The Russian Mafia crest burned at the back of my eyes. Even though I couldn't see it, the remnants of the letter was ingrained in my head.

"Father wouldn't like this." I tried again, stopping him in his tracks,

I shouldn't have said that.

He walked over to me and grabbed my face, forcing me to look directly at the rage in his eyes. I shuffled back with effort, still focusing on the genuine hatred in those grey orbs.

"What does Giovanni know?" he sneered, "I told him that you've been doing shit with that Sovetsky bastard, but did he listen? He had to wait till it blew up in his face to put an end to it." He huffed before continuing, "Well, guess what? He is not here now and I am the one in charge. You will do whatever I tell you to do, so don't even think you have a chance of escaping."

I swallowed lightly. Damien hadn't been here in a week, there was no guarantee that he was going to show up, so I kept my mouth close. No matter what, I wasn't going to be here for the drama.

My mother was dead and I apparently didn't have a father anymore, nothing could make me stay.

"Yes, uncle." I kept my voice steady, unwilling to let the emotions through,

He glared at me for a few moments before eventually leaving.

I walked a few steps before stopping, the grass seemed duller over here...browner. I shuddered as revulsion coursed through me. Angelo had died here.

Another reason I would rather risk an escape than to be delivered to Damien.

I went into my room quietly and began packing a few of my clothes into a bag. I didn't have a bank account, I wasn't allowed to, so I secretly kept all the money I was given under the floorboard in my room.

The plank creaked open loudly as I tried to remove it. I halted when I heard a voice from outside,

"Is everything alright there?" it was my bodyguard, I still didn't know his name, neither did I wish to learn it.

And at this moment, I sincerely hoped he minded his business.

"Yes, everything is fine." I responded monotonously,

"But I heard something in there." He said unrelentingly,

I wracked my brain for an answer, he couldn't come in here. "I just got out of the shower and I stepped on a creaky floorboard." I supplied,

He cleared his throat before replying, "of course, I just wanted to make sure everything is okay."

"No worries." I said curtly,

I waited a few moments before grabbing the black satchel and replacing the plank in one quick move.

I opened the purse and brought out the dollar bills. Majority of them had been given to me at parties by my father's friends and potential suitors, at first, I was a bit cautious since I expected Giovanni to ask of the money, but he didn't, and I had been saving them ever since.

I counted the money quickly, everything amounting to about fifty thousand dollars. I was very sure I could survive on this till I got a job. I kept it inside my bag and changed my clothes, hanging the backpack on my shoulders before I opened the window.

I wasn't going to survive this fall. I needed another way. If I could drape my bedsheets over the window, I might be able to get to a jumpable height.

I tied the sheet against my bedframe and threw it outside the window, my heart in my throat as I looked down..

I was really doing this.

I climbed on the window sill slowly but my door opened and I nearly flew over.

"Stop." He ordered,

I recognized that voice. I held on to the window tightly, my knuckles turning white as I spoke through bated breath,

"I never gave you permission to come in."

"I am here on orders, if you jump, there are guards waiting beneath your windows."

I scoffed. I wasn't going to jump.

"Have you told my uncle?"  I asked, wanting to know my fate,

He didn't hesitate as he confirmed my worst fears. I blinked several times before climbing down from the window, abandoning my backpack on the ground and marching to his office.

"Are we suicidal now, Annie?" He asked without looking up,

"I was never going to jump." I argued,

"Have a seat, will you?"  he nodded towards the chair in front of his table,

I sat down stiffly, my hands gathered at my sides.

"I sent a letter back to Sovetsky, I don't think he would appreciate you in..damaged conditions." He eyed me warily,

"And if I choose to me damaged?" I asked,

"Imagine how your parents would feel." He said with irritation,

"My parents are both dead, remember?"

"Last I heard, your mother is doing quite well. And your father would be returned back by this evening."

He's not my father.

It was at the tip of my tongue to say,

"My mother is dead..." I said bitterly,

"That is what I wanted you to think."

"What?" I was confused,

"Listen, Roxanne, how about we make this easier for everyone?" He spoke slowly, like I was a child who needed proper explanations of the things happening around me.

And in a twisted sense, I did.

"Giovanni is going to have my head if I delivered you in exchange for him–"

I sigh left my mouth slowly. That was good news.

"But, you're still going to be used as bait. I will kill Sovetsky myself the moment he set his feet here. It's a win-win."

"For who?" I nearly laughed,

"The Italian mafia." He responded like it was a well-known fact.

"Don't you think you are underestimating him?" as much as I was on board with the plan, I wasn't sure if he would be able to kill Damien.

"All you need to do is to keep your little head down and stop fucking with my plans. This evening, I want you in the garden. That is where the exchange would take place."

I nodded before standing up,

"And Roxanne?" He called out,

"Hm?"

"Try a stupid stunt like this again and I will have your blood on my hands."

A/N: Roxanne's mother never died. Enzo just lied to scare her.