The Devil's Angel

6- In Which She Contemplates

I was jostled awake early in the morning.

The new guard, whose name I had forgotten was standing over me, holding a phone to his ear. I could see a handgun sticking out of his waistline.

"We need to move." He said, barely sparing me a glance. "Boss wants you in the car in ten minutes. Here."

He handed me a folded small stack of clothes before walking out of the room.

Quickly hopping out of the bed I made my way into the bathroom. I discarded the hotel robe, quickly changing into the souvenir sweat suit that the man had handed me. It was a bit baggy but I simply rolled up the sleeves before exiting the bathroom. I reluctantly slid my feet back into the expensive heels I had worn to dinner the night before.

It was a struggle outfit.

When I stepped out of the bathroom the guard was right there grabbing my arm and leading me out of the room.

His hand hovered above the butt of his gun for the full five minutes it took us to get to the parking lot.

Once we were in the parking lot he led me to a white Mercedes pulling the door open.

He stepped aside allowing me to sit in the back seat before sitting next to me and closing the door.

Val was sitting in the passenger seat and the same guy from the first night was driving.

The car ride was smooth and quiet with the exception of Val mumbling something into his phone. It seemed Alessandro's men were always speaking on the phone.

About an hour later we came to a stop in what seemed to be a giant parking lot.

Val exited the car, coming to my side and pulling the door open.

"Hustle, Milaya." He mumbled when I struggled with removing my seatbelt.

I would have smiled if I wasn't insanely nervous. This looked like the perfect place to execute a snitch.

Once the seatbelt was removed he guided me out of the car with a sturdy hand. "I will see you in Los Angeles." He said quickly and quietly.

I raised a brow. "You are not coming with me?"

He simply shook his head. "Be good, Milaya. "

I nodded my head. We came to a stop in front of a large plane. The stairs were pulled down and Val ushered me to enter.

I took wobbly steps, uncertain of what I was going to find. Once I was inside the plane I could hear Alessandro on the phone. He was arguing with someone and his voice was harsh.

"That is not what we discussed Alberto." He said running his hands through his thick hair out of frustration. "I will handle that. You worry about your part." He waited a beat. "Then he will die. It will be no skin off my nose."

The careless way he spoke of murder chilled me. Even though I'd seen him kill someone, it was hard for me to believe that someone was so nonchalant about ending another life.

"Bella, sit." He said, sliding his phone into his back pocket.

I sat, in the chair furthest from him.

"I asked you to ride with me so that I could brief you. Once we get to Los Angeles there will not be room for mistakes."

I didn't know how he expected me to respond so I simply nodded my head.

"You will have your own room on the compound. There will be a lock, for your safety. You will be trained. In case of an emergency I want you to be able to defend yourself."

I had to know. "Will you train me?"

He chuckled pulling two bottles of foreign liquids out of the mini fridge. He handed one to me. "I will be too busy to see to your training. One of my second in commands will pick up the task."

I nodded fiddling with the bottle as the plane started. I knew the ride from Nevada to california would only take about two hours.

"You will show respect, Bella." His tone went firm. "You are a prisoner and this is a punishment. I don't want anyone thinking different. That being said, if anyone gives you a hard time, I expect to be made aware."

I thought of Gage, and pursed my lips.

"The compound will have my men running through it, there will be very little women. You will find something to occupy yourself until I need you."

"Until you need me?"

He didn't clarify what he meant. "You'll not interfere in my business, Bella. We both know who I am by now and it won't change."

"Would you stop calling me that?"

He paused, staring at me in surprise.

"My name is Amarlee." I don't know where the sudden boldness was coming from but it was there. Him calling me by that stupid nickname wasn't helping me realize that he wasn't the man I thought he was.

And I desperately needed to realize that if I wanted to survive.

"Amarlee then." He said in a slow voice and I realized I had made a mistake. Him calling me by my full name in that Italian accent sent shivers down my spine and I had to clench my legs in order not to react.

"Once we arrive at the compound, you'll get more training."

"How long will I be there? At the compound?"

He didn't answer. I guess I didn't really expect him to. The last time I had asked he had been vague.

As expected the flight was short, no more than an hour and we landed in a private airport at around nine in the morning.

It was cold, the air was moist and it felt like it could rain any minute.

"Gage will get your bags, you'll ride with me to the compound." Alessandro said, barely sparing me a glance.

I hastily followed him. I was unaware that I even had bags, but I didn't want to run into Gage.

I looked around the empty lot, my first time seeing LA.

I could run.

There was too much open space, but I didn't see Alessandro's backup anywhere.

It was like he could hear my thoughts.

"You had the chance to run, Amarlee. You forced me to come after you."

I bit my tongue, forcing myself not to argue with him. I wanted my head to stay connected to my body.