Chapter 14 -
Leo leaned back in his chair, the epitome of calm authority as he addressed his family. “This is breakfast, not a battlefield. Eat. And if you insist on killing each other, do it somewhere else.”
Nia saw a tick in Christian’s jaw, he obviously didn’t like his brother telling him what to do or interfering in his matters. She realized she hadn't seen both of the brothers have a conversation in the few hours she had spent in the mansion. They were the most similar in appearance and mannerism, but seemed to be the most distanced.
Lucia was the one to move first, her lips pressed into a thin line as she continued setting Gaby’s plate. Christian on the other end looked to disagree, but he only settled for a disdainful groan, sipping his glass of orange juice. Nia shook her head at the absurdity of things and just moved to get herself a plate of food. She lined her bowl with eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes drowsed in syrup, then poured herself a glass of orange juice and started eating, almost moaning at the rich taste of their food. The table was clinking with silverware against silverware, alive with chewing and slurping. As much as she was caught in the middle of this volatile family dynamic, she tried to stay at the sidelines like baldie who she just noticed was absent for breakfast.
She returned her focus to her plate, even as she felt the eyes of some of the people surrounding her. Amongst the stares, was Gaby on the opposite side of the table who was sneaking little smiles her way, exactly when his parents weren’t looking.
But sure enough, Micheal caught him and then leaned into her, “You will surely get used to it soon.”
“What?” She asked almost immediately, not understanding what he meant.
“The fights, the power struggle, the DeSanto way,” she couldn’t help but notice the way his tone was laced with sardonic amusement.
“I’m not waiting long enough to get used to anything,” she replied, loud enough so her captor will hear. Micheal only chuckled like he was listening to a stand up comedian. In between his fits of laughter that had everyone’s attention, he muttered. “Oh! Sweetheart. That’s not for you to decide.”
The words sent a shiver down Nia’s spine, and her gaze darted to Leo at the head of the table who was watching both she and Micheal interact. Prior to this moment, he hadn’t looked her way since he addressed his family, he hadn't either when she arrived the dining room. As she glared at him, trying to decipher his rigid exterior, Micheal’s breath fanned the skin of her neck. “You’ll learn soon enough.”
Except she didn’t want to learn anything about this family, save for Gaby who she found adorable. Nia wanted to leave—finding Alex had nothing to do with her, even though they were determined to keep her hostage because of her connection to a man she had severe ties with. She knew they would soon find no valuable information off her and probably eliminate her cause of the waste of time.
But before any of that happened, she would be out of this mansion, be it screaming down the roof, escaping, or just making her captor’s life unbearably difficult until he let her go.
“I have nothing to do here,” she spoke up, again loud enough for everyone to hear, all the while her eyes were trained on Leo. His eyebrow rose up, gray eyes piercing hers like he was daring her to say more, and she did.
“I said, I have nothing to do here,” Nia repeated, her voice steady despite the questioning looks she was getting.
Even Gaby, who was likely confused about everything, stopped mid chew, his wide hazel eyes darting between her and his favorite uncle.
Leo placed his fork down deliberately, the sound sharp against his plate, he held her gaze as he asked. “You have nothing to do here?”
“That’s right,” she replied, not going to be intimidated by his menacing look or his dangerously calm voice.
“Then how would you explain the pictures of you and Alex?” The question hit her like a moving train, even Lucia who was sitting opposite her gave Nia a brief curious glance. And she didn’t need to look to her right to see Micheal’s smirk clearly enjoying the unfolding drama. She tightened her grip on the cutlery in her hand, trying her best to not sound affected in her voice.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she retorted, her voice steady and low.
Leo leaned back in his seat, stroking the light stubble of his jaw as he watched her in a way that made Nia feel uncomfortable. “Don’t play coy, Nia Wallace. My men don’t lie even given the chance. They found picture frames of you and Alex hung around your apartment when they went to retrieve your things. Him and you, smiling like a happy couple.”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and frustration tinged by. He needn’t tell everyone on the table her affairs, besides, those pictures would not be there if she hadn’t been taken from her home.
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped at him, turning her face away from him. Leo didn’t get the hint of her avoiding him because he wasn’t done with his questions.
“All these while, you have insisted that Alex was a thing of the past. Now, how do you explain the pictures and momentum decorating your personal space?”
“Momentum?” She all but gasped, turning her head sharply to him.
He wouldn’t let his men go through her memory box, or would he?
Narrowed grey eyes gave her the answer to her question, and she screamed at him. “How dare you?”
Leo appeared unmoved at her outrage, all the while remaining calm as he gave out orders once again.
“That’s why you’re here Nia Wallace, your connection to Alex Nevarro is deeper than you let on. Until I’ve figured out how exactly deep it runs, you’re staying put.”
Nia’s chair scraped the polished surface of the floor, the loud shrill sound making Gaby flinch which she immediately regretted.
“Sit down,” Leo ordered, his tone leaving no room for negotiations.
But Nia didn’t move, she saw the murderous intentions in his eyes, the way he glanced at Gaby once, reconsidering whatever he planned to do to her and yet she remained at the very spot, refusing to sit.
As she spoke, her heart thumped and her pulse pounded in her ears, “You can’t keep me here forever.”
For a minute, which seemed like hours, the dining room was silent, all eyes were on her. Wide confused hazels, amused blues, the other blue was in disdain, and another confused ambers. While the grey darkened, transforming into a dark cloud before the storm. The silence breaker came in the form of Leo rising from his chair and rounding the table to where she stood.
“Let me make things clear, Nia Wallace,” his voice was barely in constraint. “You don’t give the orders here, you don’t get to decide when you leave or dictate how long you will stay. Until Alex is found, until I say otherwise, you belong to me.”
Nia swallowed hard, she turned to see Leo who was standing behind her. Sure enough, he had that brooding look, the finality of his words evident on his face. She had been told about her unpredictable nature right from time, and had been cautioned of her penchant for danger, yet Nia didn’t care.
With her fist clenched at her side, she spoke quietly, her voice trembling with pent up anger. “I belong to no one.”
Leo’s lips twitched, the faintest appearance of a smile passed his features, then he stared at her, not in amusement but the same way he did earlier when he acknowledged her boldness.
And he did it again, “We’ll see about that.”