Chapter 4 Sold

Evelyn's Pov

His eyes moved from my eyes down my body. His stare made me conscious of myself, reminding me I was still in my towel.

"But after you dress up" he completed before leaving the room. I can't wear the dress I came here with. I sat down on the bed and a knock came on the door.

"Come in," I said and a lady came in holding a pile of clothes. "Sir, ask me to give you these clothes," she said bowing.

I collected the clothes and checked them. It was my size. How did he know my size?

The lady left the room and I stripped to get dressed.

It was a black sweatpants and hoodie with footwear. Just the clothes I needed. I wore the clothes, packed my hair in a ponytail, and left the room.

The house was big and complicated but I managed to trace my way back to the living room. I have a Sharp memory so I remembered the way to my room.

There was no one in the living room but there was noise coming from nearby. I followed it and entered the kitchen. There were four men with a woman there.

The two guys from earlier and the lady who led me to my room were standing around Raffaele. Another guy, wearing glasses and working on a computer, was also present.

"Is she going to stay here?" A whining voice said. The lady clung to Raffaele while he didn't move.

"Yes,'' he said curtly.

"But she is not meant to be. What if she is a spy from Domenico?" She asked again. Why is her voice so annoying? It is really getting on my nerves.

I cleared my throat and their eyes landed on me.

"Hi, do you need something?" One of the guys asked. He had brown hair and a friendly face.

"Not really," I replied and watched him step forward.

"I am Enzo," he stretched his hand. I looked at Raffaele but he was not looking.

"Evelyn," I put my hand in his.

"Welcome to the mafia," he smiled and a cough interrupted him.

I turned to see the guy with glasses. "Hello, beautiful. I am Carmen, the mafia's best hacker," he said, waving at me.

"That is Oscar and Bianca," he pointed at the other guy and girl clinging to Raffaele.

I observed him. He was cute with small freckles on his cheeks

Oscar just stared at me, trying to figure me out while Bianca was being a bit€h.

The room fell silent. "Do we still need to talk?" I asked Raffaele since nobody had anything to say.

"I will be in my office," he said to the others and walked out while I followed closely behind him.

He dropped a file on the table before me and sat down in his chair, his eyes fixed on me. "What deal do you have with Dominenco?"

"He bought me," I replied.

"Then tell me why the hell did he want me to have you," he said, his voice curiously calm.

"I don't know," I answered. His fist tightened on the armrest of his chair, a sign of his frustration.

Raffaele's eyes narrowed as he processed my response. "Read the contents of the file and sign every page. Then we can talk." He placed a pen on the file.

I eyed the file before picking it up and began reading through the first page.

"I am no one's property," I said, lifting my head to meet his gaze.

"Domenico bought you, so you are the mafia's property. And instead of accepting you, I bought you, which makes you my property.

You just need to sign the file to make it legal," he said with a smirk.

"This is illegal," I said, my voice tinged with disbelief.

"In the mafia, everything is legal," he replied, his smirk widening.

"You are just like your father," I spat out at him. I felt like I was entering into a deeper hole, one from which escape seemed increasingly unlikely.

My promise felt as though it was slipping away.

Raffaele's chin hardened. "He is not my father." His voice was stern. He stood up, walked over, and sat on the edge of the table facing me.

"I am far worse than him." His eyes locked with mine, and I couldn't look away, even when I wanted to.

The room was thick with tension, the silence heavy with the weight of his words and his penetrating gaze. Who was he, really? His expression revealed nothing, making it impossible to read him

"Big brother," a soft voice interrupted, and we broke our gaze. I turned to see a young, beautiful girl with a smile standing at the door.

"You can leave now, and don't forget to sign the file," Raffaele said, his attention now focused on the girl.

As I walked toward the door, she gave me a gentle smile.

"Do you miss me?" I heard her ask Raffaele as I exited the room. Was this his sister, the one Domenico had threatened him with? She looked younger and remarkably cheerful. How did she end up in their family? I guess it is fate, the same way I ended up here.

I returned to my room and reopened the file. I scrutinized the document for any loopholes but found none.

Either he was exceptionally skilled or just good at hiding things, I can't say.

The file did contain one small consolation: if I signed, I could potentially cease being his property and leave the mafia upon his death.

But I knew the reality- once you entered the mafia, leaving it was rarely an option. It was a world where death was often the only escape.

I signed every page, knowing I had no choice, then placed the file in the drawer, knowing that my future was now irrevocably tied to Raffaele and the dangerous world he represented.

*****

I woke up to the sound of something falling. I sat up and saw the lady who brought my clothes the day before arranging the closet.

She was wearing a uniform, and I concluded that she was a maid. "What are you doing?" I asked. She was startled and jumped, placing her hands on her chest.

"Sir, ask me to get some clothes in your closet," she said, bowing. I stood up and moved closer to her, causing her to step back in fear. I ignored her reaction and looked inside the closet.

The closet was enormous, filled with various clothes neatly arranged. It ranged from joggers to dresses- what?

What is all this? There were different colors and styles of clothing, including dresses. I don't wear dresses and definitely not bright colors.

"Where is he?" I asked her. "He is in his office, ma'am." I left the room before she could complete her sentence and started tracing my way back.

I heard loud laughter from the living room and changed my direction. He would definitely be there.

"Really, Emily?" The laughter continued as I entered the room. Enzo was sitting across from the girl from Raffaele's office, while Oscar was sitting not far from her.

Enzo was laughing at what she was saying while she moved her hands around, explaining something to them. Oscar had a smile on his face as he stared at her.

Love-struck eyes, I scoffed. Falling in love is very dangerous in the mafia, and he was foolish enough to do it.

And he is so obvious about it. I wondered what kind of men Raffaele kept in his gang.

"Sister-in-law, you are awake!" the girl said, standing up excitedly. "I have been waiting for you." She had a wide smile on her face.

Sister-in-law?

"What?" I was astonished.

"Big brother explained everything to me, you don't need to be afraid."

Raffaele explained to her? What is going on here? What exactly did he tell her? And sister-in-law? Where is that coming from?

I need to see him now