24. Adriana

Chapter twenty-four

Adriana

"Call me if you need anything, Adriana."

Daniel hangs by the bar in Alessandro's home. He has been around more since Alessandro left.

The bastardo (bastard) didn't think it right to tell me he had some business trips and would be away for a few days. He had me wondering where he had gone after waking up to see that I was the only one in his bed.

Apart from that, I also have this other thing going on now…. again. Ale released in me the other night and it has me worried again. I only got lucky the last time that my period was late. It might be different this time. My stomach knots, hoping not.

I couldn't get the pregnancy test kit with everything that had been going on last time but I make a mental note to get one as soon as I can. I need to make sure that nothing has happened.

This is the third day Ale's been away and there is still no text or fucking call from him.

I nod as I sip my hot coffee. It burns the tip of my tongue.

Daniel swirls his car key in one of his fingers as he walks to the front door. His hair is styled in a low bun with a brown fedora hat on. He stops to look at me as he holds the doorknob.

"Alessandro will be back soon."

"When can I leave? Your men wouldn't let me out." I ignore his statement. I'm more focused on how to get out of everything and this godforsaken place.

"You can't leave. Ale said to keep you safe. You are safe here."

"But I need to get some supplies."

The coffee is getting cold as I take a sip again. I hold the mug with my two hands as I stare at Daniel from the dining space. The smooth wooden table is cold on my skin.

"I'll have some men get whatever supplies you need."

"I don't need your men getting me tampons and toiletries. I can do that myself."

Daniel looks to the ground and lets out a sigh. He takes a few seconds to process his thoughts. "Fine. But Mendoza has to follow you out. You can't go anywhere alone."

"Alright."

He pauses to stare at me and nods before he walks out of the house, shutting the door gently.

The house falls silent with just me around. It gives me enough time and space to think clearly.

I'm still Alessandro's prisoner. And staying in his house makes me feel just as unsafe as in my father's. I find it harder to believe the words Alessandro said to me in the basement. No one's ever safe in this dirty business.

I've learned all my life to never trust anyone. I'm not letting Alessandro use me for his advantage.

He's only allowing me in his house because they are still in need of my father's supplies. I have no fucking idea what will happen next when it all ends. Even now, when I've warned him about Father.

Leo has scheduled a meet up today. He is helping me with my new identity and flight papers. I down the remaining content in the mug and stroll back to Ale's room.

Alessandro isn't the only one good at throwing surprises. Just as he left without a word, I'll be slipping out of this life for good. And this time, neither he nor my father would ever find me.

As I'm going up the stairs, I hear my phone ringing. My heart skips a beat when I see the name of the caller. Beatrice.

Alessandro's men only dropped her off at a hospital after I pleaded with them to save her. She's been unreachable since the incident. I pick up my phone hastily to answer the call.

"Beatrice?" My voice is shaky, with tears forming in my eyes. She has lost Gabriele forever and I can't do anything to change it.

"Adriana." Her voice is soft but sharp enough to pierce my heart. I can almost hear the pain in it. My heart breaks even more knowing I can't hold her in my arms now and be there for her.

"Beatrice… I'm so sorry." A tear rolls down my cheek. Her whimpers are loud on the phone.

"I need your help, Adriana."

"Beatrice, I'll do anything for you. Where are you?"

"The 100 th street... I'm at Sam's grocery store in East Harlem."

"I'm coming right now. Don't leave."

"Please hurry."

"Are you–"

She ends the call before I complete the sentence. I race to the bedroom to change into black jeans and grab my blue hoodie. Daniel's car isn't outside as I walk out of the front door.

Two guards are by it, and they turn to stare at me. "You shouldn't be outside, ma'am," a guard says. He has a red jacket on with black jeans. His black hair is in a faded cut with a handlebar mustache.

"I'm going to the grocery store. Daniel said I could."

"He said not without my supervision," the guard replies. He must be the Mendoza guy Daniel spoke about.

"I'm in a hurry. I need to get to the grocery store right now."

I try to walk past them, but Mendoza uses his long legs and broad shoulders to block my path.

"I'll gladly drive you there." He stares at me with his hand settled on his rifle.

" Vieni qui, Cortez (Come here, Cortez)!"

Another guard comes running toward us.

"Have this and give me your pistol," Mendoza says. He exchanges his gun with the other and slips the pistol into his back pocket.

"This way, Adriana."

I swallow a gulp as he leads me to his truck. It's a black Toyota Tacoma. He unlocks the door and we both enter.

"Take me to East Harlem. I need to get to Sam's grocery store at 100 th Street," I say as I adjust in the seat, strapping the seatbelt on.

Mendoza turns to look at me with his eyes narrowed. "I can get you to a grocery store that's closer."

I keep my gaze firm, staring back at him. "I'm not going to just any store you think is close. Just get me the fuck to 100 th Street and stop at the store I requested to shop at."

He let a few seconds pass as he contemplates what to do. "It better be a quick shopping trip."

Mendoza starts the truck and drives out of the gate to the street. It's a ten-minute drive of silence as I anxiously wait to see Beatrice.

He parks the truck a few steps away from the store. The store's name is boldly written on a signboard hanging at the top of the building. Two ladies walk out of the store with supply bags in their hands. None is Beatrice.

I pull the handle of the truck to open the door but stop as Mendoza grips my wrist.

"I'm going with you."

A sharp breath passes from my nostrils, infuriated by his grip. "No, you're not. I'm not fucking running away."

"Boss said I should be with you always to keep you safe."

I pull my wrist free from his grip. "I can't have you walk around with me in the store. You'll only make me uneasy. Just give me a few minutes and I'll be back."

"I–"

"If I'm not back in thirty, you can barge right into the store to get me."

He checks his watch on his wrist and glances back at me. "Your time has started."

I open the door and slide out of the truck. The morning's cool air blows across my face as I make my way to the store.

A welcome sign is hanging on the door as I pull the handle. The store smells like fruits, with a thick smell of freshly baked bread.

I dial Beatrice's number as I stroll to the aisle of toiletries. She answers on the first ring.

"I'm here, Beatrice. Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Meet me by the electronics aisle."

She ends the call abruptly again. I hasten my steps as I walk down the electronics aisle.

Beatrice is standing by a rack with a bleeding cut on her head. Her eyes are swollen from crying. She stares at me with her eyes widening, slowly shaking her head like she's trying to tell me something.

"Beatrice," I whisper, running to meet her.

"No, Adriana."

I pull her into a hug, tearing up. She doesn't hold me back with her arms fixed by her side.

Something's wrong.

"Hello, Adriana," a voice says behind me. A gun's behind my head.

"I'm so sorry, Adriana. I'm so sorry. They made me do it." Beatrice cries harder.

" Va tutto bene . (Everything is fine.)"

"You'll have plenty of family time back at the warehouse. We're all going to exit the store now. Do anything funny and I put a bullet through you."

Another man casually dressed in faded blue jeans and a white singlet with an oversized shirt over it appears behind Beatrice.

"Turn around Adriana," the man behind me says.

I let go of Beatrice and slowly turn around. His gun is pointed in front of me now. He has a crooked smile and a big nose, making him quite unattractive. His face is scarred with a burn mark on his cheek. His gray shirt has a masked head design imprinted on it.

"Clean your fucking tears and act normal. I won't hesitate to shoot if you draw unnecessary attention to us," he says to Beatrice. He gives her a minute before we start to move.

I can't believe I got caught again. These assholes had to use my sister.

We walk out of the store with each man holding our arms.

Mendoza spots me as he is resting his back on the truck with his gaze fixed on the store's doors. He hurriedly slips out his gun as he sees me, taking a shot at the man holding me.

The bullet meets his arm as he grunts a curse. He grips me tighter and slams me against the door of a blue Volkswagen Tiguan parked in front of the store.

Beatrice's captor retaliates as he pulls out his gun and shoots back at Mendoza.

"Fuck! Enter the fucking car right now." The man holding my arm yells at me. His arm is bleeding out.

Beatrice is screaming as shots are being fired. One meets Mendoza on his shoulder, giving the men enough time to force us into the car. They zoom off in a hurry as Mendoza begins to shoot at us again.

But it's too late, as we take a turn and Mendoza is out of sight. Worse, I don't have a fucking idea where they are taking us.

Fuck .

The warehouse is dark and cold as we walk into it. With our hands tied behind us, they push us into the room. Someone flicks the light switch on. The cemented floor is dusty, with dirt scattered on it. I can hear the squeaking noises around me.

"Who the fuck are you?" I grunt. The man in the gray shirt pushes me further into the room.

"None of your fucking business, Princess."

Beatrice grunts as the other pushes her to the ground on her knees.

"Get your fucking hands off her!"

"We've got a stubborn one here."

"Aldo would love this one," they laugh. I turn to Beatrice's side and fall to my knees beside her. Her head is facing the floor as she cries silently.

"You'll be out of here when the boss arrives. No one's coming to save you this time."

The men walk out of the room and slam the door shut. I hear a click on the door a moment later.

"This is all my fault."

"Don't say that, Beatrice. Father is the one we should be blaming."

I crawl to the wall and push myself down to sit with my back to the wall. Beatrice joins me and we both stare into the empty space.

We sit in silence for a long minute, with only the sounds of our breaths and noises from outside. My stomach growls.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry about Gabriele."

She turns to stare at me and back at the empty space without saying a word. It feels like I've lost her. Her eyes are dark and without life. Not like the way I used to know. I can't bring myself to utter another word as we both stay in silence and I slowly drift to sleep, wishing this was all a dream.

Argh!

A scream coupled with the sounds of gunshots forces me out of sleep. Beatrice turns to look at me with her sleepy eyes.

"What's happening?"

We've both lost track of time. My wrists hurt.

"I don't know."

The noise from outside grows louder with frightening yells. Beatrice begins to crawl further away from the door and I follow behind her. A loud thud lands on the door a few minutes later. I swallow hard as the bang continues till the door falls to the ground.

"Adriana."

"How did you find me?"

"I'm never letting you out again," Daniel replies as he walks towards us. Another man follows behind him.

"How?" I ask again as he helps me to my feet and loosens the rope on my wrists.

"I got some help."

He glances at the man who is helping Beatrice up. The cross tattoo that marks him as part of the Gustavo empire is boldly drawn on his arm. He is one of my father's.