Life

"Follow me," he growled, his voice low and even, but with an undercurrent of frost that sent a shiver down her spine. His eyes gleamed with a cold intensity, his jaw set in a firm line as he strode away, expecting her to trail behind him.

Annabelle followed behind him, slowly. Her feet suddenly felt heavy. As she trailed behind him, she could literally feel the Coldness emanating from his body.

The walk to wherever he was taking her to, was quiet and uncomfortable for Annabelle. But she dared not ask any question.

For some weird reason, she preferred Riccardo. At least he wasn't so Cold and unyielding. Everyone here just seem to have something that they were hiding. Each person she passed by, just had that Icy and detached look.

It seemed to Annabelle that she was the only one with a normal expression here. Trying to gather the little strength in her, she asked. "Where are we going to?" Her voice trembled slightly, but she took a deep breath, trying to strengthen her resolve.

No reply came. Annabelle was tempted to repeat her question, but something in her told her not to, and she obeyed.

The walk to wherever they were going to, felt too long.

"Would I really be able to go to school today?" She wondered inwardly.

Staring up at her, she saw the lady from the previous day approaching them, her gaze dark and distance as usual.

She stopped in front of them and whispered something in the ears of the Cold guy. He turned towards Annabelle.

"Wait here." He ordered, turning around, he walked away with the lady who gave Annabelle a hard stare before leaving.

Annabelle stood there looking dumbfounded, she turned around to stare at her surroundings. She was left standing in the middle of an empty hallway.

She slumped her shoulders and let out a deep breath, feeling her hair flutter around her face. She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly, the sound filled with annoyance.

DUNGEON

Riccardo, sat on a chair in the dark dungeon, his eyes fixed on the man trembling in front of him. Luca, his second in command, stood by the door, arms crossed, while Verona, a skilled fighter, leaned against the wall, her eyes narrowed.

"So, you thought you could steal from me?" Riccardo's voice was calm, but deadly.

The man begged, "Please, Don, I'll pay you back, I swear!"

Riccardo raised an eyebrow. "You'll pay me back? With what? You're just a small time thief."

Luca stepped forward, his face expressionless. "Don, let me handle this."

Riccardo nodded, and Luca dragged the man to a chair, strapping him down. Verona pushed off the wall, her eyes fixed on the man's face.

The man screamed as Luca began to work on him, his cries echoing through the room. Riccardo watched, unmoved, while Verona's gaze never wavered.

Finally, the man passed out. Riccardo stood, his eyes cold. "Teach him a lesson. Make an example of him." He stated Coldly.

Luca nodded, and Verona stepped forward, her fists clenched. The man's fate was sealed. It was an error to steal from one of the most Ruthless Mafia Boss's in Italy. He was never going to live to tell the story.

Riccardo walked out of the dungeon, going to his room. As soon as he entered his room, he brought out a pack of cigarettes. Taking a lighter from his pocket, he lit it and began smoking.

He made his way towards the balcony of his room. He puffed smoke out of his mouth as he stared out below, at his soldiers who were training and also the green flowers around the surroundings.

He stood there for about thirty minutes, he was already on his second stick of Cigarettes, when Luca walked into the balcony.

"He has been taken care of." He informed, his gaze on Riccardo's back.

"Good." Turning away from the scenery, he faced Luca.

"That will teach a lesson to others who want to steal from me." He stated.

"When are those goods arriving?" He asked, stalking towards Luca, with intimidating steps.

"They'll arrive soon." Lucas replied, his face stoic as he stared at Riccardo.

Riccardo replied with a hum. He was now a few meters away from Luca.

Raising his hands up, Luca took the cigarettes that Riccardo had been was smoking.

"That girl. I left her at the hallway." Lucas informed, puffing smoke onto Riccardo's face.

"What's the time now?." Riccardo asked, glancing at the watch on his wrist, looking unfazed by the smoke which Luca had just poured on him.

"Oops. It's getting late. I'll get going." Riccardo muttered, after seeing that it was 10:00 AM already.

Luca nodded his head, acknowledging his words.

"Take care of things here." Riccardo tapped his shoulders lightly as he made his way out.

They shared a knowing look before Riccardo left fully.

Luca stood in the room, smoking quietly, when he was done, he put the cigarette butt in an ashtray before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

When Riccardo reached the hallway, he met Annabelle leaning against the wall, with her eyes closed.

He approached her quietly. "It's time to go." He informed, trying to make his voice sound a little bit more welcoming.

Annabelle opened her eyes and saw him. She was frustrated, they had just left her standing in the hallway all this while. She wanted to yell at him for stressing her, but she didn't. She kept shut.

She didn't have an option, here wasn't her house or her country that she'll yell at what she doesn't want. She didn't even know what her fate was going to be here.

"Let me grab my bag." She muttered, her eyes not meeting his.

"Sure."

After taking her bag from her room, Annabelle met Riccardo waiting for her at the Hallway. Together, they both walked out.

She settled inside the plush seats of his car. He was the one driving.

Annabelle wondered why he didn't take any guards.

"Maybe he doesn't want to attract attention to himself." She thought.

But the last time she drove with him alone wasn't pleasant at all.

As they drove out of the Clan, Annabelle glanced at where he had parked the damaged car from the previous day, but it wasn't there. Obviously, it had already been taken care of.

"So, he really didn't want his clan members to know what had happened." She thought, glancing at him, but he was focused on navigating them through the road.

Annabelle sighed as she rested her head against the window.

"Life." She whispered to herself.