Chapter 4
Alessia's POV
I wake up realizing it was almost night, standing up went to the kitchen and made me a sandwich and some coffee. I can't believe I have slept the whole day. Deciding what to do to keep myself busy I went back to my room. Only one thing comes to mind.
I sit in front of my clean canvas, taking the palette in to my hands as my fingers start to move swiftly across the canvas. Painting was always a way to keep me calm, to paint or draw my feelings instead of speaking them and being judged for them.
Since the day I was born I had no one, I never went to school, my mother told our maid to tutor me at home. She always told me she won't spend a cent of her money on a useless nobody. Our maid became more like a mother to me. Rosetta was diagnosed with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer when I was fourteen years old, so she stayed in bed most of the time. But somehow managed to tutor me.
My parents never loved me, they made that clear right from the start. Rosetta could never explain why they hated me. It was something I had to live with. They loved my sister though, she's younger than me, my half sister. But all of this didn't matter because I found someone who loved me for who I am, someone that treated me like her own daughter.
When I was sixteen Rosetta died, leaving me alone with nobody to love me. I became depressed, talking to her photo, we took when we went down to the river. When my mother thought I was going insane, she threw me in the basement. There was no bed, no blanket, nothing. She locked the door and left me there. There were a few boxes in the corner that were marked with Rosetta's name on them. I went over and opened the few boxes one by one, until I came across an envelope with my name on it. I opened it and began to read.
In the letter Rosetta told me to always do my best, no matter what anyone tells me. She told me to believe in myself just like she had done all these years. That she loved me as if I was her own daughter. I started crying after I finished reading her letter. Then I closed the boxes carefully and hid the letter in my pocket. I stayed in the basement for three days with no food, no water, only reading Rosetta's letter over and over again. On the third day, my sister found me passed out. She threw cold water in my face, telling me to go back to my room. I only got a glass of water to drink and yelling from my mother and stepfather telling me to get over Rosetta's death.
After four years of torture in that place, my mother came to me one night, telling me that they sold me to the Mikhas and that I should start packing. My sister smiled at me as if she knew something. That night, I met Sergei Mikhas. One look at him made my skin crawl. I served them the whole night like I was their personal maid. On my way up to my room, I heard my parents and Sergei talk, "Don’t worry about her; after everything you told me, it will be my pleasure to take her. Make sure she's ready at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning." I heard Sergei say this to my parents. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could.
Closing the door behind me, I fell onto my bed, thinking how my life would change tomorrow. Suddenly the door opened, and when I looked up, I saw Sergei standing there. Closing the door behind him, he walked up to me, stalking me like prey. He took my face in his hands and whispered in my ears, "From tomorrow on, your sweet little ass is mine; I will let you feel what hell is like. Don’t try anything stupid; I know you heard our conversation." He pressed my chin so hard that it felt like he was going to rip it off. He smirked at me darkly, then left as quickly as he entered. That night, I knew I had to get away if I ever wanted a normal life without abuse.
When everyone was sleeping, I took only my clothes and ran all the way here to Rome. I was lucky enough to get a job right away, and although it didn’t pay much, it was enough for food and a roof over my head. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a noise in my kitchen, making my whole body tense. I quickly stood up and grabbed my bedside lamp. I walked slowly, knowing they had found me.
I walked quietly on the tip of my toes to the wall beside the door and prepared myself to hit the person behind the door. The door opened slowly, and the man stepped into my room only to get a lamp against his head. He hissed as he stepped back. I took this moment to step forward, ready to fight for my life, and I realized it was a strange man. "You're going to pay for that, Bitch!” He growled something in his language, rubbing his head. He suddenly stepped forward and kicked my legs from under me, making me fall to the ground. Before I could register what was happening, he started to kick me in the stomach as I gasped for air.
The guy stood above me, grinning, before he grabbed me by the hair and used it to pull me up. "You can be glad the boss wants you in one piece, bitch, otherwise you would be dead by now", he said before he continued. "But that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun before I take you back." The look in his eyes made me realize I wasn't going to like what he had in store for me. He threw me at the wall, hard. The last thing I saw was the man unbuckling his belt before I passed out.
Chapter 5Johnny POVWe have been searching for the snitch the whole day, and we found little information. Walking around the office I saw my reflection and my hair was messed up from dragging my hands through them a thousand times. I turned around and flipped the table. "Fanculo"! I shouted with anger.I left in my car to go to the warehouse where all my shipment is. Walking in I found Stefano and Samuele already there. "Samuele, anything missing here?" I asked."Doesn't look like anything is gone, but we are busy counting the weapons just in case." I nod, "I think we must put men here to keep watch, they might try and raid the warehouse, and we must be ready for when that happens." Samuele nods, then proceeds to talk to our men. After taking care of business and making sure everything goes smoothly, I decided to visit Alessandro and Lisa. I rarely visit them these days, because of the shit that’s been going on in my life. I don’t want to get them involved. Getting into my car I dro
Chapter 6Alessia's POVI wake up groaning at the sharp pain piercing my head; my body feels stiff and sore. I try to compose myself, wondering where I am. The last thing I remembered was the guy who broke into my apartment and threw me against the wall. Struggling to sit up straight I looked around, I was met by a familiar room. What was I doing back here? Did this guy send someone after me? Maybe he is working with Sergei? All these questions are going through my head. I stand up abruptly, making my head pulse and my vision blurry for a moment. I let myself have a minute to compose myself before I stood up. I went over to the door only to find it locked. Strange. I though. Why would he lock me in this room? Suddenly I heard someone by the door and quickly walked back to the bed, ignoring the pain in my stomach. The door swung open and closed, bringing my attention to the same guy from the other night.He looked at me and asked, "Are you hurt?” In his deep Italian voice. I looked behi
Chapter 7Johnny's POV"Where is Stefano?" I asked Samuele as soon I went down."He and the rest of the guys are on their way over." I nodded and went to the couch lying down. Samuele looked at me amused."What?" I asked when he keeps on staring at me like I have gone crazy."Why are you treating her like a guest? I thought she was a prisoner?" He said with a tease clear in his voice."I need her to tell me the truth, I think she knows the Russians, but won't admit it." I tell him with a serious face, I mean what the fuck does he think I'm trying to do?"Well I was just thinking why treat her like a guest and not torture her to tell the truth?" Just as I was about to answer him, the others walk in."Good morning boss." They great me while walking over. "Where is breakfast this morning boss?" Luca asked while looking around. "Now, Johnny, get your ass up and make us some breakfast." Luca says when he doesn’t see any breakfast."No"' I mumbled. "Okay I'm hungry," Ciro sighed. "Samuele
Chapter 8Alessia's POVI was lying on the bed when I heard voices outside in the hall. It sounds like they are playing some sort of game. I wonder if there are only guys in this place. After some time I heard a door being kicked down.Maybe they are killing someone? My subconscious says. Yeah, maybe someone went to hide in a room and they got that person. Standing up I walk to the door trying to listen if I hear anything, but all I hear is laughter. Maybe they are just playing I don’t know and don’t care I just want to get out of here.My headache is killing me. I went back to bed deciding to sleep for a while. My stomach begins to grumble realizing I haven’t eaten since yesterday. After a while of tossing and turning I hear the door open and sit up straight waiting for whoever to walk in. My eyes went wide when I noticed the man that saved me with four other men.They step inside my room. And let me tell you these guys are handsome. One of them I remember I think his name is Samuele.
Chapter 9Alessia's POVI couldn't believe he would just kill her like that! I mean what the fuck! My hands couldn't stop shaking, I was angry! No scratch that I was fucking furious! Elma didn't deserve to die like that. She's a sweet old lady. I wonder what they are going to do now? Will, they sent me back to that hellhole or the Mikhas?I got startled when the door opened, pulling me out of my thoughts. The sexy stranger entered with Samuele and Stefano."Looks like we are going to have a family get-together." The sexy man said. I looked up at him shocked.O shit! Maybe I should do something stupid, so he can just kill me now, it's better than going back to my parents or my fiancé. My hands started shaking violently again."You know, you should have just told me who your parents were I always do business with your father." He continues.Tears start to run down my face. What the hell can I do now? My parents are probably on their way as we speak. My mother is going to kill me that's f
Chapter 10Johnny's POVI wonder why Alessia hid her true identity—what was she afraid of? I have known her father a long time, and he doesn't seem like a monster that would hurt his daughter. Maybe she doesn't want to get married, and I understand that because I hate the Mikhas.Taking out my phone I call her father. "Long time, Mr. Gravano." I hear his voice coming through the phone."Mr. Berlusconi, I have some good news for you," I told him."Ah, could this be another promising business opportunity?" He asked hopefully."No, but I have the person you've been searching for a while," I tell him, waiting for his reply."That bi... Oh, do you mean Alessia?” He said it with a sadistic chuckle. Something seems off, what did he mean before he said her name?"Yes, the one and only," I said after some time."O my boy, you don't know how happy I am to hear that." He said it with another chuckle."When can we come and pick her up?" I heard him ask."I will let you know where and when.” I told
Chapter 11Alessia's POVWhen we walked inside the fancy restaurant I knew my life was over. We walked up to a table while I just kept my head down not ready to face the monsters from my past."Alessia?" I heard my stepfather's voice and I went stiff. I think Mr boss man must have felt it because he drew me closer to him."Mr. Berlusconi, please take a seat." Mr boss man told my stepfather in a cold voice."I just wanted to hug her. I can't believe it's been four years." My stepfather said and I feel like vomiting."Alessia, honey it's you.” My mother said as we sit down, and I look up at my monsters."Yes, your long-lost daughter is back," I told them sarcastically."Thank you for reuniting us with our daughter, Mr. Gravano." My stepfather said to Bossman or shall I say, Mr. Asshole Gravano."My pleasure, let's order shall we? We have a lot to discuss," Gravano told us. The waitress comes and takes our order with her eyes on Gravano the whole time, "Yeah he's good-looking but an assh
Chapter 12Alessia's POVI woke up back in the room I was in when I first came here. I wonder what will happen to me now. I sighed when I heard my stomach grumble and right on cue the door opens and Stefano walks in with a tray of food. He smiles at me and walks over. "Buongiorno bella addormentata". I raised a brow at him for calling me that."You do realize you slept late?” He said this when I looked at him weirdly."O, sorry, I didn't realize it was late." I apologize with a small smile."I brought you some pasta and orange juice." He said this before putting it on my lap."Thank you.” I took the fork and began to eat."So, what's going to happen now? Bossman knows I'm not working with the Russians?" I asked with a little hope that he would let me go."I'm not sure; Johnny will talk to you later and discuss everything I assume." He said this while sitting down on the chair next to my bed.I nodded. "Can you tell me why he took me to my family last night?" I asked, hoping he would k