SANTINO

Samantha 6 months ago " Sammy wait up for me!" My best friend Mark shouted as he ran to try and catch up with me. I kept the fast pace not waiting even though Mark asked me to. The professor would kill me and Mark if we went in late. Only a few minutes were left and I was trying to move my long feet as fast as possible. " Just shut up and ran, you know what Professor Bernard is like he will murder us!" Like literally murder the hell out of us. Mark had been my best friend for a long time now since high school and we have been very close ever since he saved me from some guys who wanted to bully me. Well, that was before everyone knew that I was very rich, more like brother Ethan who happens to be excessively rich. It's how up to now I still don't know how he got so rich he always says I shouldn't ask him questions. One time he called it a pyramid scheme but I doubt that was even the truth. Mark finally managed to catch up to me he was panting heavily. " Girl you can run. " He put his hand over what I could assume was his fast-beating heart. " I already told you, I don't wanna die here. I am only 20 I still have a full life to live here. " I rushed out as I continued to rush through the hallways with Mark on my tail. We finally reach the door, and we both stopped to catch our breaths. Mark bent down and his hands over his knees as he continued to breathe in and out hard. " I think I am gonna pass out. " He moaned. Through the excessive breathing, I managed to let out a laugh. " You are such a baby we only ran a short distance. " I replied to him with amusement on my face. He rolled his perfectly green eyes then pouted his thick pink lips. I gave him the go-ahead and he pushed the classroom door wide open. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that Professor Benard was waiting for everyone to get settled. We were saved from his wrath at least. He abruptly jerked his head in our direction and I passed him a guilty smile as I took my seat in the front row. The class commenced and the whole time I kept thinking about this man I once dreamt about, the whole time the dream made me shiver. He seemed dark and dangerous yet for some reason, I was curious to know who this mystery guy I kept dreaming about was. Though I had a dangerous feeling that I had seen him before, something about him seemed familiar but dangerous. Before I knew it the class was done. I was packing up my notepad in my sling bag when Mark came to disturb my peace and thoughts. He put his hands around me " I missed you, Nev. " He pouted and whined like a little kid. I rolled my eyes a habit of mine that I couldn't get rid of besides nail biting. It's gross I know. " But we have barely spent an hour apart. It's not my fault you chose to seat far away from me. " I replied. I slang the bag over my shoulder and began to walk out of the lecture hall with Mark following me behind. Mark was very handsome and very social almost everyone in school knew who he is. I walked slowly back to my room as all my classes were done for the day. Marks 6'3 height towered over my 5'9. I was quite tall for a lady and I loved my height, yet for some reason, Mark always seemed to find a way to tease me about it. " Where to without me?" Celine my other best friend joined us. We were quite a bunch when we all met up together. I had a hard time making friends when I first came to oxford unwisely then I met Mark who was the social type and soon enough he introduced me to his bunch of friends. I managed to fit right in. " I am going to the room, I don't know about Mark. " I answered. " Rude much, I am accompanying you to your room remember? " I pretend to think about it, then shook my head my long wild curly brown hair bouncing on my shoulders. " Nope, I don't remember. " Mark glared at me and shook his head in return making his straight blond locks fall on his forehead. He looked so boyish and cute at that moment. He was hot that was for sure no wonder almost every girl went crazy when they saw him. " Mark you are such a lair!" Celine shoved Mark's shoulders. I couldn't help but laugh. " Ouch Celine" Mark massaged his shoulder. She smirked at him and I smiled in return. They always did this shove each other around. " Anyways I have somewhere to run to. " Celine replied. " Where to exactly?" I asked her. She smirked, " Sammy, since some of you here don't have any action in your lives just cobwebs growing down there. " " Ouch! " Mark yelled as he laughed at me. I raised my middle finger at Celine and she only smirked in return before she walked away. Mark continued to laugh at me the whole way back which was more than annoying. I just wanted to slap him so hard till he was quiet. And that is exactly what he did. I ended up feeling guilty though not so much. " Maybe you should let me clean out those..." I put my hand over his mouth to stop him from completing his damn sentence. He attempted to talk with my hands on his lips but it came out as a jumbled mess that only made me chuckle. We reached the room and I throw the bag on top of the bed. Mark was finally quiet as he watched me walk around the room. Trying to get some change of clothes. It was a Friday and one thing we needed to do was to go out clubbing. " Close those damn eyes," I told him as I began to undress. " Geez, they will be closed. " He turned around and faced elsewhere. Despite being a jerk most time, he knew how to respect women. I don't know how but it did fit so well. I grabbed a simple red tight short dress that I paired up with some pumps and a jumper on top. A weird choice I know. " You can look now!" I waited for him to turn and when he did he assessed. "Lose the jumper. " Was his only statement. " But I don't want to. " I whined. " Nope, you need to show off your beautiful caramel skin and those sexy curves you got girl. " He hyped me up. I rolled my eyes typical of Mark to say but anyway. Like he said I lost the jumper and we were ready to go. It was weird at first for every friend of mine when they learned that I had an ensuite all to myself. Well, that was before they learn just how rich my brother is. And even though he pays for everyone he never bothers to visit me. He claims to always be busy with work. The same work that I don't exactly know what he does. MY elder brother closed-off person after all. And honestly I never really bothered to inquire much. By the time we left the place, it was dark outside. We took my car which was a Rolls Royce convertible well courtesy of my brother. We reached the club and it was already buzzing giving me the hype that I needed. It wasn't a bother to get in as the door bouncer already knew my brother. We got in and I already had this feeling that tonight was going to be memorable. I was quick to take some shots to get myself in the mood. Mark too took some as he stayed by my side while we waited for everyone else to come. For some strange reason, I could feel some eyes watching me and when I looked around I didn't see anyone at all. How strange. " You know you have never really told me about your bother. I only know his name but what does he do? Doesn't it surprise you how he has so much money he easily spoils you and every club owner lets you in as soon as you mention his name? " Mark asked me. He sounded worried rather but this was the place to ask such questions. " I told you I don't know. We ain't as close as you think we are Mark. Now drink up and loosen up." I passed him another shot that he took. Soon enough the rest of the bunch joined us and it was getting even more fun. It was going to be one hell of a night. I took some more shots enough to get me dancing. Stephan one of my friends from the friend group joined me in taking more shots while Mark left to dance with the others. " I missed you, Sam. " He shouted close to my ear over the buzzing music. " I missed you too!" I replied. He smirked. " Great let's get this party started." We took our last shots the bitter taste burning the back of my throat. And at that point, I couldn't even see properly. Things began to get foggy and that was exactly what I wanted. I knew I was safe with my friends around. I went to the dance floor and began to move my body according to the beat. I missed most steps laughing out at how crazy that was. Through the dances, I felt the touch of strong arms around my waist and a hard body behind me as he guided me to dance with him. He smelled of sandalwood, a scent I oddly loved. I was in the moment and I enjoyed his touch on my body. My body swayed along his as he controlled the pace. He groaned, " as much as I wanna do more of this. I am sorry that I have to take you with me, princess. Your brother has to pay for what he did to me." My foggy mind took time to register what he meant and when I realised that I was dancing with the wrong man it was too late he had already put a cloth over my mouth that had put me to sleep instantly.