Engaged to the Mafioso

Caught

As soon as I get to the hospital, I regret my careless decision.

Everyone is staring at me as if I were a madwoman, and maybe I am. I haven't seen Marco yet, not since I kicked him and started yelling that I was kidn*pped for everyone to hear. He looked around desperately, naively wondering why someone who fainted suddenly sprang up and started shouting for help. He was still trying to help me, even after all I did.

No one moved a finger to help me. I kept spewing out names like Luigi Romano and Borriello and everyone turned away from me. When a couple of nurses grabbed me and shoved me into a room and locked the door behind me, I knew I was in deep s**t. I'm not stupid enough to assume they'll help me. Marco has probably already notified them and they're on their way here.

This is a standard hospital room, with a bed but no equipment. I try the door countless times, but there's no chance. It's locked and I have no way to escape. I sit on the bed and take deep breaths. I mustn't despair.

When I hear the sides of keys jingling, my nails bury deep in the flesh of my palm. One of the nurses that escorted me steps in, followed by Alessandro and that Donato that killed my family. "That will be all, Anastasia. Thank you."

She bows her head as if they were royals and leaves the room. She closes the door and they glare at me. Donato says, "I'm curious. Did you really think you could escape?"

I don't answer him.

He turns to Alessandro. "I told you leaving her with Marco would be a terrible idea. That poor boy is an idiot."

Alessandro exhales sharply. "Enough, Donato. Just grab her and let's get out of here." He then turns on his heel and exits the room.

Donato looks at me expectantly. "Don't tell me you want me to carry you out, Mercedes's daughter."

I grit my teeth. "Don't talk about my mother, you filthy criminal."

"Marco would never take you to a hospital we didn't have control of. We know the staff here, they fear us. Next time, hang yourself. Because death is the only way you'll escape this." He takes one step and narrows his eyes. "Now, move."

I walk ahead of him and everyone I pass looks at me with pity. They actually stop to stare at me. Once we're outside, there's a black car parked right near the entrance, and as I approach the door opens. I pause in front of the open door, and then hesitantly enter the car. Alessandro is in the backseat, stroking his beard.

Donato sits beside me and slams the door. "To the apartment, Lorenzo."

The ride is spent in silence. I stare at my hands on my lap and no one says a word to me. The ride doesn't take long, just a few minutes. I'm back in the bedroom and the door is wide open. Donato shoved me inside and now, he and Alessandro are having an argument in the living room.

"Stop it with the Marco thing. What do you want me to do, shoot that bastard in the head?"

"Who will replace him?"

"I'll find someone."

"I could stay here for a few nights, but only a few. You should've shown that girl who Alessandro Borriello truly is, but instead you let that clown take command of the situation. What's the matter with you, Alessandro? Have you gone weak?"

Alessandro remains quiet, and Donato continues. "I'll be outside. Have a word with her, and keep in mind that Luigi will want an explanation. Because if she had been smarter, you would be dead already. I'd have to put a bullet in you myself."

"You would kill me, Donato?"

"If Luigi ordered it what choice would I have? You and I know that there's no getting around a direct order. Don't let this happen again."

There's silence after Donato steps out. All I can hear is my own heartbeat, but that silence doesn't last. Alessandro starts walking towards the room and leans against the doorframe. I keep my eyes glued to the floor. I'm afraid of what is to come, but I'll never admit it out loud.

"Your plan was fruitless."

I don't answer him. I don't know what he expects me to say.

"Tell me, where would you go, if you succeeded. From what I recall, you have no home. All your family is dead. We made sure of it."

I look up slowly. "Go f**k yourself."

"Perhaps what you have is a death wish. Believe me, the next time you pull another stunt like this," he takes a revolver from his back pocket, "you'll eat this bullet. Do you understand? If you want to live, you do as you're told."

I laugh without humor. The gall, the audacity, it's too much for me to bear. "What makes you think I want to live? You think a life beside scum like you is preferable to death? You're insane, and conceited."

He c***s his head. "So it is a death wish, then?"

"Don't stand there and act all tough. You don't make the rules around here. You simply follow them, like everyone else. If Luigi wanted me dead, I would be dead. It's his call, not yours." It feels wonderful to deride him. I can tell by the expression on his face that I've struck a nerve and that's exactly what I was aiming for.

"Shut your mouth."

"It's true, isn't it?" I stand. "You're a pawn in his game, just as I am. We're both in the same boat."

He moves further into the room. "You should be more grateful. You're alive because I decided. It could've been your sister. Maybe I should've chosen her. Who knows, maybe she'd be on her knees begging to suck me off to show her unending appreciation. Don't you think?"

After the words leave his lips, something inside of me snaps. I grab the nearest thing I can find and chuck it at him. The lamp smashes to pieces on the wall. It missed him by a few inches. He shoves me and I land on the end. He wraps a hand around my neck and squeezes.

"I know what you're trying to do, but I'll always have the upper hand. And if you, dear fianceé, continue provoking me, I'll make it ten times worse for you."

I sink my nails into his wrist. He doesn't react to it. He's choking me just enough to make me breathless and desperate. He says, "If you try to run again, I will find you and kill you. In the worst possible way. You can count on that. I will not be made a fool of."

Donato clears his throat. I didn't even see him approach. "She got the point, Alessandro. I said have a word with her, not kill her. You can never tell the difference."

Alessandro unwrap his hand from my neck and steps back. I glare at him fiercely until he walks away. Glass crunches beneath his shoes. I feel something trickle down my chin and my fingers stain red. I bit myself. Donato watches me wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth. The front door slams, so I assume Alessandro is gone.

He shakes his head, "Look at you. I would feel sorry for you if you if you hadn't been such a pain in the ass." He kicks at a shard of glass. "Did you know I was responsible for tracking you down? I'll tell you a little something, but it's a secret. Will you promise not to tell?"

He laughs when he takes in my expression. "My, you look so much like your mother. It's a shame you're not as smart as her. She hid you well, and I wouldn't have succeeded if it hadn't been for that friend of yours. I forget his name, but he was very useful once we promised to pay his gambling debts. We didn't even have to put a gun to his head."

I frown, but I don't give in to his taunts. That's exactly what he wants from me, and I won't entertain him. Still, what friend is he talking about? I don't know anyone who gambles. There were some people I knew at the university, but I don't recall hearing anything about gambling. "You don't believe me? Well, that's a pity. You don't have to. He let us in your shed, we hid there for most of the day until nightfall. After that, well, things became easier."

My heart sinks. The shed. I had a feeling all day that something was wrong. What would have happened if I had just followed my instincts? Would they still be alive? The possibilities, the endless possibilities, press down on my chest. Donato turns to leave but the whirls back instantly and snaps his fingers. "Ah! I remembered. How could I have forgotten such a common name? The bastard's name was Vincenzo." He pauses and smiles. "Sounds familiar?"