Rosalia's pov
His grip on my arm was anything but gentle. I stumbled in the high heels I was wearing.
"A…Alessio, sto—!" I hissed in pain. But he didn't stop, if anything, his grip tightened. He dragged me like a rag doll, tears pricking my eyes, my body trembling. I was scared of what this asshole would do to me. My heart rate picked up, my breathing came out in shallow gasps. I felt the panic attack claw at me as he led me down a spiral staircase.
The basement. Shit.
"You're gonna learn your place here, Raven," he growled, flipping the lights before leading me to a room in the back. It was small, dark, and it stank so damn bad. The floor and walls were wet. He threw me inside before following behind me.
I backed away from him.
"Alessio… stop…" I whimpered, my voice came out so small it sounded pathetic. He grabbed my wrists and the cold bite of metal stung my skin. I tried to pull my hands away, but he held them, securing my wrists tight, and did the same to my ankles.
"S…stop please…" I pleaded, but he didn't spare me a second glance. He flipped the lights off.
"You'll stay here until you learn to watch your mouth and respect who owns every inch of you," he growled, then shut the door behind him.
Darkness swallowed me. I've always been afraid of the dark and small spaces because I can't see anything. I brought my knees to my chest, choking on my tears, my heart pounding in my ears, my hair all over my face. My hands trembled as I blindly reached down to take off my heels.
At least they weren't complicated, so they slid off easily. My feet stung from the cold floor.
I whispered, "Hold four seconds… breath… in… hold… four… breath… out," repeating the rhythm, practicing my breathing, but it didn't exactly help. My head felt light.
"Oh god…" I whispered when I realized I actually couldn't breathe.
---
ALESSIO'S POV
I'm fuming,literally. If steam could come out of my ears, it would. Raven,she's not what I expected. I was expecting a scared, fragile little ugly thing with her head down and a "yes master" attitude. Instead, I got a drop-dead gorgeous, blue-eyed, fire-breathing woman.
I was two seconds away from wripping that silk dress from her beautiful body and reminding her who she belongs to .
But I must say,this is a lot more fun. I like them feisty. Still, there's a part of my chest that twisted when I dragged her to that basement; my hands shook a little when I restrained her with those chains. So small, so scared,pleading me to stop. I wanted to stop. I did. Not sure why, but doing so would make me look weak, especially in front of my mother.
I slammed my study door and dropped into the leather chair behind my oak desk, swinging slightly, running a hand through my hair and across my face.
"Fuck!" I cursed, standing and pouring myself a glass of whiskey. I don't like this feeling one bit,never felt it before, never thought I'd feel it,guilt.
I sat back down, swirling the liquid in my hand, when a knock sounded on my door. Of course everyone needs me when I'm having a "leave me the fuck alone" moment.
"Come in," I called, voice low but audible and steady, threaded with exhaustion.
In strode Matteo,my right-hand man and head of security,in a black Italian suit, clean-shaven head, earpiece in place. Composed.
"What is it, Mat?" I asked, leaning back in exhaustion.
"We couldn't find her, capo," he said, standing in front of my desk, hands behind his back, face stone-cold.
I groaned. "Why the fuck do I have to do everything myself, Matteo?" I snapped, irritated,my men could be useless sometimes.
"You're telling me… you got outrun by a twenty-year-old woman in the woods… a whole army of men?" I asked, pointing the glass at him before setting it down with a click.
"The rest of the mission was accomplished… she's the only inconvenience, sir," Matteo replied.
I sighed, hands over my face. "If she comes back or if you find her,handle it. Am I clear?" I looked him dead in the eye ,if I hadn't been seated, I would've punched his stupid face.
"Did you pay him?" I asked.
"Yes, capo. He flew out of the country. We made sure of it," he said and I nodded.
"Go," I said. He left.
Last night my father and I assassinated the most powerful family in our world the Valez. They'd been hidden for almost a year, and we took the opportunity to track them down and raid their home.
It was smooth, and the person who offered us the information was someone who'd never have been suspected in a hundred years.
Only problem is… Rafael and Seraphina's daughter, Rosalia Valez, escaped into the woods.Ive never met the girl , all I've heard is rumours of how beautiful she is, I've never exactly been interested.
My men couldn't find her. I know things like this,people like her always come back for revenge. Everyone knows that. But I'm not about to lose sleep over a twenty-year-old brat.
Another knock on my door nearly sent me pitching the glass across the room from frustration.
The doorknob turned and in strode my mother, still angry from earlier. Great.
"You need to… get a new wife, son," she deadpanned, pacing in front of my desk.
"I don't need two wives, mother," I scoffed, looking at the paperwork on my desk.
She stopped pacing and glared at me. "Get rid of that hoe and I'll get you a decent woman," she said, raising her voice.
I slammed my fists on the desk. "I'm not replacing her, mother. I'm not wasting my time looking for another woman. You wanted me to have a wife,deal with her. Raven stays, and that's final," I yelled, my voice dropping on the last part. She flinched,the hurt on her face was evident.
"You're choosing that… that…" she stuttered, and I glared. She didn't finish. Good.
"Even your father is disappointed," she said, moving closer. I downed the last of my drink, having had enough of her.
"I don't care what your husband thinks, mother," I said, searching for my bedroom keys.
"You should. He helped you with the Valez—are you forgetting who they took from you? What was his name again… oh," she said, stepping in front of me. I raised my hand.
"Don't," I warned, voice low and dangerous, daring her not to utter his name.
She nodded with a satisfied grin for getting under my skin .
"Get rid of her, or I will do it myself. And you know I don't bluff," she said, cocking her head.
Enough with this bullshit.
I stepped into her space. "If you touch a single hair on her head, I might forget we're blood. Don't test me," I warned one last time before storming out of my study and walking straight to the east wing where my bedroom was.
I sat on the edge of the bed, hands on my head, elbows on my knees, and all I could think about was that girl in the basement.
A knock on my door spiked my anger. "What?!" I yelled, stomping to the door and swinging it open.
Outside stood Maria, head down. She flinched. "S…sorry to interrupt, sir, but… I… I was—" she stuttered.
"Talk, Maria. Jesus," I sighed.
"I went down to take food to her as you instructed, but… she's passed out and unresponsive," she said, her voice small and worried.
My blood went cold.
"Call Doctor Lee. Now," I ordered, then shoved Maria with my shoulder as I speed-walked to the basement.
Fuck…!