Chapter Four

I fell on my knees before I could even stop myself. “Please, he's just a kid, please don't hurt him.” 

“Oh Nazlynn, come on. I'm not a monster, I would never hurt a child,” he said, his voice softening briefly.

“That’s only because my men have no problem doing that,” he ended, shattering my hopes.

My eyes flickered back to the screen. It was a live video, the man walking beside Enzo pulled out his gun just enough for me to see it. I held a shaky hand to my mouth.

“He's just a child!” I screamed. “Are you guys even human?”

“It's quite simple actually, you know. I needed a wife and I made arrangements to get you, all you have to do is show up in six days and act like the perfect wife. You do all that, your brother is safe. It's a win-win for us, right?” He asked, not at all sounding like he was asking.

My bottom lip quivered but I forced the tears away. “I'll see you in six days then,” I said, standing up to walk away.

“You will go with me to meet my family tomorrow and then to the bridal shop to get a wedding dress two days after,” he said, making me pause in my tracks. 

Maybe I could make a run for it at the bridal shop, I'll call Enzo and have him meet me at the airport and we'll go somewhere away from all this madness. 

Perhaps report to the police so I have a restraining order on him. I should text him now, but where the hell is my phone? 

“Oh come on Nazlynn, are you really thinking of running off again? Do you even have any idea who I am?” He asked, so close to me that I could almost feel his breath on my neck. 

I walked away because no, I really didn't.  

On my way back to the room, Maria approached me, bowing her head like she did before.

She was still dressed in the uniform she had on earlier. “Please let me know if there's anything you need. I'm here to fulfill all your needs and help you with whatever you need ma'am.”

“Please tell your boss that I need my phone back,” I said, opening the door to the room. 

“Mr Alessandro would decide when you get your phone back. He has asked me to give you a full tour of the house and the garden. Would you prefer to have the tour now or after you eat breakfast?” She asked in a monotone voice. 

“I'm not hungry, now is a good time.”

That was a lie, and my stomach picked that exact moment to let out a loud grumble. 

Maria's eyes flickered to my stomach before looking away. Crimson rushed to my cheeks in embarrassment. 

“Let's go for a tour.”

Maria was an excellent tour guide, she showed me all the places that were necessary to know as well as a pictorial map giving directions to places around the house. 

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Maria brought in my lunch but I couldn't eat. I kept thinking about how my father was connected to all this. 

My hand trailed to the back of my neck where I had felt a sharp pain the other night. He must have injected me with something that made me pass out. 

I was filled with hurt. Why would he do that to me? 

By the time Maria came to call me for dinner, I saw her disapproving stare at the food that was still untouched. 

“I'm not hungry, tell him I won't be coming down. Thank you,” I said to her retreating form. I didn't miss the way she froze at my words before saying. “He'll be expecting you.”

I had expected her to come back with some other order that he had given, but what I was not expecting was to see Luca standing in my room. 

Especially not when I was standing in a large towel that no longer seemed large enough with water dripping down my hair. 

“Luca!” I squeaked.

“How old are you?” He asked, looking at me with darkened eyes.

I took a step back although he was steps away from me. “I know I look young but thinking I'm a minor is a bit absurd. It doesn't really matter, like I said, I would die before I let you touch me?” 

He rolled his eyes. “I asked how old you were because you're acting like a fucking child who needs babysitting. Do you expect someone to drag you to the dining room and spoon feed you?” He asked with irritation evident in his voice.

Oh! He wasn't asking because he wanted to have sex with me. 

“Well no! I'm just not hungry. You can't expect me to be hungry when I'm being kept against my will and forced to marry a drug lord or some shit,” I yelled.

He took three intimidating steps towards me, each one making me take two back. “Would you like my friends in Atlanta to pay your brother a courtesy visit in that boarding school of his?” 

I didn't answer.

“I didn't think so. Get dressed and come down for dinner,” he ordered before walking towards the door. 

“Oh and get over yourself, Nazlyn. I can get any woman I want with a snap of my fingers, why would you think for a minute that I would want you?” he said without turning to look at me. 

—

I picked out a pair of brown pants and a cream top to go with it. I was trying not to look tacky but at the same time, not look like the intention was to impress. 

I opened my door to see Luca standing outside. “Took you long enough,” he said without sparing me a second glance. I felt a pang in my chest but I quickly brushed it away. I couldn't care less what he thought of me.

We had driven for about forty minutes when the car stopped at a gate that was similar to the one at Luca's. 

The man who was driving buzzed the intercom and spoke Italian before the gates opened for the car to roll in.

The mansion looked as large as Luca's, maybe even larger but I couldn't tell since they had completely different structures.

“Don't do or say anything that I wouldn't like. You really don't want to see me mad Nazlynn,” were the only words he said to me before stepping down from the car.

When Luca had said we were going to see his family, I had expected an elderly couple, a younger sister or two, maybe a younger brother and perhaps a dog? 

But the eyes that were staring at me were anything but…