Shadows of Desire

CHAPTER TWO

Harborview Heights, Los Angeles

Isabella sat quietly in the passenger’s seat of Giovanni’s truck as she listened to him go on and on about not being dog-headed and doing whatever her new master wanted.

“Master?” she thought to herself. She felt like a doll, a price that was given as consolation to someone who was wronged and that made her feel angrier.

Despite her anger and exasperation, Isabella did not once reply to any of her stepfather’s comments or advice. She had not once glanced away from the window of the truck, too busy absorbing the sights and sounds of Harborview heights. It was beautiful. She wanted to reach out and touch every tree and building they drove past. The skyline outlined tall and shiny skyscrapers set against the glittering sea and clear open skies.

All that Isabella managed to gather from her stepfather was that the man she would be staying with was a very wealthy and powerful man, and he lived in the poshest part of the town, the exclusive, beachfront neighborhood where the multi-million dollar houses stood proudly. It was at least a four-hour drive from their own small and modest town. Isabella couldn’t help but sigh contentedly as they rolled up the hilly part. She loved the ocean and was grateful to at least watch the sky and the ocean entertained her this one time before she faced whatever reality was waiting for her.

Soon, they were going up a more private road, steep and winding along the side of the cliff. Then they passed by an elegant sign of stainless steel letters on a black metal plate that said “Moretti”.

“Woah!” Isabella exclaimed a little too loudly as she craned her neck to see if she could spot the house in the distance, but the truck went through a few more curves.

Giovanni was now quiet. He was no longer giving her his incredulously ridiculous speech and was now tapping his fingers on the steering nervously as he took deep shaky breaths. Isabella was going to say something snarky and remind him that she was supposed to be the nervous one here as he was not the one about to be thrown to the wolves or something a bit wilder, before her eyes caught sight of a portion of the enormous mansion gleaming white against the late afternoon sun.

The truck stopped by the immense, white wrought-iron gate and Giovanni jumped down quickly and unloaded Isabella’s bag from the trunk.

Confused as to why they were stopping outside the gate, Isabella moved to question her stepfather as he walked rapidly towards the gate to inspect their surroundings.

There were two cameras that could be seen on either sides of the big gate overlooking the area, which Isabella guessed was watching them at the time.

Giovanni moved to the front of the cameras as he made different gestures that Isabella was sure was a secret code of some sort. Isabella held her grip on her bag firmly and tried to tuck her hair behind her ears as the late afternoon breeze kept messing with her hair. She walked towards the gate where her stepfather was taking hurried steps away from.

“Isabella, come here!”

She took hurried steps so that she could meet up with him faster, halfway. She noticed the look on his face and, dear God, did she want to laugh out loud.

“Listen,” he started, his voice low and trembling. “It’s time you put yourself to good use. Do whatever he wants. Don’t question him. Don’t fight him. It’s for your own good. You think I’m a scary man. Wait until you meet him. Don’t ever try to run away or think of getting help. This can only end badly for you, if you do.” He dipped his hand into his back pocket and took out a note.

“Give this to him,” he pushed the folded paper into my hand. “I’ll pick you up as soon as I can settle the debts I owe him, okay? Just be a good girl. Don’t disappoint me.”

And before Isabella could say anything else, Giovanni turned around on his heels, got into the truck and sped off.

Isabella stood there for a couple of minutes before she heard the sound of the gate behind her.

She took slow calming breaths as she turned around to find two stocky men in crisp black suits and matching ties. One had his head shaved, and the other tied his dark blond hair to his back. As they walked towards her, Isabella spied the earpiece they both had on and knew they were security. The one with the shaved head waited behind as the other guard approached her and whispered something into the microphone attached to his suit.

“Miss,” he started, swiftly assessing her and her bag strapped on her shoulder. “Where is your companion?” he asked in a flat, businesslike voice.

“He’s gone.” Isabella answered, trying to keep her voice clear, despite the turmoil raging in her.

“What’s your name?” the man asked.

“I-Isabella. Rossi.”

He frowned, his brows knitting together as he assessed the now empty driveway.

“What’s your business here, Ms. Rossi?” he asked again, this time pointedly.

Isabella could see why he was a part of a security detail. His eyes were always assessing, and his voice held a command that would have had her frightened if she didn’t have other things to be bothered about. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it, realizing she didn’t know why she was there in the first place. She took out the note Giovanni had left her and gave it to the man.

She watched as the guard flipped it over, catching Giovanni’s name and signature and another initial that was scrawled hastily at the bottom that said R. M..

The guard didn’t open the letter though. He turned around and gave the other guard by the gate a curt nod, which he in turn replied with a nod of his own. The shaved-headed guard went into the gate and came back with a scanning device as the blonde-haired one motioned for her to move forward. The device was used to scan Isabella and her bags before she was led into the gate by the two stocky men.

“Leave the bags. They will be taken care of”, the blonde guard said to her.

She followed both guards in as they talked about tracking her stepfather. She paid no mind to them as she tried to determine what fate awaited her. Isabella didn’t have the chance to marvel at her surroundings, she could feel a sense of trepidation wash over her. The imposing structure loomed before her. It was a fortress designed to keep out unwanted intruders and maintain the privacy of its wealthy inhabitant(s).

Inside, the mansion was just as impressive as its exterior. Marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, and ornate furnishings adorned the room. It was a stark contrast to Isabella’s humble surroundings, and she couldn’t help but feel out of place in such opulent surroundings.

“Please take a seat, Ms. Rossi,” the blonde man said, motioning to an opulent emerald-green sofa that exuded luxury. “Mr. Moretti will be joining you shortly. Excuse me.”

Isabella marveled at how well organized and arranged a person’s home and staff could be. The room exuded an air of understated opulence, with every detail meticulously curated to reflect the refined taste of the owner and his discerning eye for luxury. The pale blue walls were adorned with intricately framed artwork, each piece a testament to the owner’s appreciation for fine craftsmanship and artistic beauty.

Isabella wanted to run her fingers along the frames of each artwork adorning the walls. As she stood up to get a better view of one of the frames, she heard hushed voices.

“-find the bastard….. Does he take me for?...... get Shawn and Max on it right now….. He wants me to make her my w***e… Christ!”

Isabella could not move away from where she stood fast enough. The voices stopped abruptly when they saw her standing watching them. She looked up to find two men, one of which she had already met and the other she assumed was Mr. Moretti.

She couldn’t gather her thoughts fast enough. This man in front of her could pass up for Adonis.

“Holy s**t,” she thought to herself.