The wooden doors slammed shut behind us. Cold air hit my skin, and just like that, the scent of blood disappeared. But then I saw men-a dozen of them-moving around the hall. They carried large containers, splashing the liquid on the walls, the ground, the windows. The sharp smell of gasoline hit me; my breath hitched, realization dawning on me.
They were burning the building. Burning everything.
Ace stood near the main door. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette, rolling it between his fingers. Then he motioned to his man with a flick of his finger. A broad-shouldered man with sleek black hair leaned in without a word, flicked the lighter.
He brought the cigarette to his lips, dragged deeply, then exhaled a large puff of smoke. A nod of his head towards the hall. The man tossed the lighter. The building erupted in orange-yellow flames. I flinched, my heartbeat racing against my ribs.
"Turn your head, little dove," Kaden murmured, his voice a low rumble against my ear. My gaze snapped to his, realizing I had been pressing my arms against his chest. I jerked them away as if he had burned me.
He slightly adjusted me in his arms, brows drawing together. "The fumes will make you sick," he said, his voice dropping lower, softer. I looked away sharply, unable to say anything, focusing instead on his white shirt, the sharp smell from the building making my eyes water.
Why did he care?
I'd expected a bullet through my skull.
Not this.
Not him.
He carried me towards the sleek black SUV, walking directly towards the back seat door and swung it open. Effortlessly, Kaden bent down and settled me on the soft leather seat, his hands lingering on my knees for a second, causing a confusing jolt, tingles erupting on my skin. His eyes, usually sharp, had softened as they traced the line of my lips before meeting my terrified gaze.
Then his hand left my knees. Before I could register my surroundings, he slammed the door shut. I flinched. He moved away, heading towards the passenger door. He tapped the glass; the driver's gaze snapped to him. A motion of his finger for him to drive.
I sat quietly as the car drove off, pressing my hands flat against the rear window, the glass cold beneath my palms. I watched everything blur from sight: the burning building, the Rivera symbol-it dawned on me that I was finally leaving, not in a way I had always hoped, but I was leaving, the thought bittersweet.
We slowed down along the tree-lined drive. The driver finally spoke. "Settle in, miss. It's a journey," he said, his voice calm, barely audible over the roaring of the engine.
I turned away from the window, sinking into my seat. My gaze darted to the driver, his gray, thinning hair sleeked back, wrinkles around his eyes. His gaze locked onto the road, barely blinking, as if worried he might miss something.
I turned back to the window; we had finally left the forest. Looking at the cars that passed us, my gaze caught sight of a group of people moving from a shopping mall, shopping bags in hand as they chatted. They looked about my age. Free, young, alive, leaving their lives on their own terms, while I was being carried from one cage to another.
My vision blurred. I blinked repeatedly, refusing to let the tears fall.
I turned my gaze away from the window, picking at my fingernails. I took a shaky breath in, leaning slightly forward, my voice a whisper: "How... how long will the drive be?"
The driver met my gaze for a brief second in the mirror, then looked away, turning back to the road. Time stretched as I waited for a response; all I was met with was silence. I looked away from him, my gaze moving to my nails-blood covering them from how roughly I had tugged at the skin. Then the driver spoke, his voice flat.
"Two hours, miss. Try to rest if you can."
I nodded. Two hours...
My gaze moved from my lap. Taking a slow breath, pausing, trying to gather up courage to ask him: "And... the Santos mansion? Is it... Similar..."
He paused for a moment, then he spoke. "Similar layout, perhaps."
I nodded again, my body going cold as realization washed over me. "Like Rivera," I whispered.
He nodded. "Yes. But..." He paused, hesitating. "Don't worry yourself too much, miss. The women... they have a bit more freedom there," he stated.
A bit more freedom. What did he mean by that? Before I could follow up with another question on what he meant, his hand moved towards a button on the console. A black glass rose between the passenger seat and the back seat, in seconds separating me from the driver.
"Rude," I murmured, staring at the wall, twisting the fabric of my dress.
Don't worry? How could I not worry? I scoffed, my gaze on my lap for the rest of the ride.
The car stopped before a long driveway that widened out to the entrance of the Mansion. The driver got out, his movements rushed. He yanked open the car door. I shrank into my seat, leaning away from him.
"Don't worry, miss," he held out his hand for me.
My gaze moved to his hand, then his face, which had wrinkled up. Bringing a trembling hand towards his palm, he pulled me out with gentleness.
"Go on," he motioned towards the expensive entryway with double doors.
It felt like my feet were stuck to the ground. My gaze drifted back to him. He gave me a slight smile. "The entrance, miss."
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I took a small step. My feet caught in my dress. I immediately bent, gathering my heavy dress in my arms, then moved towards the entrance. My steps were slow and hesitant. I blinked rapidly at everything, until I caught sight of two women standing by the entrance.
They were breathtakingly beautiful.
Each one dressed in dresses made of silk clinging to their hourglass figures, hair perfectly styled, diamond jewelry on every wrist, every neck. Waiting. For me. My shoulders tightened, but I kept moving.
They watched me approach. The brunette with the striking blue eyes pressed her lips flat, crossing her arms in front of her large chest. The other tapped her feet impatiently on the ground, her almond eyes narrowed, her face tightened into a pinched expression. Their eyes were cold as they watched me reach the top step.
The one who had been tapping her feet moved with slow strides, each step deliberate and precise. Her blue eyes matched her blue, sleek dress, sharpening her stare. Without warning, her long, manicured nails clamped onto my elbow, sinking into my skin. A sharp, burning pain shot through my arm; I winced.
She pulled me forward into the mansion, revealing an entrance hall that made me suck in a breath: high ceilings with golden, bright chandeliers and intricate details that gave a sense of royalty. Even the Rivera mansion couldn't compare. It looked like something straight out of a movie.
Before I could even take in my surroundings, the blue-eyed woman leaned closer, her warm breath against the back of my neck. I froze, feeling rooted to the spot. "Well, well, well, aren't you just lucky?" she said, her tone clipped.
"A little servant? No, no, no... not a servant, but the wife of the mafia kings," she drawled, her words dripping with venom.Then she paused, making chills run up my spine. I felt her behind me, so close her hip bumped my back; I stumbled, nearly losing my balance. Her hand shot up; she roughly tugged at my veil.
"Ahh!" I cried out. The pins holding my veil ripped out; it felt like needles had sunk into my scalp-a burning pain that made my eyes squeeze shut, a single tear slipping down my face. My trembling fingers moved to my head, touching the tender skin beneath my hair.
The blonde holding my elbow watched with a smirk playing on her lips. Her narrowed almond eyes darted to me. "Tsk, tsk," she mocked. "Stacie, don't give her a hard time," she drawled, her voice dripping with false concern. "Wouldn't want to bruise the mafia brothers little wife."
Her hand shot out towards my cheeks, squeezing them together. "Look, she's about to cry." She laughed coldly, Stacie joining in; their laughter echoed against the entrance hall. I stood there frozen between them, my eyes turning glassy, trying to hold the tears.
I won't cry; I won't....
But no matter how much I tried to force myself, the tears welled up anyway, falling down my cheeks; my shoulders trembling. She let go of my cheeks, tightening her grip on my elbow, her nails still sunk into my skin. I whimpered as she dragged me deeper into the mansion. Stacie, following behind, her heels clicking on the marble floor.
A chill crawled up my spine, i could feel eyes, I didn't know who or what, but I could feel people staring at me. My gaze snapped up towards the curving stairways.There were women standing above the stairways, their gaze fixed on the scene below. I looked away, I didn't want to look too long, to see the contempt in their gazes, the disgust.
I had experienced enough of that today.
She dragged me down the long hallway untill we reached, black double wooden doors
A women in a black and white uniform stood beside the door her eyes lowered, guards at every corner of the corridors, leaving no glimpse for escape, she shove me into the room I caught myself, my gaze moving to my surroundings, The walls were black, high glass windows draped in red curtains, paintings all across the room, a fireplace across the king's size bed. I gulped down a breath, realization hitting me.
This has to be their room...
She shoved me roughly backwards, towards the bed. Landing onto the mattress, I sank into the soft duvets so soft it felt like I was laying on clouds. The blonde girl turned to the maid. "Close the door," she snapped. The maid scurried to shut the door, leaving the three of us in the room.
Her gaze moved back to me. She stared down at me, curling her lip. "The maids will be here in a few minutes," she stated, her voice clipped. "They'll get you ready for the wedding night." I froze, holding my breath, my heart racing painfully against my chest. I clenched the duvet beneath my fingers.
As if seeing my terror, she laughed, a loud mocking sound echoing in the room. "Why so scared, puta?" she sneered, moving towards the edge of the bed. I leaned back, my breaths rushed. "It's not like you're a virgin." Her hand shot out, grabbing my cheeks again, her nails sinking into my skin. "Everyone knows girls like you open their legs for anyone who tosses them a few coins."
Stacie laughed, her eyes bright with amusement. She let go of my cheeks, the burning sensation lingering. They turned around, leaving me alone in the empty room.
How would I survive this night...