Estelle

4 | A Threat

My hands shake as I reach under my bed for my already packed bag.

Something isn't right and I might have to run again. These men have been out there for a few nights which might mean they have been planning something. The worst part is how they looked up at my exact window without having to even search for it.

Another loud bang comes from my front door.

I throw on sneakers, leaving on my dress pants and blouse from work. I sling the bag onto my shoulders but before I can make it far from the kitchen and the gun in the drawer, the door flies open with a bang. A hole is in the lock and the first thing I see is a pistol with a silencer before my eyes travel up to who broke in.

My heart pounds with fear as his blue eyes scan over me and a cocky smile appears on his lips.

"Jane Estelle, it has been a while."

Mr. Vallorani walks in casually as if he had not just broken in. He calmly leans the broken wood against the door frame even though it cannot close fully now.

I take a step back before dashing back into my bedroom. There is a small window with a fire escape in there.

If I can just...

"AHH!"

A hand grabs my wrist and my bag is yanked off my shoulder roughly, causing me to scream.

His hand flies over my mouth and he hushes me in my ear.

"Quiet now. Don't let the neighbors hear anymore of the noise you already made me make."

I try to stomp his foot but he moves too quickly. A glint of silver flies across my vision and cold steel presses against my throat.

"I do have a gun but I can also cut your throat if you don't stop struggling." Mr. Vallorani smiles against my ear and I feel bile rise in my throat.

"Such pretty hair. Don't make me change its color." Mr. Vallorani says with a cocky chuckle. He takes a deep breath from behind me as he takes in my smell. "Understand what I want?" His voice is husky and I feel raw fear run through my body.

Mr. Vallorani waits for me to make another move before slowly pulling away from me. I stumble away but remain silent, backing away from him to create distance.

"You know you should learn better self defense."

"Why are you here?" I ask, ignoring Mr. Vallorani's statement.

He leans against the kitchen counter top and smiles at me. "To bring you home, of course."

"I'm not going back with you. No way in hell." I glare at Mr. Vallorani.

"Well you can't run," He gives a pointed look to my bag on the floor. "I have plenty of men watching your every move every single day. The moment you decide to leave, they will tell me."

"So why don't you just bring me back at gunpoint right now?" I can feel my boldness rising in my chest. I am pissed that this man will not just let me go. He could even kill me but he is choosing to torture me.

Sick bastard.

"My business partners think it is ridiculous that I cannot keep my women under control." I edge closer against the wall. If I'm going to run as fast as I can, I plan to push myself off the wall to get as much momentum as possible.

"So why not take me back by force? That seems like enough control."

Mr. Vallorani laughs with an arrogant smile. He looks to the ground and shakes his head, giving me a good opportunity to slip the blade in the waistband of my dress pants into my sleeve. "I'm too classy for that. That's pretty messy."

"Weren't you just going to cut my throat? That is pretty messy." I give him a smile but it is full of disgust and disdain.

He shrugs. "It would have been neces-."

Before he can finish his sentence, I throw the knife at Mr. Vallorani and push myself off the wall.

The blade misses his head and I am slammed into the wall, a gasp and a yelp coming from my lips.

He groans in annoyance and his hand flies to my throat. His grip tightens and my hands grip his fingers, trying to pry them off.

"NON PROVARCI MAI PIÙ!" [DON'T EVER TRY THAT AGAIN!]

I freeze and stare into his angry blue eyes. They are usually pale blue but now they are a raging deep blue releasing bottled-up rage and hate.

"You have one week to come home. If you are not back by then, you will be at the bottom of the ocean."

His hot, long fingers hold my throat dangerously tight. I feel his hand shaking as it begs to squeeze harder and choke the life out of me. If he keeps squeezing, he will leave a mark.

As my mind races desperately, I only stuck on one thing. A mark. How will I explain it at work? To Blue?

His hand leaves my throat and his eyes return to their icy blue. They look at my neck closely as if checking to see if he left a mark.

Why would he care if there was a mark?

He smiles but now his smile seems even more fake and deadly.

"You know how to contact me." His hand rests on my shoulder and his thumb rubs my skin. I feel defiled and filthy. 

"You know what will happen if you don't."

With that, Mr. Accelius Vallorani leaves me shivering in fright and disgust in my apartment.

I am just like my mother. From our appliances being the exact same to our situation in life. I cannot escape.

Like my mother, I will likely end up dying in this world of dangerous men.