The mafia’s pet

SOPHIA.

What am I doing here?

Deep down in the hollows of my heart, I knew the answer to that question. I remember the nausea that rose to my throat the moment I read that freaking message, I felt sick to my stomach.

I knew I should have ignored it.

I should have deleted the text and blocked the number, but I got up and pushed my dumbass into my sorry excuse for a car and drove down here, to hell.

He had gotten himself into this, why should I care? Why should I be the one to rescue him? To save him? He never did anything for me, for nine years I was the one who did everything! All he did was mess around and make those around him depressed, I did not owe him anything, yet here I am because of a text.

A text I should not have even read talkless, acknowledged.

But I did.

And that's the reason I am here.

I should not even care.

But I did.

I shouldn't help him.

But I am.

I have no choice.

I do, but I’ve never been good with choices anyway, so why should I care now?

Pushing aside the thoughts that were going on a rampage in my brain, I swallowed the bile that had risen to my throat and knocked.

I hoped they wouldn't hear it.

I hoped no one would open up.

I hoped this was the wrong address.

I hoped, I hoped, I hoped……

Not acknowledging my silent prayers, the large gate opened, and two men ushered me in.

Once I walked in, my eyes widened as I stared back at the building facing me. The compound was as large as life and as for the building, I stood facing a huge three-story manor.

I was here.

Why was I here?

I should run.

I should move.

“Keep walking.” One of the men said harshly, hissing in irritation, and I swallowed, trying to clear the Fogg that had formed in my brain.

The longer I remained unmoving, the more unsteady my breathing became.

I was panicking, my inhales and exhales were in fractured rhythm, forcing me to breathe in my air.

Breathe.

Calm down.

You're safe.

You're in control.

Finding strength in my self-reassurance, I calmed down and looked up to find the men staring at me with pure rage in their eyes.

“Shall we continue?” I asked with a small smile, hiding my embarrassment. On any other day, I would apologize, but I was not feeling good at all today and their glares did not help at all.

They said nothing and continued walking, leading me to my doom.

After a long walk, I was finally in the manor. As big as this compound was, I would suggest they hire a mini-shuttle bus for transportation, the distance between the gate and the house was one I was not looking forward to walking again, anytime soon.

“You'll wait in there and Mr. Vincenzo will Join you shortly.” One of the two men said, specifically the one who had been shooting eye daggers at me all this while.

“Alright, thank you,” I said with a small smile and nod, they both stared at me for a while in reluctant curiosity before they walked away quietly. Weird.

I allowed my eyes to scan the living room, it was as spacious as the rest of the house I was sure, I busied myself thinking about the cute dandelions used as decoration so I would not fall into my mind once more.

I was usually in control of my episodes, but I had no clue what was wrong with me today. I closed my eyes to regain some control when I felt his presence, I snapped my eyes open and stood up, my eyes glued to the person behind him.

The person who caused all this, the person who ruined my life, finally.

“Sophia.” My father said, my name sounding like a plea for forgiveness, I stared at him with utter disgust. My insides clenched and I pushed back the tears burning in my eyes.

“Please sit.” a deep voice said, cutting off the staring contest I was having with my father, we both sat as I anxiously awaited the rest.

“It's good that you honored my request.” the person spoke once more, his voice holding something that seemed like humor, I was sick to my stomach.

“I don't I had much of a choice,” I said with irritation dripping off my words, I hated being in a situation I could not handle.

There was silence after what I had said and I began to rethink, maybe I should have just kept quiet. What was I thinking? Did I forget who he was for a second?

As my thoughts ran haywire, a dark chuckle cut me off.

“You're as feisty as promoted, Sophia.” the person said.

“Can I know why I'm here?” I asked impatiently.

“Oh yes, you may, but first can you look at me? I find it quite upsetting that you would rather focus your attention on your cute flip-flops than on me when I'm speaking to you,” he said, with an amused tone.

Lord his voice was hot.

I cleared my throat and looked up and my mouth went dry.

Oh

Holy

F***

Goddamn.

What in the world?

He is so hot.

He looked like a prince, a dark prince. His sharp Jawline, beautiful gray eyes, olive skin, and a body sculpted from lean muscles and malicious intent.

“Better?” he said with a smirk, his gray eyes twinkling with mischief as he stared down at me, well aware of the effect his visuals had on me.

“Worse,” I said as I closed my mouth, only realizing it had fallen open!? Omg so embarrassing.

That caused his smirk to widen, and my cheeks to heat up.

“Now can I know what's happening here?” I asked, clearing my throat as I regained my composure.

“Yes, your father however can explain it, I'm sure he would be better at it.”

I turned to my father who had gone pale, he looked far older than his age. He looked up and when he made eye contact with me, he visibly swallowed.

I and my father did not have the best relationship, after my mother’s passing, he had fallen into a life of addiction and was unable to provide for me and my junior brother, pushing me into a life of hardship and poverty so young. I have been working ever since then and although I never said much to him, I resented him for it. For all the burden it had put on me, for everything I had to sacrifice, and for the pain it had cost me.

“Go on Dad, you know my night shift is soon, I missed a class for this,” I said, hoping whatever would come out of his mouth would not shatter my already broken heart.

“I am sorry,” he said, tears and sweat pouring down from his face, he was shaking.

The room was air-conditioned, yet he was sweating so badly. This was not good.

This was not good at all.

“Just get on with it, would you?” I said as I looked away, I hated when he cried, it made him look so helpless, and it broke my heart.

“I made a mistake, I did not mean for this to happen. I was only trying to rectify my mistake from the past. I should not have done it, I should not have listened to Andrew, I am so sorry I am putting you in this position Sophia.” My father said, his voice shaking.

“You're scaring me, Dad, please just stop crying and calm down, tell me what's wrong? Please!?

“I stole from Nikolai, I and Andrew came up with a business plan and we needed funds. I suggested working a bit to gather up how much we might need but Andrew was impatient, he said he needed money as fast as possible. We had no way to get that amount of money so he suggested we rob one of the businessmen we chose Nikolai because he is the richest in the country.” he paused to check if I was listening before he continued.

“We planned it for weeks and got into shape, we finally decided to do it yesterday night, and when we got in we managed to steal something, we stole lots of Jewelry and an ancient clock, I told Andrew it was enough, but he was too greedy. After he had packed and we were leaving, the alarm went off and Andrew managed to escape, I was caught and held captive. They put me in an underground dungeon in waited for him to come back, and when he did he asked me what I cared for the most and asked me to bring it to him. I said you. I said, my daughter.” My father said as he broke down into tears.

My brain was blank.

I was numb as realization struck me.

“What do you want?” I asked, staring into his soulless beautiful eyes.

“You, Cara Mia, to be my pet for a year,” he said with a smirk as everything went black.