Chapter eight

Numbness, it was a feeling I had become accustomed to. A freezing lock box that I could throw myself into whenever needed be. The devastation of the situation had left me raw and vulnerable, the world I had grew up surviving in was full of vicious people full of ill intent. My father had tossed me into the hands of the most ferocious of them all. All dreams of finally being free from the Mafia are gone, reality was yet again showing her ass, now it was time to survive.

Arturo had really gone all out on not only the closet, but the entire room. Soft pink pillows, silk threaded sheets. Even an entire vanity with installed lights yet waking up was one of the last things I wanted to do. My entire intention is to melt into sheets and blankets, keep the curtains shut.

Just as my dream of freedom, Arturo stomps my small, small moment of a dream of peace. The ugly purple door slams against the wall as the devil in Gucci swaggers in. Reaching for a pillow, I shove it on my face. Turning towards the window instead of Arturo. “Ah, what is this? Do you plan to sleep all day, fiore?” He must have just got finish with a call or meeting, his deep accent penetrating the pillow, along with his annoying voice.

“vá embora” I can feel him standing over me, I am not shocked when the pillow is ripped from my grasp and a smirking demon is in my face. “I thought we had a deal?” My eyes touch the back of my skull.

“I remember no such thing.” brushing past him to the bathroom, he follows.

“We agreed only English no Italian or whatever you speak.” His big foot is blocking me from closing the bathroom door and his gaze is burning a hole through my head.

“I speak Corsican and Portuguese, asshole.” His smirk drops for a moment and he just stare. Fire eyes burning bright against dark features, Most Dons have this stare. It supposed to put the fear of god in you but at this point what is the worst that can happen to me?

“I have an important meeting and then we can have a late lunch.” I do not get time to answer because he turns and slams the door. I decide to award myself a moment of pettiness and slam the bathroom door as loud as I can.

“What did you do today?” For the second time today, my eyes kiss the back of skull. “You ask that question as if you don’t have me locked away in a tower.” I do not take my gaze away from the skyline of the beach. The waves were beautiful, the sun was shining, and breeze was soothing.

“You’re right, I should really check on the house renovations and then I can lock you in the basement.” My head spins towards him to fast I almost get whiplash, the bastard however is smirking, as if my torture were amusing to him. “Well, what would like you to spend your days doing?”

Sing my heart out even if I do not hit the notes right, dance like everybody is watching, and laugh so loud water comes out of my nose. My gaze drifts back to the beach and I almost feel the sense of freedom coming back. I quickly shove it back into the box and lock it before turning my gaze back to Arturo.

“I’d like to have freedom beyond the hotel room. You say you own me, but that doesn’t make me a prisoner.” His gaze flicks sideways so quick if I blinked, I would have missed it, a man across the outdoor restaurant, that would have appeared normal to anyone else but the mafia. A subtle and slight nod was passed before Arturo brought his gaze back to me.

“Of course, but I am especially important man, with enemies. You will have two guards when I am not with you.” I could only nod at that, Of course Arturo was dangerous but even bulls sometimes win against the tiger. A small silence started to fall between us, of course this man cannot stay in silence for long.

“You are very angry.” the statement is so random but there is no trace of humor on his face, “Besides obvious reasons, what do you have to be so upset about? You live a very luxurious life that will not end anytime soon.”

“It not my ‘luxurious’ life. This life I did not choose.”

“Ah Mi Amor, this life chooses who can survive.” I scoff. “We are humans. Not savages.” Arturo laughs obnoxiously. “But we are animals, no? It is survival of the fittest.”