Chapter 41: Sold To The Brothel…

**AT ANY TIME — AT ANY TIME**

Sunny Hirsch screamed as she woke up to cold water thrown in her face. She gasped, coughing and looking for air. Everything was confusing. She didn't know where she was or why she was there.

"Blue eyes? She's worth a lot,” murmured an unfamiliar female voice.

“I'm telling you,” said another voice. A man. “You'll get rich with that childlike face like her. Put on an outfit and she can go for 14 years in peace.”

"Do you know her actual age?"

"No."

“So she can be a real 14, huh? A great find.”

“I just know that she is American and doesn't speak Italian. She doesn't know anyone here.”

The woman gasped.

“You'll get an extra, boy. Or I'm not called Heidi Flores!”

Sunny Hirsch blinked against the bright light. She was crouched on the icy ground and drenched in cold water.

The man left, leaving Heidi Flores alone with Sunny Hirsch.

“Hello,” said the woman in English.

“Please help me,” Sunny Hirsch pleaded hoarsely. “I was kidnapped… Where am I?”

The woman put her cell phone to speak a text in English. Using her cell phone, Heidi Flores said:

“*I am your new owner. If you want to stay alive, you need to make me happy. And you'll only make me happy if you get as much money out of those pigs for me.*”

Sunny Hirsch's heart sped up.

"Where I am?" she asked.

“*Bordol*” said Heidi Flores.

Sunny Hirsch coughed again and tried to remember how she had ended up in this situation.

**SOMETIME BEFORE:**

11:00 AM — Hospital in Milan, Italy

Otto Blaze didn't die.

But he was in a coma. The forensic team said the boy tried to run away from the kidnapper and fell into the lake. Doctors said that thanks to the kidnapper having revived the boy, he was still alive. He was quickly transferred to Milan and the best doctors in Europe were called in on an emergency basis.

“Your careers depend on this child waking up alive and healthy,” Antonio Blaze told doctors via video call.

Sunny Hirsch never left Otto's side. She was with him in every ambulance, room, or medical checkup.

“You need to go home,” said Alessandro Blaze.

Sunny Hirsch quickly blinked. She was asleep in the armchair next to Otto's bed.

“No, sir. I'm okay.”

“I'm here now, Sunny. He is not alone.”

Otto's room was bigger than many houses. The room was large and airy, with a window overlooking a flower garden. There was a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, a comfortable couch, a table with fruit and flowers, and a private bathroom. The hospital was known to only serve rich and famous patients. Nurses and doctors were checking him all the time. Some people confuse Sunny with the sister and even the mother of the little boy lying in bed.

“I'm fine, Mr. Blaze,” Sunny Hirsch said, stifling a yawn.

“God. Don't hold the yawn,” said Alessandro Blaze.

Sunny Hirsch yawned so big she could have swallowed the whole room. She had spent the last week reading Otto stories, singing lullabies, and talking about life. She hoped he would feel less alone and more loved. There was no sign of his mother appearing anywhere.

"He wouldn't want to see you like that."

“Yes, he was. Spoiled and insolent brat. He couldn't stop talking," said Sunny Hirsch as affectionately as possible.

Alessandro Blaze took Sunny's hand and was about to say something when Nanci Esposito burst in. It looked like she knew what she was going to find, but her face twisted in disgust at the sight.

11:30 AM — Dialysis Room, Hospital in Milan

Maria was sitting on her hospital bed in the middle of dialysis. She had a weary expression as her eyes followed her mother's pacing.

“Mom, stop. Please stop!" asked Maria Esposito.

"Have you seen him? The two were consoling each other like she was his girlfriend,” said Nanci Esposito. Her voice was getting louder and louder. “After everything… How dare he hurt you?!”

“I'm not hurt, Mom,” said Nanci Esposito tiredly. "I think it's better that way, by the way."

"Better? BETTER?!"

“Shhh,” said the nurse in charge of the dialysis room.

"You know I don't have long to live, mom."

"Don't say that, daughter."

“He loves her, Mom,” Maria said in a weak voice.

"What?!"

“Ali is with me only out of pity. I have not been his wife for many years. I am very grateful that he took care of me and stayed with me even though Mr. Antonio Blaze is against it. He ruined his chances of being the heir to the Wolf Group because of me. It's enough for me.”

“He owes you this… You know what…” Nanci Esposito trailed off. She couldn't talk about the gang rape or all the horrors her daughter had gone through because she just didn't remember. And she wanted to keep it that way.

“I permitted him, mother. He told me that after making the Easter chocolates with her... well... He wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. I told him to follow his heart because I don't want him to be alone after I die-

Nanci Esposito exploded her anger in a slap at her daughter.

The nurse got up and shoved Nanci Esposito out, ignoring her attempts to apologize to her daughter. Nanci Esposito slipped on the floor next to the dialysis port and burst into tears.

“You're a better mother than that, Nanci,” someone said.

Nanci Esposito looked up and saw Catarina Blaze with a sad smile. Catarina was wearing a black blaze dress and her red nails stood out against the white scarf she was offering to Nanci.

“Madame Blaze” murmured Nanci Esposito, rising from the ground.

“You are directing your anger at the wrong person, dear,” said Catarina Blaze softly.

“Huh?”

Midnight — Hospital in Milan, Italy

Thiago Blaze entered the hospital room. He was wearing the mask, suit, anyway. All in black. But in his hands was a mahogany wooden box with delicate floral details.

“She caught you two in the act?” asked Thiago Blaze with sharp sarcasm.

“Glad you're here, brother,” said Alessandro Blaze. He didn't bother to answer the taunt. “Take the girl home.”

“No need, Mr. Blaze.”

“I came to bring this to the child,” said Thiago Blaze.

"Why?" asked Sunny and Alessandro at the same time.

"Isn't it possible that I'm just concerned about my little brother's well-being?" suggested Thiago Blaze.

Sunny and Alessandro waited in silence.

“Fine. I was accused of killing him and I came here to show it on good terms. Take this” said Thiago Blaze throwing the box over his brother lying in a coma.

Alessandro Blaze easily picked up the box and handed it to Sunny Hirsch. She picked it up carefully and gasped when she saw it open and a wolf, a mountain, and a moon jumped out. It was a music box! When she turned the handle, the wolf began to run around the mountain.

“Fly Me To The Moon!” recognized Sunny Hirsch. "I love this song."

“I'll put this one on when I take you out of the hospital,” said Thiago Blaze.

"But-"

“You need rest, Sunshine,” said Alessandro Blaze.

Pouting, Thiago Blaze escorted Sunny Hirsch out of the hospital. She looked like a child next to his muscular body. She was whistling Fly Me To The Moon.

“What did you say in the interrogation with the police?” asked Thiago Blaze.

“Oh, the truth.”

Thiago Blaze raised an eyebrow.

“I said I saw the leader of the bandits from the back,” Sunny Hirsch hastened to say. “Your mother was… very glad to hear that. She wanted a lot of detail.”

“The police don't know who he is,” said Thiago Blaze.

“I don't know either,” Sunny Hirsch answered sincerely.

"Sunny. You were right. At the last moment, I actually used that camera. It would have been more complicated to get out of the situation without it.”

Sunny Hirsch applauded and bounced around Thiago Blaze like a teasing child.

“Look who got saved by me. Huh? The big mobster was saved by the little maid. You were saved by…”

With one hand, Thiago Blaze caught her and brought her close to him. His hands were huge around her small face. *Is he going to kiss me?*, she thought anxiously. She closed her eyes, waiting for him. Her heart was pounding at the feel of his warm skin. His hand was calloused and smelled like a cedar: clean and strong.

He lifted her chin with his hand and brought his face close to hers. She thought he was going to kiss her. She felt his warm breath brushing her skin. She prepared to receive his lips. But instead of a kiss, he (aggressively) rubbed the gunk out of her eyes with his finger.

“Mr. Blaze,” exclaimed Sunny Hirsch, rubbing her eyes.

“Go home and take a shower,” he said.

A valet showed up with Thiago Blaze's Maserati. Rich hospital thing.

“Won't you take me home?” Sunny Hirsch asked.

“Take a taxi,” said Thiago Blaze.

“Yes, sir” Sunny Hirsch watched as the boss climbed onto the motorcycle. She then approached him, “Sir? Your credit card. Thanks." Thiago Blaze took the card. He hesitated for a moment. “Why… why don't we go to have dinner tonight?”

“Is this a date?” asked Sunny Hirsch in surprise. She didn't know why she was about to smile.

“I send you the address.” Thiago Blaze started the bike and heard her scream behind him.

“THIS IS A DATE, RIGHT? BOSS? BOSS?”

Sunny Hirsch walked out of the hospital whistling Fly Me To The Moon. She didn't know why she had such a stupid smile on her face. People looked at her like she was crazy. And, well, maybe she was crazy. She was walking down the street distracted by her thoughts. She didn't notice the black car that approached slowly from behind her, nor the men who got out of it with hoods and masks. Before she could react, they grabbed her arms and threw her into the backseat of the car.

“HEEL-” Sunny Hirsch tried to scream, her mouth was covered by a reeking cloth. She felt dizzy and lost consciousness.

*But I have a date*, Sunny thought before losing consciousness.