The Darkness Within Us

Chapter 13

"What are you doing out here?" I jumped, my hand flying up to my beating heart. Alessandro stood not far behind me, a smirk filled his face. "Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop. If you want to know what they're saying so badly why don't we go in." He pushed open the door and shoved me in, in front of him. Lorenzo and a man who looked to be in his 50s with slightly greying hair stood up, alerted by our entrance. "Look who I found outside the door." Alessandro leered. At the sight of Lorenzo my shock at being caught dissipated and anger filled my veins. I ran up to him and pushed him with all my might. To my disappointment he hardly moved. "You fucking bastard. Leave Corey alone, do you hear me. He has nothing to do with this fucked up situation." I pressed my finger into his chest and lowered my voice to try and sound as threatening as possible. "If you do this to him, or to anyone I will make your life a living hell mark my words. Do what you want to me but not those who I care about." My nostrils flared as I refused to lower my eyes from his. "Anna, let me introduce my father, Enzo Alessi." I became aware of Lorenzo's father, looking less than impressed. He had the same cold dark eyes as his son. If this was the man who taught Lorenzo to kidnap women then I had no interest in niceties. "You can't do this." If possible this man was scarier than Lorenzo but I didn't back down.

"Lorenzo take her out of here." Enzo dismissed me. He didn't even acknowledge me. Lorenzo began to push me towards the door. I resisted as much as I could but he was too strong. "Wait!" I shouted. Lorenzo paused. I knew what I needed to do. I didn't want to but if it was the only way to guarantee Corey's freedom I had to. "I want to negotiate." Without even looking up from the papers on his desk Enzo asked flatly. "What on earth could you have to negotiate with?"

I gulped. "Your son's future, his stability."

That caught his attention. He gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs across from him. I pushed past Lorenzo and sat bolt upright trying to hold onto my courage. "If I am going to be your son's wife, I'm going to be a big part of his life. I could be someone who is constantly trying to run away, someone who could make his life very difficult. I bet I'll have a lot of time on my hands to think of ways to hurt him in any little way I can. Sure you could lock me up in a room, but wouldn't it be better for him to have my co-operation to appear strong with his wife by his side?" Enzo nodded slowly. "Well," I continued. "I promise to be co-operative if you don't do this."

"Ok so you want us to frame someone else for your disappearance?" Enzo questioned. I shook my head vigorously. "No, no I don't want anyone to suffer because of this. I have a better idea." I took in a deep breath. "I will get in contact with my family and the police and tell them that I left of my own accord. I'm 20, if they know I've gone of my own free will there's nothing they can do. I can tell them that I fell in love and decided to get married, that I had to leave because things have been too painful for me since the attack. That I need a fresh start. I don't know exactly, I'll work it out but that way I'll be your son's wife, people in your world will know that's a lie and you'll still seem strong, but it stops any repercussions for Lorenzo taking me." I held my breath waiting to see if he would agree with my plan.

Enzo leaned back in his chair, contemplating. "How do we know you would keep your promise? What's to stop you asking for help as soon as we put a phone in your hand?"

"Because I know that you could kill my family. I know you're powerful and I know me doing that would put them in danger." Natalia's words floated in the back of my head as I said this. Their safety relied on me and I knew that. Enzo scratched his stubbly chin. "You know that you'd never be able to see your family again after this?" I held back tears. The thought of never seeing Mum, Dad, and Liv again made my heart break but I would do it for the safety of those I cared for. At least this way they might be able to live a normal life thinking that I was happy. I nodded. Enzo extended his hand to me. "You have a deal." I reached out my hand and took it knowing in that moment that I was signing over my freedom for Corey's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was aware of three sets of eyes on me as I shakily dialled the number and raised the phone to my ear. "Hello." It was my mum. She sounded more tired than usual. Probably from all the worrying, I bet she hadn't slept. "Mum..." I whispered, trying to hold back my tears. I heard a gasp from the other end of the phone. "Anna! Anna, is that you? Where are you baby? Are you ok?" I turned my back on the Alessi men and concentrated on not crying. "I'm ok Mumma I promise. I'm so sorry for worrying you and Dad."

She interrupted me. "None of that matters now, just tell me where you are and I'll come bring you home darling. Dad will be so pleased that you're safe."

I took in a big breath preparing myself for what had to come next. "Mum I'm not coming home. I can't. It's too painful for me to be there anymore." She tried to say something, words of protest but I stopped her. "No mum please, I'm safe and I'm happy. I'm in New York, I think a new place will be good for me. I've met someone and I'm going to marry him. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you but my head's been all over the place and I just need a fresh start. But I need you to know that I'm happy and safe and not to worry. Please tell Liv good luck in her exams and that I'm so proud of her. Thank you so much for being my mum, I couldn't have asked for anyone better."

I could hear that on the other end of the phone she was crying. "Slow down love please, we can work this all out. But you're scaring me, you sound like you're saying goodbye.." A sob escaped my chest. "I am saying goodbye mum, I'm so sorry, I just need a fresh start. I love you all so much, please remember that." I let the phone drop from my ear and handed it to Lorenzo. I could faintly hear my mum's raised voice coming out of the phone. He hung up and the room was filled with silence.

I allowed my face to fill with silent tears. They had taken my family away from me and it had left me empty with a hole that I could fill with nothing but tears. "I think I better take her home." Lorenzo's voice broke the silence. He said his goodbyes to his father and Alessandro and carefully approached, obviously expecting a hostile reaction. There was no point resisting anymore. I let him take my arm and guide me out into the hallway. His father followed us out. "Anna" I lifted my head to see what Enzo wanted from me. He looked happy with himself, as if this whole situation pleased him. If I had the energy I would have glared at him. He put his hand on my shoulder. "Welcome to the family."