Alessandro
Bold, defiant, resourceful… Kendra was all her father needed to restore his empire to its former glory. So why did Don Julio Marino send his daughter away to study in the United States?
That was the time he needed her most. She would have been the perfect heiress.
The sudden knock on the door interrupted my train of thoughts.
"Come in," I said, knowing who was at the door.
Matteo came in quietly and he stood behind me. I could hear his uneven breathing and I guessed that he had come to talk.
"I'm listening," I said, not tearing my gaze away from the huge screen in front of me.
"Some of the men are talking, Boss," Matteo reported after much hesitation. I didn't respond so he went on. "They don't understand why you've chosen to keep her alive. You have always dealt with anyone who has ever tried to cross you. Why are you keeping Kendra Marino alive? Why did you bring her here?"
"Did the men ask those questions or are you being curious?" I asked, finally turning to look at him.
Matteo cleared his throat before answering. "I am curious, Boss. I thought we would get rid of her…"
"Isn't dying an easy punishment for a nun, Matteo?" I cut him off gently. "Don't they believe they would go to heaven after death? That's not punishment."
Matteo exhaled and I continued.
"You know me well enough to understand that I knew she could kill Barry. Her father taught her much when she was younger. I want to know why she chose to become Maria?"
"But she's not actually a nun," he reasoned calmly. "She's obviously faking it."
"I know she doesn't believe in all that," I agreed, refocusing my attention on the monitor which was showing me Kendra Marino. She was glaring at one of the cameras in her room. "She's an interesting woman, Matteo. I want to see how long she lasts."
He got quiet and I reached for the decanter, pouring myself another glass of whiskey.
"I'm only explaining to you because you're my friend, Matteo. And now that I've shared this with you, I'd appreciate no further questions."
He stood up straighter and nodded once. "I understand, Boss."
"Good," I picked up my phone. "Now get her something to eat."
Matteo left immediately and through the screen, I continued to watch her.
I had seen how she looked around when she first arrived. She was indeed my prisoner, but I had no intention of treating her like one in my home.
She had even checked the bathroom out, but her frown deepened when she noticed the CCTV camera on the wall.
She looked for more cameras and they were in every corner. She was obviously pissed off after realizing she wouldn't have any privacy, but the look on her face was funnier than I'd imagined.
Just like that, I found myself laughing alone while staring at her angry face through the monitor.
No one had aroused my interest the way this woman did, and if this entertainment was what I was getting for $12 Million, I think it was worth it.
Matteo finally did as instructed. Through the camera feed, I watched a maid enter the room carrying a tray of food.
Kendra was seated at the edge of the bed with her arms folded. I saw how she glanced at the tray before turning her face away.
Of course she did.
"Stubborn," I murmured under my breath, leaning back in my chair. I watched as the maid began to say something. Perhaps urging her to eat.
They were talking but I couldn't hear what was being said. Judging by the maid's body language, I quickly realized that something was off. I narrowed my eyes, noticing how she was gesticulating wildly, obviously yelling. Kendra, on the other hand, watched her with a look of surprise.
I narrowed my eyes to read their lips and Kendra said something along the lines of, "get out!"
There was anger in her eyes, but the maid didn't stop. My jaw tightened from just watching them. That maid was stupid for trying something like this.
Without waiting another second, I set my glass down and got up. For a moment, I considered calling Matteo, but the scene on the screen made me change my mind.
"Foolish woman," I muttered under my breath as I marched down the corridor.
Halfway there, I could already hear the faint sound of raised voices and Matteo must have heard it too because he suddenly appeared.
Not giving him a chance to intervene, I burst into the room and it suddenly went silent.
The maid jumped at the sound but Kendra was probably too pissed to even care about who had come in. She didn't look in my direction until she heard my voice.
"What's going on here?" I thundered.
The maid flinched, glancing between Kendra and the tray of food. "N-nothing, Signore," she stammered. "The nun was refusing to eat."
"And that gives you the right to say such things to me?" Kendra snapped.
"What did you say to her?" I asked the maid. She stayed quiet but patience was not one of my virtues. "Answer me!" I yelled and even Kendra looked startled.
"I told her I didn't like her attitude," the maid answered in a small voice.
"For someone who's going to end up getting fucked in her holy uniform, you shouldn't be acting like a spoilt princess. That's what you said!" Kendra spoke up.
My entire body went rigid and the room seemed to shrink with the silence that followed.
The maid's eyes darted between me and Kendra, realizing too late what she'd done.
I let out a slow exhale as I fought the urge to put a bullet through her mouth. "So that's how you speak in my house?" I asked her, my voice menacingly low.
"Signore, I…" she stopped talking and just fell to her knees.
"Get out," I ordered.
She looked up, trembling as she began shaking her head.
"Now!" I barked and she hurriedly got up, nearly tripping over herself on the way to the door. "And you're fired!" I added before she disappeared.
When I turned back to Kendra, she was wearing a look of surprise. Her eyes narrowed at me, but I just stared at her.
I let the maid's words which had struck a nerve replay in my head. No, I wouldn't fuck her in that outfit.
I suddenly realized that even though Kendra was a very attractive woman, I hadn't thought of her that way. Perhaps because she was too covered up in that black nun's uniform.
I remembered how she looked that night in Monaco but I shut down the thought immediately it came.
"Why haven't you changed your clothes? You look ridiculous," I broke the silence and she frowned at me.
"Maybe if there weren't cameras in the bathroom, I would consider it," she retorted.
For someone who was a prisoner, she had a sharp mouth. Her stomach suddenly rumbled and I raised a brow. So she's hungry but wouldn't eat?
"Get changed and come down for dinner," I said before leaving the room.
I found Matteo standing in the hallway and when I noticed his tight expression, I knew something was wrong.
I walked past him, slipping my hand into my pocket before demanding, "What is it?"
"We've got a problem, Boss," he said and I slowed my steps. "Killian Marino is here."
A smirk tugged on my lips when I heard that. He had come for his sister. "Killian Marino… almost as stupid as his sister is daring."
"Should I handle it, Boss?"
"Go ahead, Matteo," I answered. "I want his sister alive. I don't care if he dies."