Chapter 66 The Captor’s Name
\[Lilia\]
I am beyond astounded to see Flavio standing straight in front of me without any scratches or anything else that would suggest that he had been taken against his will through compulsion. In point of fact, he was grinning broadly and boastfully as he towered over me while I was strapped to my chair in the center of this awful basement with no idea what on earth was going on.
My conscience just won't let go of the fact that I had in some way drawn an innocent man into a situation, and I was just agonizing over the possibility that something dreadful must have happened to him. Or that he departed because he was afraid for his life and that we did not adequately compensate him for his service before he left. I was so conflicted and perplexed by what was taking place, and I had no idea what to do, yet here he is now, standing ever so fine in front of me.
After seeing him, I have no doubt that Aya is as dumbfounded as I am.
“Flavio, what is the meaning of this? What are you doing here? I thought…” I blanked out in bewilderment, and I could feel my brows furrowing more deeply with confusion and I couldn’t get to finish my sentence as my mouth left off with words on how to express them.
“Ah, Lilia, wasn't it? Bella Lilia,” he leaned forward closer to mine and grazed his knuckles over my cheek, sweeping back the loose stray locks that had fallen on my face, his grin broadening into a sinister one, and I am certain that it was not an indication of good things to come. My eyes were fixated on him as I swallowed the enormous lump of fear that was building up in the back of my throat and the heavy feeling of dread that was settling into the pit of my stomach.
“Signor Aslanov must have been losing his mind,” he added, leaning back and pulling his hands away from my face. However, what caught my utmost attention was the mention of Kael’s surname. I have heard it only once right coming from a stranger that visited me at the hospital when I tried to escape but was bitten by a snake and survived the ambush. That man is still a mystery to me but he mentioned a surname and I have a strong feeling that it was Kael, though he had never confirmed it, I believed that it is him.
But how come Flavio mentioned him?
“Kael? You know him?” I gaped at him, totting up the bafflement at the moment.
“Very much,” Flavio nodded.
Kael, I have known him since he is such a prominent person. Obviously, it is not surprising that many people would know him, and there is no area in this world where his name would not be recognized. But, why does this have anything to do with me? I am nothing more than a piece of property in his eyes, not even close to being a person.
Who is Flavio to him? A foe? If then, I would be in the worth of none to him, that much I am sure of. Painful as it is, that is the truth and I don’t have any idea if he could come looking for me, or if he would just leave me here and Aya while he’ll fly back to Russia.
There’s too much to think of and I don’t know what to do, but first I must clear things out with Flavio and tell him everything that I am with Kael.
“You're horribly mistaken, Flavio. I am nothing, I didn't mean anything to Kael, I promise. I'm nothing more than the commodity that he bought, and nothing else.” I rambled on, yapping every word that came to my mind that would hopefully aid in my situation. I stare at him in the eyes, I could feel myself shaking like a leaf and my lips quivering down. The corner of my eyes brimmed with tears, yet I refused to give in to my emotions.
Aya appeared to be in a state of shock and trying to recuperate from what was taking place right now, as evidenced by the fact that she was being unusually silent at the moment. This is a lot of information to process. We were just having a wonderful time, enjoying ourselves for a day before we would go back to that prison, but now the thing went horrifically different and wrong.
“You’re not certain of that, Bella.” My attention went back to Flavio, or is that even his real name? I don’t know, but I did give him the sharpest glare I could muster as I listened to him speak whatever fabrication would slip through his lips.
“Words had been getting out far too quickly. The great kingpin had taken possession of what was it that he call you?” he pauses for a moment, bringing his index finger to his chin and pretending as though he was mulling over his thought before he smirks, “—a Kukla, yes. Now, that’s something.”
Words? What is he talking about? How did he know all this? I have barely even left the confines of my room. I couldn’t even go out and fetch a glass of water for myself in the kitchen without those brawny hooligans breathing down my neck. I have only left the mansion thrice—by the time with my failed attempt of escape, when Kael took me to the dome and here in Italy, which does not go well. Could it be possible that someone had been spying on him?
“Who are you? Why are you doing it to us?” I burst out, panting with rage that couldn’t seem to get off me, and nestled deep into the pits of my gut. I was starting to like him. I thought he was going to be a nice guy that helps people out, but guess I am terribly wrong about it and honestly I am in poor judgment of character. How could I be so naïve?
I took a slow, deep breath in and forced myself to retain a level head so that I could think clearly and not completely lose my composure downright into panic. It is me that he wanted and this has nothing to do with Aya, so she must be free.
“Could you please let Aya go? You only want me right? There’s no need to get her involved in this,” I stated firmly, steadying my voice and projecting authority through it. I don't want Flavio to take me lightly or consider me a helpless damsel who needs to be rescued from her predicament.
This time, I heard a gasp of outrage from behind me, and I knew very well that Aya disapproved of what I had just said.
“Lilia, what are you talking about? I won’t leave you here,” she immediately denounces and I could feel the determination coating her voice. I turned my head once more in the hopes that this time I would catch a glimpse of her and be reassured that she was in fact okay, but it appears that Flavio tied us so tightly that our movement was restricted to some degree.
“You see, your friend doesn’t want to go,” he goaded with a taunting smirk, staring passed my head and nudging his chin towards Aya’s supposed direction.
Oh, if only my hands weren't tied, I would have smacked him in the face and scratched that grin off of his mouth.
I could only glare at him in resentment, panting with my short breaths as I tried to keep my anger at bay, hoping to persuade Aya to leave and save herself.
“Aya, you need to go,” I insisted. However, before I could say any more words, she preceded me to it.
“No, I will stay here with you, Lilia, and that’s final.” She exclaimed with finality, leaving me speechless.
“So, settled,” Flavio suddenly claps his hands twice, breaking the trance, and my focus immediately returns to him. He was grinning like a Cheshire cat, with his eyes wide, full of malice. “I’m going to make a call with my old friend and get reacquainted with. Ciao Bella!”
With that, he left, and I could only watch him with such animosity as he slammed the door behind him, causing the dust that was on the floor to be kicked up into the air along with the wake he left behind.
“We’re going to die, aren’t we?” Aya’s voice eventually started shaking, and I couldn't even begin to think of the appropriate words to say to at least make the situation a little bit more bearable.
However, I couldn’t help but wonder if Kael will care to look for us.