48 Duke

Author's note: this is from Duke's point of view

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London, earlier that day…

"What do you mean… still missing?", I asked stiffly the man who stood in front of me with his head lowered.

Sergio was staring at the floor without blinking, like the carpet in the living room of my apartment is the most interesting thing he ever saw.

He is my senior, my guardian, yet he obeys my commands. I often wonder why he is so loyal as I've certainly never done anything to deserve his gratitude, but then I remember that his loyalty is not with me.

Sergio is the man my father tasked to accompany me to the United Kingdom eight years ago together with instructions to make sure I stay out of trouble, and out of Italy.

I knew that Sergio was prioritizing my safety from invisible enemies by making sure my photos and information are not leaked, rendering me practically nonexistent. I also knew that whenever he disappeared in the evening, it was not only to go to a club and to lose himself in alcohol and women, but he was involved in some other shady things as well. I never asked him about it, but I knew because he is living in the next-door apartment, and for the last three years my hearing is unusually strong to the point that I can hear how right now his heart is thundering because he is nervous… or scared. Definitely uncomfortable. And I knew that it's not his fault that for more than a month there is no news of Sanya, yet my rage mixed with impotence when facing the current situation and I needed an outlet.

I was overwhelmed with sudden aggression which swelled inside me and I was unable to control myself from yelling furiously.

"You are telling me that Sanya didn't return from Venice, but her luggage did… no one reported her missing, her parents secured tickets for Sanya's graduation ceremony, her classmates are acting as Sanya never existed… and we are out of leads?"

Sergio responded with a faint nod.

"FUCK!", I shouted and slammed my fist at the wall.

Sergio jerked and stared at the groove in the wall that was shaped in the form of my knuckles. The brick pieces fell on the floor and I was confident that if I deliver one more punch in that spot, it will create a hole in the wall between my apartment and Sergio's. The cracks which radiated from it were proof that I failed to control my strength and the truth was that I was boiling with rage and control was the last thing on my mind.

My anger was urging me to shout and scream and break things, even though I knew that it will not help in the current situation.

I realized that there was only one thing to do. "I am going to Venice."

"Young master, you can't.", Sergio swiftly stood at the door, blocking my path. He knew that I was heading to the bedroom to get my documents.

I told him a million times to stop calling me that. When I came to London, my identity as the young master was left behind. But Sergio always adhered to the same stupid rules, like my father will come and praise him for knowing his place and reminding me of mine.

"Out of my way, Sergio.", I said through my teeth.

This was a déjà vu of a scene from eight years ago. I was angry to be stuck in London with no explanations and I wanted to go home and find my father. Sergio told me that it couldn't be helped, and that danger came unexpectedly but I didn't believe him because I had in my hand a driver's license and passport with my photo and the unknown name 'Drago Orsini'. How can it be unexpected if my father prearranged a fake identity for me? He obviously saw it coming and kept me in the dark!

At that time, just like now, Sergio blocked my path with the difference that he was a full head taller than me and he was able to physically subdue me, but now I am slightly taller than he is, and I can stare straight into his eyes; as for who is stronger, that still needs to be tested.

Sergio flinched, but he didn't move from his spot. "You can't go to Italy, young master. It's not safe. Your father…"

"Don't mention him!", I snapped. "I don't want to hear about the man who sent me away without telling me what was going on! He disappeared after destroying my life! I don't care about anything other than Sanya! She is missing, Sergio! Do you expect me to sit here and wait? I did that! For a month! For a fucking month!", I raged at him.

"Young master, are you sure she is worth…"

My eyes flashed as I saw red.

"If you dare ask me if she is worth it, I will rip your throat out!", I seethed. "How many times I need to tell you that she is the only one? Maybe you never found a woman who can put you at peace, but I did. And that is Sanya. If you ever disrespect her in front of me, I will forget about our past and treat you as an enemy."

Sergio's body shivered as he lowered his head in submission, but he persisted in blocking the door stubbornly.

If he was more defiant, I would push him and do whatever is necessary to get him out of my way, but like this, I found my rage dwindling because it was not his fault. None of this was his fault. It was mine. If I listened to my instincts and stuck to Sanya closely, she would not go on that stupid vacation and none of this would happen.

My plan was simple: wait until she graduates from college and then take her to a place where no one can touch us.

As we finished high school, I faced a difficult choice of staying away from Sanya in exchange for Sanya keeping her scholarship. Considering how education-driven Sanya was and that we were not actually dating, I was confident I made the right decision. After all, we were about to attend different colleges, so at most, we would be able to see each other on the weekends, and considering how strict her money-hungry parents were, even that would come at risk for her because she would need to sneak out.

Sanya was young for a long-term commitment, and I didn't have anything solid that could ensure our future at that time. She wanted a degree that will open the doors for her to be independent; that was her ticket to separate from her family who was interested only in the fund her grandmother left her. After graduation, Sanya would get her degree, and whatever is left in the fund would be hers to use.

I remember Sanya telling me how when she gets her hands on that money, she will withdraw it all and keep it somewhere her parents will never find it. Sanya is a free spirit and she wanted to travel the world and see all the wonders it provides. She dreamed of climbing Mount Bromo, visiting the Eiffel Tower, watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, getting soaked in Victoria Falls, sleeping under Aurora Borealis… and I silently vowed to do all that with her.

We parted ways after high school with a promise to stay in touch and reunite after graduation, and my heart ached as I counted days. Daily messages became weekly and she stopped answering my calls, but I was happy that she was doing well in school. Every month that passed meant one month closer to when I can approach her openly, confess my feelings, and tell her to pack her things because I will be taking her away on a lifelong journey that will start with a trip around the world.

Of course, I was unable to stay away from her. I watched Sanya from the shadows and I protected her whenever I could which was ironic because my proximity was putting her future in danger. But as long as I didn't interact with Sanya directly, her scholarship and her future would be safe. That was the deal I made.

I waited patiently for four years, and my wait would be over within the next few weeks, yet now she disappeared.

I looked at Sergio helplessly, hoping that he will come up with some magical solution, but nothing could fix this.

"If I can't go to Venice, then what?", I asked him even though I knew that he didn't have an answer to this question.

Since I found out that Sanya didn't return from her trip, I sent investigators and they all came back empty, like Sanya was never there. What can I find if the professionals failed? But I can't just sit and do nothing.

"Tell me, Sergio, should I sit here and hope that one day Sanya will just show up? She is not the one to just disappear. Sanya was looking forward to graduating and gaining her freedom. She would not abandon that… not when she was this close. Something happened and I need to find out what. What if she is captured, or hurt? What if she is…?" I couldn't make myself finish this because the thought of losing Sanya caused me pain which threatened to burst me into a million pieces.

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You can see Duke's photo in the comments...

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