CHAPTER 7
Luciana's eyes fluttered open, groggily taking in the mixture of familiar and unfamiliar faces, Antonio, Viktor, and Sophia.
She looked around the room like she was just sent to space in a time capsule. A beautiful middle age woman in a nurse outfit, caught her attention. The woman smiled warmly and took her pulse.
"Welcome back, dear," Nurse Rossi said, checking Luciana's pulse. "You've been through quite an ordeal."
Luciana's gaze drifted to her bandaged arm, where a drip was attached. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she tried to sit up.
"Easy," Antonio said, lighting a cigarette. "You passed out in the bathroom. I called Nurse Rossi to revive you."
Nurse Rossi frowned. "Antonio, you shouldn't be smoking here, especially after her revival."
Sophia shrugged. "No one cares if she lives or dies. This is our house; we do what we want."
Luciana stared at Sophia, wondering if this was the same girl she'd befriended six years ago. How could someone change so drastically?
"It's only a matter of time before everyone's mask falls," Luciana whispered to herself.
As she tried to stand, Antonio's voice boomed through the room. "I said stay on the bed!" He tossed his cigarette into the trash can. "You're so stubborn, you can't see you'll be in danger if you leave here."
Luciana jerked the drip off her wrist, blood spilling onto the floor. "And what do you care?" she spat. "You're the reason I'm in this mess."
Sophia sneered. "Antonio, why bother with this insignificant rat?"
Antonio frowned at Sophia.
"That's enough, Sophia. You'll speak when spoken to."
Luciana took advantage of the distraction to take a step back, her eyes still on Antonio.
"You're not concerned about me, Antonio. You're concerned about what I can do for you."
Antonio's expression darkened. "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Luciana. But you'll find out soon enough."
"oh I know everything you're capable of, you murderer!" Luciana fired back at him
Viktor stepped forward. "Antonio, perhaps we should—"
"No," Antonio cut him off. "I'll handle this. Luciana, get back on the bed. Now."
Luciana stood her ground, despite the fear creeping up her spine.
"I won't do anything you say. You have no right to hold me here."
Antonio sneered. "Rights? You have no rights here, Luciana. Only what I choose to give you."
"why were you in my bathroom in the first place? Are you also a pervert aside being a murderer?" Luciana asked
Antonio ran his hand through his hair, a hint of frustration in his eyes.
"You wanted a phone, didn't you?" He picked up a new phone from the tea table and dropped it onto the bed. "Next time, just answer when I knock. Tell me you're passed out in the bathtub instead of staying silent."
Luciana looked at the door and realized it had been broken. It then dawned on her that he might have been knocking to give her the phone but after realizing she wasn't responding; he broke the door.
"ungrateful bitch!" Sophia spat in an arrogant tone. "you should have been left to bleed to death."
Nurse Rossi intervened. "That's enough! All of you, out now!"
She packed her equipment, her eyes fixed on Antonio. "And you, Antonio, we're doing a checkup on you now."
Antonio protested, "I don't need a checkup."
Nurse Rossi stood firm. "It's final. Let's go."
* * * * * * * * *
Luciana's fingers brushed against the sleek surface of the new phone. It was more advanced than her old one, with features she'd only dreamed of.
She couldn't help but admire it, her face grinning over the screen.
As she tried to navigate through the phone's menu, the door creaked open. Donatello, Antonio's father, strode in, his presence instantly instigating fear in her.
"Well, well, well," Donatello sneered, his eyes raking over Luciana. "Look what we have here. The little princess, playing with her new toy."
Her eyes met Donatello's hostile stare. "What do you want?" she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Donatello chuckled. "Oh, I want many things, dear. But for now, let's just say I'm interested in seeing how...cooperative you'll be."
Luciana's grip on the phone tightened. What does he mean by cooperative?
"I don't know what you're talking about." Luciana stood up, her bandaged arm drawing Donatello's attention.
"Viktor told me what happened," Donatello said. He moved closer, attempting to touch her arm. "Let me see. Are you in pain?" His voice laced with mockery.
Luciana recoiled, as she flung her arm away from his reach. "Get your filthy hands off me."
Donatello burst into laughter. "I just want a little chat." He coughed, his eyes glinting.
"I've been wondering… do you ever think of your father?"
Her father. What does he want with her father? Her heart started a relay race in her body.
Donatello smirked. "I know a lot of things, my dear." He pulled out a wooden chair and sat down.
"Your father's head would be hanging in my basement if I hadn't gone on that business trip and left that moron of a son, Antonio, in charge."
Luciana's eyes widened in horror. The image of her father's decapitated body sent a chill down her spine.
She dropped the phone, which landed softly on the fluffy carpet. That was its saving grace from being broken.
"If you put your hands on him…" Luciana's voice trembled with rage.
Donatello's laughter cut her off. "Don't worry, my dear. He's been doing a good job hiding. That's why I sent for you instead." He stood up, returning the chair to its original position.
"I know he'll come running when he hears I have his little princess in my possession."
Luciana's voice cracked. "You monster…"
Donatello grinned. "Very soon, when I get my hands on him, the only news trending in Columbia will be 'The Tragic Tale of a Cop's Disappearance'..." He mimed a headline with his hands.
"How convenient." With a final laugh, he walked out of the room.