Chapter 3 Harper
“So, you’re Niccolò?” I ask, looking up at the kinder of the twins as he leads me through a giant house, I have no hope of navigating on my own. “Who does that make your brother?” I should probably know the name of the men who are now in control of my life.
Nic sighs. “That’s Vincenzo, call him Vin though. It may not seem like it now, but he’s a pretty good guy.”
I don’t answer. I have no knowledge of them or their situation to form my own opinion, but being kidnapped is kind of a red flag.
At first, the relief of not having to go back to my shitty apartment blinded me to the danger I’m in.
I’ve never been kidnapped, and since there was no white van or offer of candy, it hadn’t matched my expectations of what it would be like.
Now, I’m realizing that a man is in control of my life, and men can’t be trusted.
“So, you’re a student. What’s your major?” Nic asks as he starts up a wide staircase.
I glance around while answering him distractedly, “Accounting. I thought it would pay the bills, plus some.”
He just nods along to my answer like we’re just getting to know each other.
He and his brother are identical, but their expressions and mannerisms are most definitely not.
Going off his profile photo, there’s no wonder I mistook the two, but if I had spent even a minute with them, I would have known right away.
“How long do you have left?” He asks.
“Just this semester.” I haven't really thought about how close I am to graduation.
He stops in front of a door at the very end of the hallway. I can hear the distant sounds of pop music starting up somewhere on the first floor, must be Ava. He pushes the door open to a bedroom at least three times the size of my studio apartment, but I don’t go in right away.
“You can stay in this room while you’re here. My room is right next door. We will get this all figured out. I promise my brother isn’t a bad person.”
My smile is wan and mostly forced. “I don’t think I can believe that a man who puts bodies in vats of acid is a good guy.”
His mouth drops at that. “He told you that?… That idiota,1 no wonder he decided that he needed to kidnap you.”
A sarcastic “Mhmm,” is my only response to that.
He stays in the hallway as I step into the room to look around.
It’s a neutral room, decorated in soft creams and muted blues, obviously meant for a guest. I guess it’s better than a cell in the basement.
“Okay. You go ahead and get settled, I’ll figure out your belongings and everything.
Maybe take a nap or something. I’ll bring you some dinner when it’s done.
” His lips roll in, and his brow furrows as he looks down.
He steps out of the doorway and softly swings the door closed.
The last glimpse I get of him before the door closes, I swear he looks guilty.
I’m confused for a moment before I hear the distinct click of a lock engaging.
Inspecting the door closer, I realize there’s no lock on the inside of the room.
He’s locked me in this room, just like his brother told him to.
Which means I can’t get out, but they can get in whenever they want.
I should be furious, but I can’t bring myself to react.
All I feel is exhausted as I walk over to the bed and flop down.
I sink into the mattress and groan in appreciation.
The mattress my apartment came pre-furnished with is old and worn, and more than one spring stabs me in the spine while I sleep.
Plus, the cheap mattress protector I bought for it is like laying on a lumpy pillow covered with a trash bag.
This is like laying on a cloud.
I wasn’t even trying to take a nap. But the next thing my mind registers is being shaken awake.
Nic is standing over me, holding a plate piled with food. He places the plate on a vanity in the corner I hadn’t even noticed in the room until now.
“I’ve got dinner for you.”
Yawning, I stand, stretching out my back.
I sit down in the chair and look down at the masterpiece that is homemade lasagna.
It smells amazing, and I can’t believe the scent didn’t wake me up the second he walked into the room.
Glancing in the reflection of the mirror, I find Nic scratching the back of his neck.
“I’ll leave you to it. I’m going to stop by your place to grab some stuff. Is there anything specific you need?”
I nod, “I need my toiletries, clothes, and there are some pictures that are important to me. The furniture isn’t mine, but everything else needs to go somewhere since I won’t be living there anymore. Oh, and I need my laptop and backpack for schoolwork.”
“I can’t promise the laptop, but I’ll take care of everything else. There’s a notepad in the vanity, go ahead and write out your monthly expenses and I’ll be sure it gets taken care of.” He backs out of the room, and the lock clicks into place.
I practically inhale the lasagna the second I’m alone. My taste buds explode. Their master plan must be to torture me by ruining all other food for me so once I go back out into the real world, everything will taste like bland cardboard.
If I ever get out of here, that is.