The Mafia Lord’s Captive

Alessia.

Exhausted yet excited, I finally stepped out of the airport terminal, my trolley clattering along behind me. A sharp breath escaped my lips as I took in the sight before me, my eyes wide with disbelief. Italy. I was actually in Italy, and what's more, the trip wasn't putting a dent in my bank account. Winning this all-expenses-paid journey was a dream come true, even if Italy wasn't exactly my top bucket-list destination. Still, the attraction of the country had always held a special place in my heart, thanks to the countless pictures I'd seen on the news and social media.

Just as I let the thrill of the moment wash over me, my phone rang, jolting me from my reverie. With a smile tugging at my lips, I swiped to answer, holding the phone to my ear. "Hey, Mom," I greeted, my voice a mix of excitement and fatigue. "I've arrived safely. Don't worry, I'll fill you in on everything once I'm settled in my hotel room. Give Dad a hug for me. Love you, Mom."

Before she could respond, I quickly ended the call, not waiting for the stream of questions and concerns that would follow. Slipping my phone back into my jeans pocket, I took a deep breath, savoring the moment. The thought of sharing my journey with my parents was comforting, but right now, I was going to soak in the thrill of this adventure on my own.

With a grin still lingering on my face, I stepped closer to the curb and hailed a taxi. The driver began speaking in rapid Italian, and relief washed over me. Thankfully, Italian was one of the languages I had learned along with French and Spanish. I responded in kind, providing the address of my hotel. As the taxi pulled away from the curb, I settled back in the seat, ready to embrace the next chapter of this unexpected escapade.

My mind returned to the thrilling news that had landed me in Italy. The excitement had yet to fully sink in, and I found myself replaying the events that had led to this incredible opportunity. My role as an event planner at the prestigious international event management company in New York had certainly opened doors, but it was the recent high-profile gala project that had proven to be the game-changer.

Working tirelessly on behalf of a renowned fashion brand, I had thrown myself into the task of an unforgettable event. Every detail, from the elegant decor to the flawless execution of the runway show, had been planned and executed. The moment the event concluded with resounding success, my heart swelled with pride. The satisfaction of a job well done was reward enough, or so I had thought.

It was the client's unexpected offer of an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy that had truly caught me off guard. As I gazed out of the taxi's window at the unfamiliar streets, I felt a sense of overwhelming happiness. It wasn't just about the journey itself; it was the recognition of my hard work that had left me feeling both honored and humbled.

The taxi came to a halt in front of a breathtaking hotel that made my mouth drop open in awe. The sight before me was beyond anything I could have imagined. A five-star, if not seven-star, establishment greeted me, oozing luxury from every corner. As I walked towards the entrance, my curiosity grew. However, nothing could have prepared me for the extravagance that awaited within those grand doors.

As I walked into the lobby, my jaw practically hit the floor. The interior was a realm of elegance, adorned with intricate designs and a level of luxury that left me momentarily speechless. It was as though I had stepped into a world far removed from my own, and I couldn't wait to immerse myself in this unparalleled experience.

Approaching the reception desk, I was greeted by a polite woman with a warm smile. "Good evening, ma'am. How may I assist you?" she asked in a professional tone that instantly put me at ease.

I smiled back, my excitement evident. "Hi there. I'm Alessia Marino. I believe there's a reservation under my name."

The receptionist's fingers danced across the keyboard, and I fished out the card that had been given to me for my journey. My gaze shifted from the receptionist's hands to the elegant lobby around me, taking in the sophisticated decor that seemed to reflect the very essence of Italy.

After a moment, the receptionist looked up from her screen, her smile still in place. "Ah, yes, Ms. Marino. Just one moment, please." She turned her attention to a nearby laptop, her fingers tapping away as she accessed the reservation system.

My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and wonder as I watched her work. This was it, the beginning of a new adventure that promised to be unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Her smile returned as she looked back at me. "Thank you for your patience, Ms. Marino. Everything is in order. One of our staff members will be with you shortly to assist you with your room key and any other information you may need."

I nodded, my excitement growing with each passing second. "Thank you so much."

My eyes widened as I stepped into the room, my mouth literally hanging open in disbelief. It was as though I had walked into a realm of pure luxury. The grandeur of the space was beyond anything I had ever experienced. Every detail, from the exquisite furnishings to the elegant decor, spoke of opulence.

As the person in charge of bringing me to my room explained the extravagances and features, I absorbed the information with a mixture of awe and disbelief. A king-sized bed that seemed fit for royalty beckoned to me, and without a second thought, I crashed onto it, my fingers ruffling the plush bedding. I couldn't help but blurt out, "I can't believe this... it's like a life of luxury I've only dreamed of."

Taking my time to explore every corner of the room, I marveled at the thoughtful touches that surrounded me. The window view, the elegant seating area, and the little details that made the room feel like a sanctuary.

However, it was the bathroom that truly ignited a sense of relief within me. The fatigue from the journey seemed to melt away at the prospect of indulging in a hot shower. I was just about to set that plan in motion when the doorbell's chime resonated through the room, surprising me.

Assuming it was one of the hotel staff, I quickly grabbed a bathrobe and draped it around me before walking to the door with a towel wrapped around my hair.

As the door swung open, I was greeted by two faces of unfamiliar men I didn't recognize. "Hello—" my words trailed off as a cloth was suddenly pressed against my mouth, and a strange smell invaded my senses. Panic surged through me as I tried to react, but the world around me grew hazy, and my limbs grew heavy.

The last thing I remembered before everything went black was the sensation of falling into a pit of darkness, my consciousness slipping away like sand through my fingers.

**

I opened my eyes to a blinding, disorienting light that assaulted my senses. A sharp pain throbbed in my head as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the sea of unfamiliar faces that surrounded me – men and women dressed in attire that seemed too extravagant for reality.

An air that felt both out of place and overwhelming. The scent of something unfamiliar hung in the air. Panic knotted in my chest as I looked down, my heart pounding wildly.

My hands were restrained in cuffs, and my legs were barefooted against the cold floor. Confusion and fear surged within me. What was happening? How did I end up here? I vividly remembered being in my hotel room just moments ago...

A voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts, pulling my attention toward the crowd. "Ten million," someone called out, the words echoing around me. The dazzling lights above intensified the throbbing pain in my head.

"Fifteen million," another voice chimed in, each bid like a jolt to my bewildered senses.

"Twenty million," someone else announced, and then the bid escalated to "Thirty million."

And then, like a tempest suddenly silenced, a voice that held a dangerous edge pierced through the air. "Two hundred million."

The entire room seemed to hold its breath, falling into a calm silence. In that suspended moment, I met his gaze. Dark, penetrating eyes locked onto mine, sending an icy shiver down my spine. The danger radiating from him was palpable, the weight of his stare both chilling and magnetic.

I blinked against the blinding lights, my mind still foggy as I tried to comprehend the scene unfolding before me. Amidst the murmur of the crowd, the speaker's voice cut through, announcing the outcome of the bid. "And the bid for today goes to the renowned Mafia lord, Angelo Santoro," he proclaimed, and a wave of applause erupted around me. My heart pounded in my chest, my confusion deepening.

Angelo Santoro? Who was he? Was I being auctioned by a Mafioso?

Before I could process the weight of his name, my body was suddenly seized, and I was dragged away from the stage. Panic flared within me, and I struggled against the stronghold of the man in the suit, my voice cracking as I desperately tried to understand what was happening. "Wait, what's going on? Let go of me!"

My words fell on deaf ears as I was pulled farther from the stage, my heart racing as questions and fear swirled together. The rush of cold air hit me as we stepped outside, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could grasp the situation, I found myself being pushed towards a sleek black car.

A man was seated inside, puffing a cigarette with an air of effortless authority. Our eyes met, and in that instant, I felt my heart leap and stutter in my chest. His gaze pierced through me, an intensity that seemed to see right through my defenses. My mind raced to piece together the fragments of what was happening – the auction, his presence, and the chilling realization that I was no longer in control of my own fate.

"Welcome to my world, Bella." his words reached me, a low, velvet-laden voice that sent a tremor through my being.

Alessia.

"How... how do you know me?" I managed to whisper, my voice trembling, the question hanging in the air like an unspoken promise. There was something inexplicable in the way our gazes had locked, as though an invisible thread connected us, binding me to this enigmatic man who now held my destiny in his hands.

But he didn't answer. Instead, he turned his attention back to his phone and began speaking in rapid Italian, words that slipped through my grasp like elusive whispers. My heart quickened when I heard him mention something about bringing women. I clenched the hem of my dress, my fingers trembling. Perhaps he assumed I couldn't understand Italian. This could be my chance, my only chance.

As the journey stretched on, every minute felt like an eternity. Panic coiled within me as the car continued to speed through unfamiliar territory. We had been driving for more than an hour, and my heart raced with uncertainty.

Suddenly, breaking through the tense silence, the man turned to me and asked a question that sent shivers down my spine. "What is your name?" His voice was calm, but I could sense an underlying intensity, a quiet threat that made me hesitate before responding.

"Alessia," I answered, my voice trembling as I met his intense gaze. He stared at me for a moment that felt like an eternity, and the weight of his scrutiny sent shivers down my spine. This man was far from ordinary, and the tension in the air was palpable.

As the car finally came to a halt, I saw my chance and wasted no time. Without thinking, I jolted for the door and stepped out, driven by the desperation to escape this terrifying situation. But my attempt to flee backfired when I was hauled back by two strong men, their grip strong. I began to wriggle in their hold, my panic mounting as I pleaded with them to release me.

"You've got the wrong person! I don't know who you're looking for, but it's not me!" I pleaded, struggling against the firm grip of the men who held me.

Angelo stepped out of the car and approached me with deliberate slowness, his movements sharp and calculated. The slap that followed was swift and sharp, catching me off guard. I gasped at the stinging pain, my cheek throbbing, and tears welled in my eyes.

"Take her inside." He said dangerously.

I kicked my feet and shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice a desperate plea as I continued to struggle against the firm grip of the men who had dragged me inside. "Let me go! I'm here for a paid trip! I can't waste this opportunity!" I pleaded, my words echoing in the dimly lit hallway, but there was no reaction from the man who seemed to hold all the power.

He pushed me toward a room, and before I could react, the heavy door was slammed shut and locked from the outside. I was trapped, alone in this unfamiliar place, with no one to hear my frantic cries.

I refused to give up. I banged my fists against the door, my voice still carrying my protests. "You've got the wrong person! I have no connection to any mafia! Let me out!"

But my words fell on deaf ears. There was no response, no sign that anyone was listening. It was as if I had been swallowed by a void, left to grapple with the terrifying reality of my situation.

I kicked the door in frustration and turned away, pacing back and forth in the dimly lit room. I ran my trembling hand through my hair, trying to make sense of the chaos that had become my life. What was happening? How had I gone from the safety of my hotel room to this unfamiliar house that seemed to belong to a man I couldn't understand?

Deep down, I clung to the hope that he wasn't really a mafia boss, that if I could just explain the situation, he would realize they had made a grave mistake and set me free. But as the minutes ticked by in agonizing silence, my positiveness weakened, replaced by a growing fear of the unknown.

**

I had lost all sense of time in the quiet room, my thoughts twisting into a terrifying fear. The silence was thick, and the fear that Angelo was simply biding his time, waiting for the right moment to end my life, consumed me.

Then, the jingling of keys shattered the silence, and the door was pushed open. My heart raced as Angelo stepped into the room, a commanding presence that sent my heart into turmoil. Fear surged, and I rushed to explain myself. "You've got it all wrong. I know nothing about the Mafia," I stammered, my voice trembling.

He approached me, his tall frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow me whole. I continued, my words tumbling out in a frantic attempt to make him understand. "I came here for a paid trip, just to enjoy myself. Please, let me go."

But before I could finish my plea, his hand struck my cheek with a force that sent me reeling backward, collapsing onto the bed. The sting on my face burned, and I gasped, disbelief and terror washing over me.

Angelo advanced, his eyes flashing with an intensity that made my heart race even faster. "Shut your filthy mouth," he hissed, his voice cold and cutting. "Did you think I'd spend my fortune on a whore like you for nothing?"

I shook my head, unable to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before me. I opened my mouth to speak, to plead, but his fingers gripped my cheeks forcefully, his nails digging into my skin. I trembled with fear as he stared into my eyes, his words dripping with malice.

"You're here because I brought you here. I can see through women like you, hiding behind a fake face. You're here to satisfy me, and that's what you'll do."

Tears welled up in my eyes, my voice shaking as I begged him to let me go. "I promised to keep silent, to forget everything I had seen." I pleaded But Angelo only laughed, his grip tightening on my arm.

"You're already sold to me," he sneered, his words sealing my fate. There was no escape. I was trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no way out.

Angelo's words cut through the air like a blade, chilling me to the bone. "You're going to be my little whore," he sneered, and a surge of anger coursed through me. "I'm not a whore!" I shot back, my voice laced with strongness.

But my little strength was met with brutal force. A searing slap landed on my cheek, the pain radiating through my face like wildfire. I gasped in shock as Angelo's fingers dug into my skin, and his eyes bore into mine. He silenced me with his words, telling me that in his world, "Nobody speaks unless he allows it."

"Women are meant to be controlled by me and you would follow my rules."

I couldn't back down, not now. I had to stand up for myself. "You have no right to control me," I insisted, my voice trembling.

"I don't even know you. I came to Italy for an entirely different purpose. You need to let me go," I pleaded, desperation tinged in my words.

I even threatened to report him to the police. "I will report to the police."

But Angelo's response was a sinister laugh, void of any compassion. In an instant, he pulled out a gun and aimed it directly at me. My body froze, and my heart pounded in my chest. Now, there was no doubt left in my mind. He was undoubtedly a member of the Mafia, and my life had taken a nightmarish, irreversible turn.

He spoke with an eerie calmness, "The police can't help you," he taunted, his voice dripping with venom.

"By the time you leave this house, you'll be six feet under." The threat hung in the air like a dark cloud, and I realized with a sinking feeling that I was truly trapped in this harrowing ordeal.

My entire body quivered as I watched Angelo's finger hover near the trigger of the gun. Time seemed to stand still, and I was trapped in a cage with no way out. But then, in a surprising turn of events, he didn't pull the trigger. Instead, he calmly instructed me to get some rest and then left the room, locking the door behind him.

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, tears blurring my vision as I cried out, "Mom, Dad, I'm in trouble," even though I knew they couldn't hear me. My phone was back at the hotel, leaving me isolated and vulnerable.

I lost track of time in that dark and oppressive room, but it must have been well past midnight when I heard the familiar jingle of keys and the creak of the door. My body tensed, bracing for another confrontation with Angelo. However, to my surprise, it was an unfamiliar woman who stood before me.

She delivered a chilling message, "Master Angelo requires your presence in his room." Panic clawed at my chest. Why did he want me in his room? Did he intend to follow through on his threats and end my life? Or was I merely a pawn in some sadistic game?

I opened my mouth to speak, but the young woman cut me off. "You shouldn't even try to defy Master Angelo because he will end your life completely "

Fear coursed through my veins, but I mustered the last shreds of my strength and followed her out of the room, filled with dread about what awaited me in Angelo's room.

The young woman halted in front of a door and gestured for me to enter. I hesitated, my body trembling with fear. But her warning echoed in my mind, and I knew I couldn't defy Angelo. It might truly be the end of me.

With a shiver running down my spine, I grasped the doorknob and pushed the door open. A gasp escaped my lips when I saw Angelo lying naked in bed, his lower half exposed. Dread clawed at me as he ordered. "Strip down."

Despite the thunderous pounding of my heart, I couldn't bring myself to move. Panic welled up within me. Suddenly, Angelo pulled out a gun and fired it into the air. The sound of a gunshot sent me stumbling back, and I fell to the floor in sheer terror.

"Strip now!" he barked, his voice filled with menace. I had no choice but to comply, my hands trembling as I began to remove my clothes. Questions swirled in my mind, and I couldn't escape the horrifying realization that I might have been sold as a sex toy, a pawn in Angelo's game.