Dangerous

"It's an act"

We enter Stephano's room and he locks the door. I turn around to look at the man. He's around thirty with blonde hair. "Hello Nicole, it's nice to meet you. Too bad it's during these circumstances. I'm Brad."
"Hello." I'm about to ask him out but he cuts me off. "I understand you have a lot of questions but they'll have to wait. I work for Mr.Giovanni. We are working on plan so we need you to stay calm and try to make him trust you."
I swallow "I can do that."
"I know you can and sorry for this."
He takes my hand and drags me to the bed where he handcuffs me.
"Seriously?"
"Sorry but that's what Stephano wants me to do. I need him to trust me."
I groan and Brad pulls out an injection. "Oh, no. You're not going to drug me. He'll rape me." I say and try to move away. "I'm sorry but he won't rape you. I can promise you that." It doesn't calm me but before I can say another sentence I feel a sting and everything turns black.

VINCENT POV
"I think that's enough." Luca says and grabs the bottle in my hand. I let him take it and then I stand up. "I'll kill the bastard." Luca doesn't answer instead he starts typing on his phone.
"We have news." I look at him and he continues "She's okay. Brad has talked with her and we should start working on a plan."
"I want to get her out as soon as possible and I want to kill him myself."
"Of course. Let's go downstairs." I follow him but I can't stop thinking that it's my fault. I didn't protect her at all. I should never had accepted the deal with her father because then she would have been safe. "Vincent, you couldn't have done anything to avoid this, okay?" Luca says as if he feels the guilt that washes over me. Unfortunately it doesn't make anything better.

Everyone's in the living room, Charlie, Luca, Mr. Vintali and his son, George. "You said you would protect her!" Mr. Vintali shouts as I enter. "I'm as eager as you to bring her back." I answer calmly and then continue "What do we know about Stephano's interest in Nicole?"
Everyone thinks and Charlie is the one who first talks "Remember how he offered to make a deal where you could make business at his territory if he only got Nicole?" I nod because I remember, it was the night she ran off. I won't ever forget that. "We know that she has met Brad and he told her to make Stephano trust her and together they will try to get information about what Stephano intends to do." Luca says and George, her brother who has been quiet talks for the first time "So there's nothing we can do until we get more information?" I close my eyes and once again I'm filled with anger.

Nicole POV:

I wake up with a jerk still handcuffed to the bed. The sun is shining outside so I guess I've been drugged the whole night. I try to turn around as I hear the door being opened by someone.
I feel exposed, the nightgown has slipped up and is now revealing more than I'd like it to do. Stephano enters the room and with a few steps he's standing right in front of me. "Care to remove these?" I ask and refer to the handcuffs. He smirks and lower his face into my neck "Should I? I kind of like the power I have." I feel his hand grabbing my leg and sliding it up. I try to kick him off me "Don't do this, Stephano."
I hear how weak I'm sounding and I can feel his smirk. "Lucky for you, I'm a gentleman." and with one swift move he unlocks the handcuffs and stands up. I massage my hurting wrist and fix my nightgown. "A gentleman? Does abducting the bride on her wedding day make you a gentleman? Interesting."
"Hungry?" Stephano asks ignoring what I just said but I am hungry and I'm not going to starve, I need energy if I'm going to find a way out of here. "Thought so, follow me." Stephano says and holds the door open for me. I stand up and tie the robe around me before walking out from the room. "Left." I turn left and the door closes behind me and Stephano tries to put an arm around my waist but I slap it away. "I can tell you're not a morning person."
I glare at him and we walk during silence to the kitchen where someone, probably a chef or something has put everything you can imagine for breakfast on a table. I grab a plate and take a croissant and some fruit. "Tea or coffee sweetheart?" Stephano asks and I put down my plate.
"I'm not your sweetheart." Stephano freeze in his movement and puts down the tea before slowly turning around. His eyes are colder now as he moves towards me. I instinctively move back until I hit a counter. He is now so close that our bodies are touching and my body is bent in the most uncomfortable way. "Miss Nicole. So far I've done nothing but being nice to you even tough you've given me nothing in return." I swallow at the coldness in his voice.
"I won't tolerate this anymore. It doesn't matter what you think but you will be my bride and during our engagement party at Friday I except another behavior from you. Have I made myself clear?" Stephano says and someone clears their throat behind him. It is Brad but Stephano doesn't pull away "Yes or no."
"Yes, you've made yourself clear." I say and finally he pulls back. I curse in my mind. He has made himself clear but I won't be here to marry him. Brad will fix this. "What do you want Brad?" Stephano asks and I sit down to eat my croissant.
"I just came to inform you that it seems like Mr.Giovanni isn't as devastated as we thought he would be." Stephano just rolls his eyes "It's an act." Brad nods and then leaves.
"What do you even want to do with me?" I ask and Stephano looks surprised by the question and then he smirks.
"Everything."

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Long time, no see! But here's a new chapter! Finally ;)

xoxo,
Mary