ALICIA ~

I forced my eyelids open as sleepy as they were, from whatever was used on me, I struggled to keep them open, the freezing floor numbed the insides of my cheeks which made keeping them open a lot easier, i tried shutting and opening them again in high hopes of making out anything out of the darkness but that didn't seem to make a difference,

I tried pulling myself up to sit but my legs and hands felt extremely heavy like something was pulling on them, after several attempts I was able to rest my back on something I presumed was the wall of the room, my eyes wondered around the room still trying to make out anything,

*is anyone here—* I said faintly, slowly trying to gather my strength,

*is anyone out there?* I yelled this time hoping someone would open the doors to whatever room I was locked in,

*HELP!!!!* I yelled again still in attempts of getting something to happen,

Anything,

From how cold my wrists and ankles were, I figured they were bound with chains, very heavy ones at that,

*who still uses chains— we're in the 21st century for fuck sake, kidnappers use zip ties nowadays—* I murmured from how uncomfortable and heavy the chains were.

*HELP!!!* I yelled louder this time with a little bit of volume to my voice.

*you've got the wrong person whoever you are, if you plan on ransoming me for money, well I've got news for you, I'm not worth anything just to let you know* I said

*pretty please* I added hoping that would make a difference for some reason,

After several minutes of continuous yelling, the door made a very loud creaking sound as two bulk men walked into the room towards me,

*cagna rumorosa* one of them said with a frown plastered all over his face, they both lifted me off the floor like I was nothing

*where are you taking me?* I yelled struggling with them as they took me out of the room,

Dropping me on my ass at the front of the door, the other bodyguard pulled out his gun from behind him and pointed it at me saying,

*you see this?* he asked still pointing the gun towards me, taken aback, I nodded my head with eyes wide open,

*you shout or scream again and this goes in here—* he said pointing the gun directly to my forehead

*we agree?* he asked with the gun still relaxing on my head,

I couldn't make any sudden movements, afraid if I did the gun would go off, so I just sat there with eyes wide open looking at the gun,

*we agree?* he asked again, this time tapping the gun gently on my head,

I quickly nodded with my eyes carefully following the movements of the gun,

He leaned in closer to me and smiled in a very weird way that sent chills down my back, Looking at the other man standing with him he made gestures with his gun pointing it at me saying,

*prenderla*

Standing aside, I was lifted up by the other guy and placed on his shoulder with my head and hands dangling behind him.

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*This came in for you sir* a maid said handing a letter to Dominic, who picked it up from the tray aiongside the letter knife, he slid the knife through the top of the letter, opening it

*is that from them?* Morris asked frantically hoping it had to do with Alicia, looking closer at the piece of paper Dominic couldn't see any stamps or names, snatching the piece of paper from the hands of his father, Morris reaped it open further trying to read out what was clearly not in English,

*what the fuck does that mean?* Morris yelped handing it back to his father,

*well, you tell me since you're the one looking at it—*

*can you read what's on the piece of paper for fuck sake* Morris replied handing it back to Dominic, still pacing frantically back and forth,

Not paying mind to Morris, Dominic took the letter from his hand and took a look at what was written on it,

*ciao figlio di puttana

Signed

Anonymous*

*Well— What does it say?* Morris asked looking at his father who looked confused as to who the letter was from, A frown started to build on his face as he read the letter again,

*Who is it?* Morris asked again walking behind his father,

*Not someone you need to know, I'll handle this* he replied walking away from Morris

*what does that even mean, Alicia is still missing and you don't seem to care* Morris fired at his father who stopped and looked back at him,

*don't forget who you're talking to boy— it's a fucking maid and not the end of the world, so I suggest you take a fucking walk before I make you wish you were the one taken and not her* he replied with a very cold stare,

*what is it?* Kathryn asked walking into the study,

*he's acting weird and secretive again for some reason* Morris replied turning around to face Kathryn,

*that isn't news to us, he has always been like that, keeping and bottling things up*

*let's try giving him a little bit of space then revisit this whole ordeal but not too much space though*

Kathryn said trying to make the whole situation sound and feel less terrifying for Morris.

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*Hey— can you maybe ease up on the shoulders* Alicia yelped looking up at the bodyguard who carried her on his shoulder from the room where she was held to the wooden chair she was currently sitting on, he looked down at her and the look on his face was far from friendly, not even in the slightest bit,

*or you could just continue squeezing* she added realising she wasn't even being listened to, she looked around the room trying to decide what to make of it, it looked like a home office because of the desk and couch but the stripper pole at the opposite side of the room made her think otherwise,

*are we waiting for someone?* Alicia asked again looking up at him hoping to get an answer,

*no— nothing?, okay—* she asked with a frown on her face, after a while of sitting she could hear shouting coming from outside the room, like an argument between the other guy and someone else,

BANG!

The sound of the gun shot made her leap from the chair she was sitting on, looking at the bodyguard standing beside her she slowly sat back down with eyes wide open, a man wearing a rolled up white sleeves in something that seemed to be a corporate attire but without the suit jacket,

He walked into the room with a gun in his hand and blood stains on his fingers, one of the bodyguard that brought her out from the dark room earlier on limped into the room behind him with blood squirting from his knee profusely,

*OH MY GOSH!* Alicia exclaimed, she immediately placed her hand over her mouth to stop herself from yelling any louder, she looked back at the man with the gun who was now sitting on the chair in front of her,

He turned her chair to face him and placed the gun on top of the desk,

He looked back at Alicia and smiled saying,

*miss who?—* he asked still smiling,

*what?* Alicia mumbled shakily, staring at both the gun on the table and the man squirting blood from his knee,

*what do I call you?* he repeated,

*Ali—Alicia* she stammered trying to compose herself,

*you don't need to be afraid* he said reassuring her still with a gentle smile on his face,

*My friends call me Berto but I don't think we are friends yet, not even close so for you it's Alberto* pulling her chair closer to his,

*you see we have a problem, a very big one—that stolta over there* he said referring to the guy bleeding from his knee,

*he got you and you're the wrong girl, which was not part of the plan and when plans are not followed my boss gets really mad— you catch my drift don't you?* Berto asked Alicia whose eyes were fixed on the gun on top the table,

*Uhh huh* she said nodding her head continuously in agreement without taking her eyes off the gun laying on the table,

*and trust me when I say none of us here wants to see him mad* he said with a very calm but serious voice.

*But I have a feeling you're not— como se diceee — HA! entirely useless now are you?*

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