Chapter 37 37
|| Author POV ||
A few days had passed.
The news of the mafia king’s identity spread like wildfire, sending ripples of fear throughout the city.
The name Killian Salvatore, seemingly a flawless business tycoon, yet in truth, the ruthless king of the underworld, had become a specter of fear across the nation. Everyone in the country whispered about the King, his name, his power and success.
But not everyone knew.
Aria sat on her couch, absentmindedly munching on chips and lazily scrolling through her phone. Her eyes suddenly narrowed on an article flashing across her screen.
Aria’s hands shook and she gripped her phone tighter. “What the fuck—?” she gasped, leaning closer to the screen.
“What the hell is this?!” She almost screamed.
Noah, her boyfriend rushed over with a glass of water in hand. “What’s wrong, Aria?”
Aria turned to him with a pale face, “You..you need to see this, Noah!”
Noah’s eyes narrowed and he sat beside her, hugging her waist and peeked at her phone screen.
“Oh this.. I was going to tell you, babe. I saw this article last night. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. Killian Salvatore.. I mean professor Salvatore is actually the country’s Mafia? Unbelievable. I was completely shocked. I still can’t believe we were roaming around such a dangerous man. He was in your department and he hadn’t showed up in the academy for so long, right?”
Aria barely registered his words. Her voice shook as she turned to him. “N-Noah... how? How is that even possible? Mafia? A fucking mafia? What the hell—?”
“Hey babe, calm down.”
Aria pressed her hand to her forehead in disbelief. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
Now she understood the intimidating aura Killian Salvatore carried with him. Wherever he went, darkness seemed to follow. Even as a professor, he exuded danger, an intensity that seemed to devour the space around him.
Aria’s thoughts immediately went to Rosalie’s words. Rosa had said she was staying with him.
Does Rosa know about it?
Aria had called Rosa multiple times since last week but Rosa never answered. Panic started to creep in.
“Wait—!”
Aria quickly dialed Rosa’s number but it still didn’t go through. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
“Why are you calling her?” Noah asked, noticing the caller ID on her screen.
“Noah, it’s serious!” Aria replied desperately. “She hasn’t been picking up. I’m-I’m worried—”
She paused, biting her lip. Should she tell Noah about their relation? But Rosa told her not to tell anyone. Is she safe or not? Aria went blank when all the calls went in vain.
“Why are you worried about her, babe? I think he was in the academy for some mission or something. It’s not like he harmed anyone. Let’s not worry-”
Aria shook her head sharply, cutting him off. “Noah, you don’t understand. Rosalie... she.. she-”
“What happened to her?”
Noah asked but Aria’s words faltered and she couldn’t speak anymore. She clasped her mouth. Anxiety twisted her face and her eyes stayed glued to the phone screen.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩
Rosa sat on the garden bench under the bright sky, blankly staring at the flowers she had grown. She thought they were dead but they were still alive. The flowers were in half bloom–yet her eyes held no light.
Sleep had abandoned her completely. Every time she closed her eyes, nightmares came to hunt her.
At least she was allowed within the mansion gate or she’d suffocate to death.
Life feels like a prison to her.
Her heart pounds in irregular beats every second with anxiety. She wanted to water the plants, to care for them as she once did but she couldn’t bring herself to move.
Her eyes settled on the red roses. Their petals were rich and velvety. Some were dead. Around them, cheerful marigolds, delicate pansies and clusters of white daisies grew with simple grace. Even a few lavender sprigs waved gently in the breeze.
Most of the flowers were roses and painfully beautiful, mocking the heaviness in her own chest.
Rosa sat there lifelessly like a doll. Lost in her thoughts.
Rosa wondered if Lilia had watered the plants. Her thoughts were cut short by a sudden commotion. She turned her head toward the front gate.
Two of the security guards were standing there with tensed expression, speaking with an unfamiliar man inside the gate.
The man was mid-aged and had wrinkles on his face.
The man turned back and his eyes found Rosa’s and he signalled toward her with a hand as if calling her. Rosa froze. Her pulse quickened. She didn’t understand who he was or why he was here.
She didn’t move. The man kept calling at her from a distance. Rosa’s heartbeat thudded anxiously in her chest.
Could she even ask for help from him? From a stranger?
Slowly, Rosa rose to her feet and padded nervously toward the mansion gate.
“You can’t enter inside, sir.”
One of the guards spoke but the man took a few steps forward, reaching her before she could get closer. The guards’ expressions grew sharper, more annoyed.
“Hey girl, did you happen to see a dog running inside the mansion? My dog got away and I’m pretty sure it ran in here.”
Rosa flinched at the desperate tone. Her gaze followed him as he stepped further away from the guards, pretending to scan the garden area from there. Her fingers clenched her dress and she blinked at him, unsure what to do.
“No.” came her timid voice.
The man turned to her, glancing briefly at the guards who were still glaring from a distance.
“Do you live here?” he started.
Rosa blinked at him, unsure how to respond. After a long pause, she hesitantly nodded.
The man’s gaze lingered on her sad eyes. “This is the mafia mansion, right? I’m curious–do you live here by choice, or.. are you forced?”
Rosa swallowed hard, confused by his questions. “I... i..”
Her voice faltered. She didn’t understand why this stranger was talking to her about her life instead of his missing dog.
“You look scared.” The man continued, stepping slightly closer. “Don’t be scared of me. I’m Lucas Marvin. I bet you’re locked here, aren’t you?”
“How’d y-you know?” Rosa stammered, her eyes widening with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
She clung to the thought that maybe this stranger could help her.
“So I was right, huh? Look girl, I know you’re trapped here. I can help you. I was sent by–”
The man’s words caught in his throat the moment he spotted the large figure approaching them. He almost widened his eyes. Sweat dotted his brow.
“W-well.. I guess I was mistaken. My dog–it’s not here after all.” he forced a nervous laugh.
Rosa tilted her head, puzzled. Confusion twisted in her chest at the sudden change in his tone.
“Who are you?”
Rosa’s heart hammered in her chest at the familiar icy voice behind her. Her fingers dug into the fabric of her dress and her body froze.
Lucas’s eyebrows furrowed. His eyes flicked warily toward Killian, sensing the lethal coldness in his gaze.
“I...I just came to look for my dog. I thought it ran inside your place. Hah! Looks like I was wrong. I’ll, uh.. I’ll be going now.” He stammered, forcing a nervous smile. Sweat prickled at his temples.
“It’s.. a pleasure meeting you.” he added hastily before turning and walked away, glancing once more at Killian’s piercing eyes before disappearing through the gate.
Killian’s eyes snapped toward his guards. His eyes were blank yet annoyed. They immediately stiffened, swallowing hard before one finally spoke.
“Boss, we tried to stop him. Told him there’s no dog but he wouldn’t listen.”
The guard mumbled, silently pleading Killian to understand the situation.
Killian’s jaw clenched as cold daggers shot from his gaze, piercing them with silent fury. Then, he shifted his attention to the creature who held his obsession.
Her innocent eyes flickered up to his chest. Her lips quivered slightly.
“What were you talking with—?”
Killian paused, watching Rosa’s attempt to step back.
His jaw clenched hard. Rosa nearly sprinted inside the mansion but he didn’t call her out in front of his inept guards. Instead, he followed silently with long strides.
The moment they crossed the threshold, his arms shot around her waist, pulling her flush against him. He turned her to face him, his cold gaze locking onto her trembling form.
“What was he saying to you?”
Rosa’s body froze at his touch. A soft squeak escaped her lips instead.
“I asked you something!”
Rosa’s body flinched under his hard voice. Still she couldn’t bring herself to look into his eyes.
–If Killian knows why that man had come, he’d be angry.
“N-nothing.”
Her voice barely escaped and she pressed her fists against his chest. She was freezing with fear.
“You’re not allowed to talk to strangers!”
Killian leaned closer. The cold venom in his words dripped as he spat almost in her face. “You. Will. Not. Speak. To. Any strangers. Ever again!”
His teeth ground together sharply.
“No one! Understand?”
Rosa’s fists trembled against him but Killian was certain she had heard every word.
Finally, he released her, letting her slip away. He watched Rosa sprint upstairs without looking back.
His deep eyes tracked her as she fled away from his sight. It took him no more than a heartbeat to understand. That man hadn’t wandered in by chance. The pathetic excuse was just a mask.
Albert had sent him!
Now Killian’s certainty hardened. Albert was serious about Rosa’s matter. Sending a man to inquiry meant he was watching closely.
What had Rosa said to that man? The thought gnawed at him. He hoped she hadn’t confessed to being trapped here.
A long, low sigh slipped past his lips.
\---
|| Next day ||
Aria stepped into the academy. She placed her bag down in her seat and didn’t hesitate–her path led straight to the principal’s office.
She knocked and after a brief pause, was invited in.
Inside, the principal had just finished a meeting with a visitor. Aria approached and took the seat across from him.
“What brings you here? Is something wrong?” the principal asked in a calm attentive voice.
Aria swallowed, nodding. “I..I need some information, sir.” She paused hesitantly.
“Continue.” the principal prompted gently, noticing her unease. Aria exhaled, trying to steady herself.
“Sir, you are known to the recent news about the mafia.. about Mr. Salvatore?”
The principal’s expression stiffened. His brows knitted together.
“What about it?”
Aria blinked, fumbling for words. “Do.. do you happen to have Mr. Salvatore’s address? I mean, you might have, right? He was a professor after all. I need it.”
Principal’s calm eyes narrowed sharply. “Have you lost your mind? You want to go chase a mafia?”
Aria’s eyes widened and she shook her head quickly. “No, sir, it’s not like that. I need it for some personal reasons.”
He exhaled, rubbing his temple. “Personal reason? Do you know how dangerous a mafia can be? Whatever happened at the academy, leave it be. He’s dangerous and his address isn’t something we have.”
Aria’s heart sank at his words. How could they not have his address when he had been a professor at this very academy?
“Sir, please, y-you have to understand. I need to find him. He was a professor here. Surely there must be some record, an address, a file, anything–”
The principal shook his head firmly. “Don’t even think about the mafia king. You’re young. Do you want to risk your life? He’s a mafia. He wouldn’t leave his personal information laying around, would he? Every detail has vanished. Most likely, he was undercover for some mission. That’s all we could guess.”
Aria’s shoulders slumped with a sigh. She gave a respectful nod to the principal and stepped out of the office.
Her phone hung heavy in her hand. She had tried calling Rosa countless times but no response came. Anxiety twisted in her chest.
What if something had happened to Rosa?
Aria tried to console herself that they were in a relationship. Even if he was a Mafia. He wouldn’t hurt that innocent girl. Would he?
“I hope she’s alright.”