Leda
I huddled in the corner of the seat, the cold leather of the helicopter seat biting into my practically naked body. Flying in helicopters never bothered me like it did other people. But then again, I've never flown in such a state of undress.
Nor under such state of duress.
Blowing out a breath, I watched as the lights of New York City drop away behind us into the night sky as we ascended. I wondered where I was going.
Correction, wherewewere going.
Valentino hadn't even once glanced my way since he climbed in. The steadythump-thump-thumpof the blades was the only noise between us. It was clear from his words that this wasn't going to be anything different than what I had already gathered.
He wanted to own me. He was going to own me. Valentino had some sort of vendetta against my father, and he already decided that I would be the one to pay the price of that vendetta.
A lump formed in my throat as I thought about my brother. Nico would be livid at what was happening, but he had too much to lose now. He had a family, a wife that loved him, and a son he had to protect. The last thing he needed was to be worried about me.
And besides, we both knew how strong my father's ties were to the other Mafias.
Well, that was until tonight. The auction proved that my father's support had practically evaporated overnight, which meant that no one was coming to save me. No one was going to stand up for the daughter of Carmine D'Agostino.
I was on my own.
It probably didn't matter either. Why Valentino even bothered to put me in this helicopter was beyond me. Maybe he was going to push me out once we were far enough. I didn't believe for one second that he was looking to do anything but destroy me.
But for twenty million dollars, I knew he was going to draw this out as long as he could.
Despite my resolve to not look at him, I couldn't help glance over at Valentino when the helicopter started to descend. His jaw clenched with the movement.
No way. Was my captor afraid of flying?
From the way he was clenching his jaw and flexing his hands on his knees, I would think so.
A smirk crossed my lips. So, there were cracks in his façade after all. The moment dissipated rapidly. Unless I was going to keep him in this helicopter forever, this small victory wasn't going to last.
As soon as the helicopter came to a halt, Valentino started breathing normally once more. His guard Rocco got out first, and he followed.
As he stepped out, he looked back at me. "Welcome home, Leda."
The rush of cool air forced me to move, my skin grew cold to the touch and my bare feet were freezing as they walked across the concrete slab. I couldn't believe just a short while ago, I had been complaining about my sandals. Now I wished I still had them.
"This way," he said, walking ahead of me without any concern.
I glanced back at the helicopter as it powered down, and saw nothing beyond the darkness. I didn't know if we were dangling off a cliff or if there was a forest awaiting me without the shine of light.
I had no idea where I was.
"Leda."
I closed my eyes against the harsh tone of his voice and forced my sore feet to move, not even looking at him as I swept past him and into the door he was holding.
The warm air replaced the cool one immediately, and I looked down at the hardwood flooring under my bare feet. Dim lighting illuminated the hallway. It was a modern home, one of those that were all angled wood and glass, with a floating glass staircase to my right.
"Up the stairs," Valentino stated, shutting the door behind him. "I will show you to your room."
I didn't want him to show me anything other than a way out, but I held my tongue. The more he believed I was meek and willing to behave, the more of a chance I had of him letting down his guard.
Then I would strike.
I walked up the stairs to the second landing, noting the open floor space over the railing as I passed. Everything about the house looked warm and inviting.
Everything but the owner.
A water feature spilled out of the wall to my right, and I faltered in my steps, letting Valentino brush past me.
"Move," he grumbled and the spicy scent of his cologne assaulted my nose.
I followed after him, and he paused in front of a door before pushing it open.
"This will be your room. There's no lock on the door, and you will stay in this room until I call for you. You do not have free rein of my home, Leda. You are not a guest."
Yeah, tell me something I didn't already know.
"Get cleaned up," he continued as I stepped inside. "I will be back."
I didn't ask what for when he shut the door.
Leda
Finally with a moment to myself, I took in the sight.
The room was huge, with a king-sized bed dominating the center, all in muted earth tones. There was a balcony to my left, and I crossed the room immediately, sliding open the glass door and stepping out, shivering at the cold air the moment I did.
The soft lights on the balcony barely illuminated the space, but as I peered down, I noticed I wasn't as high as I thought I was. There was a patio underneath the balcony and it was surrounded by greenery. I glimpsed the faint glow of a pool in the distance against the backdrop of other lights in the distance.
So, we weren't far from a town or city, which was good. Maybe I could find some help if I could get out of here.
Turning back to the room, I located the en-suite bathroom and made use of it, stripping off the negligee and throwing it on the fluffy rug as I did so. I wanted to get under the warm stream of water and cry until I couldn't cry any longer, but Valentino told me he was coming back.
And the last thing I wanted him to do was catch me naked.
After I took a moment to gather myself, I didn't bother to look in the mirror as I walked back into the bedroom and threw open the wardrobe, frowning as I riffled through the hangers.
Nothing but lingerie. All in black.
There were long slips and short ones, sheer material and satin. I pulled out a bra and garter set, the satin glimmering in the light, and threw it back in disgust. Not even a set of pajamas in sight. I was nothing more than a plaything to Valentino, a set of holes not even fit to be considered a full human being.
I reached for a satin chemise and shrugged it on, surprised by how well it fit. Did Valentinoplanfor this?
There were matching slippers on the floor of the wardrobe, and I grabbed a pair, sliding them on my aching feet. I would have killed for a pair of sneakers, but these would do for now. At least these didn't have heels on them.
I closed the doors and walked over to the bed, frowning as I looked down at the creamy comforter. Was I the first woman to be in this room? Did this chemise belong to someone else? Perhaps another woman that he had broken and then destroyed?
A cry of frustration clogged my throat and I let a few teardrops fall, wrapping my arms around my waist as I did so. Valentino was a horrible asshole, someone who had literally purchased another human being. If he were just a Don, I could deal with him. After all, I had dealt with them all my life.
But he was something else, something that was dark and dangerous.
Something that my mind screamed at me to stay away from.
Something worse than my father.
I should have never gone back to my penthouse this morning. Nico had warned me to be careful, to at least get a bodyguard or two until our father could get completely cut off from prison life. He had warned me that our father would retaliate hard, and I hadn't listened, too caught up in the fact that he was truly locked up to worry that he still had his claws deep into my life.
Rory's best friend Emilia had also asked me to come with her to Paris, to forget about my life for a while, but I had been too stubborn. Emilia and I moved in the same circles, and I enjoyed her company just as much as I did my sister-in-law. She had been good to Rory, and she was good to me.
If only I had listened to either one of them and chosen to be cautious. I could've avoided this entire situation. I could be safe, looking forward to the rest of my life and not contemplating my death at the hands of someone who hated my father, who had bought me like a breeder buys a prized mare and was going to do who knows what to me.
I was alone, truly alone in this.