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The blissful silence shatters as an alarm pierces the air. Panic grips my chest, and I stumble in my haste. My ankle twists beneath me, sending a bolt of searing pain up my leg. I curse under my breath, clenching my teeth as I try to push through the agony and make my escape.
"Damn it," I hiss, realizing that my attempted flight is short-lived. Almost immediately, a burly man emerges from the mansion, his eyes locked onto me with hawk-like precision. He's the rover, one of Giovanni's loyal enforcers—a massive, intimidating figure who seems to move with an eerie silence despite his size.
"Hey!" I shout, fists clenched. "Do you seriously have nothing better to do than chase after me?"
He doesn't reply, instead closing the distance between us in a matter of seconds. Before I can react, he scoops me up effortlessly, as though I weigh nothing more than a feather. I kick and scream, pounding on his back in a futile attempt to break free.
"Put me down, you brute!" I demand, but he remains silent, carrying me back towards the mansion.
"Can't you see I'm hurt?" I complain, gesturing at my swollen ankle. "I could be seriously injured!"
"Tell Giovanni when he's back from work," he grunts, his voice a deep rumble that matches his hulking frame.
"Is this the sort of treatment I'd get if I were bleeding out?" I snap, frustration boiling over. "What kind of monsters are you people?"
"Better behave yourself, then," he replies, utterly unfazed by my anger.
As he carries me inside and deposits me back in my room, I let loose a primal scream of frustration. The door slams shut behind me, echoing throughout the empty space like a mocking reminder of my failed escape.
"Damn you, Giovanni Maldonado," I mutter under my breath. "You can't keep me here forever."
ChapterThree
The door swings open, and the object of my ire strides in. I hate how impeccably dressed Giovanni always is, like he's just stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. That three-piece suit fits him perfectly, hugging his lean frame, emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders and the strength of his arms. It infuriates me that my dreams are plagued by this irritatingly handsome man. It must be because he's the only man in my life right now – the only one I see day in and day out.
"What do you want?" I snap at him, my voice dripping with hostility.
"Lucia," he says smoothly, smirking at me as if he knows the inner turmoil he's causing me. "I'm aware that you tried to escape again."
"Of course you are," I retort, crossing my arms defensively. "But you obviously don't care about my safety, so why are you even here?"
His brow furrows. "What do you mean?"
"I twisted my ankle – badly," I say, my voice wavering slightly. "No one gave a damn or called a doctor."
For a moment, genuine concern flickers across Giovanni's face, softening the harsh lines of his features. It makes me feel guilty for harboring such anger against him.
"Show me," he orders, his voice gentle.
Reluctantly, I extend my leg, gritting my teeth as pain shoots through my swollen ankle. He crouches down, his long fingers carefully turning my foot this way and that. The sensation of his touch sends shivers up my spine, stirring emotions I've been trying to suppress.
"Swollen," he murmurs, more to himself than to me. "Likely a sprain, not a fracture. You need to ice it and stay off of it so it can heal. I'll be back with some ice packs."
He stands, his movements graceful and fluid. I watch as he retreats toward the kitchen, feeling even more conflicted than before. How can this man, who's literally keeping me captive, also show such moments of genuine care and consideration?
He returns clutching a bag of ice packs like some twisted knight in shining armor. I sigh, forcing myself to mumble a begrudging "thank you" as he approaches.
"Here," Giovanni says, kneeling beside me and offering me the ice packs with surprising gentleness. My heart skips at his nearness, the warmth of his body contrasting sharply with the cold of the ice. "You really need to be more careful, Lucia.
"Stop trying to run away," he adds, his voice firm yet laced with concern.
"Can't," I mutter, my eyes locked on the ice pressed against my throbbing ankle. "I have a duty to my family in Miami. I don't want to be here."
He scoffs, brushing off my words like they're nothing. "Duty? Your family abandoned you."
"Maybe not all of them," I shoot back, defiance flaring within me. "I still have family in Miami who care about me."
Giovanni's expression darkens, and for a moment, I think he might lash out. Instead, he takes a deep breath and speaks in a low, measured tone. "I understand where you're coming from, but your father is on trial right now. The moment you're released, the feds will be after you. They'll indict you, which will implicate me, and all I've worked for in building a legitimate life will crumble."
