I am NOT Bella

Chapter 11 - A love that can warm your heart or burn down your house.

****❤****❤****

I opened my eyes wide, unable to move a muscle, just my chest rising and falling, gasping for air. His face dominated my vision amid the din of sounds and images distorted by my fear. A scar running from his left temple to his goatee gave him a dangerous look, despite his well-groomed appearance. The small black dots and tattoos that ran up his collar and branched off his hands proudly proclaimed his criminal origins.

The evil gleam flickered out of his snake-like eyes as he met mine. He frowned and clicked his tongue in annoyance, then rolled his eyes and let out the air through his nostrils in controlled rage.

"You brought me a frightened bunny instead of my feisty kitten, fucking idiots." He said in a cold, threatening tone, eliciting a heavy silence.

He raised his right hand, adorned with tic-gold rings, and motioned to someone with both fingers. "Speak up."

A strong, tattooed man, dressed in a burgundy silk shirt and black pants, stepped forward and spoke with a Spanish accent.

"The chick is blonde. She was wearing the same raincoat. We only hit her when she was on her way to the strip club, boss."

Strip club? What kind of territory have I stepped into? I thought while listening to the big guy's tense voice and rigid posture, threatened by the boss's cold eyes. The lack of an answer crushed the nerves of those men, who were on alert, expecting the worst. Fearing to be swallowed by the wrath of their boss, who remained as still as a sphinx. He ignored them, fueled by the overwhelming fear he incited. His serpentine eyes turned to me and seemed to wrap around my body like a python about to strike. He took a strand of my hair and wrapped it around his fingers, speaking in a low, frightening tone.

"Tell me, bunny, what was a fragile creature like you doing in a street full of degenerates?" Is your delicate body for sale?"

"No... I... I... got lost..." I stammered, shaking my head frantically.

He released my hair and brought his face close to mine and said slowly. "Better stay out of my territory if you want to stay untouched."

He turned to the man in the burgundy shirt and spoke.

"Ramiro, you and these fucking idiots have been played by a fragile little creature. No more damn failures, unless you wish to meet Jesus earlier."

"Right, boss."

The Mafia boss turned his eyes to me and spoke.

"Let's go, Bunny."

"Where are you taking me?" I asked frightened.

"Back to your apartment."

"Thank you, but I can go by myself." I said with a quavering voice.

"It's not safe for a white bunny to walk alone in my territory at night. Get in the damn car, now!"

I followed him frightened, not knowing if I was going to be taken home or if I was walking into a trap. I was staring out of the window, trying to recognize the streets along the route the car was taking when his deep voice startled me.

"Relax, I'm not into delicate women like you, bunny."

He raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you know why?"

I shook my head negatively, without saying a word.

"Delicate things break easily in my hands, they can't stand my kinky fuck."

He smiled menacingly, revealing white teeth with a hint of gold in the molar.

Instinctively, I hugged my body and closed my trembling legs. Though I had the impression that I'd seen him before, the time and place slipped my mind. Where had I met him? His uncanny figure is difficult to forget. I searched every corner of my brain for a memory, but nothing came.