Chapter 14
1406 Words
Alex and his brothers had a very important business meeting with the three brothers. They had no idea Vivian was staying at Rocco’s mansion.
They assumed she’d be locked away somewhere—maybe in one of his dungeons—since she had hit his car. Rocco didn’t take too well to people destroying his property, and a young girl like Vivian was no different. Once the meeting was done and dusted, they planned to search for her and take her home.
---
Vivian opened the door to her room. He’d told her not to leave until the meeting was over.
“If you want anything, just use the intercom,” he’d said.
She nodded. He kissed her forehead and left, not locking the door—because he trusted her. She'd always listened to him. Until today.
Vivian was bored out of her mind and desperate for air.
She cracked the door open and peeked down the corridor—only to see four men exiting a room on the same floor.
Panic shot through her.
“s**t,” she whispered, slamming the door shut and locking it.
She had to get out before they saw her—if they hadn’t already.
Her eyes darted to the French doors. It was summer, and Rocco had told her if she ever got too hot, she could open them. Now was her only chance.
She dashed to them, threw them open—and jumped.
Two strong arms caught her mid-air.
She opened her mouth to scream, but a hand covered it.
“Shhh, sweet pea. It’s just me.”
It was Antonio.
“What are you doing outside your room?”
She was trembling. This really wasn’t her day.
He was going to tell Rocco she’d jumped out of the window and tried to escape.
“I’ll take you to my quarters, and you can tell me everything. Okay?”
She nodded.
“Good girl.”
He carried her across the garden to his quarters at the back of the estate. The guard quarters were hidden behind the main gardens.
He placed her gently on the bed and locked the door. She sat there, shaking. He knelt in front of her, lifting her chin with his hand.
“Look at me, sweet pea.”
She raised her gaze. His deep brown eyes sparkled.
“Why did you jump six feet out of your window? You could’ve killed yourself if I hadn’t caught you.”
“I saw something.”
“I see. What did you see, sweet pea?”
“I can’t tell you. He’ll kill me.”
“I’m sure he won’t.”
“He will. I was supposed to stay in my room.”
“So why didn’t you?”
“I was…”
The intercom crackled.
"Everyone, search the building. Vivian's not in her room."
She looked nervously at Antonio.
“I have to tell him you’re safe.”
“Please don’t. He’ll hurt me.”
“No, he won’t. Trust me on this, sweet pea.”
He pressed the button.
“She’s here with me in my quarters, boss.”
He released the button.
She sat frozen with fear. He placed his hands over hers.
“It’s going to be alright, sweet pea. He won’t hurt you.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Antonio stood, unlocked it, and opened it.
“Boss.”
“Is she still here?”
“Yes, boss. She’s scared.”
“What happened?”
“She jumped out her window.”
“Why?”
“Not sure, boss. She said she saw something that scared her.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sure, boss, but she thinks you’re going to hurt her.”
Rocco nodded and stepped inside. Antonio closed the door behind him and stood by.
Rocco walked to the bed and sat beside her. She was trembling, looking fragile and terrified.
“Why did you jump out your window, sweet pea?”
“I... I... saw something.”
“What did you see, sweet pea?”
“I’m sorry…” she whispered, crying.
“It’s okay, sweet pea. You can tell me what you saw.”
“Why was he here?”
“Who?”
“Alex Alessandro.”
“Ah. Business. And I thought I told you to stay in your room?”
“I was bored… and hungry.”
“I told you to use the intercom.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” She sobbed.
He wiped her tears gently.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m not mad. Just listen to me next time, alright?”
“Okay.”
He kissed her forehead.
“Good girl.”
“Please don’t send me back there.”
“If that’s what you want, then I won’t.”
“I like it here.”
“Glad to hear it. Monday, you’ll start training with Antonio and the others, just like I promised.”
She nodded.
“Come, sweet pea. Let’s get you inside and fed.”
“Are they gone?”
“Yes.”
She nodded again. He took her hand and led her to the door. Antonio opened it.
“I want you to keep an eye on her, Antonio. If they see her, they’ll make a plan to get her back. I don’t want her found.”
“Yes, boss.”
---
Alex Alessandro
“You’re sure you saw her?”
“I did. I want her back. Keep searching.”
The dumb bastard thought we’d left. But when I caught a glimpse of her, I knew I had to find her—and bring her back home, where she belonged. With me. My little kitten.
We searched the mansion top to bottom. No sign of her.
“Where the f**k is he hiding her?”
“You’re absolutely sure you saw her, bro?”
“I am. She was in one of the rooms, not far from us.”
“We searched all the rooms on that floor. Nothing.”
“Not even the one I said I saw her in?”
“We checked it first. The door was locked, but we picked the lock.”
“Did you leave any traces?”
“We’re not dumb, bro. We were careful.”
“You’re sure she wasn’t in there?”
“Positive. The French doors were open. We even looked out—there’s no way she could’ve made that jump.”
“She jumped a f*****g seven-foot gate, you fool!”
“Well, if she did, she’s long gone. There was no one out there.”
“That means only one thing—they’re hiding her. We have to find her before they do.”
They nodded in agreement, and we slipped out of the mansion to search for my kitten.
---
Rocco Costello
I looked at my men. They told me the Alessandro brothers had searched the mansion. We all knew who they were looking for.
My sweet pea.
They were never going to find her—she was too clever.
“She recognized them, didn’t she, boss?”
“Yes, she did.”
“She jumped through a window six feet up. She could’ve killed herself if I hadn’t caught her.”
“She’s jumped higher than that, my friend—a foot higher, to be exact.”
He looked at me, confused.
“The night she ran from them. She jumped their gate and landed on my car’s bonnet.”
“Shit.”
“I thought so too. I couldn’t leave her to die. She’s too young to feel death. They tortured her enough. Now it’s time we make her strong enough to fight back.”
“What are you saying, boss? She’s not one of us.”
“She will be—by the time we’re done with her.”
“What are you planning?”
“She’s sixteen. She needs guidance. We’ll give it to her. She’ll become strong, resilient. The Alessandro’s won’t know what hit them. And they’ll never take my sweet pea from me again.”
He nodded.
Tomorrow, her training begins. Tomorrow, she becomes someone new—stronger, better, ready for revenge.
And so will I.
I smirked.
If only she knew what I did.
Would she stay… or run?
I hoped she stayed.
I’d shown her more respect than the Alessandro’s ever had.
And I swore—they would never hurt her again.
- Writer
