The Don's Puppet

CHAPTER 9. LITTLE LILAC.

As soon as I walked into the room, someone ran into my arms. Hair swept over my face as she hugged me as tight as she could. I inhaled, taking in my sister’s natural scent. She was a bit taller than me, her blonde hair longer than mine with much more mature features.

She looked older, bigger.

“Alex, where have you been?” She screamed as soon as she pulled away. She was no longer wearing the same clothes as before, her hair looked thoroughly combed and she had on a bit of makeup. “Have you seen the size of this place?”

Her excitement was over the top, I began to wonder what she had been doing this whole time. Where was she when I was being teased by Roman? Where was she when I was down in that torture room? Where was she when a strange woman walked up to me?

“I should be asking you those exact same questions.” I retorted, sounding almost annoyed.

Why was I angry? Was my anger directed at her?

She didn’t seem to notice the strange tone in my voice, she just moved away, towards the bed. Daydreaming and bouncing around in joy. “I’ve been here. I was served ice cream and whatever toppings of my choice, I got lots of chocolate and finally tasted caviar. Oh, and Alex, I get to go to a private school. The best one in New York, did you know that?”

I looked at her and it dawned on me. This was the trajectory of our live, I had always shielded her from everything. Our father, our neighborhood and now this. I was the one born to suffer and she, the golden child. I was born to protect her, to make her believe the world was a sane place to exist in. So far, I was doing a great job. But while I protected her, who was going to look after me?

How could I preserve my youth when I was never really a child?

“That’s really nice, Alice,” I almost choked out, my insides turning with envy. I looked around the room and noticed a tray of covered food, my tummy growled. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. Without another word, I headed towards the delicious delicacy, shoving in all kinds of food.

“Did you meet Carmen and Maria? They’re really nice.” Alice continued, staring at me like I was an animal. If only she knew what I had been through today.

“Who?” I asked, mouth full and barely interested.

“Carmen is the lady we met this morning, the one carrying the little boy. She’s Roman Contini’s sister in law.” She explained. “While Madam Maria is in charge of all the servants, she practically raised Roman and his brother. Everyone respects the f**k out of her.”

“Don’t curse.” I corrected, taking in a glass of mango juice. Even though we grew up on the wrong side of town, I wasn’t going to let her lose her morals. “Listen Alice, I know you’re excited but we need to be careful. These people are not our friends, we can’t trust anyone outside of this room.”

“Alex, it’s fine. We’re safe.”

“God Alice, just promise me you won’t let your guard down?”

She looked at me innocently, nodding slowly. “Fine. I promise.”

Sighing in relief, I walked over to her and we both took a seat on the massive king size bed. After the day I had been through, seeing my sister safe and still full of hope was more than I could ask for. At this very moment, it was almost impossible for anything to mess with my mood.

The next couple of days were going to be brutal and I had to prepare for it.

We talked a couple more, before I slid into the bathroom to take a hot shower. I deserved that much. I stayed under the shower longer than usual, not just because everything in this mansion was way better than the crap we had at our house, but because I needed to cleanse my soul. I could still feel Roman’s touch lingering.

Every time I felt it was time to step out of the shower, my thoughts traveled, landing on the moment we shared at his study room. Why was I thinking about this when I hated him? I hated him for keeping my sister here, I hated him for allowing my father do this to us.

Soon, I was satisfied.

By the time I walked out of the bathroom, my sister had gone to sleep. I carefully tiptoed and got into bed next to her, trying to calm my nerves for the coming morning.

The next morning, I woke up to a pattern of knocks on the door. Whoever it was did not wait for an answer. The door flung open and a figure barged in, walked up to the curtain and threw it open.

“Get up.” Darling yelled at me, the ray of sunlight coming from the window almost blinding me. She was in her usual black signature look, but this time, more gangster looking. Like an assassin on a mission. “I’m getting sick and tired of being told to babysit you.”

“It’s no picnic for me either.” I mumbled, moving sluggishly to the side of the bed to stand. I looked over and watched my sister, still sound asleep. She was never a morning person.

“Take a shower and get dressed, we have work to do.” Darling howled, Alice shifted in her sleep.

“Shh.” I whispered, my index finger flying to the center of my lips.

“Did you just f*****g shush me?” Darling continued, her voice louder than ever.

“Please.” The words came out before I could stop them. I sighed in frustration, the last thing I needed was Darling feeling superior because a plea had slipped out of my mouth. “I don’t want her to know I’m working off the debt in her place.”

Darling scrunched up her face, her forehead filling up with wrinkles. “I really don’t care.” She made a hissing sound and hurried out the door. “I’ll be outside.”

I took a deep breath and hopped into the bathroom, brushing my teeth and taking a bath as quickly as I could. When I walked into the room, Alice was still asleep and a purple mini gown was now waiting on the bed for me.

Why did I need to put on a gown?

I walked towards the dressing table, opening drawers to search for anything useful. Finally, I found a section filled with makeup, jewelries and hair accessories. I put it to use. In a few minutes, I was dressed and ready to go.

I met Darling outside, playing with her gun again. I was beginning to think that was her favorite activity. She led me out of the hallway, into another part of the house I hadn’t yet seen, up some gorgeous wide spiral staircase and towards another hallway. At the end of it was a massive double door.

We didn’t have to knock, the door flew open almost immediately and out marched Roman, Giovanni and Roy. All dressed in black suits and ties, looking all business like. They walked past us, no greeting exchanged, we started another journey down the stairs to the front door and out into the driveway.

“Ready the cars.” Roman ordered and they all went in different directions, he turned to me. “Come here, Alexandra.”

I obeyed, my heels making sharp clinks as I strolled towards him. “Yes?”

He ran his brown eyes over me, taking in every detail of my body. His intense, animalistic retinas seeing right through the dress I had on. His gaze raked up my naked legs and the part of my thighs the gown hadn’t covered.

I held my breath.

Roman held out his hand for me to take. I did. He spun me around, nodding. “You like the dress I chose, yes?”

“Sure.” I replied, trying to be polite. I wasn’t exactly a fancy cloth kind of girl, but he looked so proud of himself and part of me did not want to disappoint him.

“The purple brings out your eyes.” He said calmly, shifting away the loose strand of hair that had made its way to the side of my face. “You remind me of a lonely lilac. My lilac.”

He pulled me closer to his chest and took a sniff of my neck.

“Your scent, little lilac…” He drifted off, his attention focused on the side of my neck, like he could take a bite any minute. The way he was staring, silently, was making me very uncomfortable. I needed to break the trance.

“Why did I need this dress though?”

His head snapped quickly, letting go of me to adjust his jacket. “How rude of me.” He laughed slightly. “We’re on our way to a hotel. There, you’ll meet a man already waiting in a room.”

“I’m not having s*x with anyone.”

He smiled, clearly amused. “You do not get to tell me what you will or will not do. But don’t worry, little lilac, your job is not to sleep with him. In fact, you are not to allow anyone touch you, without my permission.”

I folded my arms and looked away, wondering what was taking Darling and the rest so long to bring the damn cars around.

“What do you need me to do then?”

The smile was still plastered on his face. He stepped forward, closing the interval between us and whispered into my ear, his voice soft and soothing. “You’re going to drug him, dolcezza.”