Chapter 3 A LIFE IN CHAINS

Alessia Rizzo's POV

I couldn't stop shaking. The words Donatello had spoken echoed in my mind like a haunting refrain, each one leaving a mark deeper than the last. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating. I was trapped, and I knew it.

When he left the room to give his orders, I was left alone with Leonardo. His face was full of twisted satisfaction, watching me struggle to process everything that was happening.

"You should've known this was coming," Leonardo said, his voice mockingly calm. "You've always been a problem for me, Alessia. Always in the way. But now, I don't have to worry about you anymore. Donatello gets what he wants, and you get what you deserve."

I clenched my fists, the urge to lash out at him almost overwhelming. But I knew it was pointless. He was the one with all the power now. He'd always been the one pulling the strings, but now Donatello held the final say. I was nothing more than a pawn in a game I couldn't even begin to understand.

"Don't look at me like that," Leonardo continued, leaning against the wall with an arrogant smirk. "You think you can escape this? You think you can change what's already been decided?"

I stayed silent. There was nothing I could say. The truth was too painful to speak, and I had no fight left in me.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I was too numb to react to anything, too overwhelmed to even feel fear. The silence between Leonardo and me was thick with tension, and every time I looked at him, I was reminded of how he had betrayed me. But even as the anger boiled in my veins, there was a strange sense of relief that it was finally happening. My fate had already been sealed, and I didn't have to keep pretending that I could change it.

Donatello's men arrived soon after, setting up everything to move me. I watched from the corner of the room, my eyes darting between them as they packed my things into a suitcase. I had no idea where we were going or what awaited me, but I knew one thing for sure: it was a new chapter of my life, and it wasn't one I wanted to live.

Leonardo gave me one final look, his expression unreadable. "I suggest you make this easy on yourself," he said, his voice colder than before. "Donatello doesn't like surprises."

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone in the dark.

By the time the car arrived, I had packed only the bare essentials-clothes, toiletries, anything that might keep me grounded in this madness. I didn't dare pack more. What did it matter? Nothing I owned had any real value anymore. It wasn't like I would ever return to this life.

I was led outside, my legs unsteady as I walked toward the sleek black car waiting in front of the house. The night air was cool, but I barely noticed. Everything felt distant, unreal. I felt like I was living someone else's nightmare.

Donatello was standing next to the car, his imposing figure casting a long shadow in the dim streetlight. His presence was suffocating, and I felt like I couldn't breathe under the weight of it.

"You ready to go?" he asked, his voice smooth and indifferent, as if he was asking about the weather.

I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say. The truth was, I wasn't ready. But it didn't matter.

The man beside him opened the door to the car, and I hesitated for just a moment before getting inside. There was no other choice.

The drive was long and quiet. Donatello didn't speak to me, and I didn't try to speak to him. The car's interior was luxurious, but the opulence only made the situation feel worse. Everything about this felt wrong, like I was being pulled into a world I didn't belong in.

As the city passed by, I couldn't help but wonder where we were going. The car took a route that was unfamiliar to me, turning off into roads I didn't recognize. I pressed my forehead against the window, trying to keep my thoughts from spiraling.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the car stopped in front of a large, imposing mansion. The place looked like something out of a nightmare-a fortress, not a home.

Donatello got out of the car first, walking with the same steady, controlled steps that made him seem untouchable. I followed reluctantly, my feet heavy, as if the weight of my future was pulling me down with every step.

The mansion loomed ahead, its high gates closed, guards standing watch at every corner. There was no escape here. Not for me.

Inside, the mansion was just as cold and unwelcoming as the outside. The marble floors gleamed, but it felt empty, as if no one truly lived here. I was led down a long hallway, the echoes of my footsteps mingling with the faint sound of distant conversation.

Donatello stopped in front of a large, ornate door, opening it and gesturing for me to enter.

"This is your room," he said simply.

I stepped inside, barely able to take it all in. The room was massive, with dark wood furniture, a grand four-poster bed, and a breathtaking view of the city below. But there was something about it that felt wrong, like it wasn't mine to enjoy.

I turned back to Donatello, my mind racing. "What is this place?"

His eyes met mine with a cold, calculating gaze. "This is where you'll stay. For as long as I see fit."

I didn't have the strength to argue. I didn't have the will to fight anymore.

"Get some rest," he said, turning to leave. "You'll need it."

Before he stepped out, he paused and looked at me one last time. "You'll learn your place here. Soon enough, Alessia."

The door clicked shut behind him, and I was alone.

The room felt suffocating, even with all its grandeur. I walked to the window, staring out at the city lights, feeling the weight of my isolation. How had I gone from a daughter of a respected family to a prisoner in a man's mansion?

My mind spun, but there were no answers. Only questions, and fear.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway pulled me out of my thoughts. Someone was coming.

I turned quickly, my breath catching in my throat. I knew I wouldn't be left alone for long. And I knew that the man who had taken me here wasn't just a criminal-he was a monster.

Ending Suspense: The door creaked open, and a figure stepped into the room. It was Marco, Donatello's brother. His gaze was soft, almost kind, but his presence was still unsettling. "You're Alessia, right?" he asked. "Donatello's told me about you."

I nodded, confused and wary.

Marco took a step closer, his eyes scanning me with curiosity. "You'll have a difficult time adjusting, but trust me, you'll be taken care of."

I didn't believe him.