Chapter 7: Trapped

Aurora

Water cascaded down my skin, warming my chilled bones as I stood under the showerhead. The glass enclosure fogged, veiling the opulent bathroom in a misty haze. I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of my situation bearing down on me.

When was I ever going to get out of here?

Was I even going to get out of here?

What did Leo want from us?

Father said that this is all part of some stupid plan of his and I should be telling him every damn thing or secret I can get my hands on. But how was I supposed to tell him when we couldn’t even communicate?

Dammit.

The marble floor beneath my feet seemed to symbolize the cold, unyielding reality of my situation. I was a prisoner, a pawn in Leonardo's stupid game of vengeance. His piercing gaze still lingered in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. I’ve tried asking him countless times to tell me what happened between him and father but he always answers with a scowl or pretends I wasn’t there or he didn’t hear me.

I ran my fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp as the scent of lavender filled the air, momentarily calming my racing thoughts. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. All I need to do is find a way to contact my father, then everything will fall into place. I’ll be able to get out of here and focus on my own life while Father will be able to take over the D’Introno empire. Everything will be fine.

I rinsed the soap from my body, watching as the suds disappeared down the drain. If only my problems could vanish so easily. I should have been in Bella Vita right now...planning another exhibition or convincing a rich client why the art I picked out for them would look lovely in their home. But here I was, locked in. Trapped.

The water temperature shifted, and I adjusted the faucet, my fingers tracing the intricate design etched into the metal. I slipped my fingers under my wet strands, thoroughly kneading the conditioner into my hair and I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering to my father again. I at least needed to find out what he had done to warrant Leonardo’s wrath. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he had just randomly chosen someone to vent his anger on, and my father was simply unlucky enough to be around. After all, he was an asshole.

I let out a sigh of relief as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping my arms around the plush towel I had used to cover myself, the softness a fleeting comfort. The mirror fogged, reflecting my distorted image. I wiped the glass clean, revealing a determined gaze.

Someway or another…I’ll find a way out of this place.

I tugged on my towel as I pushed the door open, only to be greeted by the cold air slapping my face. It was mid-September so it wasn’t supposed to be this chilly but….

All my thoughts came to a halt when I spotted the tall, broad figure leaning against the wall in the corner of the room and I tried my best to act like I didn’t just feel my heart plummet in my chest as his piercing eyes locked onto mine.

How on earth did he get in here? He’s the owner of the mansion, he probably had a key to every room in this building. I heard my inner voice answer.

Right. But still…why was he here? And how long had he been standing there?

“What are you doing in my room?” I questioned as soon as I found my voice. An irritated look flashed in his eyes as he pushed himself off the wall before walking towards me and unlike the last time I confronted him, I didn’t back away.

“I won’t be around for a few days.” He said, deliberately ignoring my question. He won’t be around for a few days? What the hell was I supposed to do with that kind of information?

“And why are you telling me this?” I arched my brow, sizing him up. I didn’t get why he had broken into my room just to tell me that he wasn’t going to be around for a few days when we rarely saw each other, let alone talk.

His jaw clenched. “I need you to behave.”

Behave? What on earth was he….

“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” He said, his deep voice devoid of warmth. “Just because I didn’t confront you about your actions doesn’t mean my men didn’t tell me what happened.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer and that was when I realized I was still in a towel.

A flush rose to my cheeks as I tugged on the hem of the towel around me, trying not to give off a visible reaction while Leonardo's expression remained impassive. But unlike the rest of his face his eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if daring me to acknowledge the vulnerability.

Those good for nothing guards. They were supposed to keep their mouths shut. But of course, Leo’s their boss so they have to tell him that I tried to escape and contact my father while he was away. I’m even surprised he didn’t say anything sooner.

“You’re free to try it again if you want….” He spoke, his voice unchanged but his gaze lingering on me for another fraction of a second longer. “….but let me remind you. I have the power to end your father’s life right this second and no one….I mean not even a soul on this earth can do a thing about it.” His voice dripped with warning.

“So if I were you…” His gaze dropped as he sized me up, his tone oozing with irritation. “…I’d stay put. You wouldn’t want anything…unfortunate to happen to your precious father now, would you?”

My jaw tightened as I glared at him. This man wasn’t an asshole…he was a monster. God knows how many lives he had claimed and destroyed just to get what he wanted or get to where he was today.

“That’s what I thought.” He said taking my silence for acceptance and with that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

I let out a deep breath the second I confirmed he was gone before locking the door quickly. I then turned to face the room….exhaling again as I ran my fingers through my damp hair. It wasn’t as wet as it was when I had left the bathroom earlier but it wasn’t completely dry either.

“Dammit.” I cursed, slamming my foot against the bedpost before letting out a small wince. A quiet groan escaped from my throat before I slumped to the ground. “Now how was I supposed to get out of here?”

Getting out of this place would have been so much more easier if he treated me like a slave, but that was the thing…he didn’t. He didn’t treat me like a slave, he didn’t use me like a tool, all he did was cage me like a fucking bird. How am I supposed to know what he wants from me now?