CHAPTER 5

My head snaps back automatically, causing an unexpected shriek to escape my lips as Dermos stands at the door, gun pointing at me.

"Don, it's nothing. I heard screaming, so I came to check on her." Buzz cut lies through his damned teeth as he turns to glare at me, daring me to say otherwise.

Slowly but surely, he lowers his gun before nodding at Carlos, then they walk out together, leaving me stunned, confused, and alone.

What the hell has Ariella gotten me into? Was she being threatened, too? Was that why she ran? Did she find out how crazy these people were?

Suddenly, I don't really blame her anymore. My legs give out as I slump to the floor, pressing my lids as my lips tremble.

I refuse to cry. I can't cry.

No matter how many times I repeat the mantra, soft tears run down my cheeks as I cry for the life I am now in.

Forced into a world I know nothing of, a world filled with danger.

What the hell am I going to do?

The tears don't stop as I cry my heart out, somehow drifting off at the same time.

~~

My eyes flutter open, and the blinding light penetrating the curtains causes me to shut them back.

A sharp groan leaves my throat as I push the heel of my palm on the hard tiles, using it to get myself off the floor.

I can't believe I slept on that hard ground; the ache I feel in my shoulders and back says I really did sleep there.

Stretching, I reach for my phone, turning it on to see it's after ten in the morning. No maid came to wake me up today.

What happened to eating before the day even broke? But who's complaining?

I am so glad for this. Without thinking, I slump on the bed, rolling to get comfortable before drifting off again.

I finally get out of the room after one pm, rushing to the kitchen to get some food.

After eating to my satisfaction, I decided to take a tour.

The whole mansion is so huge, it should have more than twenty rooms here, if not more.

As I wander around the mansion, staring at everything painted in gold and white, I can't help but wonder about the use of a house this big.

There is literally a cinema, gym, swimming pool, different offices, a dance studio, and literally everything in here.

Who even uses the dance studio? Not my business, though.

The guards and maids keep bowing their heads, calling me Mrs Salvatore as I pass by. It's really weird because I know I am not the real Mrs Salvatore.

"Oh my goodness!!" A screech finds its way out of my lips as a body slams into me.

"Mrs Salvatore! I am so sorry. Please forgive me, it wasn't intentional, I wasn't looking. Please don't punish me, please." The maid who bumped into me did not even stop to breathe.

I turn my head to really look at her, she looks so pale with eye bags that look too evident on her skin. Dressed in a short skirt and a tight top that looks like a small move would cause it to rip apart.

But what really gets to me is the way her eyes are full of so much fear.

"It's okay. What is your name?" I ask, unable to help myself.

"Bella, my name is Isabella, but everyone calls me Bella." She stutters, shuffling on her foot.

"Isabella. You can go." I say, turning to leave.

Her eyes widened as a gasp tears through her lips like that's the last thing she expected me to say. Bella's reaction causes a crease to form between my eyebrows.

What exactly has she been going through here? What exactly do people go through here?

I shake my head, not wanting to think about it, hoping that Ariella had nothing to do with it.

Without a last glance, I turn and head to the backyard I saw before I got bumped into.

I fail at the task. All the while, as I wandered, I couldn't stop thinking about her. There is just something I couldn't pinpoint, and it left me feeling disturbed.

After a while, I decided to ask Dermos to make her my personal maid.

That is, if he would agree to such.

"And what might the almighty Mrs Salvatore be doing here?" That sharp, vile voice causes me to halt my steps.

I raise my head only to meet the cold brown eyes of Luciana, her arms folded under her boobs as she glares hard at me, not caring to hide how much she hates me.

"Oh, my bad. I was just taking a tour." I murmur, moving to the side to bypass her, but what I see has me nearly tumbling to the floor.

Girls. Lots of them, dressed in little to nothing. Just wearing panties with no bras to cover up, they line up in front of a different house, different from the mansion.

This one stood two storeys tall as the girls moved about, strutting about in revealing outfits.

"What in God's name is happening here?" I blurt out, letting my palm slap over my mouth to force the bile rising up my throat back down.

"Oh, you can't take a little beauty, can you?" Luciana taunts, smacking her bloody red lips at me.

The sound resonates in my ears, irritating me to no end. I can't help the bitterness I feel towards her deepen.

"What do you mean by that?" I snap, turning to glare at her.

I can't look at those girls anymore. That's a serious invasion of privacy.

"Oh, don't act like you don't know Dermos has a whore house that I run. Me, not you, it's a job meant for Donna, but he knows you aren't fit for such." She snarls, the venom in her voice spiking.

I shake my head, refusing to believe her. Ariella knew about all this? Is that why she left?

The more I find out, the harder it is to believe. It can't be.

" You will never be good enough for anythi–" She is still speaking when I zone out her words, turning to leave.

I can't hear any more of this. I feel disgusted. My husband owns a whore house.

Did he traffic them? Are they here on their own will– no, it can't be. No woman will freely want this type of life.

I am so in my head when a sharp pain shoots through my skull, causing a scream to tear out of my lips as I plunge forward headfirst into the grass.

I raise my hand to feel the back of my head, only to feel hot, thick liquid spurting out.

My voice cracks as I try to scream, instead another sharp pain pierces through my back.

"Hel–" my voice cracks, a darkness overcomes me.

Chapter 6

My eyes flutter open, but the lights cause me to shut them back. Without thinking, I raise my head only to be met with a banging headache.

What the hell happened?

I try to focus my vision causing me to slowly pry my lids open. I look around, only for my eyes to meet those cold gazes.

Dermos is lounging on the soft couch in front of my bed, eyes calculating as he rests his jaw on his palm with his elbows pressing on his thighs.

God, he looks so handsome. A strand of his hair falls forward. I don't know if it's a mistake or on purpose, but it still looks so damned good.

He is dressed in a pair of joggers and a simple top that contracts his muscles in this position.

Holy hell, he looks exactly like sin.

"When you are done gawking, let me know so you can explain why my men found you outside bleeding." His sharp voice snaps me out of my daydreaming.

Damnit! I can't look at him like that. He belongs to Ariella.

"Umm." Words fail me as I try to rack my brain for what to say.

I can't say Luciana hit me because I don't even have proof. I didn't see her hit me, but she had to be the one, right?

There was no one else there with us except the girls, and the girls weren't even that close.

"Cat got your tongue?" He barks, flexing his hands as he presses his back into the couch, his eyes not leaving my pale form for once.

I raise my hand, pressing it to the back of my head to check the injury. It feels rough, but the patch is also small, which means it isn't a major injury.

"I don't have the patience, nor do I have all day to sit here and watch you jog your memories. So I will ask one last time, what the hell happened?" he snaps, his voice filled with venom as his eyes darken.

I move uncomfortably, trying to get the words out yet all I could come up with was, "I fell. Sorry, I got you worried."

"You fell? How the hell did you fall that hard and have an injury at the back of your head when you fell on your face?" He questions, his eyelids slowly closing to squint at me.

Damn, he is a work of art. Focus Ariel.

"I was taking a tour and didn't see the stone there, which caused me to trip, and when I fell, I hit my head on a stone too. I turned in order to feel where the pain was coming from, and then I passed out." I grit my teeth, letting the lies tumble out smoothly

I pray he believes me, heavens please let him believe me.

I press my back to the bed, wanting nothing more than to sink inside, but then he will know something is up, so I have to be brave.

Even though I just want to piss myself, I keep my eyes on him until he nods before gracefully rising to his feet.

"Well, I am glad that you are fine. I have to go now. Rest, and don't wander about again." He warns, causing me to nod like a five-year-old.

Satisfied with my response, he turns and walks out. Immediately, I let out the breath I was holding.

Oh Lord, I pray I don't have a heart attack by next month. All this acting is getting to me.

~~~

"I told you to stay inside, didn't I?" I nod my head, refusing to look up from biting my nails, not wanting to be scolded like a five-year-old.

Yes, he told me to stay inside. Did I? Of course not, I got bored and decided to finish my tour, causing me to get lost in the maze of flowers covering half the front yard.

Why he has a maze is still a mystery to me.

"So why did you leave the room and wander?" He questions, his voice calm and steady.

Yet the way his jaw clenches and his fist tightens tells me he is anything but calm.

"I got bored again, and I couldn't stop thinking about the whore house I found. Wondering why you have that? Do you traffic girls?" I can't help but ask.

Dammit, I said I wouldn't speak about it.

Dermos snaps his head to look at me, his muscles contracting inside his suit.

Guess he just came back from work before I called, crying. I was lost.

"It's part of my business, and I won't have you questioning me." He growls, taking a step back before turning.

I followed after him, not quite satisfied with his words.

"But you sell them to men, that's ridiculous and cruel. They have a life, they are humans, so why would you do that--"

"Ariella, you are aware of this. Last time we had this conversation, you seemed really fine with it, so why the change of heart?" He halts his steps, turning to look at me.

Again!

My whole face pales as I realize I am once again out of character.

I straighten up, clearing my throat before speaking, " I am fine with it, it's just--"

"Good for you." He cuts me off again, and it makes me want to yank his hair out.

My voice and opinions are important too. Why won't he let me speak?

" Go to bed, Ariella, and mind your business. I don't want to have to punish you." He warns us before taking a different turn once we are in front of the house's back door.

Urghhh!! I stomp my foot in annoyance. He is so damn rude.

Without thinking, I push open the door and walk in, only to stop once I hear some voices.

I inch closer to the side of the door, making sure I am also out of sight.

They seem to be inside a room. Is that Carlos I hear?

"Luciana, it isn't like that. You are wrong." Yes, that voice is definitely Carlos.

But why is he in a room with Luciana?

If there is one trait I am known for, it is being a curious cat. As they say, curiosity kills the cat, yet I am not dead.

Hahh.

"You are getting too close to Donna. I don't like it. You know godfa--"

"I don't care. Mind your own damn business, and go sort your girls." His voice is clipped and sharp, like he is repulsed by her.

Okay, definitely not my business. I cross the room, heading to the kitchen, when I suddenly remember Isabella.

The fear in her eyes, the way her hands trembled. What exactly has she been through within these walls?

I need to find her. Taking a step, my whole body halts when I hear small sobs coming from the room beside the kitchen.

Who is that?

Slowly but surely, I push open the door only to find Isabella crying on a bed.

"Isabella? Are you okay?" I murmur, padding my feet forward towards her bed.

"No, Donna, no one must see you with me. They will kill me, you have to go." She jolts out of her bed, tears running down her cheeks.

"I don't understand," I murmur, taking a step back.

"This is a house full of torment. Run while you can. Run, Donna." She says her voice frantically as she presses her fingernails into my palm.

"Wha--" the words are barely out of my lips when a pounding on the door has me stumbling.

"You wrench, what are you doing?" An unfamiliar voice calls.

Isabella's eyes widen, urging me to hide, but as I turn to make a move, the door slams open.

"What the hell are you doing?" She booms.

Oh crap.

CHAPTER 7

Ariel's POV

I stood frozen, my heart racing as the sound of footsteps approached.

I quickly scanned the room, my eyes landing on the curtain beside me. I darted behind it, holding my breath as the person walked in.

The room was dimly lit, but I could see a little light coming from the hallway. I peeked through the gap between the curtain and the wall, my eyes adjusting to the darkness.

A figure stood in the center of the room, their back to me. It was a woman, and she was speaking in a low tone.

"You're talking too much, Isabella." She said.

Who in the world was that?

There was a pause, and then the sound of a slap resounded through the room. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth.

"Don't. Ever. Speak. Again." The woman added.

I waited a few moments before I slowly emerged from behind the curtain.

Isabella stood in the center of the room, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. She looked at me, and I could tell she was trying to compose herself.

"Isabella, what's going on?" I asked, my tone was firm.

But she just shook her head, her eyes pleading with me. "Don't ask, ma'm. Please. You'll only make things worse."

I frowned. "I can handle it. Tell me."

Isabella's expression hardened, and she looked away. "Ma'm, there's no need to worry yourself, please just drop it."

I sighed before placing my hands on my hips. Something was very wrong here, and I was starting to realize that I was in over my head.

"Fine," I said. "But you're going to be my personal maid from now on. I'll make sure you're taken care of. Is that clear?"

Isabella's eyes instantly widened, and for a moment, her face brightened as if this were the best news there could be, but then her expression closed off, and she nodded curtly. "Yes, ma'am."

That night, I was thankful that Dermos was nowhere to be found.

He was making my thoughts cross the line, especially since he's meant to be my sister's husband and my brother-in-law, even.

My thoughts were interrupted by a faint rustling sound. I turned my head, my ears perked up. What was that? It sounded like someone was sliding something under the door.

A piece of paper appeared under the door, stopping at the edge of the bed. I frowned.

Another one?

Was this some sort of prank?

Who in the world keeps on doing this?

I got out of bed and picked up the paper that was slid. The message was written in red ink.

[Stay quiet, fake wife]

My eyes narrowed as I read the words. But I wasn't scared, more like annoyed.

I walked to the door, paper in hand, and opened it, but the corridor was empty. I looked left and right, but there was no one.

"Hello?"

There was no response.

I stood there for a moment, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone, but there was no one. Whoever it was had vanished.

I went back in, closing the door behind me, and leaned against it. This was getting weird. Who was sending these messages? And how did they know about... whatever it was they knew?

I looked at the paper again. I needed to figure this out and fast.

~

I stood at the back of the corridor, my eyes fixed on Dermos as he addressed his men.

My eyes trailed him. He was in an all-black, long black coat and a three-piece suit, with his hair slicked back.

Damn, he was hot.

But his voice broke my thoughts.

"So, Victor, you've been playing both sides, huh?" Dermos said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You've been feeding information to our enemies, trying to undermine our operations."

Victor, the man, was on both of his knees, covered in blood. "D-Dermos, I can explain-"

What was going on?

Dermos cut him off with a raised hand. "Save it. I've heard enough. "You're a traitor, Victor," Dermos said, his voice filled with disdain. "You know the penalty for treason."

Victor's eyes went wide, and he started begging, "Please, Dermos, have mercy! I'll do anything!"

I raised an eyebrow. Oh, I'd completely forgotten that Dermos was a don.

A wicked one.

Dermos's expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed to grow colder. "Anything? Too late for that."

He nodded to his men, and they dragged Victor away. I watched as they took him to the center of the room.

I wasn't scared at this point, more curious.

Dermos wouldn't do anything too bad, right? Probably just kick him or something.

But I was completely wrong.

Dermos pulled out a gun and pressed it to Victor's forehead, adjusting the trigger. "You should have thought about the consequences before you betrayed me."

The sound of the shot still echoed in my mind as Victor slumped to the ground, blood pooling around his body.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

I staggered back a bit.

Dermos's men moved swiftly, dragging Victor's body away as if he were nothing more than a piece of trash.

Dermos turned back to his men, his eyes scanning the room. "This is a reminder of what happens to traitors. You all know what loyalty means to me. Don't forget it."

The room nodded in unison, their faces pale and sweaty. I just stood there, my eyes fixed on Dermos.

What the actual fuck?

This was the man Ariella was married to?

||

Later that night, I couldn't sleep, and so even though I was told I was meant to stay in my room, I wandered down to the music room anyway. Mostly because I was hearing a sound coming from there.

The door was ajar, and I pushed it open, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

I raised a brow immediately I saw Dermos sitting at the piano, his fingers moving deftly over the keys.

I stood there, shocked that such a man could even like the idea of a piano.

My mind shifted back to what had happened earlier today, and I tried to walk back out, but his voice stopped me.

"Ariella."

I paused, then slowly faced him. "Yeah?"

He paused, his fingers hovering over the keys. "What are you doing down at this time?"

I stood by the wall, keeping my distance. "The music's disturbing my sleep."

It was a lie. The melody was beautiful, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

He looked at me, really looked at me, and it made me uncomfortable a bit. One reason was that the dim moonlight from outside made his chiselled features show even more.

"You're not like I expected, Ariella."

My heart jumped in fear. Does he–

I raised an eyebrow, trying to compose myself. "What... what did you expect?"

"You've changed."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Changed? I'm the same."

Dermos doesn't respond and just gets back to his piano.

We sat there in silence for a moment, the only sound being the notes of the piano.

"Ariella, we have a gala to attend tomorrow night," Dermos said, his voice breaking the silence.

I looked at him. "A gala?"

He nodded. "A charity event. Dangerous men will be there, bidding on auctions, etcetera."

I felt a surge of anger at the mention of an auction, because I knew what he meant.

I'm about to say something, but then Darmos suddenly cuts me off, his lips crushing mine.

My eyes bulged so hard they almost tumbled out of their sockets.

What the fuck?!