XXI. Escape Plan.
. . . . .
How can I escape from here?
Simple.
Seduction.
But then of course, knowing how perceptive Dakari is, he will surely notice that I'm only faking everything.
Yet, even if he starts to piece things together, I will have a backup plan ready.
He will underestimate my intentions. Given how deluded he is that I'm wrapped around his finger and how powerless I am with no allies, no weapon, no money, no idea where I am, absolutely nothing.
In his mind, he will think that I'm only seducing him so I can leave. However, I'm a meticulous person. I always plan everything out. He can't be the only one that is wise when it comes to this.
My true purpose is to extract information from him.
Gain his permission to step out of this room under the guise of needing fresh air or a change of scenery. Then once outside, I can observe the villa's layout and memorize the routes that could lead to my escape in the future.
I know Dakari well enough to anticipate his reactions. He's sharp and observant. If he senses something off about my demeanor, he may become wary. I could already imagine the way his brow would furrow in suspicion if he sensed even a hint of my deception.
That's why it's essential to maintain a balance between allure and authenticity.
It's hard to fool someone like Dakari completely, but if he thinks I'm merely being naive or overly infatuated, it might give me the edge I need. I'll make him drop his guard around me.
It's been a week since I've been locked up here with no means of escape.
I've been doing nothing but eating, bathing, and sleeping. Dakari visits every 3 days and each time, he always pulls me to straddle his lap and just hug me in silence.
It was suffocating.
I, of course, still tried to get away but his grip always tightened around me, hindering me from squirming away. I eventually gave up resisting and just obliged to his whims and strange requests.
He will just force me anyways and it's not like he's doing something else to me that I consider inappropriate. His actions are disturbing, true, but at least that was the only thing he does. Only pulling me to a tight embrace in silence.
He was demanding but he remained respectful to my boundaries— although I don't think my personal space is solely mine anymore.
That's another way to look on the bright side. If it weren't for how twisted this situation I got myself into is.
I've also been searching every nook and cranny of the room for hidden cameras, meticulously inspecting every corner and crevice.
After thorough examination, I concluded that there were none— at least none that I could find.
The absence of surveillance gave me a small sense of relief, but I know I cannot be too complacent about it. Dakari may have placed hidden surveillance devices in ways that are not immediately obvious to me.
Perhaps there are microphones disguised as everyday objects or cameras cleverly integrated into decors. 'Like that lamp and vase.' My gaze landed on the objects sitting on top of the nightstand.
I glared at it.
Am I paranoid? No.
Am I being sensible? Yes.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard muffled noises filtering through the closed doors. The sounds were faint yet distinct.
Curiosity piqued, I moved closer to the door, pressing my ear against the cool surface to listen intently to the conversation of the passersby.
"You can't be serious man. Women are just like that. It's not like you can control their emotions." A man said in fluent english, quite unusual to hear especially for those people in the mafia with accents.
"Shut up, Aiden. Why don't you go assist the boss with his work while I worry about my own love life?" Another voice hissed in response. The annoyance was palpable as he clicked his tongue in irritation, clearly fed up with the conversation.
'Aiden?' I blinked. 'Aiden Blanche? The devil's ginger assistant? How many are they outside?'
"You're just bitter, Laxei." A third voice chimed in, trying to diffuse the tension. "Aiden has a point. We won't be able to control women at all without getting called out as red flags. Besides, look what happened to our boss. He kidnapped a woman. And it's just not any other woman. It's literally Silvestre Viviana's daughter. How crazy is that??"
"Hopefully, the boss won't get me wrong but. . . I already warned him about the pros and cons of kidnapping Silvestre's only daughter." The man named Laxei continued, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "She might go after his head and shred him to pieces."
"I told you, women are scary. . ." another voice piped up, grumbling with disinterest.
The only question that popped up my mind was, 'There are four of them? Are they not even aware how loud their voices are?'
Not exactly loud, I just have a good hearing. . .
"Agreed." Laxei replied curtly.
"So far, she has been quiet and starts to behave well. It's eerie." Aiden remarked, his voice tinged with unease.
"Shes obviously planning something." The man named Laxei stated. "My baby started acting like that before she ran away from me. . ."
"That's because you have a big d—"
Smack.
"Shut up. Don't you have any shame?"
"—heart!" I recognize that voice, it was Aiden. "Ow man. . . Can't believe you just hit me. . ."
"Stop overreacting you crybaby."
"I'm not. . . Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You scared your baby away because of your big—"
"Continue. . . I dare you."
"Jeez! Because of your big heart and caring personality she left feeling like she doesn't deserve you. She was suffocating because of your personality."
". . ."
"Laxei~ what do you think I meant by big? Hmm?"
"Shut the fuck up."
"Ah, so you thought I meant the d—"
Smack.
"Ow!"
". . ."
"Jeez. . . Don't act like you have the biggest one, mine is more b—"
Smack.
"Ow!! Stop hitting me, Jesus! Jeez. . ."
As I stood behind the door, listening to their banter, I began putting the information in my head, the only name I was familiar with was only Aiden. Other than that, now I'm aware who the other one is, Laxei. The other two remains a mystery but I took note of their voices, just in case I will somehow meet them soon.
No matter how rubbish their talk are, I must gather everything I could.
Anything.
Useless or useful.
I'll gather them all the same. They will prove useful to me in the future.
Now, I stepped away from the door as they had strode away to who knows where their destinations are.
Their voices no longer audible as they faded into the distance. They did not even bother checking if the walls were soundproof or what. As if it was intentional but given their conversation, I doubt they are really aware their voices can be heard in here or. . . Yeah, again, I might just have impressive hearing.
Nonetheless, they are quite careless and. . . Shameless.
'If Aiden Blanche is Dakari's right hand man. What about Laxei? And what about the other two as well?'
There are just a lot of things that I must take note of. For all I know they might prove themselves to become an obstacle for my escape. I simply cannot allow them to hinder my plans. 'Every personnel of the Dimitri's surely have their own specialties and positions. I must take note of them.'
Aiden Blanche
Background: Friend and Assistant.
Specialty: Unknown.
Laxei is unknown.
Background: Unknown.
Specialty: Unknown.
The other two are unknown as well.
Now for the soldiers of the Russian Bratva.
I met Gabriel already and know that he's a weakling with lesser chance to even mess with my plans. On top of that, he's so open about his fear towards me.
But then again, I also know I can't overlook his skills just because of my first encounter with him in the manor's Annex.
He might've improved his skills over time and might become a hindrance to my plans in the future.
"Fuck. I'm alone in this place." I cursed. I can't really go out and look for allies around this place. They all surely serve that man.
I'm truly naive and clueless.
Father abandoned me didn't he? It's still hard to accept but I also really can't conclude that he wasn't serious.
I'm the named heir of the family. He can't just abandon me like that, can he? Well of course, unless. . . "Lorenzo is still the recognized heir of the Viviana's and has returned back to the manor. . ." I mumbled to no one but myself, expression dim at the thought.
That's a possibility.
'Was the publicity a hoax? Did father go through such lengths that he invited most important powerful figures to the party for the sake of making me look like a clown and abandon me here in the lion's den?'
Now, all I felt was abandonment and betrayal. The more I pondered my situation, the more fragmented my heart became, each shard echoing with questions.
'Who could I trust?'
'How had it come to this?'
'Is this the price I must pay for being haughty and arrogant?' I can only sigh at the thought.
Knock knock.
I snapped out of my thoughts when someone knocked on the door. "Ms. Viviana, I brought you your lunch, I'm going in." Said the person behind closed doors.
'Gabriel. . . Right.' A sudden idea came to mind. I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at him with perceptive eyes, watching his every movement as he placed the food tray near me once again.
He was purposely avoiding eye contact.
"Gabriel." I called out.
"Yes, Ms. Viviana?"
"Tell me more about this place."
He paused for a moment before he started. "Villa del Dimitrius originally belonged to the Lady of the Dimitri's. . . Mr. Dakari Dimitri was able to obtain this place as part of his inheritance from his mother. This place is his to maintain until he marries and passes it down to the next Lady of the family, Ms Viviana."
Well now isn't that intriguing? "And what if he were not to marry?" I asked.
"This place will belong to his other siblings."
"How pitiful. So this place is truly not his despite it being part of his inheritance?"
"It seems so, Ms. Viviana." Was his only curt response to my remark.
"You mentioned "siblings", how many siblings does he even have?" I asked, curious.
"Only one, Ms. Viviana." Came the quick response.
I raised a brow. "Oh? Brother or a sister, perhaps?"
"Sister."
"So a boy and a girl, just like me and Lorenzo." I pondered for a moment, "Where is this "sister" of his that you speak of?"
"That is something we are quite unsure, Ms. Viviana. She has always been mysterious and keeps to herself. It's hard to keep in touch with Ms. Dia."
'. . . Dia Dimitri. What a pretty name. Compared to someone I know. Who knows what actually happened to Dakari's name.' I can't help but scoff at the thought. Which earned me a look from Gabriel. Either it was from surprise or was he scolding me for laughing at what he said? Doesn't matter. "That's all I have to ask, you may go." I dismissed him with a wave of my hand.
He bowed slightly before turning to leave, his footsteps echoing in the hollow space behind him. As the door clicked shut, I was left alone with my thoughts, the name Dia Dimitri lingering inside my brain.
What secrets did she hold?
Why had she chosen to remain hidden?
Can she somehow help me escape this place? A woman must help another woman after all.
In this place, I stand alone. A lone woman in the midst of multiple foe.
I glanced around the spacious room in deep thought.
What if she was different?
What if she harbored a desire for freedom just like me? That's why she chose to remain hidden?
But could I truly rely on her? She's the devil's sibling after all.
I had been betrayed by my father. Others will do the same to me. They will hurt me the same way everyone around me did. Could I truly risk opening myself up to yet another potential disappointment?
"Perhaps Dia held knowledge about secret passages or hidden allies." I mumbled, as I looked on the bright side.
Gabriel mentioned how Villa del Dimitrius belongs to the Lady of the Dimitri's, therefore, Dia might hold the key to my escape. As a woman raised in the household of the Dimitri's, she would undoubtedly know its hidden passages— those secret routes that could lead me away from Dakari and his watchful eyes.
If she understood the stakes, perhaps she would be willing to help another woman in need. Hopefully if we ever meet, she will be able to help me leave this place, away from her insane brother, Dakari Dimitri.
My hands fiddled with the spoon as I remained deep in thought.
I then ate in silence as I pondered on my next plan.