6.

Alessia

I have never showered so fast in my life as I did today. Angelo's warning rang in my head as I got ready for God knows where he was taking me. I opted for the same style of dressing – jeans and a top. I didn't care to apply lotion or powder to my face; I didn't see the need. This was going to be my first time seeing the outside since Angelo took me. I won't sit back, and I don't know how I was going to do it, but I'm going to give it a try.

"What is this you're wearing?" came Angelo's voice as I descended down. His eyes raked over my body from head to toe. I did the same. "Clothes, of course," I answered.

"I know they're clothes, but you look like an orphan."

"What?" I said in disbelief, anger building up inside me. The dots connected in my head. I looked at him straight in the eye. "Well... I guess you made me an orphan. I'm here against my will when I have a family out there. You can actually call me an orphan," I said bitterly. Something flickered in his eyes – a familiar rage. At this point, I couldn't care less what he would do to me. One thing is certain: I won't allow him to insult me.

"Don't test my patience, Alessia," he warned, his eyes getting darker. My insides were thumping with rage. I wanted nothing more than to find myself out of this dangerous world, to be with my family again.

"Then release me! Let me go!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Kevin marched forward to grab my hand when I jerked it away. "Don't touch me!" He was taken aback by the way I reacted.

"I don't know what sort of business makes you think you can take me against my own will. I've told you countless times that I am not involved with any mafia. For Christ's sake, Angelo," I pleaded, moving to stand in front of him. "Let me go. I promise I would never mention this to anyone. I swear on my life," I pleaded. Some part of me had hoped my plea would move him, but what he said next demolished the remaining faith I had left.

"Kevin and Marco, you guys can head to the location first. Elijah, you'll go with me." And he walked away just like that, leaving my words and pleas hanging. I bite my bottom lip, suppressing myself from breaking down in tears. If that's the case, I would make sure he regrets bringing me to his house. I will show him how stubborn I can be.

The night breeze that was blowing made chills run down my spine. I hugged my body with my arms as I hopped inside the car after Angelo had already settled down. Elijah roared the engine to life and drove away.

And that was how I sat beside the cruelest man I've ever seen in my life, threatening people over the phone. My face was turned towards the window. I wasn't actually staring out; instead, my mind was elsewhere. My parents, my friends, and my life. My concern was mostly on my parents. I know they would be worried sick. I didn't know when my hand unknowingly gripped Angelo's thigh as the car forcefully came to a halt. "Stick your eyes where it's supposed to be, you fool!" Elijah hissed out, hitting the steering wheel.

When my mind came back to my senses, I realized what I did. I jerked my hand away. "You know this would be the same hand you will use in giving me pleasure." I could swear my heart raced at his statement. I glanced at Elijah and saw he was also looking at me.

"Over my dead body," I muttered, although it was intended for him to hear.

"Calm down, Bella. You're not dying. At least not now."

What!

What did he mean by not now? Is he actually planning on killing me?

Shivers of fear coursed through my body at the thought of Angelo putting a bullet through my heart or head. I said nothing again and rested my back down. The car suddenly came to a stop again, making me lift my body. This time around, I was careful not to allow my hand or my body to go anywhere near Angelo. Like I said, it will be over my dead body for me to allow that to happen willingly.

My brows creased seeing the car in front of a boutique. "What are we doing here?" I asked even though it was pretty obvious.

"You don't expect to be around me looking like a beggar," he said and unlocked the door. My mouth opened and closed again. His statement made me look at my body. I don't see any problem with the clothes I was wearing. I rolled my eyes before getting off the car too.

Angelo was already halfway inside the boutique by the time I entered. Elijah didn't tag along. I scanned the large space that was filled with all sorts of different dresses – ones that scream luxury. However, what my mind was more focused on is how to find an escape. If I can take Angelo's attention away and also somehow manage to get out of the boutique, I would be able to escape. For that to happen, I needed to play along.

There is a practically reasonable number of sales associates. The youngest one among them approached Angelo. I didn't hear what he told her, but her eyes then shifted to me. Then she gestured to a door for Angelo. And that was where I was convinced luxury indeed is at its peak. "Give me the most expensive dresses you have," he said majestically, making himself comfortable on the couch with one leg crossed over the other.

"Give me a minute, Sir." The young lady bowed down politely and walked towards a stand, beginning to fish out dresses. I don't know the amount, but as she picked out a few, she placed them on a table and picked out another batch and another batch.

By the time she came back to meet us, she was panting hard. "Sir, I have the best and ones you can only find here. They came in earlier." She said with a tight-lipped smile, which I was sure was a forced one. Angelo's eyes flickered to the stack of the dresses before they shifted to me. "Go try them on," he spoke.

"Follow me, please, Ma'am." The lady said. I wanted to scream on top of my lungs or, more to say, grab him by the neck and strangle him to death.

We were about to move when Angelo spoke up, as if something had struck him. "Wait." He sat up, stuffing his hand inside his pants pocket. "Where is the changing room?" He asked the lady. A look of surprise danced across her face. "Sir... It's there." She pointed at a door not far from us.

"Bring the dresses over. Let's go." Shock and fear gripped me when he grabbed my wrist and led us towards the changing room.

"What are you doing?" I said as he kicked the door open. The changing room is big enough to have a bed in it. Oh, it does have a couch inside and a big mirror. But that wasn't my focus. The man holding me by the wrist and making my legs all weak was my main problem.

The lady entered the room with the stack of dresses and set them gently on the couch. "Now get back to work. We would call for your attention when we're done from here."

The lady didn't argue. I don't know whether it was the way Angelo's voice came out controlling and sharp. With pity in her eyes, the lady flashed me a look before sauntering away. I was left all alone with Angelo in the room.

"Why are you doing this?" I let out. He released his hold from my wrist and marched towards the dresses, picking one of them. "Do you think I don't know what plan you're scheming inside your head? You want to run away," he said. My breathing hitched. How on earth did he know that was what I was planning on doing?

I gulped down my saliva when he took slow steps towards me. The look in his eyes isn't pleasant at all. "You won't be able to escape from me easily, Bella," he uttered.

I couldn't explain the amount of fear that gripped my heart when his hand snaked around my waist, pulling me to him. My hand landed on his chest. "Why?" I tried to summon the words out, but Angelo cut me off when he pulled the buttons from my jeans. "Let me help you in trying the dresses," he whispered.

The thumping of my already beating heart grew two-fold. My legs felt weak as he began pulling down my jeans. "Wait..." I exclaimed, stopping him. "I can do that myself."

"I know you can, but I want to be the one to do that for you." My eyes widened at his statement. "So do yourself good and do exactly as I say."

His lips curved up into a smile. And then he ordered. "Turn around."