#5 Chapter 13
Kira
I’m fucking starving.
I can walk better now, it is only a dull ache, and the painkillers help a lot. I go to the door and bang on it, shouting, “Hey! I haven’t had food the whole day, assholes!”
The door unlocks, and I step back to see the guard, whom Miguel called Jarred, glaring at me. “You’re not washed and dressed to eat with Don Rossi, so you don’t get food. The next meal is at dinnertime. If you’re dressed and ready, you can eat.”
“I fucking won’t,” I snap at him. I’m not playing Miguel’s little game.
“Then you go hungry,” he says, shutting and locking the door.
Frustrated, I sit by the window. I don’t know how much time passes, but I hear the door unlock again, and I stand hurriedly. Thank fuck they decided to bring me food at last.
Miguel walks in with another guard, Jarred, and a large man holding a video camera.
“Bring the chair to the center and sit her down,” he pulls something out of his pocket. It’s duct tape.
I try to move away, but Jarred and the other guard catch me and force me into the chair. My arms are taped to the chair, and then Miguel smirks at me as he tapes my mouth closed.
“Roll it.”
The camera is lifted, and I see the red blinking light indicating it’s on.
“Don Sorvino, I believe you visited some of my premises today and destroyed some of my property. Let me make this clear. This is not a game I am playing. Every time you attack what’s mine, I will hurt what’s yours. Here she is. She’s alive and well. If you leave my property alone until we have a chance to negotiate my demands, then I won’t hurt her. She is perfectly safe here so long as I say so. Make your choice.”
The man lowers the camera and instantly leaves. Miguel looks down at me as Jarred cuts through the tape. He looks so evil as he says, “Join me for dinner or starve, Kira. It’s your choice.”
He leaves before the tape is off my mouth so I can respond.
The two guards leave, and the door locks behind them. I move to the bed and curl up-a sob building in my chest.
Thirteen Years Earlier
I won’t lie. Miguel has charmed me quite a bit. He is persistent, but it’s actually not in a creepy way. It’s very endearing. I’ve had my fair share of boys chasing after me, but they just want what they can’t have. I wonder if Miguel learns my last name and how I’m tied to one of the most prominent mob families in New York, he will stay.
I try to focus on what my professor is saying, but I keep picturing Miguel sitting beside me, our hands almost touching. He is very handsome-tall, with dark hair and green eyes, which I love.
The bell sounds, and I jolt slightly, frightened. I hadn’t been paying attention. I’ll have to carefully review the work in the textbook, or Padre will have my head.
I pack my book bag and wait for my turn to join the throng of students leaving the lecture hall.
Once outside, I walk to the left and toward the courtyard. It’s so lovely to sit there, it’s my favorite spot, but I have a test I need to study for.
Someone pokes their fingers in my side. “Boo!”
I jump and clutch my chest, turning to see Miguel chuckling. “You ass,” I say, swatting at his arm.
“I’m sorry, I saw you were not paying attention and had to do it,” he grins and runs a hand through his perfect hair.
“Where are you headed?” he asks.
I shrug. “I was going to the courtyard, but then I thought I might study in the main library, where it’s quieter. I have a test coming up.”
“So do I,” he says excitedly. “For our second date, why don’t we make it a study date? I’m free now if you are?”
I feel a bit flustered, but after a moment, I nod. “Okay. But we have to study.”
“I take my studies very seriously, Kira,” he assures me.
We walk together down the hallway, and he doesn’t say much. From the corner of my eye, I see his goofy smile and how he glances at me every now and then, making me want to blush slightly.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
Once we’re in the library, we find a table to sit at and take out our textbooks. He grins. “Even though we won’t be chatting much, this is still our second date.”
“Agreed.” I smile and turn to my textbooks.
We sit there for about forty-five minutes, making study notes. I write mine neatly on study cards while he highlights everything.
As I’m working through a particularly difficult section, I realize I’m going to need a book from the shelves. I get up without saying anything and disappear among the stacks.
I know the book’s location because I’ve used it before, so it should be in the same spot. As I’m scanning the shelf for the spine, I sense someone watching me.
I glance to my left and see Miguel standing there, leaning against the shelf.
“You are so beautiful,” he says. “How are you so beautiful and fiery and passionate and unlike any woman I’ve ever met?”
I blush this time and shake my head. “You’re being ridiculous. Compliments won’t win you points.”
“What will?” he asks, and I realize he’s moving toward me.
I turn to face him. “Well, being unique and treating me like I’m worthwhile will definitely help.”
“You are so worthwhile. More than.” He is a few inches from me, and I glance down. He uses the tip of his finger to tilt my face to look at him and gives me a warm smile. “So much more.”
He leans down and kisses me softly. At first, I want to resist, but he tastes so damn good. I try to stifle the little moan making its way out of me, but I can’t stop it.
Miguel turns me so my back is against the shelf and kisses me passionately. I melt into the kiss, sliding my arms around his neck as his arms slide up and down my curves. He presses us together, and I can feel the rather large, rather hard erection trapped in his pants. It’s enough to bring me back to my senses.
I gently push him away, and he doesn’t resist. He steps away and clears his throat.
I blush and say, “I should get back to my books. The one I’m looking for isn’t here.”
“Yeah.” His voice sounds strained.
I walk back to the table and sit down. After a while, he emerges from the stacks, adjusting his pants. We both settle back into our studies, but I struggle to concentrate as I can’t shake the feeling of his lips against mine.
Present day
After having a good cry, mostly because I miss Raphael, I steel myself and have a shower. I dress in the red dress they bought and the black pumps. It fits me perfectly and hugs my curves wonderfully. I would actually be excited for wearing this outfit under different circumstances. I leave my hair down as it’ll curl by itself. I knock on the door submissively, and Jarred opens it. He eyes my dress and nods. “Good idea. The food here is delicious.”
I don’t say anything, but he steps away from the door so that I can come out. He leads me down to the dining room, where Miguel is tucking into a steak. There’s a covered plate on the opposite side of the table. I sit down, and Miguel looks up. “Eat.”
A butler removes the cover. Steak, egg, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn. A very American dinner. I pick up my cutlery and begin to eat. I’m only about a quarter into my food when I realize Miguel is just staring at me as he eats. I meet his gaze, but before I can look away, he asks, “So, where have you been?”
“Excuse me?” I ask with a frown.
“Where have you been the last thirteen years, Kira?” he asks, cutting up another piece of steak.
I don’t answer him. I can’t tell him about Raphael. I look down at my plate for a moment but look up sharply as his fist hits the table. “Did you decide to just whore around as much as you could?” he shouts. “Decide to see how many people you could use.”
“I never fucking used you, Miguel,” I raise my voice to him as well.
“Then where did you go?” he stands. “Tell me where the fuck you disappeared after you promised me everything.”
I glare at him. “It’s none of your fucking business where I went. I don’t answer to you. I am a Sorvino, not a Rossi.”
He sweeps his dishes off the table into the wall to my left and storms out of the room. I quickly return to my food because I don’t know if they’re going to let me eat again or finish what I’ve been given.