Mafia Bloodlines

Chapter 28

Faina's pov

As I stood under the warm showerhead, my mind began to wander. Each time I stared at Agape, her big green eyes looked up at me with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. And Ambrose's ultimatum echoed in my mind: learn to love Agape, become a mother to her, or face the consequences. I had one year to transform into a person I never thought I'd be. At first, it felt like a chore, a task to be completed out of obligation rather than genuine desire. For a moment, I felt a pang of resentment. Why was I being forced into this role? Why did I have to pretend to be something I'm not?But as I looked at Agape, I saw something that gave me pause. Although she was a miniature version of Ambrose, with his sharp jawline and piercing gaze, there was something else, something that didn't quite belong to Ambrose. A spark of innocence, of vulnerability. I took a deep breath, remembering the small victory I'd had with Agape yesterday. She had just returned from school and she came running to me, hugged me and then kissed my cheek.

As I rinsed the soap from my body, I thought about our little family dynamic. Ambrose would occasionally join us, his presence as a reminder of the stakes. But despite the unusual circumstances, I was starting to feel a sense of connection with Agape, maybe it was sympathy.
I turned off the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. As I stepped out of the bathroom, I was taken aback by Ambrose's sudden appearance in the doorway. He didn't knock, didn't announce himself. He just stood there, his eyes fixed on me.

My towel slipped from my grasp, falling to the floor with a soft thud. I felt a surge of embarrassment and vulnerability as Ambrose's gaze swept over my naked body.

"You could have knocked you know. I get this is your house and stuff but you cannot just barge inside of my room at any given moment." I lashes out, irritated by his disturbance.

"Don't flatter yourself. I've seen way better. Bodies of real women, you don't faze me little girl." He said with a smirk. He is lying, his gaze and body language says something else. Still bare naked I stepped closer to him, my bare body touching his suit. We exchanged the air in between us for a moment until I replied to his initial  bold statement. I was the one smirking now.

" Liar. I know very well that you desire me." I whisper.

"Well, if that's the case, then why do you dare come this close to me?" He paused, his hand tracing down my arm, I didn't flinch.

"If indeed I do desire you ,then you are aware of everything I could do to you." His words were laced with a subtle threat.

"In your dreams, I would never, ever, have sex with you." I said as I stood my ground.

" You are mine. Every part of you belongs to me μου καταιγίδα. Get dressed, we are going out for dinner. Don't even think of trying anything funny. " his voice was low and rough yet still so assertive
He turned and closed the door behind him, leaving me standing there in stunned silence. Well that was weird. He is crazy if he thinks I will not use this as an opportunity to escape.

I took a deep breath and began to get ready, my mind racing with possibilities. I put on the dress Ambrose had laid out for me, an elegant  silky black dress that hugged my curves in all the right places. I did my hair and makeup, trying to look as presentable as possible.

As I finished getting ready. I walked downstairs. Ambrose appeared ,smirk on his face. "You look stunning, my dear," he said,  he was probably being nice because Agape is here."Shall we?"

I nodded, trying to keep my cool. The three of us were using the same car. Fifteen bodyguards accompanied us in the other car. I mean I've seen security but this was something else, we are just going out for dinner, aren't we?

The drive to the restaurant was tense, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. When we arrived, Ambrose led us to a private table. The place was empty, it was just us and our billion bodyguards. Ambrose ordered my food as well as his, I've noticed he is quite controlling about everything.

As we waited for our food to arrive, i felt the sudden  urge to pee.

" I need to go to the bathroom. May I?" I ask with a fake smile. Ambrose furrows his eyebrows for a while as he contemplates letting me go.

" Fine, make haste and don't patronise me." He said and I immediately stood up. As I was about to walk away, four other guards came towards me. Of course he wouldn't let me go to the bathroom alone. They were walking closely behind me until I heard some whimpers. I turned and saw who was making the attack. I couldn't even contain the smile that was on my face. Uncle Santiago took out the two guards with ease. I helped him with the other two, my heart racing with excitement and fear. As soon as they were unconscious, I hugged Uncle Santiago tightly, tears of joy streaming down my face.

"I've been looking for you everywhere," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

" How are you here? How did you find me?" I ask all at once.

" I had been investigating your disappearance and a witness said that they saw some men take you in the middle of the road. With Felipe dead I didn't know who could have done this. The car had been spotted in another city nearby and it had kidnapped two other girls. I thought they had sold you off so I've been tracking sex trafficking ring owners all the while. Until today when I spotted you coming out of the car with Ambrose Kravaratis, the Greek mafia don. Are you here out of your own free will? Do you love him, is that it?" Uncle Santiago explained.

" No, I was smuggled into this city and country. I don't even remember how everything happened. I want to leave this place. Help me uncle please. Save me." I said, pleading with him.

"Your family is worried sick about you. I was afraid we could never get you back....... And what is that?" He asked as his eye landed on my left hand. He saw the ring on my finger, oh great.

"We have to get out of here, now. I will explain everything later, trust me." I said, my voice was low and urgent.

Uncle Santiago nodded, his eyes scanning the area. "I have a car parked nearby. We'll be safe once we're out of here."

We made a run for the servants' lift, our hearts pounding in our chests. I am free. I could almost taste the freedom. But then, the sound of gunfire echoed through the hallway, and Uncle Santiago's body jerked violently. I turned to see him gunned down by three different shooters, his body crumpling to the ground.

I felt a scream building in my throat as I rushed to Uncle Santiago's side. He was coughing up blood, his eyes locked on mine.

"You are a warrior, a Bukhari," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You shall be free, one day. I'm sorry I failed you. I broke my promise to your mother. Forgive me, forgive me."

And with that, he was gone, his hand slipping out of mine as his body went limp. I was left standing there, alone and adrift in a sea of chaos.

" Are you all insane. You are a bunch of idiots, neanderthals. She could have been hurt." Ambrose shouted. I  could  barely hear Ambrose's shouting. It didn't matter, he had killed uncle Santi right before my eyes.

Three other gunshots were fired, simultaneously. That was what got my attention and I snapped out of it. It was the three guards who were shooting at us, they had been shot dead by Ambrose.