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“You will be enough,” he says. He eats so carefully. Utterly devoid of enjoyment. Not the way he used to. “You will eat with me when I eat, you will stop trying to escape, and every time you try to escape, I will treat you like a petulant child and discipline you, do you understand? Nod if you don’t want to speak to me.”
I nod slowly. I don’t understand precisely what he means by disciplining me, but whatever it is, it can’t be pleasant. I eat more of my food, choking it down. The woman from the kitchen brings me a glass of orange juice and sets it down.
“Miguel, I have responsibilities…people that need me.”
“My family needs me,” he says coldly. “They need me to do the right thing for our family, and the Sorvinos have taken far too much in their time here. If they don’t willingly negotiate territories, I will take them by force.”
As if on cue, there are gunshots nearby. I whip my head around as the goon standing behind me rushes to the front door. Several others come out of rooms, and I gasp as I realize how many guards are here. I mean, it makes sense. Miguel is their Don, and he must be protected.
Cold hands grab my arm and force me to the ground. “Stay down. You could get shot by a stray bullet.”
It’s Miguel. He puts a hand on my back as I curl up on the floor. Shouting and more gunshots ensue, but after a few moments of silence, I look up to see the goons coming back in.
“Sorvino men,” one of them says. He’s one of the men that kidnapped me. “But they’re dead now. Three of them.”
Miguel stands and nods. “Pack up, boys, time to go to the Long Beach estate. Security to be increased immediately.”
He looks down at me. “Looks like you’re as valuable as I thought.”
Chapter 8 - Miguel
We leave the apartment quickly, with a gun pressed discreetly against Kira’s back. She gets into the car without hassle, and we take off, making sure we aren’t followed. As we exit the city and head toward Long Beach, one of my cars pulls up behind us to escort us into the estate.
Kira doesn’t say anything as we travel. She keeps looking out the window as though waiting for her family to attack us so they can save her. They would be foolish to do so. They know I’d shoot her immediately. They cannot win this one.
We pull into the estate, and the gates close behind us. The guard dogs are released, and patrols will already be underway. My men are well trained, much like the Sorvino men, and they would have a hard time getting through all my guards.
The car pulls up to the mansion, and I step out, not bothering to offer Kira my hand. She climbs out of the car and looks around curiously, probably trying to figure out a way to escape.
I push her towards the door. “Move, Kira.”
She glares at me but walks into the mansion. Guards are also patrolling inside the mansion and stand to attention when I enter, the way it should be. I take off my suit jacket and hand it to the butler nearby. “Thanks, Jeremy.”
I look at Kira. “This is going to be where you’ll be staying for a while. You can go to most places in the mansion. I suppose I have nothing better to do, so let me show you where everything is.”
I start to walk. “The dining room and living room downstairs are available for you to use. You cannot make your own food. The kitchen staff will prepare it. You are in no way allowed further than the kitchen door over there in case you think about getting sharp knives.” I look at her pointedly. “You may not go into the garden without an escort, and Kira,” I pause to look at her, “I have guards everywhere, so don’t bother trying to sneak out.”
I walk up the stairs and lead her to the left. “Your room is opposite mine here to the left.”
I open the door and lead her into a grand room with a four-poster solid made from oak bed. There’s a window overlooking the garden, and a light breeze blows through, bringing the scent of the ocean with it.
She looks around and nods but doesn’t say anything.
“My study is down the hall to the right of the stairs. You’re forbidden to go in there,” I say with a note of finality.
“And clothes?” she asks suddenly. “Toiletries and stuff? Am I just supposed to live in my own filth until you decide what you’re doing with me?”
“I already know what I’m doing with you,” I smirk, and I feel rather evil. “You can give a list to my guard of what you want, but Kira, this isn’t kindness. Do not think I am a kind person.”
Kira’s eyes meet mine, and she looks a little scared. She should be scared. But beneath that fear is a fire of defiance I don’t remember her having when we were younger.
“I will fight you every step of the way,” she says quietly, bravely standing her ground.
I suppress a chuckle and take a step toward her, so I’m looking directly down at her.
“I’ve explained this situation, Kira. You can try, but I’m not above disciplining you. There are consequences to your actions.”
“I don’t need to be told there are consequences to actions,” she snaps angrily.
