Captive Flames

CHAPTER 3 - In His Grip

Scarlett's version -

"Scarlett...woman have to be strong...no matter what...." My stepmother Lily Frost says, lying in my arms, her breath shallow.

With trembling hands, she reaches out to cup my cheek as I crouch down holding her in my arms as tears flow down my eyes. 

"Don't ....ever let them break you..." she gasps, struggling to keep her eyes focused.

"You're stronger than they know...stronger than I ever was. They will try to control you, use you, but don't let them get to you and your siblings......You belong to yourself" her voice cracks, blood spilling from her lips and with the last ounce of strength she wipes away my tears.

"I'm sorry for making you bear this burden at this age, but please take care of your siblings.....they are still just kids..... remember I always loved you three....be strong, achieve your dreams and never let any one control you.....and run....run before they get to you.....go away somewhere safe and start a new life....away from these ruthless people....." Her eyes start to glaze over and her hand on my cheek turns cold.

"Thank you for being such a great daughter, Scarlett.....don't ever lose that fire in your eyes....." the light in her eyes flickers, and then nothing. She lays still in my hands, the final breath slips from her lungs, leaving only silence. 

     I jolt awake from the dream and gasp, breathing heavily, beads of sweat form on my forehead and I take deep long breaths to calm myself. Another nightmare. My head hurts suddenly and I look around to find myself in a huge bed. The room is enormous, shadowed in deep, unsettling darkness. Velvet curtains block out the light, leaving only a faint, smoky glow from a distant lamp. The bed is huge, four-poster, with dark silk sheets, dominates the center of the space, the polished black wood of the frame gleaming coldly. The walls are paneled in dark mahogany, and the floor is covered in a plush Persian rug that feels out of place in a room so void of warmth. 

Where am I?

Slowly, I get down the bed and recollect what has happened. 

I was kidnapped by the mafia!

Panic rises through me and my heart starts to pound. Mafia is one thing I never want to get involved with again. I have too many memories associated with it and I am not going to spiral back into it again. I reach towards the door and try opening it, but its locked. I bang on the door loudly 

"Let me out of here!" I shout.

I quickly search for my phone, but I cannot find it anywhere. I need to contact Izzy and Leo, they might be worried about me. 

"Please, I didn't do anything wrong!" I scream on top of my lungs, still panicking.

Suddenly, the door is unlocked and he enters. 

Tall, broad-shouldered, he carries himself like a king, yet there's something dangerous in the fluidity of his movements, like a predator stalking its prey. His black suit is tailored to perfection, the fabric clinging to his frame like it was made just for him. His face is striking, almost too perfect, with sharp, angular features that could have been carved by the gods themselves. His jaw is strong, the kind of jaw that suggests he's used to giving orders, not taking them. His dark brown hair is tousled, effortlessly messy, like he doesn't have to try to be striking, but somehow, it works. His skin is light olive, smooth, and sun-kissed, as if he's never spent a day inside. But, it's his eyes that attract me first, amber color, just like liquid gold, burning with quite intensity that feels like it sees right through me. They're full of coldness, but underneath, there's something else, a flicker of something predatory and my pulse quickens at his sight.