Chapter 8

Salvatore

The backyard of our home buzzed with excitement as we all rejoiced on the success of the operation. Every corner had men pouring whisky into their glasses and drinking it. Others drank beer directly from the bottle while some others recounted the event. Our storage house is full of armed supplies that'd fetch us cool money. We were also able to save hundreds of kids from being sold into slavery.

Even though I seldom get astonished by things, I was dumbfounded when I saw those kids. Although I enjoyed the privilege of lifes as a child, I hate to see kids maltreated and even worse, sold off.

The outside world is cold enough and kids like that shouldn't face such at that early stage of their lives.

I was sure that Arseni would have gotten the message loud and clear. We don't cut corners in our territory, nor do we allow any form of child trafficking.Both him and Massimo would be out for our blood very soon.

Although the air within us was full of victory, I had plenty on my mind.

Ziyana

The whole of me was twitching to see her and play with her. It's been hours since I last saw her. I couldn't wait to touch her and hold her fiery red hair.

I smirked as I remembered the fire in her eyes every time I do something she doesn't want. The sight was a beauty to behold. Every time that happens, I think of a hundred and one ways to get her to yield and give in to whatever I wanted.

I shifted a bit closer to my brothers where they sat and cleared my throat to get their attention

"Since we are all in the celebratory mood. I think now is the time to present this." I began

Oh please, I don't want to hear any of your impulsive cravings and wants. The night has been rough already, don't add drama to it. Tonight is for basking in our victory.

"I can guarantee you that you'll love this. It's about the plaything I bought."

"I told you I don't want to hear or see her until she's cleared." Stefano chipped in.

"That's why I requested Amir's help and as always, he delivered." I said as I produced a file from where I had kept it. I slipped it on Vittorio's laps gently. As expected, he took it as if it was delicate and opened it. He took out the papers in the envelope and perused it.

He hadn't read up to two lines when the lines on his head creased with worry.

"Casimiro?" He said with surprise. "The name rings a bell, don't you think?" He asked us both.

"I'm sure they're more than a million Casimiro in the world. You don't need to think too much of it. Anyways, you'll notice that...."

"Wait, could she be Dario's daughter?" Vittorio asked, cutting me off.

"Dario as in the one we used to know?" I asked. I took a closer look at the papers in his hands and then I saw it. Dario Casimiro in Sicily. My goodness, what a small world! Dario used to work under us but he got entangled in drinking and gambling, so we laid him off. After that, we got news that he became independent and created a fearless gangster. Surprisingly, he still paid his homage, so we let him be. None of knew he had died and I didn't even bother to check things out well.

"If she's Dario's daughter, that changes everything. I say we adopt her as our sister and take care of her." Stefano burst out.

"You can't be serious, Stefano." Vittorio said.

"I am. She's an orphan , yeah? She was sold by her own blood. She's practically a lone wolf, taking her in would be a service to humanity." He added.

"Take her in, yes. But as our sister? No. Have you seen her? I asked, rolling my eyes. "There's no way I'd take her in as my sister after things I've done to her" I declare

"Things like?" Vittorio asked, smirking.

"You don't want to know bro." I said, rubbing my jaw in deep thought. Hours ago, I was saving a bunch of kids like a hero, and now I'm torn about my decision to keep her captive. Isn't that a reverse of what I did hours ago?

"I'm with Sal on this. I haven't stopped thinking about her tits since I saw them at Arena. Besides, we could make her useful for us in several other ways." Vittorio said with all seriousness.

"Such as?" Stefano asked, not convinced.

"We could make her our slave. We've been combing for one for a long time" I said.

"I bet that won't be easy. I'm sure you see how she's been difficult to tame. She's Dario's daughter afterall."

"We've never found it difficult to tame anyone and she won't be any different. The only thing I want is to fuck her bad and after how far I've gone with her, I want more, not some philanthropist shit""

"Me too, I'd love to explore many things with her, so I don't think I'll have your back on this Stef."

"What happens when she finds out that her father used to be one of us?" Stefano queried. "It would break her"

"And who's going to tell her that, you ? Because I'm damn sure it can't be me," I said in a raised tone. I was already getting angry. I bought and brought her to the house, I won't have him change the plans I have for her.

"You think she's going to just fall into the position you want her to? Have you seen how stubborn she is. Plus, she's a kid. Viola was old enough to decide for herself, but this one? I'm sure she's still mourning from losing her father and being betrayed by her blood" Stefano argued.

"What are you now? A freedom fighter? I don't need her confirmation to do anything, I bought her,so technically, I own her." I stated with authority.

"Hey,hey. You both should relax. There's no point in getting under each other's skin. Stefano's point is valid but like Sal said, we don't have to tell her anything. We'll take care of her like you want but not as our sister. You can't tell me you felt nothing when you saw her. She is fire man, it's like she lit the room with her personality, drawing us all together. She'll make a good Sub and if she proves difficult,we'll teach her one or two." Vittorio explained, l

It took Stefano a lot of time to say anything after Vittorio spoke. Maybe because he is a lecturer, he has a more understanding and calculative way of speaking that compels you to listen to him. Stefano, fixed me a long stare that I returned back without backing down. He looked from me to Vittorio a couple of times before surrender.

"Fine," he surrendered finally. "We'll take her as our Sub but not forcefully. You'll speak to her about it, possibly find something to hold her down because I'm damn sure she'll put up a fight."

"You won't be there?" Vittorio asked

"I will, I'd love to see her spirited personality" Stefano said and we all stood up, walking back to the house, to our soon-to-be sub.

Chapter 9

Ziyana

It's been two days.

Two days of silence from the three brothers. Since that event with the eldest, Stefano, the house has been silent as a graveyard. Don't get me wrong, I love how cool everything is. I could do whatever I want and walked to any length of the house but that was it.

I wasn't allowed to leave the house though, not a single step outside. The one time I tried it, the stern expressions of the men stationed outside the house was enough to tell me to stay in the house.

The only person who has ever came around was that cook. An elderly woman who I believe to be a mute because she has never uttered any word to me. She was like a ghost. No matter how hard I tried getting her to talk she never replied to any of my small talks. I don't know where and how she cooks but she never misses the time for the meals.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner. All delivered as at well due. Even though I had everything at my disposal, I was restless. Even though I hated their guts, it'll still be an advantage to see them around and know what further plans they had for me. Not knowing what was going to happen to me is making me fidgety.

It was already dark now, I muttered as I went to the window to check, hoping that they'd show up miraculously.

Hours earlier I had heard some noise coming from another part of the house. The one time I got out, I saw a door connecting the main building to another. From the extreme of my window, I could see shining lights which was enough to tell me that there was something worth celebrating this evening. Not to mention shouts and music.

Only God knows what they were up to. I didn't know what exactly they did for a living but with where I had seen Salvatore the first time, they had their hands deep in dirty business.

'Like your father,' a voice said in my head.

"It's not a lie though," I muttered into the empty room, my eyes still on the metal gate. Even if it's just a glimpse I wanted to see the men. It wasn't long before the door opened and men began to trudged out.

I counted about fifteen of them but I never saw any of the devilish men. I was about to hop back into the bed when the door creaked open again. First was the spoiled brat and the jovial one, followed by the icy one. Except for Stephano, who seemed to be in deep thought, the other two were engaged in something interesting. Their eyes were bright and warm. The both vanished into the house, making it difficult to see what they were up to.

I slipped on my footwear and made my way outside. By then their voices could be heard from the hallway where I stood but I couldn't make our any meaningful words. They were arguing about something and it seemed serious. I tiptoed towards the entrance ready to listen more.

"Shall we now?" I heard a voice that sounded like that of Salvatore.

Seconds later,the sounds of their footsteps became clear enough.

They were coming up. I looked around for the nearest place to hide but there was none. I don't want them to find me in the hallways, they'll figure that I was as trying to listen to their conversation

I have to think fast!

The only option I had left was to return to the room. As fast as my legs could take me, I raced back in. I quickly lifted the bedcover and got under it. I turned my back to the entrance and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. The time they took to get to tre room was enough for me to steady the rapid beating of my heart. They opened the door slowly and in that time, I almost died of fear.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head," I heard before, I felt the cover being removed from my body. As expected, it is as the spoiled brat

"What now? You guys ready for another round of assault?" I asked with sass.

"Assault?" Ice asked in what looked like surprise.

"What? Doesn't how you wrestled me to the floor the next time count as that?" I asked the icy one-Stefano.

"Well, I wasn't the creepy one in a stranger's kitchen at midnight," he retorted. He took the chair in the room , scraping it on the floor before sitting on it.

Vittorio sat in the bed,a bit far from me while Sal stood by the window, his hands in his pocket. After what Stefano said, none of them said anything for a while. They all kept mute as if they were waiting for one of them to start first. The silence was palpable and it makes me even more uncomfortable, my heart pounding like the beat of a drum.

I looked from one to the other, wondering what suddenly got their tongues.

"So, have you all made your decision?" I asked, starting the conversation since they won't. I had sat upright on the bed, folding my hands across my chest.

"About?" asked Sal, lazily. His hairs were covering his eyes partially, making it difficult to see his eyes clearly.

"When I can leave? You can't hold me against my will. If you do that, you'd be trampling on my fundamental rights. Return me to where you picked me up and we all can forget about this nightmare as if it never happened." I said.

"What gave you the impression that you'd be leaving this house, kitty?" Vittorio said. If I didn't know too well. I'd think he was trying to sound sexy.

"Well, I'd love to believe that you guys aren't brutes. It's the twenty-first century, who buys off an orphan at some auction. I'm not some piece of jewellery for your info. And stop calling me these names, first it was Red and now kitty?" I said with frustration

At the mention of being an orphan, I noticed Stefano's eyes clouded with some sort of emotions but it went off as soon as I saw it.

"Newsflash, Red. You aren't leaving this house. As of today, you've been grounded in this house until further noticed." He said to my horror and the looks on his face confirms that he's serious.