LOST ROSE

1

-Antonio's POV-

Accept the rose, and you'll die.

"Why are you wearing leather gloves?" My blind date asked me and I raised my eyebrows. Why so curious?

For answering only you the question, I wear them because of my scars and tattoo. No one, except for me can see them.

Still so curious, aren't you? About me?

I am Antonio Vera, the mafia's leader. 24 years old and kill girls for fun, my own pleasure and when I am usually bored. The police are scared of me, everyone is. That's why they can't do anything, like putting me in jail. So can't they touch my gang's members? We never get caught in the first place.

My gang is my only family. My mom's parents killed her. What kind of parents was they? Well, I don't care anymore. I usually spit on their grave after I visit my mom's grave. Enemies? Villains? I don't have any.

And like every Tuesday and Friday, I go out with a new blind date. Never really turned my toy to my girlfriend. But, they accept the red rose over and over again. And this is bad. It's like they're accepting their death. After using them for one night, I kill them in the middle of the night.

Of course, I stay with my gloves. I never really took them off. Only when I shower and clean the thorns of the roses for my next blind date, I take them only then off.

Where I got the scars from? Well, cleaning the thorns of the rose with my bare hands can leave a lot of bloody cuts behind, you know?

I looked at my blind date, her eyes so dark blue, like the ocean. She was blonde and her boobs looked not like hers from my view. Well, she'll accept it anyway. I am sure about that.

I mean, who wouldn't accept a rose? A red rose after all?

My gang members David, Tedi, Noah, Gabriel, Ronaldo, and George do the same too. But with different roses. Different color.

Ronaldo uses the pink rose for his blind dates, David the white one, Noah the orange one, George the yellow one, Tedi the purple one, Gabriel the cream one and I use the red one.

They don't go further than a one-night-stand, but I do. I kill the ones, who accept my red rose. Where we got all the roses? From my mom's ... now my secret place.

"Why so curious, princess?" I asked with an eyebrow raised, she nervously bit on her lower lip.

"I-"

"You know, it's not good to be too curious. Being curious can lead to ...death. Can bring you to danger." I winked at her and she nodded immediately. She behaves. Interesting.

"Did you order something?" A waitress asked us, holding her pen and notebook in her hands. I looked at her from head to toe.

Ah ... that's why I keep bringing my blind dates here. Because of that one waitress. Again, she sneezed. Why does she always sneeze when she's around me?

"Pardon me. Um ... so, what would you like to order?" She asked again, sniffing cutely. I looked at my blind date and scoffed when I saw the jealousy in her eyes.

"Bella!" Her boss called her and I started mumbling her name for myself, to memorize it.

"They already ordered, you useless girl. I told you to ask table nr 21!" She gasped at that and quickly bowed over and over again until he harshly started to drag her with him.

I tilted my head to the side, already killing him in my mind. She had long black wavy hair and green eyes. Having green eyes is very rare.

Well, let's start with the interesting part.

"You like roses?" I asked her, but I was still looking at the waitress, she was crying and begging him for something. Probably not to fire her.

"Yes, red roses are my favorite ones." Of course, they are.

"Oh really?" I locked my eyes with her blue ones and she nodded, blushing. I scoffed amusingly while smirking.

I forgot to mention that it satisfied me killing bitches.

"You'll accept the rose?" I asked once again and she nodded. I pursed my lips and bit my cheek inside. I moved my coat and took one red rose, she gasped, her eyes sparkling when she saw the dark red rose.

My eyes locked with the crying waitress one's. She quickly bowed once again, mouthing, "I am sorry." I narrowed my eyes with furrowed eyebrows. He really made her cry?

"I accept the rose." I heard my blind date saying, but I was too focused on the waitress's crying form. She ran somewhere, outside. But ... it was raining.

Whatever.

I smirked at my blind date when she took the rose.

"Perfect." I smiled charmingly at her, pressing my lips against hers. She answered my kiss immediately, but I was kissing her with my eyes wide open.

I was looking at the waitress through the glass. She was freezing. How stupid can she be?

She hissed when I bit her tongue and tried to pull back. Too bad, she already accepted the rose.

-Bella's POV-

"I am so sorry. Please don't kick me out. I have nowhere to go else. I swear, this won't happen ever again. I won't even ask for money, just let me sleep in the basement. I won't ask for anything else." I begged, crying hard.

Being an orphan sure was something hard. You don't know how it feels to be "loved", how it feels to be "hugged" from someone. Not receiving love from anyone, sure is something sad. Why? Because you don't know how to give love.

Andrew Parker adopted me, used me. Made me to a waitress, I had a hard and tiring life. Working even after coming from school till late at night. Not getting what to eat, enough sleep, I ended up in the hospital a lot of times.

Someday ... someday I'll run away from here. From this hell.

"If this happens once again, I'll kick you out from here. Such a burden you are." He yelled at me and left me there, a crying mess.

I looked at the couple I asked, my eyes locked with the guys. I quickly bowed and apologized again, but this guy doesn't make it easier for me. He comes so often here in this restaurant, every time with a different girl. He has the smell of roses. And I am allergic to them.

I ran outside. It was raining, I got wet from head to toe. But I didn't care at all. I just feel now better. I loved rain.

My arm was hurting, of course, it'll leave a bruise behind. He always was so mean and rude to me.

I wiped my tears away and was about to enter inside the restaurant, but my head turned to the right after I earned a very harsh slap from someone.

I held my cheek and looked at ... her. It was the girl, who just was with the guy, who always smelled like roses. She had a ring on, it scratched my cheek.

But she was there, glaring at me. Alone. Where was he?

-Antonio's POV-

I told her to wait outside for me so that I could pay the bill. Plus, I wanted to have a talk with the boss.

"How much?" I asked him and he looked confused at me.

"You just paid, sir." He said and I nodded. I really did, but I wasn't talking about the bill.

"I am talking about the waitress. How much?" I asked, getting quite impatient and annoyed.

"What waitress?" He asked. I hissed and looked at him, slightly death glaring at him.

"The one you scolded and made her cry. The one who mistook our table with table Nr. 21." I simply explained.

"She's not for sale-"

"15.000$? Or ... more?" I asked, taking my check out and my pain, ready to write the sum.

"It's only for one night." I shrugged, being sure that after this night, I'll kill her anyway. She'll accept the rose.

"You can have her if you want. She's a burden, believe me." I chuckled loudly at that, shaking my head at him.

"Antonio Vera. Suspected for a lot of disappearings. Known as the most dangerous bastard in this country. Have you heard from him? And if you did, isn't it weird that the girls disappear after being here in this restaurant. Guess what and why?" Pointing to myself, I smirked.

"What do you want?" He asked me while back.

"Her." I walked closer to him with my hands in my pockets.

"Then have her." He swallowed hard.

"After I kill you." I laughed sickly.

"I'll call the police." He warned.

"Greet them. Tell them that it's Jones Collins, who's threatening you." I said calmly.

"Just what do you want?" He asked once again.

"Hm ..." I hummed.

"Tell her to be my next blind date. I'll come this Friday as well. You better buy a dress for her. Don't worry about the money, I'll give you them. Just get her ready till then. And if you don't ..." I moved my coat, showing him my gun.

"Then you'll disappear instead."

-

She slapped her. I saw how she slapped her and quickly walked outside, to them. I pulled her from her wrist, she yelped in pain. As an apology, I bowed to the waitress.

"She's the one, who slapped-" My grip on her wrist tightened, keeping her shut.

That's when my eyes met hers, Bella's. A small smile appeared on my face. Also, I saw her cheek bleeding. I caressed her cheek right in front of that jealous b***h. The waitress got startled and backed, entered inside in a blink.

I swear I'll kill her without having fun with her. I'll kill her slowly and painfully. The scar on Bella's cheek is nothing, but hers will be something.

"Why did you protect her?" She yelled at me.

"Just because ... I was bored."

-Bella's POV-

"What?" I asked in confusion. Why did I have to be his next date? That guy ... I would lie if I said that I am not scared of him. I can't even be near him, he has the smell of roses. I just ... can't.

My boss, Andrew, said that we had only 3 days to get me ready. To get me pretty. But that's ridiculous. I just still don't get it.

"You don't have a choice. He even paid for you." I scoffed at that in disbelief.

"From an orphan to a waitress and then to a slut? This bastard paid for me? Mr. Andrew, I don't agree with that. I wouldn't sink that deep. Yes, that's right, my parents are dead. You are my only family, but you handle me like your slave. Why did you adopt me in the first place?" I asked, speaking without taking any breaks in between my sentences and questions.

I hated rich people, and that guy was obviously rich. But when it comes to money, of course, everyone would accept and also agree with everything. Mr. Andrew disappointed me. And this was not for the first time.

"I pitied you. I saw you walking, holding a teddy bear plush in the middle of the night, crying like the little baby you were. I wanted to try taking responsibility for someone." He seemed so calm about it. Gosh, when will all of this stop?

"And you miserably failed." I chuckled bitterly, holding back my tears.

Mr. Andrew was sitting on his office's chair. Yes, I was now in his office.

Everyone thinks that I am dead. Because it was his fault, Mr. Andrew's for my parents death. And since they couldn't find me, they were sure that I died too.

But I am alive.

"I don't have a choice, don't I?" I asked when I saw him counting his money. Probably, the money the rich guy gave him to me.

"He said that it's only for 1 day. And this money here ..." He waved them, sighing.

"Is for your expensive dress. For your make-up and I need to take you to a professional hairdresser." He said. Well, for me it seemed like he was forced to buy me these and to bring me to a "professional hairdresser."

"But where's the point?" I asked. He suddenly hit the table with his fist angrily, making me jump in fear.

"You ungrateful b***h!" He slapped me and I hissed. My cheek was burning, it's already the 2nd slap I earned today.

"I'll kick you out without any money! It's only for 1 day! Only 1! Why are you overreacting? It's not like he'll kill or r**e you!" He shouted at me, taking my neck in his hand, forcing me to look into his scary eyes.

"L-Let go. How do you know? Why are you so sure? You don't know anything about that guy!" I gritted my teeth, having a hard time breathing.

"This is not what I want to hear." He kissed me hungrily and forcefully.

I was disgusted. So disgusted. I was trying to pull myself away from him, I tell you ... it was useless. He pulled back and was breathing heavily.

"I will! I-I will be his date." I cried out, my body shaking from fear. He kissed my cheek happily.

"Now ... let's have a great night, shall we?"

Not again.

-3 days later-

"Now listen, if you act weird or just ruin everything ... I'll kill you."

Andrew's words kept replaying in my head.

But everything stopped when he entered the restaurant. The time, the world, my heart, my breath, my thoughts, everyone ... just everything stopped.

He ... really never came this way. He was usually wearing suits, but this was new. He had a coat on and ripped Jean's, a black see-through shirt and a scarf around his neck. Even now, I could smell the rose scent. His scent. And I was trying my best not to sneeze.

His eyes met mine, locked with mine and I was still holding my breath with widen eyes. He walked to me and offered me his hand for a handshake, but the stupid me with still my eyebrows raised and widen eyes didn't even blink as I was too amazed from his appearance.

He waved his hand in front of me but was checking me from head to toe out. He scoffed with a hot smirk. Oh gosh, help me. My eyes landed on his leather gloves.

Oh no, hold on.

This bastard literally bought me with his dirty money.

"Excuse me, Ms. waitress?"

I glared at him out of a sudden, this making raise his eyebrows.

"How much was my worth? I am very curious." I said with heavy sarcasm. He chuckled, putting his hands inside his jeans pockets.

He was analyzing me. Every inch. Every detail about me. I felt suddenly embarrassed under his intense gaze.

"It's clear that your worth is little. If your boss finds out the way you're speaking with me, he'll get mad ... you know. Now show me how good you are. I hope it wasn't a waste of money." He offered his elbow, expecting me to put mine around his. With a deep sigh, I did it.

"Perfect." He smiled charmingly and led me to our table.

When we arrived there, I quickly moved my arm from his elbow and crossed my arms. I was about to sit on my chair, but he pulled it for himself.

"Uhm ... I wanted to sit here." I said and he looked weirdly at me.

"I ... know. That's why I am pulling the chair out for you, for you to sit." He said and I looked around, I was confused. So ... oh no. Of course, a guy ... more like a gentleman often does it.

"Awww, so cute! But I can sit on my own, big boy." I smiled at him and sat on the chair without his help.

His scent of roses became stronger, so it became harder to hold my sneezes and to stop my nose from running. Usually, when my skin gets in contact with roses, I get red marks and they sting.

I always hated roses.

-Antonio´s POV-

I didn't know that a waitress can look this hot and beautiful. I wasn't aware of it. The money I gave for her was worth it. They sure were. But I also wasn't aware of a waitress being that stupid. I seriously was trying to hold my laughter.

"You're definitely the first girl for me," I spoke and she choked on her orange juice, coughing now. Her eyes were turning red, tears started to appear down her cheeks. I quickly put my knife and fork down and stood up, slapping her back ... no helping her.

"This hurts! I am fine now!" She whined and wiped her mouth with a tissue.

Damn.

Of course, she didn't expect me to say this. I came very often here with another girl. She avoided eye contact.

"With "first girl" I meant that you are the first one to wear a red dress, to have green eyes and to be a ... waitress. I only had dates with blonde girls. You're lucky. Also, you're so stupid to not know how to cut steak into strips. Didn't your dad teach you? Or should daddy teach you?" I asked and she sniffed cutely, moving her hair to the back.

My eyes caught something ... a hickey?

"You're ... single, right?" I asked to be sure. Of course, she could have a boyfriend. Obviously, she's pretty enough to have one. I didn't even ask, I took action. I should've asked.

"No, I don't have a boyfriend. And no, my dad couldn't teach me ... well, I don't even remember my parents in the first place." She laughed awkwardly and moved her hair to the front again, hiding the hickey.

Then ... who?

As I was still deep in my thoughts, my eyes saw her boss looking suspiciously at us. He was glaring at her and she looked nervous and scared.

Could he ...

Oh well, now I feel bad for her. I am still so curious about her. I want to know more. More and more.

But I am more curious if she'll accept the rose.

"It's only a date, right? You're not a pervert one, who would use me ... too, right? After this night, will everything be over? You did it only for fun, right? I still don't get why it had to be me." She asked me question after question.

But she was right.

Why would I change my type from blonde to black haired girls for only one date? Why would I change everything, because of her? Maybe for fun. But I know better, it's not for fun. Ah, what am I even doing? If she accepts the rose, she'll die anyway.

"I have something for you." I moved my coat to the side, pulling the rose from the pocket there and handing it to her. Her eyes widen and she looked terrified when she saw the red rose.

"No. I can't accept it." She shook her head.

"Why?" I asked.

"I can't." Her lips trembled.

"Why?" I asked again.

"I just can't, so get this God damn rose away from me." She started to back with her chair and I was confused. Even more, now I started to get interested in her.

She didn't accept the rose. The first girl to ever do so. The first girl to hate roses.

And for her, I cleaned the thorns with love carefully, causing my hands to bleed more than ever. I ... have to take her with me. And I will.

"Okay, calm down." I dropped the rose on the floor. I stood up and walked beside her, lowering my head while placing my right arm on her chair, around her.

"Aren't you tired of living in hell?" But little did she know, that it was the devil himself who asked her this question.

"W-what? What do you mean?" She asked.

"Your boss. The hickey is from him, am I right? He's so mean to you and forces you to do things you don't want to do. You'll live like a princess in my palace. You'll be mine... princess."

After I moved her hair to the back, I bit her ear at the end of my sentence. She closed her eyes and hissed.

"Y-Your princess?"

Yes.