Chapter 3 The First Night

Evelyn

The car ride to Alessio's estate was silent. He sat beside me, his gaze fixed on the window as the city lights blurred past. I kept my hands clenched in my lap, my nails digging into my palms to keep myself grounded. The weight of his threat still hung in the air, suffocating me.

"Don't think about running. If you do, I'll make sure your father pays the price."

His words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the power he held over me. I wanted to hate him, to scream at him, to demand answers. But the fear in me paralysed me.

The car pulled up to a massive iron gate, flanked by two armed guards. They nodded at Alessio as the gate creaked open, revealing a sprawling estate that looked more like a fortress than a home. The house was a monolith of stone and glass, lit by harsh floodlights that cast long shadows across the grounds.

Alessio stepped out of the car and held the door open for me. I hesitated, my heart pounding as I stared up at the imposing structure. This wasn't a home. It was a prison.

"Welcome to your new life," Alessio said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

I didn't respond. I couldn't. My legs felt like they were made of lead as I followed him up the steps and into the house. The interior was just as intimidating as the exterior-cold, sterile, and devoid of any warmth. The walls were lined with expensive art, but it did nothing to soften the atmosphere.

Alessio led me down a long hallway and stopped in front of a set of double doors. "This is your room," he said, pushing the doors open.

I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the space. It was large and opulent, with a king-sized bed, a sitting area, and a balcony that overlooked the grounds. But it didn't feel like mine. It felt like another cage.

"You'll stay here until I decide otherwise," Alessio said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I turned to face him, my anger finally breaking through the fear. "And what if I don't want to stay here? What if I want to leave?"

He stepped closer, his dark eyes boring into mine. "Then your father will suffer the consequences. Do you understand?". He must have repeated that a hundred times.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging deeper into my palms. "Yes," I whispered, my voice trembling.

He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and turned to leave. But before he reached the door, he paused and glanced back at me. "One more thing," he said, his voice, low and dangerous. "Don't try to contact anyone. Your phone has been confiscated, and the guards have orders to shoot anyone who tries to leave."

My heart sank as he walked out, closing the door behind him. I was alone. Trapped. And completely at his mercy.

I sank down onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing. How has my life come to this? Just a few days ago, I'd been planning my escape, dreaming of a future where I could leave the mafia world behind. But now, those dreams felt like a cruel joke.

I stood and walked over to the balcony, pushing the doors open and stepping outside. The night air was cool against my skin, but it did little to calm the storm raging inside me. I stared out at the grounds, my eyes scanning the perimeter. The estate was surrounded by a high stone wall, topped with barbed wire. Guards patrolled the grounds, their movements sharp and deliberate.

There was no way out.

I leaned against the railing, my hands gripping the cold metal as tears stung my eyes. I wanted to scream, to cry, to do something-anything-to make this nightmare end. But I knew it wouldn't do any good. I was trapped, and there was nothing I could do to change that.

A sound behind me made me freeze. I turned, my heart pounding, and saw a figure standing in the doorway. It was a woman, tall and elegant, with dark hair and piercing green eyes. She looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and pity.

"You must be Evelyn," she said, her voice soft but firm.

I nodded, wiping the tears from my eyes. "Who are you?"

"I'm Sofia," she said, stepping onto the balcony. "Alessio's sister."

I stared at her, my mind racing. Alessio had a sister? Why hadn't he mentioned her?

"I'm sorry about all of this," Sofia said, her gaze softening. "I know it's not what you wanted."

I laughed bitterly. "That's an understatement."

She sighed and leaned against the railing beside me. "Alessio can be... difficult. But he's not as heartless as he seems."

"Really?" I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because he seems pretty heartless to me."

Sofia didn't respond. She just stared out at the grounds, her expression unreadable.

After a long silence, Sofia turned to me, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "Be careful, Evelyn," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "There are things you don't know about Alessio. Things that could get you killed."

And with that, she walked away, leaving me standing there with a sinking feeling in my chest. What had she meant? What was Alessio hiding? And how far was he willing to go to keep his secrets?.