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My Rules

Annabelle watched as the cold looking lady walked away, her posture straight and unyielding. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should go with her.

Everything about this place was so different from what she had imagined on her way. The marble floors, the modern design, everything didn't just fit the image of a mafia's clan base at all.

“Follow her,” Riccardo’s voice cut through her thoughts, making her jump. His tone was no different from before, cold and commanding.

Annabelle glanced at him, hoping to find some hint of warmth or reassurance, but his face was as hard as stone.

With a small nod, she started after the lady, her feet feeling heavy with every step. The hallway was long, lined with doors that were all closed. The walls were a pristine white, and the lights above shone brightly, reflecting off the marble floor. It felt more like a high-end hotel than a dangerous Mafia hideout.

The lady led her to a room at the end of the hallway. She pushed the door open and ushered her inside. Annabelle walked in, taking in the spacious and well decorated bedroom. It was simple yet elegant, with a large bed, a dresser and a small seating area by the mirror.

The curtains were drawn back, allowing the evening light to pour in. For a moment, Annabelle forgot where she was. The room felt safe, like a place where she could finally take a breath.

“This is where you’ll stay,” the lady said, breaking the brief silence. Her voice was flat, lacking any warmth.

“If you need anything, ask one of the maids.”

Annabelle nodded, feeling a lump in her throat. She had so many questions, but the lady’s cold attitude made her hesitate to ask. She didn’t know who this lady was or why she seemed so unfriendly. But one thing was clear: Annabelle was an outsider here, and she wasn’t going to get any special treatment.

Before Annabelle could say anything, the lady turned and left, closing the door behind her. The click of the door echoed in the quiet room, and Annabelle found herself alone for the first time since the attack.

She stood in the middle of the room, feeling lost. The events of the day were still fresh in her mind, but now that she was alone, the reality of her situation started to sink in.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands still trembling. How did she end up here? Just a few days ago, she was living a good life with her parents.

Now, she was caught up in something she couldn’t even begin to understand. The danger, the violence, it was all too much. She buried her face in her hands, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

But she couldn’t cry. Not here, not now. She needed to be strong. She had to stay calm. Panicking wouldn’t help her. She stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the courtyard below. Some people were still training, and some were also females like her. Everything about this place screamed control and power, but it also felt suffocating, like there was no way out.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Annabelle turned, her heart skipping a beat. She half expected it to be Riccardo, but when the door opened, it was another maid, carrying a tray of food.

“Dinner,” the maid said quietly, setting the tray on the small table by the window. She didn’t make eye contact.

“Thank you,” Annabelle said softly, though the maid didn’t respond. She just nodded and left, leaving Annabelle alone once more. Annabelle looked at the tray, soup, bread, and a glass of water. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten all day. But as she sat down to eat, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Everything here was too perfect, too controlled.

As she ate, her thoughts drifted back to Riccardo. He had saved her, but he had also killed those men without a second thought. What kind of life was he living? And what did that mean for her? She couldn’t just ignore what she had seen. But what choice did she have? She was in his world now, and she had to play by his rules.

After finishing her meal, Annabelle explored the room, trying to distract herself from the storm of thoughts in her mind. She opened the dresser and found it stocked with clothes, dresses, blouses, pants, all in her size. It was as if they had been expecting her, which only added to her unease. She pulled out a simple nightgown and decided to take a shower. Maybe it would help clear her mind.

The bathroom was just as elegant as the rest of the room, with a large tub and a separate shower. She opted for the shower, letting the warm water wash over her. It felt good, like she was washing away some of the fear and confusion that had clung to her since the attack. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

After her shower, she slipped into the nightgown and crawled into bed. The sheets were soft, the mattress comfortable, but sleep didn’t come easily. She lay there, staring up at the ceiling, her mind racing. What was going to happen to her? Was she safe here, or was this just the beginning of something even more dangerous?

Hours passed, but the questions kept swirling in her head. Finally, exhaustion won out, and she drifted off into a restless sleep, haunted by dreams of gunfire and cold, expressionless faces.

The next morning, Annabelle was awakened by a soft knock on the door. She sat up, blinking against the sunlight streaming in through the window. The knock came again, and she quickly got out of bed, wrapping a robe around herself before opening the door.

The same lady from last night stood there, her expression as cold as ever. “Master wants to see you,” she said simply.

Annabelle’s heart skipped a beat. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The lady turned and walked away, and Annabelle quickly dressed, her hands shaking slightly as she buttoned up her blouse. What could Riccardo want with her now? The thought made her stomach twist in knots, but she knew she couldn’t refuse.

When she was ready, she followed the lady down the hallway. They didn’t speak, the silence was heavy between them. Annabelle’s mind raced, wondering what Riccardo would say, what he would do. She tried to steel herself, but the fear was there, gnawing at her.

Finally, they reached a large set of double doors. The lady knocked once, then pushed them open, gesturing for Annabelle to enter. She hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, her heart pounding in her chest.

Riccardo was standing by the window, his back to her. The room was large and filled with expensive looking furniture. It was clear that this was his private space, a place where he conducted his business.

He didn’t turn around when she entered, but she could feel the tension in the air. Annabelle stood there, unsure of what to do or say. The silence stretched on, making her more nervous with each passing second.

Finally, Riccardo spoke, his voice low and calm. “You’re awake.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement of fact. He still hadn’t turned to face her, and she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Yes,” Annabelle replied, her voice trembling slightly. She hated how weak she sounded, but she couldn’t help it. This whole situation was beyond anything she had ever imagined. She was beginning to regret why she had agreed to help her parents.

Riccardo finally turned to face her, his eyes locking onto hers. There was something in his gaze that made her heart skip a beat, but she couldn’t tell if it was fear or something else. But she concluded that her eyes were just playing tricks on her.

“You’re safe here,” he said, his voice softening just a little bit.

“But you need to understand something, Annabelle. This is my world, and if you’re going to stay in it, you have to follow my rules.”

Annabelle nodded slowly, her throat felt dry. She didn’t know what to say. Everything about this place, about Riccardo, was so foreign to her. She had no idea what to do in this world, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to do anything at all.

But what choice did she have? She thought. She bit on her lips hardly.

“I’ll do my best,” she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Riccardo studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Good,” he said simply. “We have a lot to discuss, but first, you should eat. I’ll have someone bring breakfast to your room.”

With that, he turned back to the window, signaling the end of their conversation. Annabelle stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, she turned and left the room, her mind spinning with everything that had just happened.

As she walked back to her room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change even more than it already had. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.

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