. “You only wanna find out where your wife is. That’s why you wanna stick with me.” Anger flares through me. I clutch Francesca’s jaw
HAZEL’S POV: My heart is brimming with joy and relief to finally see Marius well and alive. I know he’s into something to save me and get us back home to our sons, so I must help him in any way I can. Over the last few days, Giulia has been doing psychiatric therapy, which she refused to do before me. The women note the improvement on Giulia’s behavior; she’s happier and friendlier to them now than she was before. But when I ask the woman why can’t Giulia remember the face of her real daughter, and how come the real Francesca is still alive, none of them has the answer. Adriano emerges from the door while Giulia and I are watching a movie together. “Can we talk in private, Hazel?” he asks. Giulia doesn’t seem to mind, so Adriano and I head outside the theater room. Before Adriano can talk, I ask him first. “Since your sister isn’t really dead, why don’t you have her stay with your mother, instead of me?” Adriano doesn’t, or more likely, can’t answer. He has a heart of a
I try reaching Marius through his email and social media account, but he’s not responding. I’m sure he has access to a phone now. So it’s either he’s being monitored all the time or he can only use a phone whenever he’s demanded to. I hide my cell phone underneath my piled up clothes, which are Francesca’s old clothes, inside my luggage. As I make my way downstairs, Giulia appears before me. “Please don’t die again,” she begs, apprehension on her face. I hug her. “I won’t.” … But it’s for my family, not for you. And I hope that I’ll never come back here again. I’m sorry, Giulia, and take care. Adriano and I, together with some of his gang members, drive towards the airport. Using Adriano’s private jet, in three hours, we land in Venice. The beauty of Venice makes me daydream of going back here one day as a tourist, not as a prisoner, with Marius and our sons beside me. Suddenly, Adriano leans into my ears, too close that I have to step back and glare at him. He doesn’t min
All hell breaks loose! Marius strikes Adriano’s cheek with his clenched fist, forcing Adriano to tumble backwards. He then safely pulls me behind him when Adriano’s men surround him with hands hovering over their guns. However, none can dare to pull their guns out. This exposes another weakness of their gang; they can’t do wherever they please in a public place. But, what will they do to us once it’s just us and them? Adriano stands up, his hand on his lips, wiping the blood and hiding the bruise. Then, security guards come rushing towards us. “Cosa è successo qui?” One of Adriano’s men talks to the security in Italian, while squeezing some cash into their palms. Adriano also motions for his men to relax, and so they do. But Marius is still enraged. The security guards sense that, and they ask him a question, only this time in English. “Anything we can do, signore?” Marius wraps his arm around my shoulders protectively and answers, “Yes, escort me and my wife to our hote