The evening finally came and I sat on my bed, softly playing with the hem of my red gown.

Was Enzo messing with me or was my mother really alive?

A knock drew me out of my thoughts.

"Are you in there?" The voice of my bodyguard rang,

I kept mute, not willing to entertain him. Another knock sounded,

"Are you–"

"Since you have formerly taken the liberty to come in before, it shouldn't be a hassle to do so now," I bit.

"I was on strict orders to retrieve you by all means."

"And you aren't now?"

"No."

I stood up from my bed and opened the door,

"Good. Get out of my way." I said as I gave him the stink eye.

I was still annoyed that he had interrupted by narrow escape, much more annoyed that I was still going to be used as bait.

"Your uncle said–"

"Your voice irks me, lead the way." I wasn't in my best of moods and I could see that he was trying to restrain himself,

I stared at him dead on. 

Come on, hit me.

I egged him on in my head, my eyes showing every bit of defiance I felt. But he couldn't, even I knew that.

"Right this way." He gritted out,

I smirked and made sure he saw it.

"I know where the garden is." I waved him off as I ventured into the green glades.

"Uncle." I curtsied lightly as I saw the stout frame of Enzo,

"You are late."

Well, someone seemed to be in a bad mood.

"And so is our guest, as it seems." I replied,

He walked over to me and grabbed my hair, eliciting a wince from my mouth,

"Watch your mou–"

"I hate to interrupt this family reunion, but you are damaging my property."  His voice was clipped with order.

A command. Daring Enzo to disobey.

Damien came into our collective view and my breath got caught in my throat.

"Enzo, what the fuck?" I didn't realize my father was there until I heard his voice. He was crouched at Damien's knees, his hands tied behind his back.

"I don't remember telling you to speak." Damien said, somewhat thoughtfully,

"I had to do it." Enzo replied to his brother as his hands released my hair,

"No, not this way." Giovanni grunted,

"We came here unarmed."  Enzo spoke up as Damien brought out a knife, his favourite weapon.

Liar.

"Give me the girl." Damien demanded, paying no heed to what Enzo had said,

Enzo stretched out his hands to push me but Damien's voice knifed through the air,

"Walk, princess."

Enzo retracted his hands almost immediately as I walked towards Damien. Instead, he rushed to his brother, cutting off the ties that bound his arms.

"Don't move." Enzo threatened, his voice filled with steel,

A gun was trained at Damien's head and a few of my father's men gathered round us with their guns specifically on one target.

Him.

I don't know what terrified me the most, his indifference or his bone chilling chuckle.

The latter definitely made me start trembling, and at once, I knew. People were going to die today and he wasn't one of them.

The first man fell down and absolute silence washed over everyone. Someone was shooting, the same sniper shot that had killed previously, he was doing it again.

In a number of seconds, all my father's guards fell like leaves surrounding us. My whole body was shaking as I fought the urge to flee violently.

"My father always thought he had the sixth sense for blood. A pity he hates spilling it, of course, on special situations." Damien started, walking up to my uncle as he grabbed his collar, levelling his face with his,

"Don't ever try to fuck with me, Enzo. You were spared a bloody battle, and I'm not bored enough to shove my knife down your throat. Do not ever fuck with me. Am I clear?"

My uncle gulped, sheer terror written in his eyes.

"We don't want any trouble, Damien. I've lost men today, I don't want to lose my daughter too." Giovanni started saying and for the first time in a long while, I could see a tired man.

"Your daughter?" Damien scoffed, "We had a deal, Giovanni. Her life for yours, and while I would love to indulge in this mini tea party we are having, I have shit to do."

"I didn't–" he sighed, "Let's go, Enzo." I watched their retreating backs, a new fear creeping up my spine.

"They didn't even say bye." I muttered, they had let me go that easily.

I should have never trusted my uncle.

"A car would be pulling up soon." Damien's voice broke me out of my thoughts,

"And?" I asked,

He walked over the dead bodies till he reached me, grabbing my jaw with his palm,

"And, I expect you to follow."

"Why?" I asked, if he thought this was going to be easy, he was wrong.

"Because I own you, princess."

Oh, he was so wrong.