The Loudest Silence

Isabella

"Tonight's exchange is important. Be especially alert today." Roman strictly advised as he broke the silence in the car. His hands were gripping the steering wheel tightly, his gaze never once faltering over to me.

I remained silent and continued to stare over at him. His long, dark lashes fell across his cheeks as his soft raven hair lay tousled messily across his head. His chestnut eyes glistened against the descending sun and I found myself feeling envious of all his beautiful and unique features.

I hadn't realized how long I had been staring at him when he suddenly turned over to glance at me. His thick eyebrows were furrowed we silently exchanged looks before he turned his attention back to the road. 

Blinking rapidly, I looked away, and turned to stare outside my window. I watched as green blurbs passed in a frenzy as we sped across the highway. 

I didn't mean to gawk at Roman, but there was something about him that was so enticing. 

It wasn't a romantic interest but just in general an aura that surrounded him that drew me in. It was the type of aura that told you something about someone. In Roman's case, it told me that he knew things. His aura screamed that he had seen and gone through things that had made him the way he was. 

He was silent, never saying too much at once, but he was always watching and observing his surroundings. 

There was something about him that made me want to get to know him. Despite his association with my father and his drug cartel, I could tell there was more to him. 

Besides, I had never had a true friend that understood every aspect of my life at home. 

The life I was never to speak of.

The only life I had ever known.

People always say that you're in charge of defining your life. But in my case, my life defined me. 

Pushing my quivering bottom lip in between my teeth, I stopped myself from letting out a cry in front of Roman. 

I hated that there was nothing I could do to change my life.

My heart constantly ached knowing that I was a prisoner in a free world.

Even now, despite attending college, I was still tied to Rick and his games. 

His men were everywhere and constantly watching the city. He ensured that I was never given enough money to run away, and even if I did, he would always find me. 

It's just the way things were.

As long as Rick was alive, I was bound to him. 

And I could never truly escape unless he was gone. 

"Isabella?" Roman's velvet voice questioned, interrupting the train of thoughts swirling across my brain. My head snapped over to face him as I flashed him a questioning look. He looked at me like I was insane before waving his hand around the window. 

I had been so caught up in my thoughts that I hadn't realized we had arrived at the destination. Tall concrete buildings loomed over us as the stars took refuge in the sky. We were in the slums of the town once again, but it was a different location from the last one. Roman turned off the engine as I continued to scan my surroundings before glancing at the clock that read 8:15p.m