Forced Allegiances

Rome, Italy.

Alliana's pov:

I couldn't say a word with the duct tape sealing my mouth, but my anger was evident in my expressions and aura. Kai must've felt it as he approached, sitting on the edge. His bodyguards loitered around him, like he was a helpless child needing someone to talk to a girl for him. I couldn't help but wonder how things might have gone if I'd been Souline.

"I can tell you're about to cuss me out," Kai said. "She looks defenseless," one of his bodyguards remarked. I recognized them from when I first arrived in Rome. They were the same ones who hadn't shown us the respect Souline and I deserved back then. "She looks like she'd tear us apart if we took the restraints off," another one said. "Let's just hope her nails aren't like Mimi's claws," a third said.

"Do you promise not to yell if I take off the duct tape?" Kai asked. I paused, weighing my options. Would I rather risk my lips bleeding from the tape or just stay quiet and hear him out? The second choice was probably the smarter one, so I sighed and nodded. "Good," Kai said, leaning in to rip the tape from my lips. I winced slightly from the sting, and I was pretty sure half of my lips were still stuck to it.

"I'm not going to waste your time, since we're heading somewhere, but I'll keep it brief and clear," Kai said, looking serious. My brows furrowed. What did he mean by "we're heading somewhere"? "Following Carlos' orders, he told me to abduct you so you could help him with the case," Kai explained. I shot him a cold glance. "I'm not obligated to help that guy; he was a fucking jackass to Souline and me."

The second Kai heard Souline's name, his expression softened, and his eyes took on that goofy, dreamy look. She wasn't even here, and he was already acting like this. How could someone fall in love with someone who wasn't even present? "Okay, I get it," Kai continued, snapping me out of my thoughts. "If he did that to me, I wouldn't help him either. But Carlos needs your help, and once you help him, he'll stay out of your way forever. Isn't that what you're looking for?"

Maybe if I helped his bitch ass, he'd finally leave me alone, but I'd already promised Celise and Celeste I'd help with their case. I even considered paying a visit to Velma; I miss her. "Can you help?" Kai asked again. "I have other clients, Kai, and their case is far more serious than Carlos's," I said. "Tell them you'll work with them after you finish Carlos's case," Kai shrugged carelessly.

"Is it easy to tell SA victims that I have to put their cases on hold to help a fucking crybaby?" I shot back, frustration rising. "I could only juggle both cases if I had access to my phone, my computer, and if Souline was here to help me." "Do you think I'll come back to abduct another girl? Especially Souline? You're insane," Kai said.

"How am I supposed to handle two cases?" I asked. "I don't know. You figure it out," Kai said. "All right, then I'm not fucking doing it," I said. "You are, or—" "What else could it be? You planning on murdering me?" I interrupted, challenging him with a pointed stare. "Carlos will be the one to kill you, not me," Kai said dismissively.

"Yes," I said, "and then he'll be back in prison." Kai sighed as he stood up, clearly frustrated. "Why are you women so fucking complicated when it comes to doing something?" he asked. "This isn't the era where women are expected to stay at home, cooking meals for ungrateful men," I spat. He glanced at the clock. "We leave in forty minutes, so I'm not sitting here arguing with you," Kai said.

"Am I seriously going in my fucking robe?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Kai scoffed. "If I weren't Carlos Romano's brother, I'd let you wear that and make a fool of yourself. But since you'll be with us, that's a hard no." I rolled my eyes. "Ah, yes, the arrogant brothers." With that, Kai stormed out, yelling over his shoulder, "Fuck you," leaving his bodyguards and me alone in the room.

We were left in awkward silence, at a loss for words, until Kai returned after some time, carrying a bag. I raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he tossed some clothing onto the bed. "These are your clothes," he said. I stared at the items, skeptical. "These are nowhere near my clothes," I said. "You have to wear them, and besides, you act as if they're contaminated," Kai said.

"Do you even know my size?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Of course not; we just made a guess. Now, put them on," Kai said. "Then remove these restraints," I shot back. Kai turned to a bodyguard and said, "You heard her; take them off." The bodyguard hesitated. "Why me?" he asked. "Just do it," Kai said. 

The bodyguard muttered, "Fine, whatever," as he approached. He released the cuffs from my wrists and legs, and I immediately moved to relieve the pressure. "Be quick. We leave soon," Kai said, before stepping out with the bodyguard and leaving me alone in the room. "Oh, and by the way, there's no way to escape," Kai said from outside before walking away.

I jerked my head around, looking around the room, and saw that everything was blocked off. I stood up and walked into a nearby room, turning on the lights to find it was the bathroom. I gasped at the size; it was spacious enough for ten people. I stepped into the shower, turned on the water, and began washing. The products left behind were clearly meant for men, and I didn't even want to use them.

I made sure to avoid getting my hair wet since I didn't want to waste time restyling it, especially since it had already been straightened. With no towels in sight, I grabbed my robe and used it to dry off. Afterward, I took a closer look at the clothes Kai had left on the bed. A jacket, a black dress, and black matte boots. He must be completely oblivious to how hot it was outside. I should clarify, I'm a lawyer, not a model.

What other options did I have, though? As I slipped into the dress, I groaned. It hugged my body just right, and when I glanced in the mirror, I couldn't deny it; my shape looked pretty damn good. I hung my robe on the hanger, waiting for Kai to open the door. My mind wandered as I wondered what Souline would do if she found out I was missing.

Would she try to find me? What was she doing right now? I wasn't sure. Suddenly, Kai flung the door open and interrupted my thoughts. "Okay, are you ready?" he asked. "No," I muttered. Kai didn't seem phased. "Good, let's go," he said, taking the lead. His bodyguards flanked me as I got to my feet and followed him down the stairs. I glared at them and snapped, "It's not needed."

One of them shot back, "We don't care. Move now, woman." The discourtesy was maddening. Kai led us out of the mansion, and I groaned as we continued down the stairs. As soon as we reached the bottom, Kai was the first to enter the car when one of his bodyguards unlocked the door for us. A second bodyguard appeared at the back entrance, ensuring I had no chance to escape.

They made me sit in the middle, and the final bodyguard locked the door behind us. We were on our way to prison. As the car rumbled forward, Kai turned to me, his voice cold. "I want to clarify something for you," he said. "You're in big trouble if you even think about making a scene or telling the police that we abducted you. You're in deep shit if you say something stupid that could make them question us, and if you even—"

"Do you really think I'm that fucking dumb?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Kai pulled a Glock from his pocket and said, "Of course not, but just in case." I turned to him, unimpressed. "Just to be clear, you don't scare me." "I don't. But Carlos might," Kai said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes. "Sure." The trip to the prison was strangely silent and dragged on. Just as I was starting to doze off, a bodyguard shoved me, saying, "We're here." "So, are we all going in?" "No, just you and me," Kai said. 

Kai got out of the car, and the bodyguard next to me let me exit. I slammed the door and followed Kai. As we approached the entrance, Kai gripped my wrist, stopping me to warn, "Remember what I said in the car." We reached the desk where a female cop greeted us. "I can help who's next," she said.

"We're here for jail visitation," Kai said. "Name of the prisoner?" she asked. "Carlos Romano," Kai murmured. The cop glanced between us. "Are you two dating?" she asked. "No, she's the prisoner's lawyer," Kai said. The female cop kept glancing at me, as if she recognized me. "Are you famous?" she asked. "Well known," I muttered. "Why?" Kai asked, annoyed.

"I'm just curious about her," she said. "I'm widely known as a lawyer in Ontario," I explained. Her eyes widened as if she'd seen a ghost. "Are you Alliana Mercedes?" she asked. I nodded, and her excitement was palpable. "We're thrilled to have you in Rome! What brings you here?" she asked. "A client," I said, rubbing my arm. "Seriously, can we visit the inmate?" Kai interrupted.

She rolled her eyes and shot Kai a quick glance. She stood, guiding us to the back. We made our way downstairs to the inmates meeting room. After opening the door, she said, "He'll be out in a minute." Kai and I sat down in the uncomfortable chairs, the stench of the room making me feel nauseous.

Just as Kai opened his mouth to speak, the door swung open, revealing Carlos, flanked by two cops. "Remember, forty minutes," the cops said as they walked away. Carlos smirked at me, sending a chill down my spine. "We meet again," he said, settling into the chair across from me.