Chapter 2- You’re afraid of me?

The destination was a villa by the sea. Sophia was practically dragged out of the car, as Capone had completely exhausted his patience. Ignoring his own injuries, he grabbed her and kicked open the door, pulling her inside.

In the bathroom, a bath had already been prepared, with steam rising from the hot water. He tore the tape off her mouth and forced her face-down into the water. Her loose hair floated on the surface, spreading out as she struggled in pain.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" He yanked her by the hair, pulling her out of the water, and whispered coldly into her ear, "I warned you not to try and run away, not to challenge me. But you didn't listen, so now I have to make sure you remember."

"You're despicable! My father… and my brother—they won't let you get away with this!"

Sophia's teeth chattered as she spoke. The feeling of suffocation was unbearable, and the wounds on her face and back stung as the hot water made them feel like they were on fire. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes, though, luckily, with her face wet, this bastard of a man couldn't tell.

She had never suffered like this before, but she refused to show weakness in front of someone like him.

However, her defiance only fueled Capone's desire to conquer her.

This spoiled heiress was more surprising than he had expected, but he wanted to see her cry and submit.

He untied her, stripped off her clothes, and pressed her back into the bathtub filled with hot water. The pain from her wounds made Sophia scream, but she quickly bit down on her trembling lip to hold back.

Capone smiled, leaning over the edge of the tub. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to lift her head, and kissed her roughly. His agile tongue easily pried her mouth open, swallowing her cries of pain.

Sophia used her free hands to hit him, and the hot water soaked through his clothes, seeping into his bullet-grazed wound and the spot where she had bitten him. The pain was just as intense for him as it was for her, but he remained unmoved, continuing his relentless assault on her lips.

The suffocation this time was even more unbearable than when she was submerged in water. Sophia endured his violation until, in one swift motion, he lifted her up and threw her onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, the heat from his body mingling with the cold air, making her shiver uncontrollably.

His eyes, filled with a mix of icy frost and fiery intensity, bore into her as if trying to penetrate the depths of her soul.

Don't do this! Please, don't do this!" Her pure and untouched body had never been so exposed in front of a man before. He kissed and groped her, but there was no trace of affection in his actions.

She cried out, knowing what was about to happen, but it wasn't supposed to be like this. She had dreams, someone she loved, a whole life ahead of her. How could all those beautiful things be destroyed like this?

But she had no time to grieve; the searing pain that followed snapped her back into reality, a pain a hundred times worse than the lash marks on her back.

"It hurts…" she sobbed, but his movements remained merciless, fast and brutal.

This wasn't a nightmare—this cruel reality was all too real.

Capone ruthlessly violated her most vulnerable place with the hardest part of his body. He saw her blood and her tears. Her fierce resistance gradually faded, replaced by the emptiness and despair in her eyes.

A slight stir in his heart, but he only smiled and lowered his head to leave more red marks on her...

When Sophia woke up, she was on a soft bed, bathed in daylight, and the sky was already bright. The faint sound of the waves could still be heard.

For a moment, she didn't know where she was. There was no one by her bedside; the man who had torn her innocence apart was no longer there.

Last night, she was tormented by pain and humiliation, unable to sleep until just before dawn. The blue-and-white room she was in now was likely Capone's property in the port.

She had heard her brother Alexander Diaz mention that the port was a southern coastal city with many islands, some with small towns or private properties. She was probably on one of those islands.

Moving her limbs, which were sore and uncomfortable, she propped herself up on her elbows. She was not wearing any clothes, and the bruises reminded her of last night's nightmare. Tears welled up in her eyes; Sophia was in so much pain that she wished she could just crumble away.

She wanted to scream but found her throat too dry and hoarse to make a sound, feeling a burning discomfort and fluctuating between cold and hot.

"Are you awake? Do you feel any discomfort?" A slightly plump woman approached, asking with concern. She was probably the only "kind-faced" person Sophia had seen in these past few days.

"Who are you?" Sophia did not relax her guard; she was like an injured animal, wary of everything.

"Miss Sophia, don't be afraid. Just call me Lucy!" Lucy set down the items she was holding. "I brought you two sets of clean clothes, some porridge, and side dishes. You look very unwell; put on some clothes and eat something. Later, we'll have the doctor check on you!"

The stranger's kindness was like a lifeline to Sophia, and she couldn't help but seek help. "Lucy, are you a resident here?"

"Yes, I've been living here for nearly 20 years, so you could say that!" Lucy smiled.

"Then you're a good person... Please help me, get me out of here. I was kidnapped by Capone, and my family must be worried sick! Please tell me how I can escape or let me make a call. I will reward you handsomely when I get home!"

Lucy shook her head, saying with a touch of sympathy, "Good girl, don't think too much about it. Focus on getting better first! They're not bad people and won't hurt you! If you need anything during your stay here, you can tell me. As for the rest... I really can't help you!"

Sophia let go of her hand and watched her walk out the door, feeling helpless and on the verge of tears.

The people who kidnapped her with guns weren't bad people? Was last night's brutal assault not considered harm?

Was Lucy part of their group? Were their people everywhere here? Could she not escape?

She closed the door behind her, and Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. It was clear that Lucy was part of that group; she couldn't possibly help her.

Sitting on the bed with her knees hugged close, she gradually sensed an unusual movement in the air. Suddenly looking up, she saw Capone sitting in a chair directly facing the head of the bed, watching her without the slightest hint of concealment. He had witnessed everything that had just happened.

Oh my God, she hadn't even noticed he was still in the room!

Capone narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly pleased with her momentary panic. He stood up and walked toward the bed. Only then did Sophia notice that he was wearing only pants, with his upper body bare and a white bandage wrapped around his shoulder—likely a result of the injury from last night.

To be honest, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. His physique was exceptional: tall, well-proportioned, with strong muscles that didn't appear bulky, reflecting years of disciplined training. The leopard head tattoo on his left chest added a wild and untamed edge to his appearance.

But she had already witnessed his ruthlessness and coldness, seen the dark side of his world, and understood that he wouldn't treat women with any special regard. This man was far from harmless despite his outward appearance.

He exuded an inherent sense of nobility and a condescending aura, but whenever he was near her, it only brought her invisible pressure and fear.

At just 21, she had lived a carefree, sunny life, enjoying the affection of her parents and siblings. She had never been so afraid of anyone as she was of him now.

So when he approached, she instinctively tried to retreat, but the bed was only so large; where else could she go?

He reached out and grasped one of her shoulders. She was somewhat stiff but dared not move, mustering all her courage to glare at him as he sat down on the edge of the bed, within less than an arm's reach.

"What do you want?" She heard the slight tremor in her own voice.

"You're afraid of me?" he didn't ask but stated it as a fact.

"Who says that? Why should I be afraid of a mafia boss flaunting his gun? If you have the guts, just shoot me!"

"You think I wouldn't?" He raised an eyebrow and spoke lightly, his hand trailing from her shoulder up to her snowy neck, gradually tightening its grip. The air in her chest was slowly squeezed out, her face reddening, but she clenched her lips, refusing to beg.

When it was clear she could barely endure it, he finally released her. Sophia immediately bent over, coughing, with tears nearly spilling out. Before she could recover, she felt Capone's hand on her cheek. The bruise from the slap the previous day was still fresh, and his touch ignited a searing pain, causing her to flinch involuntarily.