Chapter 11 Friend or Foe
Alessia POV
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The noise echoes loudly round the mansion. I try my best to unravel my silk bind but it’s as if he used steel instead of silk, and my skin starts burning from my failing efforts.
“Ouch,” I murmur, tears filling my eyes.
“Alex, release me now,” I whisper, my voice shaky.
He shifts his gaze back at me, using his fingers to hold my face. His fingers feel like fire on my skin as he holds my eyes captive imposing his power on me by force .
“Are you ready to behave? Uhm?” My gaze remains fixed on him as I consider my options and there are none. I must pretend if I want my binds removed. I wet my dry lips and put a fake smile on my face.
“Alex, I -”
“Ferrini! Open the damn door right now!”
A voice roars, sounding impatient and deadly. I flinch the sound scaring me and I wonder who it could be this time ? Friend? Or Foe ?
“Stupido!” Alex growls, slowly getting off the bed and heading to the window. He glances out and seems to nod his head at something.
The pounding continues.
“Alexander! I don’t have all day!”
My heart races as I ask him, “Do you know who that is?” I whisper.
Alex turns his eyes to me.
“Maybe, maybe not. It’s nothing to worry your pretty little head with.”
I stare at him ,tempted to curse his entire generation but I bite my lips and swallow my retort . Instead I say “But it doesn’t sound like someone unimportant,” my heart is still racing in my chest.
He ignores me and walks to the bedroom door, telling me over his shoulder:
“I will be back.”
He slams the door so hard that the entire door frame shakes.
“Oh Dios, this is ridiculous.” I fold my legs in and place my bound wrists on top, trying to get comfortable as I wait.
Alex’s POV
I roll my shoulders as I descend the stairs one step at a time hoping to reduce the tension that settled there since I received the intel on Alessia .Women are more trouble than they are worth, I think to myself as I head down the stairs to open the door before it’s broken down.
I open the door and come face to face with my lifelong friend, Luca Santini. I had recognized his Cadillac from Alessia’s bedroom window.
“Are you trying to break my door?” I growl to him.
He laughs, coming over the threshold and giving me a hug.
“Nice to see you too, Amigo!”
“Andre! Andre!” Luca calls affectionately, as Andre raised the both of us when we were little scoundrels running round the house.
Andre quickly steps into the foyer.
“Luca, how are you?”
“I am good, Andre!” Luca slaps him on the back. I watch them, shaking my head.
“Come on, you two,” I mutter, leading the way into my office.
I settle behind my rich mahogany desk and open the side drawer to get a Cuban cigar, lighting it as Luca settles in with Andre.
“So what’s this I hear about you capturing a Bella from La Magerita?”
I suck in my breath as Andre remains silent.
“She was a maid at the Sirranos’ mansion.”
Both men lean forward, clearly now interested.
I puff my cigar again and lean back, taking a deep breath. “The last 24 hours have been very hectic, to say the least.”
“Carry on!” Luca prods.
My gaze moves to his and I smile.
“She was the maid in charge of guarding La Rosa de la Vita. And now it’s missing.”
Silence fills my office as both men take deep breaths.
“Dios…” Luca whispers.
“Your mother has been praying for this day ..” Andre whispers.
I nod my head at Andres words “We all know how long my family has been waiting for an opportunity like this..” I squeeze my hands into tight fists staring at my bruises as I recall the run in with Sirrano’s men earlier. They will all pay for that…
Luca taps his fingers on the table. “Tell us the rest, Amigo. The suspense is killing me.”
Andre mutters, “Donna Margo Ferrini…”
“She claims not to have it, but she is tied to it. She is witch-blood.”
They gasp.
“Do you know what that means?”
They shake their heads.
“It means even if she does not know where it is, her blood is the key. Her blood, when channelled the right way, can lead us to La Rosa or any other magical artifact.”
The office falls into silence as I smoke my cigar, the only sound coming from me tapping the edge of the ashtray with the butt of my cigar.
"How did you know she is a - , what did you call her ? Witch-Blood?" Luca asks his face darkening with rising fury .I know he doesn't approve of most of my actions he never has ,nothing can be done about that unfortunately : I am A Ferrini - The Sicilian Mafia way of doing things is different “Everything about her was included in the intel I received about La Rosa's sudden disappearance from the Sirrano Mansion ..” I lean back placing one leg on top of the other
“Dios mío…” Andre gasps.
“Where is Alessia now?” Luca asks.
“In one of the guest bedrooms . Her hands are bound tight,” I wave my cigar in the air as I answer, keeping it vague.
Luca crashes his seat to the ground and leaps up. “Alex! You are crazy. I know owning La Rosa has been your family's life long goal but Don’t you think that is a bit extreme? I want to see her now!”
“Signore Ferrini -” Andre always the mediator
“Not now, Andre,” I growl.
“Luca, will you calm down? ” I raise my hands to placate him.
He doesn’t listen as he pulls my office door open
CRASH!! and heads out, running toward the staircase as if his life depends on it. I hear him screaming her name with urgency :
“Alessia! Alessia! Where are you?”