Brown Eyed Savior

He caught her by her waist before she fell to the floor, still puzzled.

Maestro? Who is Maestro?

The way her swollen eyes flashed in fear when she saw him, it was evident that she had wanted to faint all this while, but his shaking her up accidentally allowed her to do so.

He picked her up in his arms and climbed upstairs, looking into her bruised face the whole time. He felt a strange softness and pity for the limp, battered body in his arms, and all he wanted to do was take care of her.

Why was she here? Who had done this to her? His heart tightened. He would discover if Damon's men were going rough around the edges again.

He placed her on a sofa in the sitting room and squatted before her, staring at her angelic face. Even with the bruise and swelling, her beauty was still out for anyone to see. She had the most alluring green eyes he had ever seen, and fear filled them before she fainted.

"Anybody in this place?" He announced his presence.

Lina came running into the parlor. When she saw the unconscious Maya with her second boss, she went stiff. "Sir Derinem, you come?"

"Yeah, get me water; she passed out," Derinem answered, his eye still on Maya.

Lina hurriedly went to do his bidding, her heart heavy as she left. Maya was back; she thought the girl had already left. She shrugged, reminding herself that it wasn't her business.

Maya opened her eyes slowly. At first, it was all white and dazzling.

Maybe I am dead_

And she was happy about it. At least she wouldn't feel pain anymore, and this hell of a life was over.

Slowly, the illumination cleared, and his face came into view. she gasped and straightened up immediately, "Maestro, do not punish me."

Derinem looked at her more puzzled. Was she crazy, or had some nuts been lost? What was wrong with her? Why was she shaking like a leaf?

He held her palms and asked her as softly as he could, "Are you ok?"

Shocked, Maya raised her head and looked into the face closely; it wasn't her Maestro, even though they looked alike, but this one had gentle brown eyes, and she felt like she could swim in its kindness.

She nodded, hearing Maestro's warning concerning staying quiet when he spoke. She stuttered, "I feel fine, sir."

Lina came back with a glass of water. Derinem collected it from her and placed the rim on Maya's lips. "Drink up."

She obeyed, taking little sips. She looked at him, taking him in. No one needed to tell her this was her Maestro brother.

She had heard of him being as ruthless as his brother, but here he was, helping her regain her consciousness.

His dark hair, like her Maestro's, was done in a crew cut, unlike Maestro's, whose hair sometimes fell into his eyes. His beard was trimmed and fitted his handsomely sculpted face perfectly.

"You're staring at me," he said with a smile on his lips.

She looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, sir."

"No, it's fine. I didn't pick offense; what's your name?"

Maya kept her mouth sealed; she couldn't disobey Maestro. Since he told her not to tell anyone her name, she wouldn't tell anyone. Not even Sir Derinem, who was beginning to look more like an angel.

"You don't want to tell me your name?" He raised her chin to look up at him.

She burst into tears. "Sir, please don't tell him; I beg you, it won't happen again."

Fed up with being confused, he held her shoulders gently.

"Owwww," she cried.

He snatched his hands back in surprise, then carefully shifted her gown to reveal her shoulder; the red and purple skin sparked concern and mostly anger.

"Who did this to you?"

But like most questions he asked her, she kept her mouth sealed.

He was confused. He could not protect her if she kept quiet except to cry. Seeing her in tears affected him.

He looked up at Lina, his tone stern. "Who is she, and who did this to her?"

Lina opened her mouth when a voice came through, "She's my whore."

Maya froze at the familiar voice; it was her Maestro. She turned to catch a glimpse of his face. It held annoyance, not at her but at his brother.

Derinem rose to his feet, coming face to face with Damon; they didn't look pleased to see each other.

"What the hell are you doing here, Derinem? Calabria wasn't enough to accommodate you."

Derinem tried to share his attention with the girl, who trembled under his brother's voice and closure. Something was wrong.

"You promised to keep me updated on Maria's case. What's going on, Damon? Why hasn't there been information for the past two weeks?"

"I took care of everything. Sicily is my domain; sending you information is my choice."

"Just listen to yourself!" the two men leaned forward. Maya thought there was going to be fist-throwing. When Damon's eyes fell on Derinem's hand, seeing her phone, a realization dawned on him, and he glared at her.

"What are you doing out here?"

"Uhm, A-Abby called m- me again, and I didn't want to disturb your sleep, so I took it down....".

"Enough!" He raised a finger, not wanting to hear more lies. She shuddered. She didn't need to be told she was in big trouble.

She placed her palms over her lips to stop the sobs, but her shoulders kept shaking.

Derinem stopped himself from lashing out at his brother. As Damon said, this was his domain, and whatever this girl was was his business, but he couldn't stop being concerned.

"What happened to her?"

"She fell over the stairs," Damon replied curtly. His face hardened on Maya, "didn't you?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes, Maestro, I fell over the stairs."

Derinem knew it was all a facade. His brother was doing something to this green-eyed angel. Something crazy. And knowing how extreme Damon could go, he was capable of anything.

Damon looked at his brother defiantly, "Any more questions?"

Derinem didn't disappoint. "Who is she?"

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU SHE'S MY WHORE DAMNIT."

Maya watched the pity in his brown eyes fade, and in place of it was a stern look at her. Her heart melted. She was sure he now held her with scorn.

"I thought we agreed with no whoring around when Maria was around, and what number is she? Fourth, fifth, sixth? Where is Maria?"

"Maria is in her room, sir Derinem," Lina answered

He turned his gaze back at Maya, trying to understand why she was there. She didn't fit this place, and neither did she include the description Damon gave.

Damon walked back to Maya and picked her up in his arms so that her head rested on his naked chest. She didn't object.

"Let's get those injuries cleaned up, sugar; we don't want them to get infected, do we?"

Derinem couldn't take his eyes off her until they were out of sight.

Her Maestro took her back to his room, placed her sitting on the bed, and then squatted before her. His grey pupils searched her face. "Tell me why you tried to run, Maya.''