KIDNAPPED BY THE MAFIA [THE PERAZZO SERIES]

EIGHT | Contagious smile!

[ZARINA]

“Get out! And leave me alone!” I yelled, but the two women standing in front of me didn’t seem to be affected. They continued to stare at me, their expressions stoic and unwavering.

The older woman had an air of authority about her, and her age showed in the fine lines etched around her eyes and mouth. Despite her age, she carried herself with poise and elegance. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek, low bun that accentuated her sharp features. She wore a black dress with white sleeves and a white garment draped around her waist, which gave her a regal appearance.

A younger girl stood behind the older woman, with golden-brown hair elegantly knotted in a ponytail that swayed flawlessly behind her back as she craned her neck to check out the room. Despite the elegant appearance of the room, she seemed to be seeing it for the first time, which was unusual considering the maids were expected to keep everything tidy. She wore the same dress as the older woman, and her childlike features made her a joy to behold. I could only imagine how infectious her smile must be. She held a tray of food that was impossible to ignore, though perhaps that was just because I was starving.

Come on, Zarina, you can do this! Skipping one meal won’t hurt you. Pull yourself together!

For the last few minutes, I’ve been rehashing the exact same words, but the two of them are busy acting deaf and ignoring my pleas, no matter what I say.

The older woman spoke up, her voice soothing and gentle. “We understand how you feel, Miss, but these orders come directly from the master himself. We have no choice but to comply. Besides, you must be famished. You haven’t eaten since last night,” she pointed out.

An absurd idea popped into my head - what if these two women knew that I was being held captive against my will? Would they be willing to help me if I asked them nicely enough?

However, as I studied the older woman’s demeanor, I couldn’t help but think of her as one of those strict and unyielding teachers from my orphanhome days. She struck me as the type who wouldn’t hesitate to report a misbehaving student to the principal or send a humiliating note home to their parents. My hopes of seeking help from her quickly dwindled.

“I don’t give a damn about your masters! Hell, I don’t even know who they are!” I screamed, throwing my hands up in frustration. A soft giggle caught my attention, and I turned to see that it came from the younger woman. The older woman scowled at her, causing her to quickly clamp her mouth shut, though it was clear she was barely holding back her laughter.

As our eyes met, she shifted her gaze to the floor but still wore a curious grin on her face. It was obvious that she was finding this conversation thoroughly enjoyable.

The older woman let out a weary sigh. “Miss, we both know that we have no choice in this matter. The decision has been made, and unless the master tells us otherwise, it would be in your best interest to comply. It would be better for all of us,” she said, her words laced with resignation.

I knew she was right, but I couldn’t help feeling a sense of frustration and anger. Why did everything have to be so complicated?

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

The old lady gestured to the younger girl, who stepped forward and placed the tray of food on the bed in front of me before retreating to her earlier spot.

The woman whose name I still didn’t know introduced the young girl in front of me. “This is Lizzy, and she will be at your service from this moment on. If you need anything, just let her know, and she will be happy to assist you.”

“I should take my leave now,” the woman continued, “And Lizzy?”

“Yes, Ma’am?” The girl, who had been quiet up until now, perked up and raised her head.

“Take care of Ms. Zarina and remember what I said earlier,” the woman instructed, giving Lizzy a strained look. I watched as the young girl obediently bowed her head in response.

The older woman finally left, leaving Lizzy and me alone in the room with a thick sense of awkwardness hanging in the air.

For what seemed like an eternity, my eyes flickered back and forth between the untouched food and Lizzy. She remained rooted in the same spot, tapping her foot gingerly, breaking the silence in the room without seeming to care too much about it.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, I finally spoke up. “How old are you?” I asked, breaking the uneasy quiet.

“I’m twenty, ma’am,” she replied, and I nodded in acknowledgment. “I think you should eat something,” she suggested, jutting her chin towards the tray of untouched food. “You must be famished,” she added with a bright smile.

To my surprise, I found myself grinning in response. Maybe it was her infectious positivity or the fact that my hunger was becoming too much to ignore, but I knew she was right. It was time to eat.

I knew her smile was contagious.

“Out of curiosity, do you actually like being here?” I ask, hoping to gain some insight into this strange situation. Something about this place just didn’t feel right. It looked like a regular home, but why would someone keep a hostage in their own house? Wouldn’t someone notice?

All of my thoughts vanished as soon as she began to speak.

“My father sold me to the Perazzo family to settle his debts. Until we pay off every single penny he owes, I have no other choice but to stay,” she explained, her face devoid of emotion. It was as if she was accustomed to answering such questions, as if this was just a normal part of her life. The revelation sent chills down my spine, and I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be in her shoes.

As the woman spoke, my gaze dropped to my lap, and a sharp pang shot through my chest. I didn’t know why, but I found myself opening up to her. “My mother abandoned me when I was only days old,” I said, my voice shaking. Fresh tears welled up in my eyes as I spoke. “She left me on the doorstep of an orphanage.”

It was unbelievable how much it still hurt to say those words out loud, even though I had practically grown up around them. The warden at the orphanage never let us forget the harsh reality of our situation. We were the children that no one wanted, burdens that no one wished to bear. Our families had dumped us, treating us like a waste to be thrown away in the dustbin.

We both fell silent for a moment, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty for ruining the moment. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything at all. It was clear that she had her own problems to deal with, and I didn’t want to add to them.

Suddenly, she spoke up, startling me out of my thoughts. “Fùck them!” she snapped, her annoyance evident in her girlish features. I was taken aback by her sudden outburst, unsure of what had caused it.

Wait. What?