We were Born to Die

Chapter 09

“Are you alright, Cara Mia?” Enrico asked, his tone gentle yet filled with genuine concern. I blinked, trying to focus on his hazel grey eyes, but my vision remained blurry, my head spinning with dizziness.

I couldn’t help but push him away, frustration and anger bubbling to the surface. “Why do you care?” I retorted, my voice laced with defiance. He let me go, but the room swayed around me, and I stumbled, desperately trying to remain upright but the nausea roiling in my gut threatened to overwhelm me. And then it hit me, an unstoppable wave of sickness crashing over me, leaving me doubled over and gasping for breath. The bile rose in my throat, and I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I retched, the taste of acid filling my mouth as I emptied the contents of my stomach onto the floor. It was revolting, the very act of expelling my insides leaving me feeling drained yet oddly relieved.

As I struggled to regain my composure, Min-Woo was suddenly there, his face etched with worry as he signed to me, “Are you alright?” his concern was evident, even in the silence of his gestures. I glanced back at Enrico, whose expression remained unreadable, his gaze fixed on me.

Feeling overwhelmed, I turned back to Min-Woo, finding solace in his concern. “I need to get away,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Without hesitation, Min-Woo nodded, his actions speaking louder than words. He scooped me up in his arms, bridal style, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, seeking comfort in his strength.

I felt a gentle shiver down my spine, as the cold air brushed against my skin, sending a tingling sensation through my body. Min-Woo settled me inside the car with a gentle touch, his strong guiding me as he closed the door with a sift click. I watched him from beneath my lashes as he took his place in the driver’s seat, his posture confident, his eyes focus ahead.

Ryder stepped forward, his presence looming, but Min-Woo’s glance stopped him in his tracks. It was as if Min-Woo silently conveyed, “Maybe you should stay.” Without a word, Ryder pivoted on his heels and disappeared into the crowd, leaving us alone in the car. The engine hummed to life, and we were soon rolling down the darkened streets, the only illumination coming from the soft glow of the streetlights above and the twinkling stars scattered across the sky. Despite the dizziness swirling within me, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the mesmerizing sight outside the window.

Suddenly, the window beside me lowered with a soft whir, drawing my attention back to Min-Woo. His features were bathed in the faint light, his expression soft yet unreadable. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he met my gaze, and I couldn’t help but return it, though my own was undoubtedly weak. Time seemed to blur as we drove on, I lost track of how far we travelled, how late it had become, as I surrendered myself to the intoxicating feeling of the night breeze against my skin.

It felt like time had stretched out into eternity, as we stepped back into the Enrico’s estate. Without uttering a single word to anyone, I made a beeline for my room. Once inside, I didn’t waste any time. I practically sprinted to the bathroom, feeling the need to wash away not just the grime of the day but the memories that clung to my skin like a sinister film. Orion’s touch, his dark gaze piercing through me, and his lips… I shuddered at the thought. I turned on the shower, letting the cold water cascade over me, hoping it would cleanse more than just my body.

Scrubbing vigorously, I tried to banish the images that haunted me. Every soap suds, every drop of water felt like a battle against the memories threaten to consume me. It was as though I could still feel his touch lingering on my skin, like an unwanted stain that refused to fade.

An hour passed in a blur of relentless scrubbing. Finally feeling somewhat cleansed, both physically and mentally, I turned off the water and stepped out of the water. Wrapping myself in a towel, I padded back to my room, the plush carpet soft beneath my feet. Climbing into bed, I expected to lie awake, tormented by the thoughts of Orion and the dangerous game I am playing for my brothers. But to my surprise, as soon as my head hit the pillow, exhaustion claimed me. It was as though my body had reached its limit, surrendering to sleep’s embrace without protest.

I slowly woke up to the gentle rustle of the curtains, my senses gradually coming to life. Blinking sleep from my eyes, I found myself face to face with Daniella, her silhouette framed by the morning light filtering through the window. “What are you doing here?” I murmured, my voice calm despite the sudden intrusion.

She turned to look at me, her expression a mixture of concern and something else I couldn’t quite place, before setting into the chair beside the window, “I wanted to check on you,” she replied, her voice soft, almost hesitant. “Are you alright?”

Her concern tugged at something deep within me, but I pushed it aside, reminding myself of the betrayal that lay beneath her façade. She was nothing but a liar, a two faced snake who had ensnared my brother Alessandro in her web. “Why do you care?” I managed to keep my tone steady, though anger simmered just beneath the surface.

“I do care.” She insisted, her eyes pleading for understanding. “I care for you, Bell-”

“Don’t call me that.” I interrupted sharply, cutting off any attempt at familiarity. “You’ve lost the right to call me that.” Her expression faltered, a flicker of hurt crossing her features before she composed herself. “Why did you?” I demanded, my frustration bubbling over. I needed answers, even if they would deepen the wounds she had inflicted.

“As I told you, I had my reasons, Bella.” She replied, her voice steady but her eyes betraying a hint of remorse. “And I am not going to discuss them with you or anyone else.” With that, she rose from her seat, crossing the room to the door. Before she left, she turned back to me, a sadness lingered in her gaze. “At least I wasn’t entirely faking anything.” She murmured, before disappearing into the hallway.

I made my way downstairs after changing into something casual, the sound of Salvatore and Enrico’s voice drifted to my ears from the dining room. Their tones were low, but the tension was palpable. “But you didn’t have to do that.” Salvatore remarked, his voice tinged with frustration.

“The situation demanded it and it was necessary,” Enrico replied, his voice firm and unwavering. “And you know that.”

I paused at the doorway, hesitant to interrupt their conversation, but the weight of my own emotions urged me forward. As I entered the room, all eyes turned towards me, and the discussion came to an abrupt halt. Enrico sat at the center of the table, flanked by Ryder and Zane, with Min-Woo offering me a warm smile from beside Zane. Daniella and Salvatore sat together opposite Enrico, their expression as blank as the others.

I met Enrico’s unreadable gaze head—on, determination coursing through my veins. “I want to go home,” I stated firmly, my voice cutting through the silence. Enrico raised an eyebrow in response, his expression betraying nothing. “Right. Now.” I emphasized, the urgency evident in my tone.

“You can’t—” Enrico began but I refused to let him finish.

“I am not asking.” I interrupted, my resolve unwavering. Enrico sighed, setting down his fork and fixing me with a steady gaze.

“I said you can’t.” he stated, his arrogance seeping through his words as he took a sip of his coffee.

My patience wore thin, the frustration bubbling within me threatening to boil over. “I am not your slave.” I retorted through gritted teeth, the words dripping with defiance.

The room fell into a tense silence, every eye trained on the confrontation unfolding between Enrico and me. His next words cut through the air like a knife, sending a shiver down my spine. “And what if you are?” he challenged, his voice laced with an unsettling edge.

I refused to back down, my anger fueling my resolve. “I don’t f*****g care about that, Enrico.” I exclaimed, the words bursting forth without restrain. “I just want to go home.”

I watched Daniella carefully as she spoke, her words slicing through the silence like a sharp knife. “I think it’s good that she goes home.” She said, her voice barely more than a whisper, but echoed loudly in the room. Enrico’s glare was like a firing burning bright, his eyes piercing through the air and landing on Daniella with intensity. I could feel the weight of his gaze, heavy and suffocating, as if he was trying to intimidate her to silence.

But Daniella didn’t falter. She continued, her words carrying a sense of urgency. “Her brothers will be suspicious, and today is her flight back.” She added, her tone betraying a hint of worry.

Enrico seemed to mull over her words, his expression unreadable as he took a sip of his coffee. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of frustration at his arrogant demeanor. It was infuriating how he always seemed to have upper hand.

But in that moment, I didn’t care about his power or his control.

All I wanted was to go home, to escape from this suffocating place.

“It’s my pay,” I interjected, meeting Enrico’s gaze with defiance burning in my eyes. “It was my condition. You can’t deny it.” I could see the skepticism in his eyes, the doubt lingering as he raised an eyebrow in question. But I stood my guard, refusing to back down.

“I think she deserve that,” Ryder spoke up, his voice breaking through the tension like a ray of light piercing through the darkness. Enrico’s glare intensified as he turned to face Ryder, but the other men in the room voiced their agreement, their words adding weight to Ryder’s statement.

“The girl need it, Rick.” Zane chimed in, his voice firm and unwavering. Min-Woo nodded in agreement, his expression solemn.

Enrico took a deep breath, his eyes closing briefly as he seemed to contemplate his decision. “Okay.” He finally relented, his voice filled with resignation. “But Daniella is going with you.”

I felt a surge of protest rising with in me, but Enrico cut me off before I could speak. “To keep her eye on you. As our condition demands.” He added, his lips curling into a smirk.

I bit back my anger, swallowing the protest that threatened to spill from my lips. With a frustrated sigh, I turned on my heel and stormed back to my room, my emotion swirling like a tempest inside me.

Anger, frustration, and resentment boiled beneath the surface, but beneath it all, there was a flicker of relief. Relief that I would finally be going home, even if it meant sacrificing a piece of my freedom in the process.