Chapter 24

Ophelia's POV.

October 19th, 2016.

I didn't make myself sick with worry this time, because Luke informed me, he wouldn't be coming. After that call, every day I got on my knees praying and crying myself to sleep on his behalf. He had gone behind my father's back to help me, he didn't deserve the way they were treating him back at the mansion. It would be my fault if something bad happened to him. I hoped everything we were doing, the dangerous situations we were putting ourselves in was really worth it.

I heard them before I saw them. Through the doorway to the lounge, I saw four men in large overcoats, their voices booming as they laughed about a joke one of them had made before they walked into the house.

The overcoats were ridiculous considering the weather, the sky was blue, sunny and cloudless. If I hard to guess, I'd say it was about twenty-two degrees. It instantly occurred to me that they were packing a lot of weapons underneath those coats. My guts told me to stay away, men like these were nothing but trouble, especially when weapons were involved.

Luckily, I was through with cooking, I only had to finish cleaning up the dirty dishes.

They walked into the kitchen.

It was no surprise, since you had to walk into the kitchen before you walked up the stairs to the rooms. But they didn't go up the stairs, instead, they sat on the dining table and fell silent.

I increased my pace of washing the dishes, I felt uncomfortable around them.

Hearing the commotion they had made, some girls came down and hung on their arms.

From the reflection on the marble tiled walls, I saw that only three guys had girls. The other one was all by himself.

"Hey, where's Emilia?" He asked one of the girls.

"She's working."

"Working?" He asked surprised, then slowly the meaning of her coded words seeped into his brain. "...oh, working! That's too bad." He said, sounding genuinely sad.

"I can hook you up with someone else if you like." She added.

"Hmmm...” He paused, thinking. “…don't bother, I think I've found myself a substitute."

I felt a jolt of electricity run down my spine.

He was talking about me. I shuddered

How did I know?

I could feel it in my gut. Besides, I was the only other girl in the room.

Confirming my suspicion, his friend asked, "Are you sure? She looks like the maid."

"So, what if she's the maid? Check out that body."

"Are you sure about this? I mean there are others." Another tried to dissuade him.

"And miss out on those legs and that ass? No, I like where this bus is going."

I swore mildly in Italian. Of all days, I chose to wear a short that showed great amount of skin.

I rinsed the dishes as quickly as I could, I needed to get out of here.

He got up and walked to the fridge, which was coincidentally close to me, he took out a bottle of beer, opened it and took a swig. He walked closer, then he leaned on the worktop besides me.

My body stance became rigid.

I was wiping the dishes dry. 'You don't have to do this, just go inside!' A voice screamed in my head.

I dropped the dish rag and moved away.

A hand gripped my wrist and pulled me back. I looked up, the look in his brown eyes screamed trouble. He was dangerous.

"Don't leave because of me, I'm not going to bother you." He said.

At the end of that sentence, I swore I heard, 'much'. I picked up the dish rag and continued wiping the dishes.

"Hey..." He said.

"Hello." I replied curtly.

"I'm Dave."

I remained silent, refusing to give out my name. Maybe he'd just take the hint and leave.

He didn't.

"My friends call me the fireman, mainly because I turn 'hoes on."

"Then its a good thing I'm not one." I replied under my breath.

My words rendered him speechless, he wasn't expecting that. He just stared at me

"I'm sorry for calling you a 'hoe."

Now it was my turn to be surprised. An apology? It made him seem like a nice guy.

He took another swig of his beer.

"I think the reason God called these eyebrows, is just to let you know that my eyes have been browsing your fine ass..."

I sighed deeply, forget I called him nice.

"....and legs like yours should be wrapped around me." He leaned closer to whisper in my ear.

I stepped back a few paces and looked him straight in the eye with a look that said, 'back off!'

He took a step back.

"I feel like a library card, since I've been totally checking you out."

"Did you notice that I'm like a bestseller, currently unavailable." I lived in a house filled with men and my best friend was Luke, so I was well versed in the art of pickup lines.

I'd finished drying the dishes and was about to make my exit. He noticed this and quickly stood in front of me, placed his two hands on the worktop, successfully trapping me within them, then he leaned down. He was so close I could smell the alcohol on his breath, my reflex reaction was to gag. I hated the smell of beer.

"Too bad..." His eyes roamed my body up, down and back up slowly. "...all those curves and me with no brakes."

He leaned down further, so he could whisper in my ear or nuzzle my neck, I wasn’t quite sure.

"You smell nice, like flowers."

I rolled my eyes, clenched my fist and thought of a way to escape this death trap without much hassle.

He rubbed his beaked nose up and down the length of my neck. I moved my neck, not to give him access, no, I moved it as far away as possible in my enclosed space, away from his nose.

He laughed. "Playing hard to get, are we?" Then he went back to exploring my body with his eyes. I'm sure in his mind's eye, he had peeled off my clothing.

"How much do your clothes cost?"

"What's it to you?"

"I want to know how much to payback after I rip them off."

"Listen Dave, I know you're trying and all, but the truth is I'm not interested."

He laughed, laughed like he found it funny that I thought I had a choice in the matter.

"You're so selfish, you're going to have that body for the rest of your life and I just want it for a few minutes. Didn't your parents teach you to share?"

I turned sharply to look him in the eye. He didn't just go there. That's it, I was done here. "Let. Me. Go." I tried to pry his hand away from the worktop but it seemed glued.

Instead, he pressed himself against me. I could feel everything, literally everything.

Breath In....Breath out, I told myself. Think of the sun, the sea and how Luke would literally rip this guy apart limb by limb if he were here.

"You're such a tight ass, want me to loosen you up?"

Then he did the unthinkable.

I didn't notice his hands had left the worktop, until they touched my short and attempted to unbutton it.

What I did next was something he had been asking for, for a very long time.

I slapped him....HARD.

I slapped him so hard I think I dislodged a tooth.

How did I know?

I could see my handprint on his face. He held his face, then spat out blood.

I heard the collective gasps of his friends and the girls, who had until now been quiet, observing the exchange but that's not what got me worried. I could literally see flames in Dave’s eyes.

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"How many times have I told you never to hit a client?"

Now that I thought about it, never.

"Hey? I'm talking to you!" She snapped her fingers in front of my face.

I refused to utter a single word because the saying goes 'silence is the best answer for a fool', or fools in this case as, I looked from Desmonda to Dave.

After I slapped him, he was prepared to hit me before his friends held him back. But it wasn’t out of chivalry or kindness, as I later found out, it was because Desmonda enforced hefty fines on clients who hit her girls. They took him to Desmonda's office and a few minutes later, she sent for me.

"I'm sorry Dave, she's new here and doesn't know all the rules yet." She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Obviously." He said, through gritted teeth. I could see he was trying really hard not to massage his bruised jaw.

"You! Apologize to Dave, right now!" She said, trying to intimidate me with authority.

I laughed internally. If she only knew who she was talking to.

I took a deep breath and painfully swallowed my pride. Anything to get me out of this room and away from him.

"I'm. Sorry." I said stiffly.

"I know other ways you can also apologize." He eyed my body up down.

I snapped my head towards Desmonda's direction. She wouldn't dare! She couldn't force me to do that, NEVER!

"I think that's sufficient Dave..."

"But…" He cut her off.

"She is reserved for a special client." She cut him off.

"Someone more special than me?" He asked, angrily.

I couldn’t hide the smile that crawled up my face.

You have no idea.

"Yes." Desmonda replied.

"In terms of money or what? Who could be more special than me, Desmonda?"

"Special, in terms of more money and a higher rank, Dave. You know because of our ethics here, I can't give out his name."

I rolled my eyes at the word 'ethics' but my smile grew when I noticed Dave's discomfort after Desmonda mentioned money and rank. It would make my day to burst his little bubble and tell him, the 'person' was Luke Cristiano Valentino, then I was sure he'd literally piss on himself because he knew the consequences if I ran my mouth. But I couldn't, revealing Luke's identity would be indirectly revealing mine and exposing my location. I couldn't risk that.

"Leave us for a few minutes. Don't go to your room yet, wait outside my office. I want to have a word with you after I finish with him."

I left and waited outside like a kid waiting to see the principal for doing something wrong. He deserved that slap and more, you don't force yourself on a woman because she is in a brothel or a club. You are to show some respect, at least, that's what dad taught the boys, every single one of them. Somehow, it made it clear that Dave was not part of our cartel, although he is a mob member, no doubt.

The office door opened and Dave walked out.

I stiffened.

One would think that after what happened downstairs, he would leave me alone, he didn't.

He caught me by surprise this time. He moved so quick, I barely had time to react. He rushed at me, pressed me to the wall with his body and held my arms above my head firmly with one hand while the other took a tour of my body.

I tried releasing my arms from his grip... I couldn't.

That's one thing about being a girl. I had skills to beat him in combat but you could never compare the strength of a man to a woman no matter how skilled she may be.

Screaming for help was not an option.

1: it would make me appear weak in front of him, giving him sadistic pleasure.

2: no one would come out to help me.

So, it was useless, totally useless.

The only weapon I had, were my knees. If I could only move one back a little, in my almost nonexistent space I was provided with, then I could hit him in the groin and this time I would show no mercy.

I felt his rough tongue slide up on my neck, I wanted to cry out and his free hand was going places, cupping, squeezing.

"Not only do you smell good, you also taste good and feel good too. You're not something I'm going to give up on." He continued his assault.

Come on knee, just a little farther...

"I'll be back. I'm going to come back for you, its a good thing you know my name because its the only thing you'll be crying out. I promise you three things, It'll be hard, rough and painful. There'll be no more Mister Nice Guy, I'll make you regret this day."

I released my knee...but it only met thin air. He had moved back and was walking away.

"There's only one thing that'll happen if you ever come close to me again, one of us will lose a dick and it is definitely not going to be me!" I screamed at his retreating back.

He stopped, turned around and laughed. "I like you...." His eyes darkened, "...remember, it'll be hard, rough and painful. By the way, Desmonda wants to see you."

"Bastard." I cursed under my breath and walked into Desmonda's office.

She was sitting behind her desk while I stood, she didn't offer me a seat. We just stared at each other.

"I don't get it...." She spoke up. "…I just don't get it, who do you think you are?"

I am Ophelia Diamante Antonio, daughter of Dante Antonio, heir to the Empire Cartel.

My pride was back.

"What gives you the right to go about slapping clients? Is it because you're sleeping with Valentino? Is that where you get your ego from?"

I laughed. This was new, usually people thought we're dating, but sleeping with him? This was hilarious.

Though I didn't laugh out loud, in fact I didn't show any emotions.

"Listen Missy, get off your high horse, a lot of girls would sell their mothers to be with Dave. Because Valentino prefers you now, doesn't make you a goddess, you're not under immunity. My word is law here and if I say strip for another, you strip, no questions asked, got it?"

That's what I was afraid of. I had neglected Luke's warning of keeping a low profile, now I was going to pay the consequences.

"Yes." I replied.

"Now go to your room and stop causing trouble."

I was dismissed but before I left, I discreetly flipped her the finger.

I went to my room. When I got there, I found Arabella sitting on my bed, waiting for me. She must have heard what happened downstairs.

"Ophelia, are you crazy?"

I stripped, Arabella's complaints and my lack of modesty were the last things on my mind. My first priority was to get Dave's saliva and handprints off my body by scrubbing my skin raw.

I wrapped a towel around my body and walked towards the bathroom. She held my arm.

"Arabella, I don't have time for this. Let me go!"

"No. Do you know what you've just done? You slapped Dave, do you know who HE IS?"

"Yes, I do. He's an ASSHOLE, a prurient bastard."

"Ophelia! Shut up! What's your problem?!"

"My problem is very simple, I refuse to be assaulted! I will not stand by and have anybody touch me the way it pleases them because I'm in a brothel! I've got dignity, at least my father raised me properly!"

"So, our parents didn't raise us properly, is that what you're saying Ophelia?!" She said my name like it was poison.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Arabella." I replied with more than enough venom.

I snatched my arm away from her grasp. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take a shower."

In other words, GET OUT OF MY ROOM.

"I pity you. If you continue like this, you'll dig yourself into a pit that no one can help you out of. First Carlotta, now Dave and Desmonda. Be careful because you're already treading on thin ice, I'll leave."

She left and slammed the door behind her.

When she said, she’d leave, I was pretty sure she meant she would leave my life and not just my room.

Having enemies around was normal but losing a friend to an enemy, was dangerous, lethal.

I went into the bathroom and collapsed in the shower stall, I let the hot water wash my dirt, pain and tears away. James Baddo, this is all your fault.

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October 25th, 2016

A week passed and I didn't set foot out of my room mainly, because I didn't want to run into Dave and I didn't want to see Arabella.

I survived on the provisions I had discreetly bought at the supermarket and hidden. My phone was my only means of entertainment. I played games, read books online, and drowned myself in the unlimited number of music files that filled my phone. I was officially on lockdown.

During my self-imposed lockdown mode, nobody came to check up on me, that's why I was surprised when I heard a knock on my door. I took my ear buds out of my ears to confirm that it wasn't the beat of the current song I was listening to. It wasn't.

I checked under my pillow to make sure my gun was within reach, then I walked to the door, unlocked and opened it a crack so I could close it quickly if it was someone I didn't want to see. Someone like Dave, I shuddered.

I opened the door to see Arabella with the most solemn face I had ever seen. I unconsciously opened the door wider, leaned on the doorframe and folded my arms in a 'what are you doing here?' position.

She was alone, holding a plastic bag in one hand.

I quirked an eyebrow.

"Can I come in?"

I moved to the side to let her through. When she walked in, I closed the door and locked it.

"Can I sit?"

I gave her a brisk nod.

She sat down on my bed.

For a long while no words were said, because she couldn't think of the right words to say and I was in no mood to talk. I sat down on my bed, and decided to plug my ear buds in when she brought out things from the plastic bag.

Before I plugged them in, she spoke up. "After so many days of locking yourself in I figured you'd be hungry so I bought these." She placed a medium size tub of tutti-frutti ice cream on the bed. Next, she unwrapped a slice of cake and placed it besides the ice cream. She held a spoon out, wanting me to take it.

Seriously? I quirked an eyebrow. For all I know these things were poisoned.

As if she could read my mind, she sighed deeply. She brought out another spoon from the plastic bag and ate out of one side of the tub. When I made no move to take it, she ate out of every side. I still did not take the spoon from her.

"Its not poisoned, Ophelia."

Silence.

She took a deep breath. "Consider it an apology for what happened last week."

My face was devoid of emotions, I refused to say anything.

She had tears in her eyes. "Ophelia, I'm sorry!" She pulled me into a suffocating hug.

"Arabella?" I called out, when she continued sobbing on my body.

"Sometimes I do things without thinking..." She didn't hear me.

"Arabella...."

"...and it always has dire consequences, I can't believe I...." She rambled on.

"Arabella!"

She jumped and pulled away, more tears flowing.

"Yes?" She answered, uncertainly.

"Arabella.... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for kicking you out of my room, for..."

"I'll forgive you on one condition." She cut me off.

"What?" I asked, utterly perplexed.

"That you forgive me in return for insinuating." She cried some more. She wasn't faking it.

I felt tears pricking the back of my eyes but I didn't let them drop.

"Alright, I forgive you."

"Thank you..." She threw her arms around me "....and I forgive you too."

When we pulled away, she put the spoon in my hand. "Eat up, before it defrosts completely."

I put the first spoon of ice cream in my mouth, was that almond? Vanilla flavor with fruits and different nuts.

"You like?" Arabella asked when I opened my eyes.

"Yes, it’s really good."

"You should try the cake too."

I took a bite out of the cake, it was good too.

"Where..."

"A new ice cream shop just opened down the street. Their ice cream and pastries are really good, I thought I should get you some."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetie." She replied in her peculiar accent, which I later discovered was New Yorkish.

"Are you going to come downstairs? The girls are worried sick about you." She asked when I finished eating.

"Yes."

"Great." She picked the wraps, the empty tub and put them in the waste basket by my door. She held a hand out. "Let's go then."

We walked hand in hand until we got to the kitchen. Ginevra was the first to see us. "See, I told you they'd make up."

The others turned and cheered.

"I've missed you!" Rose came to hug me.

"We all missed you." Grace chipped in.

"Whatever, I missed you but I missed your spaghetti Bolongnese more." Rose replied.

"Yeah, so why don't you go over there and prepare your specialty, so we can get reacquainted." Arabella pushed me towards the worktop.

I can't believe it. They lured me out with a tub of ice cream and slice of cake. I rolled my eyes, I fell for it.

They laughed at me, I chuckled at their intelligence, they were good, really good.

By the end of the night, we were drinking ourselves to stupor.

We were okay now, everything was back to normal.

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