17.Alin
Alin
“Where is she?” I wake up in a panic to a thunderous roar. “Luca, you’ll wake the girls. Calm down, she’s here, sleeping,” I hear Mariano.
Luca is here.
I hear his footsteps coming up the stairs, and my stomach tightens. I look at my tail and understand that I must have fallen asleep in the bathtub all night.
“Where is she, Mariano?” I hear Luca’s angry voice coming down the hall.
“What’s going on?” Cora’s tired voice joins the symphony. Great.
Loud knocks sound on the bathroom door. “Alin?” Luca roars again, making my heart leap in fright. He can’t see me like that.
“I’m here,” I respond tiredly, just hoping he’ll stop with the pounding before he breaks the door down and the real trouble starts.
“Open the door now,” he orders.
I raise my hand, and within moments, the bathwater floats in the air. I regain my legs while holding the water above me, step out of the tub, and let the water fall back in. I quickly wrap myself in a towel and slowly open the door.
“What do you want, Luca?” I reply dryly, and when my gaze meets his, the image from yesterday pops up in my mind and I start feeling the burning in my chest again.
He scans my body from my legs up to my breasts and back to my eyes.
I think I see a flicker of the familiar hungry look in Luca’s eyes, but it quickly changes back to the monster he’s become this morning.
“What were you doing at the club last night?” he asks, his voice slow and menacing, barely above a whisper, trying to control his anger.
“You’ll probably never know. You ruined any chance of finding out after yesterday,” I reply with a plastered smile and manage to sidestep him out of the bathroom.
“Alin, you belong to me. You hide nothing from me. It will cost you your life,” he threatens, still controlling his temper. My blood begins to boil again in response to his threats. How dare he talk to me like that after what he did yesterday.
“It won’t matter if you kill one of your whores, you seem to have plenty,” I say, pointing at myself as I’m apparently just another one of his useless whores.
It seems I’m pushing his limits again, but I can’t stop now.
“I don’t belong to you. I stayed here because I knew my life was in danger, not because of you.
The mafia is part of your life, not mine,” I almost break down, tears welling up at the corners of my eyes.
But I take a deep breath and turn my back on him, now facing Cora, who sits on the bed, watching everything unfold.
Cora knows her place; she knows not to interfere. For my sake, not for them.
I drop the towel from my body and move to Cora’s wardrobe.
I quickly put on underwear, shorts, and one of Cora’s T-shirts.
Luca doesn’t react; he just follows my every move like a predator.
Ignoring his gaze, I grab my phone from the bedside table and hurry out of the room.
I hear Luca’s footsteps behind me and break out running to the first floor, not wanting him to catch me.
At the door, Abert and Graham block my path.
“Let me through,” I command, my tears barely held back, ready to spill over.
“Alin, you’re barefoot and upset. Running out of the apartment wouldn’t be a smart move right now,” Mariano’s voice comes from behind. He places his hand on my shoulder, and I turn to face him.
“Let’s sit down. Maria will make us breakfast. It seems we have a lot to discuss,” he says with understanding, no trace of menace in his voice.
He’s the only one who retains some semblance of manners, even if they’re fake.
I glance past him and see Luca. He’s stopped moving, waiting for my reaction.
Behind me are Graham and Abert; in front of me are Luca and Mariano.
I could try to take them all out and run, but I wouldn’t be able to handle that.
I could knock them out, but if they discover my abilities, the likelihood of ending up as the newest attraction at the New York Aquarium becomes very high.
I surrender and allow Mariano to lead me to the living room at the entrance, and sit down on a single armchair. Luca and Mariano sit on the sofa opposite me.
“You’ve been part of the mafia from the day I told you about it and my role in it,” Luca suddenly declares in a distant voice, sounding as if he’s speaking to one of his soldiers, not to me.
I take a deep breath and avoid responding, waiting for him to continue.
“When you’re part of the mafia, lying is not an option, Alin. I’m giving you one chance to tell me the truth about that day at the aquarium,” he continues, his voice turning menacing.
I immediately shrink back. How does he know I lied?
“What are you talking about?” I ask quickly, trying not to let the stress show in my voice.
“What exactly happened there, Alin? I want the truth, and I want it now. If I find out you’re working with the Russians, you’ll be in serious trouble,” he replies with a menacing tone, standing up. In an instant, a knife is pressed against my neck.
I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “You’re right, I lied,” I admit, and for a moment, I see a look of pity on Mariano’s face. He must know what Luca plans to do.
“But not for the reasons you think,” I quickly add, stopping Luca from taking a dangerous step, both for him and for me.
“Speak,” he spits out in anger. I carefully rise from the chair, Luca’s hand moving with me, gently placing my hand on his. His grip immediately loosens, and I cautiously move the knife away from my neck.
“The Russians did want to get back at you through me, just as I said. I accidentally entered the wrong room, and when I tried to leave, I heard them talking outside the door. I knew if I went out, they could easily abduct me. There was a gas canister in the maintenance room. I thought quickly and opened the door to lure them inside. Once they closed the door, I covered my face with a worker’s cloth mask and opened the gas canister.
They started choking and fell to the floor.
One of them dropped his wallet. I quickly took a picture of his ID and ran to find you,” I explain, realizing just how deep my lies go and how much courage it takes to cover one lie with another.
Luca looks at Mariano, who nods at him.
“Why was your dress torn?” he asks immediately. Pleasing Luca isn’t easy.
“I tore it myself before I left the room. I needed it to fit my story,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief as he sits back down on the couch next to Mariano.
“And what exactly made you think that lying was better than telling the truth?” Mariano asks this time, and it seems both of them are more relaxed despite my revealed lie.
“I don’t know. When I heard them talking about revenge on Luca, I panicked. I didn’t know who Luca was anymore, who you were, or who I could trust. I didn’t even know if they were still alive in that room,” I say, this time not lying about my feelings, just omitting a few details.
They seem convinced.
“I could have killed you, Alin,” Luca says suddenly, a trace of humanity flickering across his face.
“Too bad you didn’t,” I snap back, sinking into the chair. Maybe that’s the only way he’ll ever be rid of me—because no matter what, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him, even if I wanted to.
He stands up again, leaning over me, and it seems Mariano understands something I don’t because he gets up and leaves.
Luca brings his lips close to mine. “Don’t you dare develop suicidal tendencies, you belong to me,” he whispers possessively, just as he did the day we were in his office.
I feel tingles throughout my body at his words.
But in an instant, I remember the whore sitting on him yesterday and push him away with all my strength.
“You can’t play with my feelings like that!” I scream, unable to hold back the tears.
Luca’s gaze softens, and he pulls me back into his arms, hugging me tightly until my face is buried in his chest. I try to break free but to no avail.
“You have your whores. Why do you need me here, Luca?” I ask desperately into his chest, not expecting an answer. He never gives satisfying answers.
But I’m surprised when he immediately replies, “I have no one in my head except you, Alin. Do you think you’re the only one going crazy?
I’ve been holding myself together like a madman for the past two weeks.
When I found out you lied to us, all I wanted to do was forget you so I could deal with you as my duty commands. ”
My heart pounds stronger, and I don’t know if I can believe his words again.
“I can’t erase the images from last night from my head.
I can’t trust you anymore,” I whisper, “When I came to the club last night after barely seeing or hearing from you for two weeks, I didn’t care who you were anymore.
The alcohol flowed in my veins, and all I wanted to do was tell you I accept you and want you as you are.
” I lift my gaze to him. “I’m sorry, Luca.
If what I saw last night is another part of you, I don’t think I can accept it. Please let me go,” I beg.
He releases his grip, turning his gaze away from me. For the first time, his eyes seem pained. “I can’t,” he whispers and leaves me alone in the living room.
I collapse back onto the armchair, feeling the air has been sucked out of me. How am I going to endure this man for as long as I’m required to be here?
I have to forget about Luca completely, I am determined.
It will make my time here easier until I find a way out without using my powers.
But then, a thought comes to mind. I get up from the armchair and leave the apartment.
This time, Abert and Graham don’t stop me from reaching the door, but Abert follows me. As expected.
I go up to Luca’s apartment, change into denim shorts and a light tank top from my closet, glad that Luca made sure to move the few things I had from my apartment the day he tied my fate to the mafia’s.
I put on comfy sandals and go back to Abert.