✴Isabella Marciano POV✴
~Eight years ago~
John was MIA. I was left in Drake's company for some time now. It's not like John to leave without saying anything and I wonder why it was Drake he left me with.
Drake said that his brothers are working on business deals at the moment in Asia. It would have been a lot better if I was with Simon. He seems like a reasonable guy amongst the Lucian boys.
It shows how young Drake is in how he acts around me. I can say that our relationship at the moment is in a good place. He cooks, a better cook than old Manna of I may add, and he bothers me all time of the day.
There was one time where he tried to get me out to the city to have fun. He knows I'm not allowed to leave the cabin but still, he persuades me to go out with him.
I'd lie if I say that I didn't miss my life in New York. I miss my best friend Corrine. We'd usually hang out in a club her father owns every weekend and fool around, get wasted and all. She is the exact opposite of me, fun and outgoing but we clicked instantly when we met in high school. She knows about our family business but she still chose to stay with me. I love that girl but I can't get her involved with me at the moment. She'll help me in a heartbeat but it will surely put her life in grave danger because of my uncle.
"Come on now, Princess" Drake invited himself inside my room. Manna was yet to contact someone to replace my broken door so Drake was able to come and go as he pleased in my room.
"I don't want to go clubbing" I declined for the nth time. "You can go. I'll be okay alone here."
"But I can't leave you unprotected," he mumbled, pouting his lips.
"I won't tell a soul" I went under the covers of my bed "just go."
Drake will be Drake I guess because he pulled the blanket away from my body and said "we are going out. I'm so bored babysitting."
I groaned "I'm not a baby."
He crossed his arms over his chest "babies don't know how to have fun and grown-ups do."
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to manipulate me "says who?"
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I heard a lot of the blaring music from the speaker. My body was lost on the rhythm and the alcohol I had was kicking in. Why did I let Drake bring me here again? Oh right, he promised me I would forget my problems even for just one night. The drinks we had made me forget and I was lost in the crowd of sweaty bodies. Drake was nowhere in sight, he must've gone with that barbie he found on the dance floor earlier. So much for keeping me safe.
The song playing in the background was unfamiliar to me yet I swayed my hips ungracefully. Warm hands wrapped around my waist and warm breath fanned my sweaty neck.
I looked behind and pushed the man away. I'm in no mood to hook up tonight. The bar was a little crowded but I managed to slip in one vacant stool. The bartender tended to my order and I gulped down the shots placed in front of me.
"Rough night?" A deep voice murmured beside me. I glanced beside me and saw my cousin Enzo's familiar face. "Come with me willingly."
Enzo is uncle Santi's adopted son who, like his father, was a pain in the ass all my life. He likes competing with my brothers in everything but never won.
''You're not the boss of me'' I slur. Damn, how did he know I was here?
Enzo scoffed, his brown eyes challenging me as he smirked "you'll come willingly to save that little boyfriend of yours." He placed his phone down on the counter and showed me a photo of Drake bound in a metal chair. The place was dark, the little yellow bulb above Drake was showing that he had blooded eyebrows and busted lips.
Unwillingly, I followed Enzo out of the club. I might have tripped once or twice as we go through the crowd of drunk patrons but I manage to walk out unharmed. Enzo stopped in front of a black sedan, he opened the car but I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Get in," he said annoyed.
"I can't trust you, Enzo. How can I be sure that you'll let Drake walk out alive.''
''You're in no position to demand anything, Isabella" what he said is true so I reluctantly slid inside the car. He followed after me and soon the car roared to life.
"Why are you doing this? I broke the long silence.
"As if I have a choice. Why did you run? Dad would never hurt you, you know" Enzo had always been loyal to uncle Santi even though he never treated him like what a parent would. Enzo was his runner, always doing the dirty deed his dad can't do by himself. He grew up wanting uncle Santi's approval but from what I can see, he was still in a bad place with him.
"We always have a choice, Enzo" I looked outside the window, wondering where the hell he was taking me.
The drive was short-lived as the car pulled over a warehouse. The scent of animal dung made my stomach ache. This was an old trick my Dad used when they're disposing of bodies or torturing enemies caught. The pigs eat anything, even bones so it was easy to dispose of bodies in them.
I was surprised to see Drake greeted Enzo when we entered the warehouse, unharmed and well.
"What the hell is this?" I asked no one in particular but my eyes were glued on Drake who was merely smirking at me.
''Welcome back, ragazza" uncle Santi revealed himself from the darkness.
"Traitors" before I could land a punch on Enzo and take his gun, Drake already had his guns pointed at my head. "I trusted you."
"I don't give a damn about you. You killed my Mama" his eyes held no remorse. I knew it in my guts that he couldn't forgive me. Maybe I deserve this for taking his parents' lives the way I did.
Enzo landed a punch on my jaw that sent me groveling on the floor. Blood dripped from my lips. I tried to stand up but Enzo kicked me in my stomach and temple.
"That's enough" uncle Santi spoke. I clutched my stomach in pain, as if my hands could take away what I was feeling. He kneeled in front of me "tell me the password and I'll end your life easier."
I spit on his face, he groaned before landing kicks on my body. I lost count on how many times they hit me, I even saw Drake's face contorting in displease and he tried to stop them from hurting me. Oblivion swallowed me whole, it's a place I never wanted to wake up from again. I was safe there, no one could hurt me in my sleep.
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