Four

Isabella

I stretch in my wake and immediately open my eyes, startled by the unfamiliar surroundings. I quickly sit up, my blood pressure shooting high. I am in the middle of a big mahogany king-sized bed, with an ornate metal headboard, covered with snow-white sheets and a duvet. The bed is in the middle of a spacious room, with an antique chaise longue and vintage dressing table made up the other side. It is both feminine and classic and I can't help but admire it. It is way better than my room back home.

Where am I?

At this moment, all my latest memories flood into my head. I survived. What happened? What happened to Deigo and Matteo? Are they alright? Where are they?

What is this place? A hotel? How did I get here?

To my relief, I am still in my gown from last night. I scramble out of bed to hunt for my purse and phone. I look around the bed and on the chaste of drawers but I can't find it. That's when I remember my phone falling out of my hands in the middle of the chaos. I didn't even get a chance to pick it up.

Oh God.

I can't remember anything that happened after the windshield breaking and the gunshots. How did I survive?

I dash to the door and thankfully it opens.

My bare feet tap silently on the marble floor of the corridor with many big closed doors.

Jeez, this is not a hotel.

I go down the stairs following a pleasant aroma. I end up in a kitchen, where a middle-aged woman is busy frying something. Bacon, maybe?

I get a sudden feeling that am intruding.

What am I supposed to say? Hey? Excuse me? Good morning. Is it even morning? Does she even know that I am in this house?

"You are finally awake, signorina," I deep voice sounds from behind, making me jump. The old woman turns with a surprised look on her face. My eyes bulge as if I have been caught red-handed with my hand in the cookie jar.

I turn to find a man standing at the bottom of the stairs. My heart leaps into my throat. I have never seen such a handsome man before, one with such thick, wavy dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He is trim, with a chiselled jaw and broad shoulders, and his black suit fits him perfectly. He looks to be in his early thirties, and under any other circumstances, I would have guessed him a former model or actor. No one looked and dressed like this unless they were dependent on their looks for a living.

But this is no prima donna. Power rolled off his taut frame in waves like he was in control of everyone and everything around.

And he seems... dangerous.

I swallow hard.

His eyes drift over my face and down my body as if I am a horse he is considering purchasing. Tingles broke out along my skin wherever he looked, but I couldn't tell if it was from excitement or embarrassment. I probably look like a mad woman. I just jumped out of bed without even cleaning up or looking at myself in the mirror and came all the way here. Even more confusing, I hoped he wouldn't notice. Why am I suddenly feeling insecure about what he is thinking of me right now?

"Did you sleep well?" he inquires.

I frown in confusion. So I slept in this man's house. I have no idea who he is or what his intentions towards me are. Did he save me or did he kidnap me? He looks dangerous enough.

He lifts a brow at me. Has he been awaiting my response? My mouth is dry and my power of speech has suddenly taken a flight.

"I will assume yes. And I will also assume you are hungry," he says and then walks toward me. My body tenses up. I don't know whether to close my eyes or stay rigid. He just walks past me to the woman and kisses her on the cheek.

"Buongiorno, Zia," he greets her good morning. She replies dearly with a smile loaded with affection. So she's his aunt. She looks beautiful even in her old age.

"This is Signorina Isabella De Luca and she will be staying here with us for quite some time," he says, waving a hand towards me.

For quite some time? What is that supposed to mean? How does he even know who I am? My family is well-known in Sicily, so maybe it is that easy.

"Please feel comfortable here, diletto," she says. My eyes keep darting from the woman to the man.

What is happening here? Who has given this man the right to decide on where I will be staying and for how long?

He gets my hand and holds me tight as if forewarned that I will try to break free. That is what I tried to do and it was in vain.

"Don't fight me, Bella, because you won't win," he says with a smirk. Is that a warning?

"Come on," he drags me back up the stairs to the room where I had slept. I pull forcefully out of his grip and he lets me go this time round. He closes the door behind us.

I quickly walk away from him to put some breathing distance between us because I don't like what his closeness is doing to my blood.

"Who are you? Why am I here? What do you want from me? What happened last night? Is it you that wanted to kill me? Where is Matteo and Diego? Did you kill them?" questions come rapidly without control. I couldn't hold them in any longer.

"I know you have many questions, Bella, but I can only answer one at a time," he responds with an annoying poise.

"Go on, then. Have you kidnapped me?" I inquire.

"What makes you think that I have kidnapped you?" he cocks his head with one brow raised at me.

"What did you mean by I will be staying with you for quite some time? I have a home. I have a home," I try but fail to keep my voice low. Something about this man's demeanour tingles my nerves.

"Yes, you are going to be here with me for so a good time, Amato, until I decide it is the right time for you to go home. You can only be safe here with me," he says.

"So I have been kidnapped by you? How dare you!" I hiss through my clenched teeth, seething with anger. It takes him three graceful steps to get to me.

"Yes, you can name it whatever you wish as long as you understand it," he says. "I am Dante Viscuso. I do whatever I want, signorina. Do not question my rights," he looks me straight in the eyes, but I am not intimidated.

"You have no right over me, Don Dante ," I say, raising my chin stubbornly. That's when I remember someone mentioning Don Dante last night in the car. So he was there. What was he doing there? Is he the one who was after us in the Saab?

He chuckles, looking impressed as if I have put on a show.

"I will give you the freedom to think that now. We are going to be late for breakfast yet Elvira has only given us ten minutes to get ready. I have brought you here so that you can clean yourself up and change. There is whatever you will need in the wardrobe. Make sure you show up for breakfast in fifteen minutes or I will come back for you myself and you won't like it," he looks dead serious and capable of doing anything he says.

He turns and leaves before I can say anymore. He hasn't even answered any of my questions. God darn it!

That bastard!

Who the fuck does he think he is?

I tug at my hair wishing I could scream out all the frustration I am feeling right now!