Love, Evangeline

39.

The sun glittered through the curtains, I didn't know what time it was, yet, I didn't seem to care. My phone, bag, clothes that I had been wearing, everything I had brought to Giuliano's place had been confiscated. I lay In bed, in a room furnished almost like my own. My body lay listless as it melted into the mattress. I had cried myself to sleep, only to wake up minutes ago to my burning eyes nearly glued shut. Sliding my knees up to my chest, I wrapped my arms around my waist as my dry cheek rested against the tear absorbed pillow.

Giuliano hadn't done much to me yet, but after hearing what Domenico had told me about him, I knew that this nice act Giuliano was displaying  was just some mask that would be uncovered soon. Each breath I inhaled, the heavy weighted feeling in my chest sank deeper into my body. I felt like a rock, sinking deeper and lower into the ocean. Alone, in the utter darkness with no one around to save me. My eyes instantly flashed up to the door as a knock echoed about the room. " If you don't open the fucking door, we're knocking it down," a guard threatened.

Blinking back the residue of tears that waded in my eyes, I forced every muscle in my body to function with my brain. The coldness of the carpet clung to my heated feet as I walked up to the door. My eyelids dropped, begging me to just give up get back into bed. The warmth of the hallway Infiltrated it's way into the room as I opened the door. Three guards stared back at me, my eyes averted over to the one who mocked me when I sat tied down in the chair nearly hours ago. " Good morning sleeping beauty," the guard said. " What do you want?" I asked softly, not being able to fight let alone argue back. " Unless you want to starve, I suggest you fix your fucking attitude," the guard threatened coolly. My grasp on the door handle tightened as I admitted, " I'd rather die than take orders from you."

The guard smirked, " that can be arranged." I stared at him, " unfortunately, Giuliano wants you to eat with him," the guard said. " I'm not hungry," I informed. " I don't give a fuck what you are," the guard uttered as he stepped forward. I kept my gaze on him as he stared at me. " You're dresses, so get your ass out of your room, now." Eyeing the other guards, I looked back at the one before me. The guard stepped back as stepped out of my room, closing the door and standing in front of it. " Start walking," the guard ordered. Inhaling deeply, I folded my arms as I began walking down the hall.

Two guards led the way in front of me as the other set followed behind. As I walked beside a guard in silence for a few seconds, I suddenly asked calmly, " I think it's appropriate for me to know your name." The guard scoffed, " how fucking dumb do you think I am." " I know what you and your friends look like," I reminded him. The guard looked at me, " I have no idea where I am, yet I know exactly what you and everyone in this place looks like," I informed the guard. Annoyance and slight irritation laced the guards eyes. " What, it's not like I'm going to tell anyone your name," I teasingly joked. " If you think for one second that you're leaving this place, you're not," the guard reminded me yet again. " So then, tell me your name," I said calmly.

The guard gritted his jaw as he looked ahead before answering, " Asher." I nodded in satisfaction before asking, " and does Asher have a last name?" Asher shook his head, " cut the friendly bull shit." Sighing, I looked back ahead as we approached the stairs. " Do you have a family?" I asked. " Let me make one thing very clear," Asher said sternly as he turned to me. I stoped, Asher glared down at me as I stared up at him. " This friend thing that you're trying to do, won't fucking work," Asher earnestly said as he shook his head. " I don't give two shits about you, I take orders from Giuliano and I finish the jobs he gives me." As I stared up into Asher's eyes, I could see the prevailing darkness that I once saw in Domenico's. " If I have to kill you, don't think for one god damn second that I won't tear your heart out of your body," Asher admonished.

" I'm just saying," I softly began to say. " You don't get to fucking talk," Asher spat out, cutting me off. I clenched my jaw as an aching feeling exploded inside my chest. " Start walking," Asher ordered. I refused to take orders from him, I stared back up into Asher as his dark eyes glared down at me. A rough hand suddenly grabbed my bicep, yanking me down the stairs. Asher had just been as deprived of love and protection like Domenico had been, but it was far too late to redeem his heart now.