Captive To The Mafia Don

Chapter 23

Alessandro's POV

Ever since I left the house for the airport and boarded the private jet,

I couldn’t stop the feeling of guilt in me.

All I want to do now is go back and make things right with Alice.

I have punished her.

Cuffed her.

Beat her up.

And even starved her.

Damn it.

“Man, watch it. You’re not yourself. What’s up with you?”

Dimitri came along with me. I guess he noticed my mood.

“I’m fine.”

I didn’t want him to know about this yet.

The look on his face showed he didn’t believe me.

“Man, I got your back. You can tell me anything.”

Dimitri has been my childhood buddy.

We shared secrets. His father and my father died in the war between our gang and the Red Banner gang.

His mom left him at a young age, and since then he’s been like a brother to me. My mom has always seen him as a son. No discrimination.

I looked at him.

“I hurt the wrong person.”

My heart has been so heavy ever since this morning.

His eyes dropped to the floor.

“You mean Alice?”

“Yeah. I found out this morning.”

“How did you find out?”

I explained everything to him. Maybe she’s still from one of the gangs out there. But she looks too innocent to be from those gangs.

“Look Alessandro, I know you don’t have time to go back. But how about I stand in for you during the meeting, and you can go meet Maria’s father?”

He said while looking out the window.

He knows how much this means to me.

“You’re such a pal.”

Even though he’s two years older than me, he never gets in my way. He always finds a way to help me out.

“I got your back, man.”

“You’ll be done soon with the meeting and we’ll go back together.”

I couldn’t wait to go back.

***

Alice's POV

“Alice, your face is swollen. Did anyone hit you?”

After Maria and June were done with me, it was hard to eat because Maria had slapped me really hard.

They warned me not to tell anyone. Otherwise, today’s beating would be nothing compared to the one they’d give me if they found out.

“No. I just fell. But don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

I tried to hide my palms because they were really bruised.

Julie sighed.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’ll be perfectly fine.”

“Okay. You can have a day off till you heal.”

“Really? Hope that old wall of muscles won’t hit me again.”

I said, turning to cover myself with the blanket on the bed.

“Who are you referring to?”

Julie asked, trying to contain her laugh.

“Who else? Must I mention the person? You already know.”

She nodded, laughing.

“Okay, I know.” She looked at the time.

“I’ll bring our breakfast up here. You’ll eat with me, right?”

Even though Julie is about to marry into the top richest family in the country, she’s still as humble as can be.

“You know what? Bet me a bottle of milk as well.”

I said sarcastically.

She gave me a funny side-eye.

“Yes, Miss Baby.”

We laughed and she left to get the food.

I didn’t know how to prove to Sir Alessandro that I didn’t hurt the old lady.

“God, how do I get myself out of this mess?”

He had told me once that if I admitted to it, he would let me go. But I didn’t do it.

Maybe I should agree. Because if he comes back, I’ll be in another round of hell. Who knows what those two witches are planning again.

Maybe God has another plan for me.

Julie brought the food and we ate to our satisfaction.

***

Sir Alessandro came back the next morning.

But he’s been avoiding me for three days now.

I don’t know what I did this time.

But I really appreciate it, because to me his presence alone is bad luck.

Maria has been making stupid moves toward him, trying to seduce him. But he steps away from her every time.

One of these days he was seated in the living room. One of his business partners came to meet him.

I wondered, why not the office?

I happened to be the one serving them in the dining room.

“You, young lady. What’s your name?”

The young man asked.

Sir Alessandro shifted in his seat.

“What’s up with him?”

“Sir, my name is Alice...”

“Hmm.”

Sir Alessandro cleared his throat loudly.

The young man looked at him oddly.

“Yo, man, let me talk to the lady.”

I noticed Sir Alessandro gave him a warning side-eye.

But the man ignored him and continued to ask.

Wow. Such boldness.

“Pretty lady, go ahead and tell me your name.”

Oh. Such a flirty person. He didn’t mind the presence of the other maids standing around.

I wanted to ignore him, but that would be disrespecting the boss’s friend.

“My name is...”

Sir Alessandro pretended to mistakenly drop his fork.

“Oh, sorry.”

I bent down to get it and tried to stand, but Sir Alessandro held my hand under the table.

A sensation ran through me.

I’ve never felt that before.

Then I heard him talking to the man.

“You have no right to flirt with my maid.”

His baritone voice sounded a bit pissed.

Throughout my stay here, I noticed he has a hot temper.

The room went quiet for a second.

The business partner raised both hands in mock surrender and leaned back in his chair.

“Relax, Alessandro. I was just asking. No harm done.”

He smirked like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Sir Alessandro didn’t answer. He just picked up another fork and kept his eyes on his plate.

But his hand was still on mine under the table. Warm. Firm.

I tried to pull away, but he didn’t let go. Not right away.

My face burned.

I could feel the other maids looking. I could feel Maria in the corner of the room, glaring.

Finally, he let go.

“Continue serving,” he said without looking at me. His voice was flat again.

“Yes, sir.”

I moved quickly, pouring water, clearing plates, trying to make myself invisible.

The meeting went on. They talked about shipments and contracts. I didn’t listen.

My hand still tingled where he touched me.

When it was over, the business partner stood up.

“Thanks for lunch, man. And for the entertainment,” he said with a grin.

Sir Alessandro didn’t smile.

After everyone left, I was collecting the dishes when I heard footsteps behind me.

I didn’t turn around.

“Don’t let anyone touch you,” he said quietly.

I froze.

“Yes, sir.”

He didn’t say anything else. He just walked out.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Later that night, I was in my room with Julie.

She noticed I was quiet.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just tired.”

Julie studied me for a while, then sighed.

“Alice, whatever happened today… it’s not your fault. Okay?”

I nodded, but I didn’t say anything.

Because the truth was, I didn’t understand Sir Alessandro.

One day he was dragging me to the punishment room.

The next day he was holding my hand under the table so no one else could talk to me.

And I was scared.

Scared that if I hoped for anything, it would be taken away.

Scared that Maria and June weren’t done with me.

Scared that the next time he looked at me, it would be with that cold, angry face again.

But for a few seconds today, he looked at me like I mattered.

I pulled the blanket over my head and closed my eyes.

“God, please,” I whispered. “Just let me survive this.”

Outside, the mansion was quiet.

And somewhere in the east wing, Alessandro was sitting in the dark, thinking about the same thing.