Il Suo Zaffario (His Sapphire)

Chapter 4

The next day, I woke up feeling depressed. The sunlight peaking through the curtain made me know that it was now daylight. I forced myself out of bed, the weight of my situation pressing heavily on my chest. I dragged my feet into the bathroom, I removed all my clothes then took a long bath.

Right after I brushed my teeth, staring into the mirror at the girl I barely recognized. I slipped into a simple white tee and short shorts, trying to shake off the feeling of despair that clung to me. I pulled my hair into a messy bun, letting out a sigh that echoed through the empty space around me.

A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The door creaked open, and Logan stepped inside and I rolled my eyes.

"Good morning," he said, his tone surprisingly gentle.

"Morning," I muttered, keeping my gaze on the floor.

"Breakfast is ready," he informed me, taking slow steps toward me. I instinctively took a step back, pressing my back against the wall. Why was he getting closer?

He closed the distance between us, and my heart raced. When he reached out to touch my hair, I flinched, expecting the worst. "There's something in your hair," he said, plucking a stray piece of string. "You don't have to flinch, you know. I won't hit you."

I couldn't tell if he was sincere or just playing a game. Stepping back, I crossed my arms. "Now let's get you something to eat," he said, taking my hand in his. His grip was warm and surprisingly soft, sending an unsettling flutter through me. What was wrong with me?

As we walked down the hall, I gathered my thoughts, needing to break the tension. "I have a question," I said, halting my steps. He turned to face me, curiosity etched on his features.

"Ask away," he encouraged, his dark eyes searching mine.

"Did you kidnap me because of what I did at the bar?" I asked, bracing myself for the answer. He chuckled, and I couldn't help but wonder why.

"No, it's a bit more complicated than that," he replied, his voice low and serious.

"What do you mean?"

"There was always something about you that caught my attention, Sapphire. Every time I entered that bar, your eyes told a story." He took a step closer, and I felt my heart race for reasons I couldn't comprehend. "Your eyes sparkle with mischief and determination. Your energy is infectious, and I could tell you were smart, confident, caring, and kind—but..."

"But?" I echoed, my voice shaky.

"Beneath all that lies a wall of pain and sadness." My breath caught in my throat as I fought to maintain my composure. "You hide your past behind a facade of strength. But deep down, I can tell you are hurting. You know how I know this?" He leaned in closer, whispering into my ear, "Because it's something I'm used to, bellissima."

I pushed him back, my chest tight with emotion. "That's not true. You know nothing about me," I retorted, my voice rising despite my fear.

"I took you because I wanted you to have a better life—a life where you wouldn't have to worry about getting hurt or shouted at," he explained, his tone earnest. "Yes, I can come off a little strong, but trust me, I'm trying my best to tone it down. I don't want you to feel scared. No matter how long it takes, I'll try my best to make you feel comfortable."

"Why would you want to do something like this for me? It doesn't make sense. There has to be a catch." My heart raced with confusion and fear.

"No catch, Amour," he said, holding out his hand. "Come on, I believe someone owes you an apology."

Hesitant, I placed my hand in his. He led me downstairs, a chill creeping down my spine as I sensed something was off. Logan opened a door, and I froze, my stomach twisting at the sight before me. A man was tied up, chains binding him, his body beaten and barely recognizable.

Wait. I knew him. He was one of the guards from the bar—the one who had touched me without consent.

"You owe her an apology," Logan said, letting go of my hand.

The man looked up, fear and desperation in his eyes. "I—I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you. Please forgive my rudeness," he begged, his voice trembling.

My heart raced, caught between fear and anger. "Yes. I forgive you," I said, my voice shaky, but I felt the pressure of Logan's gaze urging me on.

"Good. You can set him free." Logan signaled to a man who stepped forward from the shadows to release the guard.

"Let's go, Sapphire," Logan said, and I followed him out of the room, my mind spinning.

"Who are you?" I asked, still reeling from what I had just witnessed.

"I am the Italian Mafia," he said, his tone steady, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket.

My eyes widened. I had suspected as much, but hearing him say it sent a jolt of fear through me.

"I would never let anyone hurt you again," he added, his expression serious. "If they try, the same thing will be done to them, or even worse."

I gulped, my mind racing with the implications. Was I truly safe here, or was this just another layer of a dangerous game?

~~~~

My mind had been racing all day. Should I even try to escape after seeing everything that this man was capable of? This guy was Italian Mafia— I think it would be best and much safer to just follow his rules. He promised not to hurt me, but I still couldn't understand why anyone would bother to care about me. When I thought about it, being here wasn't as awful as I'd imagined. I was well-fed, well-cared-for, and had more freedom than I'd had living with my uncle. The only real restriction was that I was cut off from the outside world.

"Sapphire," his deep voice called, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to see him standing in the doorway of the living room where I sat on the couch watching TV.

"Tomorrow we're going shopping so you can get yourself some clothes," Logan said. I nodded, trying to keep my thoughts focused.

He turned to leave, but before he could walk away, something impulsive slipped out of my mouth. "Wait. The guy apologized for touching slapping my ass, so you owe me an apology too for what you did yesterday."

A smirk appeared on his lips, and I saw that mischievous glint in his eyes. In a flash, he was right in front of me. Suddenly, I was lying on the couch with my hands pinned above my head. I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. "Is that so?" he asked, his face so close to mine that I could feel his warm breath on my skin.

I found myself lost in his deep blue eyes. In the midst of all the fear, I'd never really looked at him this closely. Nyah was right—he was incredibly attractive. It was as if every detail of his appearance had been meticulously crafted. His tattoos only added to his allure.

"Y-yes," I managed to stammer. He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear.

"If you'd behaved yourself like a good little girl, I wouldn't have had to tap you," he murmured, sending my heart into overdrive. I hoped he couldn't hear its rapid thudding. His lips were so close to mine that I almost expected him to kiss me, but he pulled back. Not that I wanted him to kiss me, anyway.

He released me and straightened his suit, smoothing out the fabric with practiced ease. I still didn't understand why he was always so formal.

"I'm going to bed. You should too, since tomorrow will be a long day. Or you can stay up if you want," he said. I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. "Good night," he added before walking away. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling a mix of relief and frustration.