Chapter 4 THE ESCAPE

Her heart skipped a beat as his handsome face loomed closer. He might kiss her again like he did at the altar. she panicked and searched for an excuse.

"I'm your prisoner." That defense was weak. She sounded weak. Not what we should be doing Natalie.

He took a step closer. "I married You. "

"I was kidnapped from my wedding." Obviously.

" The wedding you wanted? Or the one you were forced into? You're safer here."

"That's not the same as willing."

He looked at her, something unreadable passing through his eyes. Then he sat on the edge of the bed.

"So you're going to make this difficult?"

"I'm going to make this honest."

He studied her face.

"I wouldn't force you, but we'd have to consummate this marriage sooner than you think. Or else something's going to happen. I saved you whether you think so or not" A smile. That smile again. The one that gave her awkward butterflies in her stomach. It would be easier to hate this man if he wasn't so Devilishly handsome .

"Thank you" .

"Don't let Leila get to you. What you guys had was in the past"

She blinked. "You knew she was my classmate?"

He grinned.

"I knew everything about you before I made my move. I don't believe in coincidence".

That stopped her breath.

She coughed lightly and crossed her arms. "Then I won't let history repeat itself. I assume you won't take her side"

His eyes darkened slightly." I'll still have to sleep here though. The bed's big enough to contain two people. We'll manage just for tonight".

He went to the bed, took off his shirt and snuggled under the covers. Natalie watched him. She was already dressed in her nightwear (thank God). She laid in the bed and didn't dare stay at the middle. She hung at the edge. Heart heavy. Eyes lacking sleep. This was her life now. She had to make the most of it.

Morning would come, she would plan but right now She needed sleep. Badly. Lorenzo's leveled breathing was The last thing she heard before she drifted off to sleep.

Long before the estate stirred, Lorenzo was already dressed in a dark turtleneck, the cuffs of his shirt rolled up with clinical precision. He moved through the quiet halls like a shadow, pausing at the glass windows that overlooked the estate's gardens.

He didn't glance back at the room where Natalie slept.The marriage had served its purpose.At least, on the surface.

Bringing home a wife had successfully silenced his mother's persistent talks of marriage, especially the ones involving Esmeralda, who had grown far too comfortable acting like she already bore the Marchesi name.

But the real reason she was here... had nothing to do with love.He knew that like he knew his name.Now he only had his new wife to contend with. And the sooner he found out what secrets she held the sooner they could end this farce of a marriage.

Months ago, one of his men-his closest friend, Allessio -had been gunned down in broad daylight by a faceless crew. The operation had been swift, clean, merciless. Allessio died protecting a shipment that was never supposed to be targeted.

Natalie-then just a civilian nobody-had been seen running from the alley where it happened.

At first, he thought she was a pawn. Then his men dug deeper . Someone had tried to erase her name from that scene.

Which meant she knew something. And Lorenzo was one who was keen to details, he had been watching her ever since, waiting for his opportunity and he had gotten it. Now the truth would surface. Once he had broken her defenses and forced the truth out of her.

"Make sure the tail doesn't lose her," he said into the phone as he entered the black Bentley waiting outside. "And I want the safehouse cleared in case she bolts again."

"Yes, sir," came his secretary's voice on the other end.

--

Natalie stirred awake in the unfamiliar sheets, disoriented, the heavy weight of yesterday still pressing on her chest.She groaned as she remembered the events of the previous night. It wasn't a dream.

She was married. To a man who kidnapped her at her wedding. Great!

She forced herself up, took a long bath, and wrapped herself in one of the silk robes placed carefully in the closet. Everything smelled expensive-like cinnamon, musk, and money.

Stepping out of the room in a dress laid out for her , she nearly bumped into Leila, who stood in the hallway like a snake on patrol.

"Well, well , we'll if isn't Natalie Grimwitch" she drawled.

Natalie scoffed " Leila, that nickname is so outdated, thought you would have found something better to say?"

Her eyes narrowed "I don't know how you managed to get my brother to marry you but know that you aren't welcome here. You should go! "

That makes Two of us. Natalie scoffed inwardly.

"Trust me I'd rather be anywhere than here". she sneered.

Leila stomped her feet and walked out on her. Natalie watched her go. She wasn't planning on staying here anyway

An hour later, Natale was crouched beneath the huge kitchen window, at the backof the huge house, heart pounding.It hadn't been easy getting this far. One of the maids had left the service door ajar, and she'd memorized enough turns in the hallway to make her move.

She ducked through the garden, ran across the gravel drive barefoot, and through a side gate that she had only discovered that morning.

Freedom tasted like air.She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she had to go-somewhere, anywhere. She could find a bus stop, a phone, maybe contact a friend. Someone had to help her.

But then a black van pulled out of nowhere, tires screeching.Before she could scream, arms grabbed her.

A cloth went over her mouth.And her whole world went black.

---

When she came to, the first thing she felt was cold steel beneath her and the smell of mold and gasoline. Her wrists were tied.

And across from her, smiling like a serpent, was Uncle Gideon. Really? Him Again?

"Well, well, look what the De Luca's tossed out," he sneered. "Not so high and mighty anymore, are we?"

Her mouth was dry. "You sold me. And now you've kidnapped me? to what end uncle?"

He chuckled darkly. "That wasn't part of the plan, darling. You were supposed to be my ticket to riches. Instead, you shamed me. Humiliated me."

"Last I checked, You sold me to Lorenzo. right after selling me to Viktor. what did you do with all those riches? " She asked sarcastically dumbfounded as hell. her uncle was always short on cash. Gambling made sure of that.

"There can't be enough you know. A man like Lorenzo has so much hidden wealth. I'll need more where that came from " He licked his lips greedily.

He took out a burner phone and dialed a number. She could hear it ring.

Then a calm voice answered.

"Yes?"

"Guess who I've got," Gideon smirked. "Your little bride ran off. Lucky for you, I found her."

Silence.

Then Lorenzo spoke. "What do you want?"

"Seventy million. Cash. By tonight."

Natalie's heart pounded.Would he do it? After all she had ran out on her own. Would he even know her uncle had staged the kidnap? Shit! this was bad!

More silence. A low chuckle and a swear in Italian. Then his reply.

"Kill her."

The words dropped like a blade.

Gideon blinked, thrown off. "What?"