Crossfire Queen

20.

To be fair to Lorenzo, he did show me around the house helpfully. My room was located down one of the last corridors. It wasn't massive but it did have an ensuite. Allegedly, it had been my mothers childhood room, which sort of made me feel more at home already. Lorenzo had arranged for my stuff back home to be moved over and I felt grateful I didn't have to revisit the house where my blood trailed on the carpets.
As we reached my new studio, he opened the door showing me in. Materials lined the shelves, including ones that I recognised from my studio flat. "It's nice yes" he smiled proudly. "It's perfect, thank you" I nodded gratefully. I felt nervous though, being given all this, it felt like I was being bought and that in itself was unsettling. "Sorry to interrupt sir, but we have an issue" a man dressed in all black said as he suddenly appeared over our shoulder. "What sort of issue" Lorenzo said firmly. "Three on todays run have been taken. Supply hasn't reached the shed" he said cryptically as I furrowed my brow. "God damn it. Forgive me Sofia, I must go. Dinner is at 6 in the dining room" he said simply as I nodded before he stormed off back to his office.
Deciding to look around my new studio a little more, I traced the metal shelves with my fingers my hands brushing over several reels of fabric. I noticed at the end several mannequins, two of which had the bridesmaid dresses on, the other had the gold dress I'd spontaneously made last week. At the far end was as clothes rail with some other finished pieces on. Granted, it was bigger and better but it also felt slightly cold in here. "Dress looks good" Lucas voice cut in from behind me, making me snap my head in his direction. "Oh, thanks." I said awkwardly as he stood at the opposite end of the workbench. "I see you came around to the idea of being here" he said honestly, trying to be indifferent as he attempted to hide his smile. "I didn't really have much choice" I said simply as he nodded. "Romero told me what happened" he said as he stepped closer to me, gently holding my arm. "He's a prick, hope you know that" I said annoyed as he chuckled. "I do, it's also why he's one of our best men" he smirked. "He'd scared me enough, didn't have to stick a knife in my arm" I said sourly. "He was just following orders" he sighed looking at me sadly. "Oh so now it's your dad that wants me dead. Fantastic" I said rolling my eyes. "You know, you should watch your tone. If anyone else heard you talk like that" he said almost humoured. "They'd stab me in the other arm" I taunted as he chuckled. "Probably. Respect is huge around here" he shrugged. "Unfortunately for your family I give my respect to people who earn it, not those who try to kill me" I said firmly as he looked at me curiously. "I see that" he nodded as he stared at me intently.
"About the other day" he said after a brief silence. "The one where you kissed me, or the one where you tried to do it again just to manipulate me" I queried as his eyes bulged slightly at my brashness. "Firstly, I didn't try to manipulate you. I tried to make it more palpable. I genuinely like you Sofia" he sighed dejected. "Either way, which day" I asked curiously. "The latter. I just, one of the guys said that he thought he saw you on his way home" he said furrowing a brow. "Was that before or after his shoot out with the Di Rossi" I questioned as he nodded simply. "So it was you" he sighed. "Yeah it was, and if you have a problem with that, then that's on you" I fumed. "You helped him" he said sadly as I nodded. "I'd help any man that I saw shot and bleeding out. Unlike you lot I don't care for surnames. He is a human, and he had a family" I said agitated. "He also stole from us" Luca said firmly. "And you hadn't stole from him before that. I know how it works Luca. You're all as bad as each other" I fumed as he looked at me angrily. "You've saved two Di Rossis now Sofia. Don't make it a fucking third" he spat annoyed. "Try not fucking shooting them then" I seethed as I looked at him with disgust. Originally I felt like Luca was a gentleman, but since the other night and now this. I could see he was calculated and much darker than I had predicted. "Maybe you should tell your friends to stay out of our business then" he roared at me. "Tell them yourself Luca. I don't get to speak with them now I'm being held here" I said as my voice hitched slightly. His face softening momentarily.
"Well what do we have here" I heard the interrupting voice before I saw him. "Come running back to us did you" Romero sneered as he sat himself on the workbench casually. "You didn't exactly give me an alternative did you" I spat at him. "Just be thankful I didn't pull the knife out and watch you bleed" he smirked at me evilly. "No you left me to do that myself" I spat again as he chuckled. "She really is a little spitfire Luca" he said highly amused. "You're telling me" Luca said firmly nodding. "Bet you can't wait to nail her" he retorted as I scoffed. "No one will be nailing me. I'm not available like some sex doll" I said annoyed as Romero chuckled at me again. "Are you sick in the head or something" I spat at him as his happy demeanour flipped and suddenly I was being held against the wall by my throat. "You need to learn respect missy" he hissed into my ear as he pressed his body weight against me. "In this house, there's the boss, then Luca, then the family, then the maids...then you" he spat annoyed. "You're only here to produce an heir...I'm sure once we're done with you they'll throw you back to the Di Rossi scum" he said through gritted teeth. "The deal is that I don't have to sleep with him till he's 30" I said firmly as i squirmed under his grasp. "Who told you that" Luca asked from behind his friend as I gulped under the pressure on my neck. "Daddy dearest." I said snarling. "So once again, if you came here for something more, you're in the wrong place. At least for now" I said with distaste on my tongue. "That's where you're wrong spitfire. Lorenzo may have cut you a sweet deal, but he's not the only one in control right now" Romero smirked as I gulped. "You know Luca, I'll always have your back. As she's sworn to you I won't lay a finger inside of her." He smirked at me as fear rolled up my spine. "Not unless you ask me too" he finished with a wink before he let me go, and I felt my breath re-enter my lungs. "You can think again if you think I'll touch either of you" I said breathlessly. "Aw so sweet Luca, she's already panting at us" Romero chuckled as luca smirked. "Be so much better if it was on my dick" luca smirked at me showing his nasty tendencies as I rolled my eyes. His vulgar side coming out. A side I hadn't seen so far. Suddenly he was in my personal space gritting his teeth. "Don't eye roll" he said firmly. "Next time you do, you'll suffer for it" he said firmly as I nodded before he pushed away from me and stormed out, Romero following in his path.

Taking in the room, I sighed. Six months ago this would've been everything I dreamed of and more. Now? Now it felt more like a prison, where ultimatums were dished out as currency. Sighing, I walked out not wanting to spend any longer in the workspace now it had been tainted by those two. Being careful not to run into them again, I poked my head out the door checking the corridor was clear before walking back to my room, careful to retrace my steps and not get lost. I didn't want to bump into any more Italians this evening, they didn't seem as friendly as I had once thought.

As I crossed the main corridor and into the passageway that would take me to the staircase closest to my room, I heard shouting from Lorenzo's office. At first it was muffled but then I heard my name and instantly stilled. Luca was in there, clearly with his father. "She made her terms. I can't force her to sleep with you" Lorenzo said as I stepped a little closer to the door. "If she isn't in my bed I'll be damned sure she'll end up in Marcos" luca fumed as I gulped. I would have much preferred being in Marcos bed. "She's pledged herself to us son. Let her get used to it before you force yourself upon her" Lorenzo sighed defeated. "I need an heir dad. I can't wait months. I need one now, before I end up as toast" he said angrily. "I understand that. Have you thought about wooing her" he asked as I almost gagged from my place outside their door. "Tried that the minute I locked eyes on her, even tried to be mean this afternoon. But it won't work." Luca said deflated. "Patience son. She'll come around. And if you don't have an heir soon then you'll be with her regardless" Lorenzo said encouragingly. "I don't understand why you're making me wait" he groaned at his father. "I want to see if it can happen naturally. Think of her mother, when women don't want to be a part of it, they can make things very awkward. It would be much better if she was actually obliging" Lorenzo said intuitively. "I don't think she'll ever oblige. It'll be classed as rape in four months, and It'd be classed as that now" luca huffed as I frowned. He was willing to take advantage of me, without permission. Given everything he knew about my past. Instinctively I ran to my room, and hurled myself over the toilet. My stomach wretching at the memory and the sense of deja vu that was now impending.
After hurling the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl I sat dejectedly on the floor and sobbed. The dribble of bile still on my chin, as I felt so out of control all over again. He would rape me, just to get an heir. That's what he thinks of me. Wants of me.
Suddenly I wanted out, I couldn't stand the thought of being here a moment longer. But I knew, I was stuck here, unless Alessia was harmed or I renegotiated. The thought of even a hair on her head being touched made me shiver and so instead I opted for the latter.

Why prolong the inevitable?