14 Days With The Mafia Lord

~ The Man Behind The Mask ~

ELAINE

When I opened my eyes again, all I felt was a dull ache in my head and the need to pee.

I sat up and tried to take stock of my environment.

Confusion quickly flooded me as I took in the empty bed and the rest of the dimly lit room.

I tried to recall what had happened prior to waking up, but I was drawing blank and increasing the ache in my head.

I squinted to try to make out any details about the room, but everything was unfamiliar.

My gaze landed on what looked like a vanity. On top of it was something sparkly. Through the faint sliver of light from the sliding doors that seemed to lead to a balcony, I could make out the shape of the diamond pendant that Giovanni had given me.

All at once, the memories came flooding back.

Leaving Giovanni's mansion, the party, the gun pressed to me as a man forced me into the Jeep and the accident.

I gasped in fright as my hands immediately flew to my neck and wrists, feeling for bruises. In the insufficient light I couldn't see anything. I couldn't feel anything out of place, either.

Like a water tap left unattended, the memories continued to pour in. Specifically, the one of Giovanni saving me.

I remembered him finding me just before I slipped into unconsciousness.

I hadn't even finished thinking the thought when his voice sounded out, startling me.

"You're finally awake," he said.

He was in this strange, unfamiliar room with me.

Following his voice, I looked straight ahead, squinting to try and make him out.

The room was semi-dark, but it was impossible not to make out his hulking form reclined on the only couch there. From the little I could see, he appeared to be only in dark pants, holding a bottle that no doubt contained alcohol. He was drinking. That was never a good sign.

I swallowed as our eyes locked.

Of course, I couldn't see it, but there was this palpable undercurrent in the air whenever we were in the same room together. It got hotter and thicker when we looked at each other, and it was borderline combustible when we touched and fucked.

I was feeling this now, and my body was reacting to it of its own accord.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, breaking the terse silence. "Truth be told, I never expected you to be awake so soon. The doctor who attended to you gave you some pretty strong sedatives."

At the word doctor, chills ran through me. That meant only one thing. The visions of the accident were true.

Everything I remembered actually happened. It wasn't just some crazy fever dream.

I was truly kidnapped at gunpoint. I was in a horrible accident.

A fresh wave of fear washed over me, but I managed to get myself together and find my voice. "What's the time?"

Giovanni's answer was to click a switch and nod toward the wall.

The room instantly filled with light, and I gasped in surprise, closing my eyes to protect them from the harsh glare.

When I finally adjusted to the light, I looked toward the wall and found a clock mounted on the butter-colored walls. It said it was 2 a.m.

Now that there was ample light, I took the opportunity to look around.