His Vengeance

Chapter 10

Nicole

Sofia gently assisted me out of the chair, guiding me out of the room. The words I had just heard left me in a state of numbness, as I desperately tried to block out my thoughts. I knew that dwelling on my feelings of betrayal and shock would only lead to tears.

I had made a promise to myself not to cry in front of those people. I wanted to show them that I was strong, not weak.

The man I had encountered in that room, who claimed to have control over America, was unlike any man I had ever met before.

The first thing that struck me when he removed my blindfold was his piercing, cold blue eyes. I could see the intense dislike he had for me, a reminder of the father he had been pursuing relentlessly. That was the reason I found myself in this situation.

Even with others present, his presence commanded respect and carried an air of intimidation. He possessed the qualities of a leader, both in appearance and demeanor.

While he may have had a handsome exterior, I knew that behind his façade lay a heart as cold as ice. He was dangerous and heartless, willing to eliminate anyone who stood in his way.

Sofia led me through a maze of hallways, and I took the opportunity to observe the vast house that had become my prison. Expensive antique pictures and art adorned the walls, a display of wealth and power that failed to pique my interest.

Finally, we reached a door, which Sofia opened for me before assisting me to the bed. I glanced around the room, taking in the dark blue walls, the queen-sized bed in the center, the vanity table on one side, the nightstands flanking the bed, the delicate crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the walk-in closet, and the bathroom. The pièce de résistance was the immense floor-to-ceiling window, offering a panoramic view outside.

"This will be your room for the time being," Sofia informed me, helping me settle on the bed.

She headed to the walk-in closet, pulling out clothes from hangers and drawers, and neatly placing them by my side on the bed.

"I'll prepare the bath for you. Take your time to clean up. These clothes should fit, I wasn't sure of your size, but they'll do for now," she said, a small smile gracing her lips.

I nodded, glancing at the stack of clothes beside me.

"Are these someone else's?" I asked, surprising her with the question.

"No, I bought them for you. I had this spare room prepared in case I ever got the chance to help you escape from that dungeon down there. I planned," she explained, tugging on her T-shirt.

I smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you," I said, and she nodded happily before heading to the walk-in bathroom to prepare the bathtub for me.

Releasing a sigh, I stood up and walked over to the large window. From its height, I deduced that the room was situated on the third floor, with the house's driveway and main gates far below.

"Nicole?" I turned around to find Sofia in the doorway.

"The bath is ready," she informed me, and I nodded.

"I'll be back shortly. Take your time to relax. If you need anything, just let me know, okay?" I nodded once more.

She smiled at me before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. I strolled across the room and entered the bathroom.

Even the bathroom had its unique style, with white marble tiles and a marble vanity counter. The bathtub was already filled with soapy, bubbly water. I shed my old, worn-out clothes that I had been wearing for days and slipped into the warm water.

As I reclined in the tub, the warm water enveloping me, I let out a sigh of relief. The tension in my body slowly dissipated. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of being cleansed after what felt like an eternity. My fingertips traced patterns on my arm, surrounded by the foaming bubbles.

Finally allowing myself to relax, I surrendered to the overwhelming flood of emotions. Tears welled up in my eyes as I absorbed everything I had learned. I sobbed uncontrollably, confronted by the lies my father had woven throughout my entire life and the pain I had endured since arriving here.

Exhaustion washed over me as I absorbed the truth. The realization that I had learned about my father from someone other than him was painful. It hurt to go through such a devastating experience without knowing why, especially when it was all connected to my father.

I had never felt such devastation before. My father had been a lie all along. I had no idea what awaited me once they captured my father, nor how long I would be confined in this place, surrounded by danger at every turn.

Anger consumed me as well. Anger at everyone, but mostly at my father for being the reason I was trapped here. Leaning my head against the tub's edge, I exhaled heavily, gazing up at the ceiling.

Drained of energy, I closed my eyes, contemplating my current circumstances.

Escape seemed futile. Even if I planned for months, I doubted I would make it out of there alive. Requesting a cellphone was out of the question; I had lost mine, and they wouldn't trust me with a new one, regardless of my assurance that I wouldn't contact my father or the police. It would be fruitless.

That was another lesson I had learned so far. Trusting anyone here was a mistake, except Sofia, although I doubted her future assistance.

Don't trust anyone. Keep your guard up at all times. Conceal your true emotions. Be strong. Never give up.

As these words echoed in my mind, I stepped out of the bath, wrapping a fluffy white towel around my body. Another towel secured my damp hair, and I made my way to the bathroom vanity. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I took in the empty brown eyes, my once golden-brown complexion now pale and devoid of its previous radiance. A faint purplish bruise adorned my jaw and cheek, and a thin gash trailed down from the corner of my eye to my cheekbone.

I looked and felt different. Returning to the room, I dried myself off and put on the clothes Sofia had chosen for me—a pair of faded denim jeans and a long Ramones T-shirt that reached mid-thigh.

Returning to the bathroom, I used the wall-mounted blow dryer to dry my hair. With my hair flowing down my back in gentle waves, I returned to the room and sat on the bed.

After the emotional release in the bathroom, my body felt utterly exhausted. I lay down, sighing wearily. As soon as my head touched the soft pillows, my eyes closed, and sleep enveloped me within seconds.