CHAPTER 2
2242 Words
ZOE ROSSI
After a smooth flight and a brief walk through the small airport, Josh picks up a large, sleek black SUV.
The scenery outside the window quickly begins to change. The concrete gives way to towering trees and a road that snakes through the forest. I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Almost an hour and a half later, he announces enthusiastically:
“We’re here!”
I look out the window, and my mouth drops involuntarily.
A massive wooden mansion rises in the middle of the forest, surrounded by trees so dense that the sky is barely visible. It’s breathtaking, like something straight out of a movie.
“Wow...”, I murmur, still absorbing the scenery.
“It’s so beautiful... and so isolated.”
Josh laughs as he gets out of the car and comes to my side to open the door.
“My dad’s always liked privacy. And this house... it’s a retreat.”
As soon as I try to step out of the car, he effortlessly lifts me into his arms.
“Josh! I can walk!”, I protest, laughing and trying to wriggle free.
“I know you can, but let me spoil you a little.”
He winks at me, carrying me to the front door.
When he pushes it open, I’m left speechless.
The inside is even more stunning. The living room is massive, with a high wooden ceiling, a stone fireplace dominating the main wall, and sofas that look like clouds.
“This place is incredible. Where’s your dad?”, I say, looking around, fascinated.
Josh carefully sets me down on the sofa before answering:
“He had some important things to take care of, but he should be here by early evening.”
I nod, still exploring every detail with my eyes.
The wooden walls, the rustic touches mixed with undeniable luxury. It’s as if the house has a soul of its own.
“Let’s see our room, love.", he says, scooping me up again before I have a chance to protest.
“This house is huge for just three people...”, I comment, remembering that he lost his mother at a very young age and that his father raised Josh alone.
“It’s perfect, Zoe.”, he kisses my cheek, and I can’t help but smile.
When we get upstairs, he opens a door and sets me down.
I take a step forward and find myself in the most beautiful bedroom I’ve ever seen.
The space is vast, in cozy gray tones, with a massive bed at its center.
The detail that strikes me the most is the glass wall at the front, revealing the forest outside in all its glory.
“Wow...”, I whisper, walking to the window.
Josh watches me, leaning against the door, arms crossed, with that smile on his face.
He looks so handsome in his tight black shirt and tousled blond hair falling over his blue eyes.
“Do you like it?”, he asks, almost hopefully.
I turn to him, still smiling, and walk over to kiss him.
“It’s perfect. I love it.”
While he brings up the luggage, I take the opportunity to explore every corner.
Looking out the window, I see a large pool surrounded by trees, as if it’s hidden from anyone’s view.
We spend the next little while unpacking.
Even with my leg throbbing, I feel more excited than I have in weeks. By the time we finish, my hunger is roaring, and Josh decides to whip something up.
“I’ll be right back, love. Make yourself comfortable.", he says before leaving the room.
I wait a few minutes, but curiosity gets the better of me. I decide to go down to the kitchen, though each step is a struggle against the pain in my leg.
When I get there, I see Josh finishing up some pasta.
“It smells amazing!”, I say, approaching him and hugging him from behind.
“It’s almost ready, patience.", he laughs, handing me a plate.
I thank him with a kiss. It starts gentle but quickly becomes more intense.
“Zoe...”, he murmurs against my lips, trying to pull away.
“What’s wrong?”, I ask, confused.
“You’re still recovering, love. Let’s take it slow.", he says, holding my waist firmly.
I open my eyes and meet his, my heart racing.
“I need my boyfriend...”
Josh sighs but smiles before scooping me up.
“You’re impossible.”
He carries me back to the bedroom, and we lose ourselves in an intense moment together.
I needed that.
When I wake up, night has already fallen, and Josh isn’t by my side.
I slip on his shirt and carefully make my way downstairs, trying not to strain my leg.
As I near the ground floor, I hear voices at the entrance.
I hide around the staircase corner, peeking discreetly. Josh is at the door, speaking with a tall man in a suit.
“I don’t want anything happening while we’re here. This moment is important for her.", Josh says in a low, serious tone I’ve never heard before.
The man nods.
“Of course, Mr. Leone.”
“We don’t want any surprises.”
I furrow my brow, puzzled.
What kind of surprises? As I try to listen more, a step creaks beneath me, and both of them look straight at me.
Josh immediately smiles, but I notice the tension on his face.
“Is something wrong?”, I ask, carefully descending the last step.
“Everything’s perfect, love. Mason was just letting me know that a storm’s coming, and we might get stuck here because of the roads. But don’t worry, we have everything we need.”, he walks over to me and pulls me into a hug.
“And your dad?”, I ask, trying to hide my unease.
“He’ll be fine.", Josh replies quickly, avoiding my eyes.
I glance at Mason, the man in the suit with dark skin and piercing eyes.
He looks at me with intense, almost supernatural golden eyes.
A shiver runs down my spine.
“Miss Rossi.", he says, slightly bowing his head.
I step back, blinking.
I can’t look away from his gaze, which feels almost... threatening.
“Love?”, Josh calls my attention, pulling me back to him as Mason walks out the door.
Josh closes it firmly before hugging me again.
“Everything is under control. Trust me.”
I nod slowly, but something inside me knows he’s hiding something.
And whatever it is, it’s here, in this house.
PIETRO LEONE
The smell of a Cuban cigar, one of the rarest and most expensive in the world, fills the surrounding air.
The golden ring on my finger gleams under the faint light of the lamp as I release a slow puff of smoke and study the room in front of me.
I am sitting in a leather chair, reclined but far from relaxed.
Around me, the place feels like a portrait of hell: dark walls, heavy silence, and the oppressive sensation that only this place can offer.
My eyes fall on the phone on the table beside me. The screen glows with Josh's message.
He wants to know when I will arrive at the cabin.
"Will it take long?", he asked minutes ago, like an impatient teenager waiting for his father's approval.
I let out a frustrated sigh before replying.
"I'll be there in a few hours."
I know he's eager to introduce his girlfriend, but there are more pressing matters demanding my attention first.
I set the phone back on the table and lost myself for a moment.
Josh's message reminds me why I am here, sitting in this den of punishment instead of driving to the cabin.
Even before meeting the girl, I had her investigated.
It’s what I do with anyone trying to get close to my family, especially my son. Nothing is more important than protecting them.
She’s a simple girl, raised in a modest home with her father.
She lost her parents a few months ago and is now alone in the world. Josh seems smitten with her, but I don't trust anyone at first glance.
I know everything I need to know about her, from the school she attended to her most recent job.
She is... too innocent for our world, and that makes me uncomfortable.
"Mr. Leone, everything is ready.", Leonardo’s deep and firm voice cuts through my thoughts.
I glance over my shoulder, meeting the man standing with perfect posture and his hands clasped behind his back.
He is my best security guard, loyal to the death, and I need nothing more than his gaze to know it’s time.
I nod slightly, a gesture that requires no words.
I extinguish the cigar in the crystal ashtray, feeling the tension in my shoulders as I open the drawer to my right.
The gun is there, cold and lethal, waiting for me.
I feel its weight in my hand as I stand.
Leonardo’s footsteps follow mine, and soon two other guards join us as we cross the dimly lit hallway.
Each step echoes off the stone walls as we move toward the old dungeon, a dark remnant of the castle’s history.
The smell of dampness and iron fills the air as we descend the first steps.
The silence is broken only by the muffled sound of rain starting to fall outside.
The scent of human blood hits me, a visceral reminder of what I am.
My instincts nearly take over, but I restrain myself.
The staircase feels endless until I finally reach the last step.
The only source of light is a spotlight directed at the center of the room, where Marcos is chained to the wall.
The top of his shirt has been torn off, exposing his chest smeared with blood and sweat.
He raises his head when he hears my footsteps, and his eyes widen as he recognizes me.
"Mr. Leone, please! Hades, have mercy on me!", his voice trembles as he struggles against the chains, as if he could escape.
Hades.
That’s my nickname, and I like the name as the one responsible for sending souls to hell.
It reminds me of who I am.
A man and a beast at the same time.
I stop a few feet from him, feeling the gun firm in my hand.
I tilt my head slightly, studying him.
Marcos is trash, and he knows it.
Months ago, he attempted an attack on me, and now I find out he’s been selling underage girls to another boss.
This filth is intolerable. I do not allow the organization to be involved in human trafficking, much less something so vile.
"Did you have mercy for every girl who begged you, Marcos? I think not...", my voice is calm but carries a weight that makes his knees tremble.
"It was a mistake! I... I didn’t know... Please, forgive me! I’ll never act against you again, I swear! Just let me go!", he cries, desperate, as his voice echoes in the empty space.
My eyes burn as I stare at him, and the control I maintain over the beast within begins to waver.
I feel my muscles contracting, and my vision shifts for an instant.
My eyes flash to that unmistakable golden and red hue.
He notices. I see the panic grow on his face.
"Please, Mr. Leone!", he screams, but my patience has already run out.
I raise the gun with precision and pull the trigger.
The sound of the shot echoes, and Marcos releases one last breath before his head slumps to the side.
Silence takes over for a brief moment, but it is interrupted by the voice of my own hunger.
The beast is unleashed now, and I crouch over him.
I bite into his neck with force, feeling the warm blood run down my mouth.
His memories flood my mind, and what I see only fuels my anger.
Crying girls, muffled screams, despair. It’s disgusting.
My body trembles with revulsion, but I continue until I quench the thirst and erase the horror he carried.
"Clean this up.", I order, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as I step away.
Leonardo nods, and other men enter to remove the body and clean the mess.
Nearly two hours later, I’m finally on the road.
The storm intensifies, and the rain pounds against the windshield as I drive.
My mind keeps drifting to Josh and the girl.
"A human in the family...", I murmur to myself.
Does Josh know what he’s doing?
Does he understand the risks of bringing her so close to our world?
I can’t help but think she’s beautiful—almost too much.
I saw photos of her in the report.
Her hair is slightly lighter than I expected, and those big eyes hold a sweetness that intrigues me.
Still, I know I can’t let myself be fooled by appearances.
I drive faster as the rain continues to pour.
"I hope you know what you’re getting into, kid."
Josh might not realize it, but he’s messing with something that cannot be undone.
The sound of the engine fills my thoughts as I follow the winding road, the cabin still far away but getting closer with each mile.
- Writer
