Neveah Aurora North:

The sun is already rising by the time I can finally close my eyes. Cataleya has been panicking ever since we got to our room, so I tried to calm her down.

Now that she's finally sleeping, I'm unable to because of the sun. The fucking sun.

I slowly get out of bed and decide to take a shower. Maybe it will wash away the images of Estelle's dead body. The way she was laying on the floor- Fuck.

My hands start shaking like crazy. The scene is replaying in my head again. Just like a few hours ago, I don't see Estelle. I see my mother. I see my father. I see my little cousins, aunt, uncle, and grandpa. I see their dead bodies on the ground.

The cold water has a soothing effect, calming down my nerves from the images that are replaying in my head. Showers usually help. Usually.

There is nothing usual about any of this. The Curzio's abducted us, forced us to work for them, and Rio killed someone right in front of us!

Marco came to our room last night to tell us that we don't have to go to work today. But to be honest, I would much rather be at work, keeping myself busy, than stay in this house.

I walk back into the room, wearing the oversized hoodie I bought when we went shopping with Brandon and some black Adidas sweatpants. I am dressed for cold weather, even though the sun will be out all day, because I can. Because I want to.

Cataleya is still asleep and I watch her carefully, not trying to wake her up by making too many sounds, as I walk towards my side of the bed. I look at the clock and sigh. It's almost six am.

I decide to go to the kitchen, grab something to eat, and chill there for a while since I'll probably wake Cataleya if I stay in the room.

Since it's way too early for anyone to be up, I'm alone in the kitchen. I take a deep breath before climbing into one of the barstools and look at my hands. They stopped shaking, but the image still plays. As if it's some kind of record stuck on the same beat.

'Goodmorning!' Celine says before yawning and walking over to the fridge. 'Why are you up so early?' I ask since I thought no one would be up at this time.

She's wearing a total black outfit, jeans, and shirt, with matching black shoes.

'I should ask you,' She snorts, before turning around and placing a cup of yogurt and blueberries on the counter. 'Normally it's just me and sometimes Rio joins me, but since they left to fix some shit, it's just me,' She walks around the kitchen swiftly, not making any sounds at all, and grabs all the things she needs for her breakfast.

'But to answer your question, I have to get to work in thirty minutes.' Work? 'What is it you do exactly.' Her lips curl up into a smile and she pours some yogurt into a bowl.

'I help people who need it. Mostly gang-related people, but also people who are willing to pay a lot of money for surgeries they normally have to get in line for.'

I nod, taking in all the information, and watch as she throws some berries into the bowl. 'Do you want some?'

'No thanks, not really hungry.' She sighs deeply, grabs a spoon, and walks over to the chair next to me. 'I heard what happened last night. What were you two thinking?'

'I don't know, maybe we didn't want to be held against our will?' I ask sneeringly. What type of question is that?

'Okay, I guess. But let's be honest.' She turns towards me and I notice the spoon in her hand, 'It's not that bad, right?'

She's right. It's not. Nothing bad happened except that one time in the mall, but that's it. But that's how it went last time. Six years ago.

Everything was fine until one day, everything went to shit.

So I just know that if we don't get out now, which we probably won't anymore, worse shit will happen to us. To Cataleya and her family.

'Was that the first kill you've witnessed?' She asks, covering her mouth as she speaks. I shake my head and hear the crunch of the berries in her mouth. 'No.'

A flash of curiosity glimmers across her face. I don't have to explain myself to her, but I want to. I want Celine to know me, even though I lied to her about the pregnancy thing.

'The first was six years ago, my family got murdered while I was out with the Curzio's.' She stops herself from taking another bite and looks at me. 'What? You must've already known that.'

Celine looks sorry for asking the question in the first place, but it's not her fault. 'I didn't know.' Oh.. 'I thought Tiago told you.' She shakes her head, before slowly taking another bite. 'Well, I didn't really witness it. But you get the point.'

I really want to change the subject, but I don't know how. Celine seems to notice my awkwardness and smiles for a second. 'He didn't tell me what happened before you left, just that he wanted you back.'

'He couldn't stop talking about you Neveah.' 'As if. Every girl that walks past them, turns around and throws themselves at their feet.' I state, making her giggle before responding, 'That is true, but he always had you on his mind.'

I pick a blueberry from her bowl and eat it, letting the sweet taste cheer me up a little. 'He told me he slept with over four-hundred girls Celine, don't tell me that I'm the one on his mind.'

'Do you know how many girls freaked out because he moaned your name?' I can barely keep my mouth shut and look at her with wide eyes. 'What?' She nods before scraping the bottom of her bowl and finishing the last bite.

'I said what I said.' Celine walks over to the sink, rinsing the bowl before placing it in the dishwasher.

'You're just saying that to cheer me up.' I state, walking over to her so I can figure out if she's telling me the truth. 'If you say so.' She simply shrugs and chucks away a glass of water.

'So what are your plans for today?' 'Nothing since Rio gave us a day off after last night.' She nods before jumping onto the counter. I smile and lean back, watching as she bites into a green apple.

'How is Cataleya taking it?' I sigh and look at the kitchen-door for a sec, afraid that she might've woken up already and freaked out about me not being there with her. 'Well, she had a full panic attack for about two hours, but she finally fell asleep.'

'Where are they anyways?' I ask, referring to the Curzio men. 'Something went wrong with a shipment in Madrid, so they have to get things ready for departure.' Departure?

'Rio is going to send men there tonight. So they can fix it.' I nod and take a deep breath. 'Look, I have to get going. But if you want to, I can stay in today?'

'That's not-' 'You can't miss a day at work, Elle. I'll stay with her.' Celine and I turn our heads towards the door. Tiago is standing there, wearing a white shirt, stained with crimson-colored spots splattered all over his shirt.

'Since when did you get back?' I didn't hear a door either... 'Just a few seconds ago.' The door slams shut and footsteps slowly approach the kitchen. 'Goodmorning, shouldn't you be off to work?'

Rio asks, wiping the blood off his face, before smiling at Celine. What the hell did they do?

'Yes, I should.' Celine jumps off the counter and looks at me for a second. 'Want to come with me?' As much as I would love to get out of the house, I can't just leave Cataleya here. But Rio doesn't let me respond and chuckles deeply, sending a wave of fear through me. 'No. She's staying.'

Celine sighs deeply and rolls her eyes, before turning towards her "boss". 'I didn't ask you, did I?' 'Celine.-'

Tiago clears his through and looks me in the eyes. 'You're staying. Follow me.' I stay right where I am and stare him dead in the eyes. Is he out of his mind?

Celine sighs deeply, looks at all of us, and walks out the door.

'Neveah.' Shit... I stare at him for another second before taking a deep breath. 'I'll leave this shit up to you.' Rio snorts, walking back into the hall to do whatever he wants.

'Don't make me drag you out of here.' I fold my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow. 'Why?'

He sighs and walks over to me. I turn the other way, run around the kitchen island, and run into the hall. Tiago chuckles and runs after me. I know he's right behind me, but keep running until I get to our room. Just as I'm about to open the door, he grabs my arm and pulls me back, pushing me against the wall.

'You're coming with me.' I roll my eyes and try to get out of his grip, but he's way too strong and swiftly throws me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing at all. 'Tiago put me down!' I start kicking, but he doesn't budge.

He simply chuckles and walks to the other side of the house. The side I've never been in before. It's exactly the same. A long hall with on one side big windows and the other side a lot of doors, leading to different rooms.

Tiago stumbles into the third room and shuts the door behind him, locking it, before throwing me onto a bed. The room he entered is a bedroom. A dark, stylish bedroom with a lot of papers scattered around the place. A dark wooden desk is placed in front of the windows, with on it an open laptop. The curtains are black and letting in no sunlight at all.

'Your hands.' He holds out his own, one hand carrying a wet towel. 'What?' I ask, not understanding what he wants me to do. He rolls his eyes and grabs my hands, cleaning off the blood I got on them since I was hitting him.

I watch as he makes sure there is no blood left and take a deep breath. The room smells like perfume. His perfume. It smells like him.

'Sorry for the mess.' He chuckles, before plopping down next to me. I get off the soft bed and look at the dark gray sheets. This room is way darker than the room they gave us.

He smiles at me and looks at me, knowing that I'll run the second he makes the wrong move. Not that I'll get far.

'What is it you wanted to talk about?' I ask, wanting to get the hell out of his room. He takes a deep breath and gets up from his bed, slowly walking towards me again. 'I-' 'Can I go?'

He sighs deeply, before walking towards another door, probably the bathroom, and leaves it wide open. Does he expect me to follow him?

'You can sit back down or join me, the choice is yours!' I hear the shower run and roll my eyes again. No way am I joining him in there.

I walk back to the bed and sit down. The sheets are soft and smell exactly like him. Of course, they do...

Steam enters the room, because of the heat coming from the bathroom. After a few minutes of Tiago showering and me sitting in total silence, listening to his every move, the water stops. A few seconds later, Tiago walks into the bedroom, with nothing but a towel wrapped low around his waist.

Holy fuck... I try not to look too obvious, but it's impossible. His chiseled chest is simply calling my name. And those damn tattoos... This man is made by god. One of his fucking favorites... His V-line is so clear. Oh god... I can barely keep my breathing steady at the sight of him, but he tops it off by flicking his wet hair to the side, making water drip down his face, then his neck, and onto his chest. Slowly dripping towards his waist and-

'Take a picture, it'll last longer.' He retorts, making me look into his eyes immediately. He's enjoying this. He's enjoying the fact that I'm staring at him. 'What do you want?'

He simply ignores me again and walks over to his dresser. God.. Even his back is kissed by god himself. The tattoos on his back deserve to be kissed. Every fucking inch of this man is perfect.

'Can't you at least wait until I'm dressed?' Without warning, he drops his towel. Not giving a single fuck about my presence. My mouth drops and I immediately cover my eyes like a little kid.

Silence. Total silence for at least five minutes.

'Oh come on Neveah,' The bed dips down a little, he's closer now, 'Nothing you haven't seen before, right?' He whispers into my ear and I look up. He's right next to me, wearing a black button-up and matching trousers, hovering over me like a predator.

'Why were you covered in blood?' I ask since he won't answer my other questions. 'We had to take care of something.' More like someone...

I don't know what went down last night. All I know is that they were screaming at each other in Italian about what happened. But that's it. I don't know what they said.

He steps back and walks over to the chair behind the desk, slowly turning towards me, and sighs.

'Why are you trying to leave again?' He asks, obviously annoyed by something. 'What?' 'You tried to run away yesterday, why?'

'I don't want this Tiago.' I mumble, staring at the floor because I can't face him. Out of everything, this is what I was trying to avoid. I don't need this right now. Neither of us do.

'You could've gotten yourself killed-' 'Better than staying with you.' His lips turn into a straight line. Never in my entire life have I seen him this angry. 'I don't want to be here Tiago. I want to go home.'

He jumps off his chair, not giving a single fuck about it clashing against the desk, and walks over to me. His hand wraps around my face, forcing me to look at him. Directly at him.

'Say that shit again.' He demands.

'I.' I blink, trying to read his eyes one more time. Those fucking eyes did wonders six years ago, but they're so different now. 'Don't. Want. To.' He lowers his hand to my throat, tightening his grip little by little.

All of this is too much at once. The tension is way too high. He looks at me as if he's ready to kill me, but also as if he's ready to fuck me until I'm unable to walk straight. Fuck..

'Thorns.' He lets go and takes a deep breath, before looking at me again. 'Why?' He asks shyly. I know he wants to know, but I can't tell him. If I tell him I'll be his until I die. And that's what I'm trying to avoid here.

'I don't know. I just didn't want to hurt you.' I lie, knowing that the decision I made did hurt him. A sarcastic chuckle escapes his lips and I sigh.

'You knew what you were doing and you knew it would hurt me, but somehow that didn't stop you...' He whispers before looking at the ground. I get up and walk up to him, gently grabbing his arm.

'Please let us go...' 'No.' He responded immediately, 'No way Neveah.'

'Tiago I-' He steps away from me, taking a seat on his bed. This man is the most handsome man I've ever met and I'll probably ever meet.

'Rio wants to chip you.' What? He nods at my surprise and looks at his laptop for a second, 'Thanks to the stunt you pulled last night.' 'Please tell me you're joking.'

'Does it look like I'm joking?' He asks in all seriousness. Fuck...

If they chip us, we're screwed. There is no way we're getting out of here if they do. They can track every move we make.

'And you'll let him-' 'At least that way I'll always know where you are.' I grit my teeth, aching to hit the pretty man in front of me. 'That's not a way to keep me here.'

'Than what do you suggest? Telling you my true feelings?' He chuckles without emotion and gets up from the bed again, stepping closer to me. Again.

'Oh, but I already did that. Didn't I?' 'Stop.' I step back, trying to create space between us, but he keeps getting closer until my back is against the wall again. 'And what did you do then?'

'Stop it Tiago.' 'You fucking left.' He says. His voice dripping with anger and pain. I broke him... But he broke me too...

A burst of sorry beams through his eyes and he notices my growing fear. I know he would never hit me, but that doesn't mean I can't be scared.

'Please don't let him chip us.' I beg, ready to drop on my knees if that's what it takes. 'Neveah-' 'Please.'

He sighs, pressing his head against my shoulder. We both take a deep breath and stay still for a few seconds before his hand wraps around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I let it happen, knowing I won't win a fight against him anyway. His large frame wraps around my body and I take a deep breath.

His fucking smell... I didn't know I missed it until now.

'Tiago please, don't let him chip us.' I whisper and his lips slowly move towards my neck. He takes a deep breath, trying to not ruin me again. 'I can't promise anything, but I'll try.'

My lips curl up into a smile and I wrap my arms around his body, finally hugging him back. 'Thank you.'

'Just promise me one thing.' He leans back, looking into my eyes again. I'm absolutely obsessed with his fucking eyes. The mix of gold, green, and brown is bewitching.

'Promise me you'll stay until I get back.' I step back and raise an eyebrow at him. 'Get back from where?'

'I have to go to Madrid, to fix-' 'The shipment problem.' I finish for him. He nods and smiles softly, sending me towards the wrong side. The side I'm trying to avoid, which obviously isn't working.

'How long will it take?' I ask. If I promise I'll stay, I need to know how long that will be. 'I'll be back before you know it.' He smiles and I hit him against his hard chest.

'That's not what I want to hear.' He nods and thinks about what he should say. What he should stay to convince me to stay. 'It won't take long.'

I sigh and move my gaze around the room again. 'I don't know-' 'Please? We can finish our conversation and if you still want to leave, then I'll let you leave.' What?

My eyes shoot towards his and all he does is swallow the lump in his throat. 'I will. I promise.' The look in his eyes says enough, he's willing to go through hell if that meant I'm staying.

'You better come back then, because I'm ready to leave.' He rolls his eyes and walks back to his closet. 'We'll see about that one Neveah.'

When he's done packing, we walk back into the hall. Rio is already waiting at the door and smiles at us, mostly Tiago.

'Finally, do you have everything?' Tiago nods and looks at his watch. 'I'm right on time, so stop complaining.'

I turn my back on the men, looking at the hallway where our room is, hoping that Cataleya is still sleeping. 'Now you won't chip them until I get back.' Tiago says, smiling at his cousin, who's staring at me. 'And why is that?'

'Because I promised.' That is all Tiago says and Rio sighs. 'Whatever.' 'Don't pull any stunts, Rio, I mean it.'

The men look at each other, talking without actually using any words.

'Okay, you have to go. Let me know if I have to send more men.' Rio states, before pulling Tiago into a hug. I'm happy that they at least got each other.

They quickly let go of each other and sigh deeply. Hugging obviously isn't their thing... 'Neveah.' Tiago wraps his arms around me, squeezing me oh so tightly against his chest.

'Don't go anywhere until I get back.' I nod and try to get out of his tight grip around my waist, but he won't let go. Not until Rio dramatically clears his throat.

'Goodbye, and be careful.' I say, smiling at him. I need him to get back in one piece if I want to get out of here. 'Of course!'

Rio and I watch as Tiago walks through the door. As soon as he's out of sight I turn to Rio, not trusting him for one second.

'Where is Miss Velez?' I shrug, not wanting to talk to him. As I'm about to walk back to our room, he pulls me back by my arm.

I feel something pointy in my arm and watch as Rio stabs a syringe into my arm and presses the fluid into me. 'What the fuck!?' I yell, pushing off of me. The syringe is still in my arm as I run to the front door, throwing it open.

Tiago already left, he's nowhere to be seen, and there is no one else who would give a single fuck.

'Too bad I don't give a fuck about your stupid promise.' He whispers into my ear as my body slowly starts giving in. Did he just drug me?!

I drop to the ground, facing the monster that is slowly walking towards me. 'Miss Velez is already asleep, so close your eyes.'

Rio grips my face tightly and forces me to look at him. Black spots enter my vision, but I won't give in. I can't give in.

'I told them you're a fighter.' He says, wrapping his arms around me and carrying me back inside. 'But there is no way this is going to stop my plan.'

The last thing I see is the front door closing. And then. Everything goes black.