Natalia's POV:

I shouldn't have opened the envelope...

My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor, the envelope crinkled under my grip as my hands trembled. Suddenly, the room felt too little and it felt like my lungs could no longer function as I struggled to breathe. This can't be true-

A rattling sound behind the door had me scrambling to my feet as I wiped my eyes. Quickly, I hid the envelope and its contents in my duffel bag, stuffing the rest of my things back inside my bag. I couldn't let anyone find me in this state.

The door swung open, and I expected it to be Carlo. But at the door stood an elderly lady and a young woman who held a tray of food and juice.

I frowned. "Who are you?"

"Ciao, bella. How are you?" The older lady asked, ignoring my question. "Let's get you freshened up and changed into something-"

"Who are you?" I asked again.

The older lady's eyes softened as she sighed. She gestured to the younger lady. "This is Vittoria, she will serve you. She's your maid-"

"Don't need a maid, my hands, legs, and eyes work just fine."

The older lady chuckled. "You are fierce, good. I am Caterina, Carlo's aunt."

I eyed her warily as my shoulders stiffened.

"...I know you're scared but-"

"No shit, Sherlock. Your nephew is a monster," I spat.

Caterina shot me a sympathetic look but said nothing as she turned to Vittoria. "Set the tray down, so she could eat."

"Take it back, I'm not hungry," I insisted, even though my mouth watered and my tummy rumbled from not having eaten for hours.

Caterina frowned. "Take the food away." Vittoria bowed and turned away with the tray of food while I cursed myself for being stubborn, but I wouldn't back down.

Caterina took a step toward me, her face held concern and worry. "I just want you to know that I'm on your side and I'm not here to hurt you."

I scoffed loudly. "You barely know me, and we both know you'd pick your nephew over me at the drop of a hat."

She moved to my bed and lowered herself slowly, wincing a little probably from back pain that comes with old age. She wasn't very old though, she seemed to be in her mid-fifties. "Please sit," she tapped the spot on the bed beside her.

I wanted to fight her on it and say no, but I was exhausted, my mind was still reeling over everything that had happened in the past few hours. And I couldn't even speak to anyone about it.

Eventually, I dropped on the bed beside her.

Caterina placed a hand over mine. "I don't expect you to trust me blindly, but you have to know that I can help you out around here. I don't have the power to go against Carlo despite being his aunt but I have my way around most things."

"I want to see my baby sister, Ava. Carlo didn't let me see her and she must be scared."

Caterina's face fell as she took her hand off mine.

Panic enveloped me at her reaction. "Ava is okay, right?"

Caterina's expression remained gloomy; she couldn't look me in the eyes and had suddenly become a stutterer.

"Right?! Caterina, where is my sister? For God's sake, answer me!" I bellowed; I was boiling already, and if I found out that anyone had hurt her if I found out that Carlo, that filth, had put his hands on her...

"The girl," Caterina started softly, "Has been sick.. Her body is rejecting all the food and water she's taken in, and she's currently unable to leave her bed."

"Ava... is that sick?" Rage flared up inside me... Ava was dying, and whether or not it was due to a sudden change in environment or the trauma, it was all tied to Carlo. This was on him, directly or indirectly. My chest heaved up and down, frantically, and I subconsciously clenched my fists as I felt beads of sweat pouring down my face.

"Where is he?" I gritted through clenched teeth. "Carlo.. Where is he?"

She sighed. "He's in the outer courtyard, Natalia..."

She kept speaking, but I was no longer listening. It was a good thing Caterina had come here today, it meant that my door was now opened.

Without warning, I darted out of the room.

"No, Natalia, wait..!" Caterina said, alarmed at what I was doing, but my mind was made up. I looked to my left to see the guard. Seeing me loose, he started to charge towards me, panic in his eyes. To my right, I saw a passage that, surely, would lead to the outer courtyard.

I ran, without looking back, pursued by Caterina and the guard, through the passage and then through another door which finally led me to the outer courtyard. As Caterina had said, Carlo was there, taking in the view of his garage. He was sitting at a table, in a white shirt - with its sleeves rolled up - a pair of corporate pants and brogues, and before him was a large chunk of steak, some salad on a plate as well as some pudding. There were also two bottles of wine, and a glass filled from one of the bottles. Carlo looked lost in thought and was startled by my hasty approach towards him.

Carlo's eyes widened slightly when he saw his aunt and a guard chasing after me.

"What is this madness?" He growled, clearly stunned, "This girl should be in her room, why is she out here?"

"My sister is ill and I want to see her," I demanded, once I stopped in front of him.

The guard, at this point, grabbed hold of me and tried to muscle me back to my room, but Carlo waved a hand, signaling him to let me go.

"It's alright... let her be..." As the guard released his hold on me, I snatched my arm away still breathing heavily from the impromptu 50-meter dash, Carlo leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, looking annoyingly handsome and amused, as though I was putting on some sort of show for him. God, I hated his guts!

"I have my best physicians running tests and administering treatments to her. You have nothing to worry about.."

"Nothing to worry about? Says the man who kills people at will, holding me against my will, and yet you say there's nothing to worry about?" I snarled.

"You're putting up quite a show, so let's cut to the chase... What do you want, child?" Carlo said. His voice, though thick with anger, remained controlled.

"I demand that you let me and my sister go!" I yelled, slightly disbelieving myself. Where did this courage come from?

His face hardened as he rose to his feet. "And why would I do anything remotely close to that?"

Carlo pinned me with a death stare. "Know your place, or I will forcefully fit you into it. You're nothing but my property and that includes your sister-"

All I saw was red.

"Stupid jerk!" I grabbed one of Carlo's wine bottles before anyone could stop me and swung it, smashing it across his head.

CHAPTER SIX

Carlo's POV

Stunned.

That was my first reaction.

A throbbing pain shot through my skull, and I could feel the warm trickle of blood mixing with wine, running down my face.

For a moment, everything froze. I took in the woman in front of me, the one who'd dared to hit me, her face had gone pale and her eyes wide with horror. I blinked as my vision swam.

My men-brutal, ruthless men-stood like statues. Equally stunned speechless. Eyes wide, jaws slacked.

In seconds, shock morphed into blinding fury, it boiled inside me, I could suffocate from it. She had just disrespected me , in front of my men.

Drew blood from my head and made me look weak.

Almost in the same breath, Enzo-my right hand man-moved first. His face twisted with rage as he lunged for her, grabbing her arms as he pressed the barrel of his hand gun against her temple.

Natalia let out a sharp gasp.

"Enzo, don't!" Caterina yelled.

I wiped the blood from my face. "Easy, Enzo," I said calmly despite the rage brewing within me. "Let her go."

Enzo's grip on his gun tightened. "She disrespected you!" He protested. "She doesn't deserve to draw another breath."

"Leave her to me." My voice is a low, deadly growl.

Grudgingly, Enzo let her go and almost immediately, I grabbed her neck, squeezing tightly.

I felt her pulse quicken beneath my fingers as her eyes widened in fear. She let out short gasps, her hands flying up to claw at my wrist. "I won't apologize," she said, like a petulant child.

A low chuckle escaped me, "Good, because I am really looking forward to fixing that bratty attitude of yours." I released my grip on her neck, shoving her.

Natalia staggered backward. "You... you animal," she said hoarsely as her hand snaked up to her neck, massaging the red marks my hand left on her skin. "I... I just wanted to see my sister!"

Ignoring her, I turned to my men. "Bring her to the dungeon."

"What-" Her words were cut off as Enzo hauled her on his shoulder and I led them toward the back entrance that led below ground.

She began thrashing, her legs kicking frantically. "No! Stop, please!"

Her cries went ignored as we neared the dungeon.

"Please, don't take me down there! I'm sorry, please!"

Did she sound really sorry? Yes, maybe a little frightened. But I was way too upset to think rationally. The Dungeon was solely for business and by 'business' I meant where I tortured and killed people who crossed me.

Natalia could spend the night in one of the dark cells, then she might be more respectful and pliant.

"The keys." I stretched my hand as one of my guards, Marco, handed it over. By the time I threw open the heavy door, she was weeping.

Perfect. Perhaps this would help teach her a lesson.

"Stop... please." It was a strained plea.

I strode to the nearest cell. The iron bars were impossible to escape, though many had tried. Chains were embedded into the wall, but I didn't think those were needed for her. Not yet, at least.

Enzo set her on her feet. Tears tracked her cheeks and her eyes

were wild as she clutched at my jacket but Enzo slapped her hands away. "Please. Don't do this. I will freak out."

I stepped back, my intention clear. A capo never changed an order once it was made. We never showed weakness or remorse.

Enzo swung the heavy metal door shut before she could slip through it. When it closed, she shook her head, panic causing her to shake. She clutched the iron bars."Please, Don Carlo. Don't do this. I'll do whatever you want. I'll be good. I swear!"

The words made my cock twitch as I imagined her on her knees

being very good for me...

Cazzo!

There had to be a special place in Hell for a man who had impure thoughts about his son's fiancée.

With a furious twist of my wrist, I locked the door. "Perhaps this will teach you who holds the power in this house piccola monella."

~ ~ ~ ~

Natalia's POV:

A pained sob escaped me as I rattled the bars. I screamed until my throat ached, raw from the strain. It was useless. The heavy metal door remained closed, darkness all around me.

I was trapped.

Dread pooled in my stomach as panic surged up so fast it felt like I took a punch to my chest. I stumbled back, hands flying up to the cold stone walls, fingers scraping against the rough surface.

The walls were moving, closing in on me and I felt dizzy.

Help!

The words couldn't come out, my throat was constricted from lack of air. I gasped over and over, desperate for air that wouldn't come.

No. Not again.

I pressed my back against the wall, every muscle in my body shaking, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. The floor gave way, my legs buckled, and I collapsed to the floor.

All the years of being locked in a closet as a child had made me claustrophobic.

Grow up! It's not the closet, Natalia.

I told myself over and over. But my mind wasn't listening. The darkness was the same. Everything. No light. No windows.

"Let me out, please..." My voice was barely above a whisper. I hated it. I hated how weak and scared I felt. But I couldn't stop it.

Tears stung my eyes, hot and angry. All I wanted was to see my sister, she was only a child. How could they take her away?!

Fuck you, Carlo.

My eyelids grew heavier. Any moment from now, I'd pass out.

A sound...

I strained my ears, despite losing a battle to unconsciousness.

Tiny claws skittered across the stone and I froze. Oh, my God. What was that? A rat?I curled up as tight as I could, holding my shaking knees to my chest.

My brain must have checked out for a moment, because I don't remember anything else until strong arms lifted me off the ground. A warm muscled chest met the side of my face and I didn't fight. I couldn't. I clung to my rescuer, desperate for escape.

"I am so sorry, bella."

The voice was new, one I didn't recognize... And it wasn't Carlo.

My eyes locked with my rescuer's. "Who... are you?"

CHAPTER SEVEN:

Natalia's POV:

His face was awfully familiar-sharp jawline, strong cheekbones, that same dark, silky hair. So similar, yet, different. He was much younger-around my age.

There was concern in his golden green eyes, not cruelty like a certain someone's bluish-grey ones.

He began walking with me in his arms, my own arms wrapped securely around his neck. "I'm Luca," He said. "I'm sorry about my father, he can be an asshole sometimes."

Father...?

Then it clicked, the resemblance... "You're Carlo's son!" My throat felt tight.

His eyes widened slightly, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Okay, no one calls father, 'Carlo' well, except great-aunt. Yes, I'm his son."

I shoved against his chest. "Put me down!"

"Hey, hey, it's okay," his voice was a gentle whisper. "I'm not going to hurt you."

I doubt that. "Let me go!" I said through my clattering teeth. "I can walk."

Instead, his arms tightened around me. "I can't, you were literally catatonic when I found you. I don't think you're okay."

I was catatonic?

"Still, put me down." My voice was firmer this time.

Luca sighed heavily as he lowered me gently to the ground, but didn't release me completely, his hands still firm on my shoulders. Why was he being so...caring? "Your father's a piece of shit."

He chucked loudly. "Don't let him hear you though. He has a terrible temper. But you smashed his head with a wine bottle. Not that I'm excusing his behavior, but you kinda started it."

I tried rolling my eyes and the world spun, my body swayed.

Luca pulled me flush against his body, letting me use him as a pillar. "Shit, what happened? You're getting colder."

I took in a deep breath, resting my head on his arm. "I don't do well in small places... I'm claustrophobic."

Luca cursed under his breath. "I'm sorry, I have to do this."

"Wha-"

My words cut off as he hoisted me off the ground back into his arms. "Let's get you out of here."

"No, no, I can walk," I protested.

"Don't be silly, you look pale. You need help," he insisted.

I stopped resisting and let him carry me up the stairs. We got outside and I could see the clear night sky, littered with stars. The knot in my chest loosened and I dragged in my first real deep breath since getting underground to the dungeon.

You're safe now. No longer locked in.

I let him carry me to the mansion and through several rooms, including a large library and painting room. He paused in the middle of the corridor, steadying me on my feet. "That is my room." He pointed to a large door at the end of the hall. "And this one here's yours." He pushed the sturdy door open.

The room was bigger than I expected, almost bigger than my entire house back in the US-alright, that's an exaggeration.

It had a king-sized bed that had an ornate metal headboard. An antique chaise longue and vintage dressing table made up the other side. It was both feminine and classic.

My bones were weak and I was still exhausted from the panic attack I had earlier so I dropped down on the bed-which was surprisingly soft, never slept in something this good.

"I had them arrange this for you when I arrived," he explained as he led me inside. "I'll get a nurse to examine you. I hope it suits your taste."

Is he fucking serious? "Of course, I couldn't wish for a more suitable prison."

He winced at my obvious sarcasm. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I wish I could help you but no one changes the capo's mind."

Bullshit. "There's one thing you could do to help though."

"Okay?"

"Take me to my sister, please."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carlo's POV:

I waited at the foot of the stairs as Luca came down the steps. "My office. Now."

Luca regarded me with a carefully guarded expression but said nothing as he crossed the granite floor and headed toward the other side of the mansion, to my office.

Clenching my jaws, I followed him and tried to reign in my anger.

Once he got to the office, Luca moved closer to Enzo-who no doubt was still here to make sure I didn't kill Luca for going against my order and interfering tonight. I slammed the door behind me. Hard. "Sit the fuck down, Luca."

He shared a glance with Enzo before moving to take a seat next to Enzo. "You wanted to see me, padre?"

I took a seat too, behind my desk, breathing deeply to keep my head reasonably clear. As the boss, I was supposed to be level-headed and calm. It didn't always work, especially around my son, Luca. And that brat, Natalia apparently. "Who is in charge of this family, Luca?"

"You," my son answered, dropping his gaze.

"And who the fuck is your capo?"

"You." He fixed his eyes on mine.

"Then you will explain why you went against my orders and released Natalia from the dungeon, no?"

Luca frowned. "But she's my fiancèe, you said so yourself. It's not right for her to be locked up, especially not as soon as she arrived in a country far away from her own home."

My hand slammed my desk, and Luca flinched. "I decided what is right and what happens in this family, Luca. Me-not you." I raised my hand, pointing to my injured temple. "She smashed my head with a bottle in front of the men. A few hours in the dungeon is a small price to pay for that act. Any other person wouldn't live to see another second!"

He shook his head. "You didn't see her, papà. She's claustrophobic. She was nearly catatonic when I found her."

"Shit," Enzo spoke up for the first time since we got here.

I ignored the pang in my chest that might have been guilt. I wasn't in the wrong, she deserved to be punished.

So, was this Luca's attempt to play the hero? To make me appear the villain?

You are the villain. And she should prefer him to you, stronzo.

I don't know why that bothered me so much. Dio, I was losing my mind. "Well, she must be grateful to you then." I couldn't keep the bite out of my tone.

Luca frowned, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

I avoided his gaze and turned to pick up a cigarette and a lighter. "Leave us, I would like to have a word with Enzo, in private. But let this be the last time you go against my orders, figlio."

"Yes, papà." With a grin on his face, he rose to his feet, he turned to the door but paused. "Please let her see her sister, she's really worried about her."

My eyes narrowed as I glared at him. "That's up to me to decide."

He gave me a curt nod, his lips paused into a thin line.

After he left I leaned back in my chair. "He took the news about the wedding well."

"He is loyal," Enzo said. "A dutiful son."

Yes, he was. I flicked the ash at the butt of my cigarette. "It's better this way. They are good for each other."

A mischievous knowing smirk played on his lips. "It sounds as if you are convincing yourself. Am I missing something here?"

I was, but I would never admit it. "You are my oldest and closest friend, Enzo-family, even, but even that has its limits."

Enzo scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "No, it doesn't. I'm the only one who isn't afraid to tell you the-"

My door swung open with force, slamming into the wall. Luca rushed in, a worried look on his face. "I... She's gone. I can't find her!"