The Mafia king's wrong captive

Chapter 4

I kept going over Damien's question in my head, “Why does it feel like I've seen your eyes before?”

The way he had looked at me wasn't accusing, it wasn't even curious, it was as if he was looking for something in his past that he just couldn't find.

I wanted answers but I didn't get any response, just silence and Damien had disappeared or maybe he was ignoring me on purpose.

Later in the afternoon, I heard another knock at my door, when I opened it, it was Matteo, "Get ready." He said to me.

I frowned, "For what?"

“You're going out of the house.”

My breathe caught, I thought I heard wrong, "I'm leaving? Am I finally being released?"

"No, it's just for a few hours." He added and all my excitement died and my shoulders slumped.

"Then why?"

“The boss is going on a business event, his security detail is going with him.”

"I don't understand." I voiced out, I was even more confused now.

“I don't either,” he confessed, “I was just instructed to bring you.” That was all he said and walked away.

An hour later, I found myself sitting in the back of a sleek black sedan, Damien was sitting across from me, we didn't say a word to each other.

“Am I ever going to be released? Will you ever let me go?” I asked, breaking through the silence but he didn't respond, I was met with more silence.

“You've made your point, you know.”

Still nothing, I laughed bitterly, "So that's it?"

Finally, Damien lifted his head from the tablet in his hands, "You're safer with me."

“I don't want safe.”

"What do you want?"

I looked at him, “I want my life back."

His face changed, almost like he wanted to consider what I was saying, for the first time since I'd met him but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

We arrived at the place soon afterwards, the car drove through huge iron gates and came to a halt in front of a mansion with a long driveway leading to the water with fancy cars and fancy people.

We were at a charity gala, I almost laughed at the irony, the man who controlled the dark side of the city was at a charity dinner. When I got out of the car, Matteo stood closely to me, "Stay close."

“I can't do much else.” I muttered quietly and we stepped inside. The interior of the house was filled with crystal chandeliers and a room full of people talking.

Damien was greeted with smiles, he exchanged pleasantries, he shook hands, people were in awe of him, they praised his generosity. No one looked at him as I did, nobody looked afraid.

I thought to myself if they really knew the man they were congratulating. If they only knew the billionaire, not the mafia king who had stolen my freedom.

I moved toward one of the windows that looked out over the water, as Damien talked to a few executives, I felt a presence behind me, when I turned around, Adrian Sinclair was by my side with two glasses of sparkling water.

“I recalled that you don't drink wine.”

I took the glass, "Thank you."

He smiled, “How are you doing?”

"I've had better weeks."

"I imagine." Adrian was very laid-back, so talking to him came naturally. We talked about everyday things for a few minutes, books, music, the city skyline, things that made me realize that I was still a normal person under all of this.

I saw Damien look over at us across the room. He looked over once, then again, he was talking and talking, but he somehow knew exactly where I was.

Adrian glanced in the direction of where I was looking, “I don't think Damien is pleased about seeing us talking.” He pointed out.

“Why should I care about that?”

Adrian laughed at my response and added, “I like you very much.”

The conversation should have continued if not for the new voice that broke through the music, "So this is her."

I turned around and came face to face with a lady in a beautiful emerald dress standing in front of me with a calm self-assurance. She was a gorgeous woman, she had dark hair, sharp features, striking grey eyes, like Damien.

She was glaring at me like gum under her shoes, “So this is the nobody I've been hearing all about.” She looked at me from head to toe, “I’m disappointed, I was expecting someone more impressive.”

She commented and Adrian's smile faded, he took a warning step towards her, "Isabella." She ignored him completely.

“So you're the girl my brother's been hiding?”

I said carefully, "I didn't know he was hiding me.”

Her lips curled, "Well, I suppose hostages don't get much choice, do they?”

Her words felt like a slap in the face, the conversations around us started to die down, I lowered my eyes, I didn't want to be here.

"Tell me what your plan is, what do you want with my brother?” She demanded, stepping closer.

"My... plan?"

Adrian said firmly, "Isabella, that's enough.”

Isabella barely acknowledged him, “Pity is never affection, women like you always confuse them.”

My throat tightened, ”You don't know me at all.”

“I know what you are, you are a nobody.” She spat disgustingly at me.

The ballroom was suddenly too hot to handle, I turned my gaze to Damien, he was watching us, he had heard everything, I knew he had but he only stayed where he was.

He didn't bother to stop his sister from humiliating me, he didn't stand up for me, he didn't utter a single word. Something broke in me and my vision blurred, I blinked quickly, not wanting to cry in front of all these strangers.

Adrian stepped forward, "Come on, Sophia." He spoke gently, “Let's go outside for some fresh air.”

I nodded in agreement, I had to leave here now. It was only when we had walked a few steps that Damien's voice broke through the room.

"Adrian."

We both stopped.

Slowly, Damien came, and each voice in the ballroom ceased to exist, as people instinctively stepped aside.

"She stays."

Adrian looked him in the eye, “I believe she's had enough for one night.”

"I said..." Damien's voice was emotionless and his face was hard like stone, "...she stays."

Without any warning, I burst into tears, the tears I had been holding back for so long, came out in full force. I looked from Damien, to Isabella and back to Damien again.

I whispered, "You heard everything.”

He said nothing.

“You allowed her to embarrass me.”

Silence.

"You just stood there and let her say horrible and untrue things to me."

Still nothing.

My hurt quickly turned into anger and before I could think, my hand reached out to the distance between us and the sound rang out loud in the ballroom.

I slapped Damien Moretti and judging by the stunned faces surrounding us, it was something that had never been done before.