Kidnapped By The Mafia

No Promises

Things are weird.

Not in a bad way. Just that, things are normal and far too peaceful for my liking.

It's been almost a week since we've been living at Marcellus's parents estate, and despite of being here for so man days I still haven't gotten used to the layout of this place. It's like a damn maze and I keep finding new rooms and hallways just when I think I've explored everything.

Alex has been behaving oddly ever since we got here. He has gotten more distant, more avoidant. And as much as I dreamt of the day he'd finally leave me alone and let me be, I hate to admit that I find this change in his behaviour a bit unpleasant.

I mean, of course I have my own personal space along with all the time in the world now, but as fucked up as things are, a small part of me wants him to come and check up on me, to ask me about my day and just sit next to me while I do my work. I hated that I missed him. It was absurd, pathetic even, but I couldn't help it. I found myself waiting for him, listening for his footsteps in the hallway, hoping he would come find me and talk to me like he used to, even if it was just for a little bit.

Had I pushed him too far? Was this his way of punishing me? Or had he simply grown tired of this too, finally realizing that he couldn't force me to do anything anymore? The thought left a bad taste in my mouth but I couldn't deny that it gnawed at me.

I know I'm in the wrong this time. Again. And it messed him up pretty bad. He has built up walls that are too high up in the sky for me to climb. And I don't know how to break them. I don't know if I want to.

It's funny how we both are so stubborn. I keep denying that I've fallen for him and he keeps convincing himself he can make me stay by pushing me away.

I haven't seen him for the past three days. His bodyguards told me he's off for some business trip in Italy and will be back by today evening.

And so, I did the one thing he always wanted me to do, wait for him patiently like a touch starved dog.

By the time evening arrived, I was a bundle of nerves, pacing of my room back and forth. The sun dipped below the horizon and still there was no sign of him. I hated how anxious it made me, how desperate I felt for any sign that he was still thinking of me, still cared enough to return. Will he even return?

Finally, as the last rays of sunlight faded into dusk, I heard the distant hum of an engine outside. My heart leapt into my throat and I rushed to the window, peering out just in time to see the sleek black bugati pull up to the front entrance. The driver stepped out first, opening the door for Xander, who emerged with the same calm and composed demeanor he always carried.

But, something was different.

He looked the same, dressed in an expensive black tailored suit, his dark brown hair slightly tousled from the journey. He glanced up at the house, his gaze briefly meeting mine through the window, and for a moment my heart almost burst. I averted my gaze and quickly moved away so he could no longer see me.

I waited for him to come up, to seek me out as he always did, but he didn't. Minutes passed, then an hour, and still nothing.

Unable to stand it any longer, I left my room and walked down the hallway, my steps echoing in the empty corridors. I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to find him, to see him, to understand what was happening between us.

I found him in the study, standing by the fireplace with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He didn't turn around to look as I entered, didn't acknowledge my presence at all. It was as if I wasn't even there.