CHAPTER 3-THE RULES
1295 Words
The room they gave me was bigger than the entire downstairs of my uncle's house.
I stood in the middle of it, staring.
There was a huge bed, a walk-in closet, a balcony overlooking the gardens and a bathroom that looked like it belonged in a hotel.
I dropped my suitcase beside the bed.
“Nope.”
I sat down.
“This is definitely a kidnapping.”
I looked around.
Nobody answered.
Because, apparently, talking to myself was becoming a habit.
I pulled out my phone.
Still no signal.
“Of course.”
I walked toward the balcony.
The moment I opened the door, I saw two men standing by the garden.
Security.
There were cameras everywhere.
I leaned against the railing.
So much for escaping.
A knock came from the door.
I turned.
A young man stood there.
He looked about twenty-five, maybe twenty-six, dressed in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
“Mr. De Acosta sent me.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“To explain the rules.”
I laughed.
“Rules?”
“Yes.”
“I don't remember agreeing to any.”
He sighed.
“I know.”
“What's your name?”
“Elvis.”
I stared at him.
“Elvis?”
He nodded.
“Seriously?”
“Unfortunately.”
I smiled.
“Okay, Elvis. Hit me with the rules.”
He pulled out his phone.
“Rule one. You don't leave the property without security.”
“Fine.”
“Rule two. You don't enter the east wing.”
“Why?”
“Because Mr. De Acosta said so.”
“That's not an explanation.”
“It's the only one you're getting.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Next.”
“Rule three. You don't go into Mr. De Acosta's office.”
“Easy.”
“Rule four. You don't touch anything that doesn't belong to you.”
“I have manners.”
He gave me a look.
“You don't seem like someone who follows rules.”
“I don't.”
He sighed again.
“Rule five. If there's an emergency, you stay inside your room.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if something happens, the security team will handle it.”
“Okay.”
He turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He looked back.
“Is Ricardo always this controlling?”
Elvis laughed.
Then immediately stopped.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You can laugh.”
“I enjoy being alive.”
I burst out laughing.
“Fair enough.”
He smiled.
“You'll get used to him.”
“I don't plan to stay long enough to.”
His smile disappeared.
“That's what everyone says.”
He left.
I stared at the door.
Everyone?
What the hell did that mean?
Before I could think about it, another knock came.
I opened the door.
Elena.
She walked inside without asking.
I didn't like that.
“You're settling in?”
“I'm not settling.”
She smiled.
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because Ricardo doesn't bring people here without a reason.”
“I figured.”
She walked around the room slowly.
Her eyes landed on my suitcase.
“You're really like her.”
“Like who?”
“Your mother.”
My body stiffened.
“You knew her?”
Elena looked at me.
“For a very long time.”
“Then tell me what happened to her.”
She smiled.
“You're asking the wrong person.”
“Then who should I ask?”
“Ricardo.”
“Why does everyone keep telling me that?”
“Because he is the only one who can give you the answers you're looking for.”
I stepped closer.
“What did my mother have to do with him?”
Elena's face changed.
Just slightly.
But I noticed.
“More than you know.”
Before I could ask another question, she walked toward the door.
“Wait.”
She stopped.
“Why don't you like me?”
She turned around.
For the first time, the fake smile disappeared completely.
“I don't know you.”
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she said quietly,
“Maybe I'm afraid of what happens when Ricardo starts caring about you.”
My heart skipped.
“What?”
But she had already left.
I stood there, confused.
Ricardo caring about me?
That didn't make sense.
He barely tolerated my existence.
At least, that's what I thought.
---
Later that night, I couldn't sleep.
The house was too quiet.
Unnaturally quiet.
I got out of bed.
I needed water.
As I walked down the hallway, I remembered Elvis's warning.
Don't enter the east wing.
Naturally, I went the opposite direction.
I stopped when I saw a door slightly open.
Light spilled through the gap.
I heard voices.
One of them was Ricardo's.
“You were told to stay away from her.”
Another man's voice answered.
“She doesn't know anything.”
“She knows enough.”
“She'll find out eventually.”
Silence.
Then Ricardo said,
“If anyone touches her, I want to know before they get within ten meters of this house.”
My breath caught.
They were talking about me.
I stepped closer.
The floor creaked.
The voices stopped.
I froze.
Footsteps approached the door.
I turned around and ran.
I didn't make it far.
A hand grabbed my wrist.
I gasped.
Ricardo.
He pulled me around.
“What are you doing here?”
I stared at him.
“I was thirsty.”
“At this hour?”
“Yes.”
“In the east wing?”
I looked around.
Then back at him.
“I got lost.”
“You're a terrible liar.”
“Thank you.”
His jaw tightened.
“You heard something.”
I said nothing.
“Tessa.”
I swallowed.
“What were you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Don't lie to me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You don't get to demand answers from me.”
“Why not? It's my life.”
“And I'm the reason you're still alive.”
I stepped closer.
“Then tell me why someone wants me dead.”
Silence.
That was all the confirmation I needed.
Someone did.
Ricardo looked away.
I watched him carefully.
“Who?”
“Go back to your room.”
“Who?”
“Tessa.”
“Who wants me dead?”
His eyes met mine.
“People who believe your mother left something behind.”
My heart pounded.
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I don't know.”
“What did she leave?”
“I said I don't know.”
I stared at him.
Then I whispered,
“Why do you care?”
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
“Because I promised her.”
“Promised her what?”
His voice became quieter.
“That I'd protect you.”
I didn't know what to say.
For the first time since I'd met him, Ricardo didn't look like a mafia boss.
He looked tired.
Almost sad.
Then his
phone rang.
He answered.
“Speak.”
His expression changed immediately.
“What?”
I watched the color drain from his face.
“Where?”
He hung up.
He looked at me.
“Get inside your room.”
“What happened?”
“Now.”
“Ricardo—”
“Someone breached the perimeter.”
My heart dropped.
He grabbed my hand.
“Stay behind me.”
And for the first time since I'd arrived at the mansion, I didn't argue.
Because somewhere outside that house...
Someone had come for me.
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