Bound to the Don

Chapter 13

Salma

I trailed behind Louis, my footsteps echoing through the opulent corridors. The mansion's grandeur intimidated me, but my mind remained fixated on the ominous conversation with Armando... "She's useless to me." No matter how hard I tried to brush off his words, they still stung. I couldn't fathom why his dismissal affected me so deeply. Shouldn't I be relieved that he didn't want me? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

As we reached the second floor, Louis halted abruptly.
"I've decided to make a change of plans for you, little girl," he announced, his head tilted to one side.
" Don't worry piccolo, it's an advantage not only for me but for you" He swiveled around, his eyes looking down at me.

"You'll serve me as my personal maid, attending to my every need. You'll be responsible for my health, food, and laundry. Essentially, you'll be my personal assistant." His gaze remained unwavering, his lips curving into a mischievous smirk.

I stood there, frozen in shock. When had he changed his mind, and why? This wasn't what I had expected, and yet, I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Being a maid didn't seem like a daunting task, especially since I found solace in doing chores. It was a welcome distraction from my thoughts.

I felt an overwhelming urge to sob with joy, as tears I thought had long been depleted began to well up in the corners of my eyes.

"Thank you so much, sir," I stammered, my voice trembling with relief. "I'm...I'm truly overwhelmed. This means a great deal to me." I struggled to hold back tears.

He gazed down at me with an inscrutable expression, but for a fleeting instant, I detected a flicker of surprise in his eyes before it vanished, leaving me wondering if I'd imagined it.

He appeared taken aback by my gratitude, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he couldn't fathom why I would thank him.

Clearing his throat, he broke eye contact and gazed straight ahead before speaking in a low, measured tone. "You shouldn't be thanking me, considering what I've done to you and your family. I'm the one who brutalized your brother right before your eyes, took you as collateral, and brought you here to serve as my personal slave. Make no mistake, I'm not doing this out of kindness or generosity. I'm doing it for my own benefit, and this is only the beginning. Things may change... and they may change soon."

My body shook violently as the memories I had desperately sought to erase came rushing back.

The image of Louis's brutal gaze, fixed on my brother as he lay battered and defenseless, was seared into my mind.

It was a harsh reminder that the man standing before me was a monster... I was horrified that, even if only for a moment, I had forgotten this terrifying truth.

A sob rose in my throat as I swallowed hard, a tear rolling down my left cheek. My hand instinctively rose to wipe it away, and Louis's gaze snapped to mine, his eyes burning with an unnerving intensity as he caught the movement.

He tilted his head, his eyes raking over me with an unnerving intensity, his gaze lingering on me like a predator sizing up it's prey.

"That caught you off guard didn't it?...I guarantee you one thing, little girl, and that is..." He paused, his eyes glinting with mischief and amusement, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

His gaze seemed to hold a sinister intent, and I recoiled instinctively.A sardonic smile spread across his lips, his eyes gleaming with a possessive light, as if he took pleasure in my fear.

"...Unless, of course, you prove to be a dutiful and submissive little girl, always complying with my demands without hesitation or complaint. As long as you conform to my expectations and follow my rules, I assure you that you will find my... companionship quite enjoyable. He spoke with a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes gleaming with condescension.