Chapter Six

I was currently pacing around the room, my mind going haywire on the repercussions of my actions if they failed, if I got caught trying to escape.

I had been nervous about it, my head kept coming up with different negative scenarios.

Luca had left early this morning before I had awoken which was much to my advantage as I could pack up a little stuff for the escape.

As always, my guards stood outside my door on high alert based on Luca's instructions.

Evening had already started setting as I made my way to the kitchen to dismiss Catherine.

I didn't want her around till late. I had to get rid of whatever could hinder my plans.

"you can go home now Catherine, I can see you're tired and I'd love to make a special dish for my husband" I mustered the most authentic smile I could give.

"Are you sure you wouldn't need help with it?" she inquired moving around tidying things

"don't worry about it, I have everything under control" I replied ushering her out the kitchen.

"alright then, take care child" Catherine gave me a hug just like my mother used to before she existed.

Giving off a breath, I made my way to the kitchen to cook up something for Luca.

After few hours of work, I was finally done with an Italian dish Catherine had mentioned was Luca's favorite - mushroom risotto

Ascending the stairs, I headed to the room to take a bath . All that cooking had made me sweaty. Cooking was never really my strength, I was weak when it came to that aspect. Being the daughter of an Alessandro, I wasn't allowed to partake in such domestic chores. Maximiliano had always teased me on my cooking skills saying I'd use YouTube videos to cook him meals each day or we'd simply eat out for the rest of our lives. It didn't really bother him much.

Filling up the tub with warm water and pouring in my roman chamomile essential bath oil, I dipped myself in and somewhat relaxed at the warm feeling.

Closing my eyes and letting the bath do its magic, my mind wandered to my family. How would father react to the news of my escape. I do not wish to disappoint him but my happiness is at stake, my life is on the line. Luca was a time bomb ticking waiting to go off.

"Aimee! Are you in there??!"

He was back

"uhm.. Ya, give me few minutes I'll be right there." I hurried exited the tub and wrapped a towel around my my body. I didn't want Luca seeing me naked although he already had numerous times when he violated me.

"Il mio"

(mine) he said under his breath as his eyes caught sight of me or rather my body.

His intense gaze tore through the towel wrapped around my body.

"Come potrei controllarmi quando continuerai a tentarmi Aimee"

(How would I control myself when you keep tempting me Aimee) he spoke loudly this time running his hand through his hair.

I wonder what he said.

"Are you hungry? I made dinner" I said walking into the closet to get dressed.

"ah yes, Gustavo had informed me you dismissed Catherine early today"

"Ya I wanted to cook something myself"

"You're playing the wife role perfectly tesoro"

I walked out the closet to see Luca laying on the bed.

" let's go have dinner" I gave a smile. Anything to stop him from suspecting.

Luca sat on his seat at the dining table as I served him dinner. Sitting right beside him after serving both of us, we began eating.

"how'd you know this is my favorite" he questioned not looking at me

"well, Catherine told me about it"

"For someone who's bad at cooking, this is really nice" he complimented. Of course he'd know, he had my documentary.

"uhm thanks. It's also Catherine's doing". I replied to which he simply nodded.

Few more minutes of eating in silence as our cutleries clicked on the ceramic dishes, Luca gulped down a glass of water before wiping his mouth with the napkin.

"I have work to do in my office Aimee and I do not wish to be disturbed" he said Rising from his seat.

"Would you come to bed early?" I inquired much to the help of my plans.

"No, get some sleep"

Luca heads to his office while I sat eating my meal.

Immediately he was out of site, I briskly took away the dirty dishes and stacked them on the counter before going to our room.

Glancing at the timepiece, it read 8:30 pm which meant I still had thirty minutes before I go to where I would meet Max.

I brought out the bag I had stuffed my things into and kept it hidden under the bed to avoid getting caught if Luca decided to come in unexpectedly.

Dressing up in a black hoodie and black sweatpants, I picked up my bag and quietly exited the room.

Taking quiet but rapid steps down the staircase I sited the from door, the door that held my freedom.

As normal, Luca had dismissed the guards to their various rooms which was in the next building after ours. So it would be easy escaping.

The only hindrance I would have encountered was the front door which needed a pass code to be unlocked. I had somehow gotten my hands on the key word which was another step to my freedom.

Putting in the password, the front door unlocked and I quickly walked out closing the door behind me quietly.

Now this was the hard part, the gate to this mansion.

I had never been out this late so I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know if it needed some pass code also or if it needed a key.

I stood before the gate accessing it, searching for any hidden alarm that could give me away. After a quick flick of my eyes, I proceeded to touch the gate for some sort of lock which it didn't have.

This only meant one thing, no one gave a damn about the gate as the mansion already had high security.

I could already smell my victory.

I walked down the streets to the alley following the directions Max had given.

The streets had few people walking around, probably people going home after their days job.

Once I spotted the diner, I knew the alley was right across.

The road leading to the alley was uncomfortably dark, fear had already begun creeping in when I luckily reach the spot I was to meet the love of my life.

"Maximiliano??" I called out but there was no response. Could it be he hadn't gotten here yet.

"Maximiliano!!". There was a slight shuffling of feet ahead which gained my attention.

"Max it's me Aimee, can we leave before Luca realises I've escaped" I didn't want to waste anymore time in this alley.

Footsteps approached where I stood an I guessed it was Maximiliano. How wrong I was.

I gazed at the sight before me in disbelief. Maximiliano was dragged out, his hands tied to the back and Raffaelle stood behind him with a gun pointed directly at his head.

Luca knew

It suddenly became hard to breath even though I was in an open environment. That was what fear could do to someone.

"You think you're that smart tesoro" Luca's evil voice rang from behind me making my blood run cold. I stayed rooted in place scared to turn around. I should have known this was a bad idea.

"how dumb can you be? You thought I wasn't aware of the happenings in MY HOUSE" he yelled placing the gun directly at my neck. I could feel it's cold tip.

"Don't hurt her" Max grunted out

"why shouldn't I prince charming?" he taunted.

"She's my wife after all, I can do whatever I please with her and no one would stop it"

"I'LL KILL YOU LUCA!" he yelled which earned a blow to his side from Raffaelle

Maximiliano's words seemed to be a sort of amusement to Luca as he stood between max and I laughing maliciously into the night sky.

I was somewhat relieved the gun wasn't pressed to my neck anymore.

"Luca please I'm sorry" I spoke for the first time since the ordeal.

"You're sorry? Why are you sorry tesoro" taking slow strides to where I stood. The gun still in his hand as he held it carelessly like it were a harmless toy.

I couldn't give an answer to his question, anything I said could trigger him at this point. My head hung low as tears streamed down my eyes.

A force threw me to the floor and my hand quickly went up to my cheek. He had backhanded me.

"I asked a question Aimee, I need a fucking answer" he stated calmly still stalking towards me as I tried rising from the floor.

"Get away from her you monster!!!" I heard Max scream from where he stood.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry.. Luca plea..." The sound of his palm connecting with my face resounded at the empty alley. He had hit me twice.

"YOU'RE SORRY FOR WHAT AIMEE!!!" he screamed directly at my face

His hands wrapped roughly round my neck as he began squeezing the life out of me.

"p-p-p-ple" I wheezed for air and struggled in his hold. I kicked the air as he hoisted me up with his hands round my neck. My fingers fumbled in a failed attempt to pry his hands off.

I was thrown to my floor with my head hitting a near by pavement as I greedily took in air. I felt light headed from the impact of the fall.

"Is this how you treat her!!" Maximiliano yelled questioning Luca and this gained his attention.

"You're the punk who took my wife's virginity aren't you"

"I took not only her virginity Luca, I also took her heart" he spat maliciously. Maximiliano wasn't aware of who he was speaking with.

Luca raised the gun and pointed directly at Max. If there was something I learned about Him, it was his devilish aim. Luca Savedra never missed a shot. His invincibility was widely rumored.

"Luca!! No please don't kill him" I pushed myself off the ground with the little strength I had mustered.

"Please Luca!! Kill me instead!!" I screamed from behind him. Which luckily pulled his attention away from Max

"Gladly" a satisfied smirk crowned his face.

A shot was fired and a scream tore from my throat. The bullet missed by an inch but scrapped my face. He missed. Luca purposely missed.

A hard slap met my face again shutting me up immediately. It was harder than the others that it's impact made my body hit the ground in a loud thud. My head began spinning.

"I warned you not to escape didn't I!! You will face the consequences now tesoro"

My eyes roamed the area frantically looking for anyone who could help but there was no one except us. I was certain Luca's men had surrounded the area to avoid any form of disturbance.

"Hai toccato ciò che è mio, bastardo!"

(you touched what's mine you bastard!) Luca took large steps towards Maximiliano.

"I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!!!!" he roared pulling max by the collar. Without any warning, Luca's fist connected to his face. Max was pushed to the floor in a non second and Luca started punching his face furiously.

"I'll fucking kill you and no one would stop me" he yelled delivering more blows to Max who couldn't defend himself with his hands tied behind him.

"Luca please let him go" I begged rushing to where he was but was pulled back by Raffaelle who held me in place.

"LET Go!!! HE'S GOING TO KILL HIM" I screamed as more tears poured out my eyes, this was all my fault. I shouldn't have agreed to the escape plan.

"Please Luca I beg you. Don't kill him, I love him"

Luca's fist stopped mid air at my sentence.

"See, I told you I also took her heart. Something you would never be able to have" Max said spitting out blood. His face was horribly battered.

Luca got to his feet in an instant, he grabbed max by his nape and banged his head against the wall numerous times as I struggled in Raff's hold begging him to let me go, begging Luca to leave Max.

Maximiliano's body fell lump to the ground with no form of life in it before Luca let go of him. His face leaking with blood from the cuts and bruises that now decorated his face.

Raffaelle finally let go of me as I rushed towards Max body.

"Max" I pulled his body into my lap as I cradled him, my tears continued to fall

"you should thank me he isn't dead bambina"

"I hate you Luca Savedra!! I rather die than live one more day as your wife" I wailed

"Trust me Aimee, that can be arranged" he said walking towards Raffaelle.

"Take them to the cell and lock them up" Luca instructed as other of his men came out from their hiding spots.

Maximiliano's unconscious body was roughly taken away from me and dragged out the alley as I was also escorted to a black SUV parked up front.