Menacingly

Chapter Four

"So I have to stay here for how long?" I asked him, my voice cracking slightly. I couldn't believe it.

"I don't know how long yet. Until whenever I want." He said dismissively with the wave of a hand.

"But, b-but I have people and a life waiting for me back home. I can't leave them." I lied, because all I could think about now was getting as far away from this state, this apartment, this room and Adrianno as possible. He scared the hell out of me without even doing anything.

After I woke up and found him sitting there, watching and waiting for me to awake, we had a talk. Well, we wouldn't be the correct word; I sat there and listened, trying not to cry at the realization of what was happening while he talked. He told me how I shouldn't have seen what I seen and how I couldn't be trusted. I had to stay under his close watch for a while until he knew I wouldn't rat or call the cops on him.

I couldn't do it, I just couldn't stay in this strange apartment with this strange man for however long he wanted me to but how was I supposed to prove to him I wouldn't tell the cops? That wasn't an option anymore, I was so afraid of what they might do, I never could.

"Bullshit." He said bluntly, his voice breaking into my line of thoughts.

"What?" I was too afraid to say anything else, was he angry? Please don't be angry, I thought.

"You had your stuff packed up and ready to go when I visited you the other day. You live alone and as far as I know, you haven't made contact with your family in years." He spoke matter-of-factly. I glared at him now, angry about his mentioning of my family. If he knew about that, could he know about everything else? My glare was exchanged with a look of panic, he was watching me intently. "Don't lie to me Angela again, because I always find out the truth."

"I-I'm sorry." I looked down at my wringing hands. "But I really need to get going, I can't stay in New York for long." That wasn't a lie, if I was afraid he would find in me in Toronto, I should definitely be more afraid he would find me in New York. We were in the middle of the city; in close proximity to where I had lived just a few months ago except this place was a lot nicer than where I used to live. I didn't want to think about it about it anymore, I needed to stop. I'm sure if he did try to take me away, Adrianno wouldn't let me go because he couldn't trust me.

"Why?" he stared at me. Did he know? No, he couldn't.

"I just can't." I said quickly, getting nervous now but he didn't ask any more questions about it.

"Can you cook?" he changed the subject and I gulped.

"Yes." I replied, too afraid to ask any questions.

"Good, because you will be doing the cooking and cleaning for me until I let you go. Kind of like a live-in maid." He was getting enjoyment from seeing my reaction. I nodded and held back tears; I needed to be alone right now because everything that had happened over the past few days was coming down on me at this moment. My thoughts were just one big blur and I couldn't think straight. "Your room in the first left straight down the hall, your things are in there. I'll call you when I need you." He brushed me off because his phone rang and he took the call. I could still here him speaking in fluid Italian as I walked down the hallway and closed my door behind me. I sunk onto my bed and let out a sigh, I really was tired and just so worn out.

Everything was weird now, I didn't know what to do and what had happened over the last few days hadn't processed properly in my brain yet. A tear slipped down my cheek when I remembered the conversation I just had. "Until whenever I want." His words rung in my ears. I lay on the bed on my side, not yet getting a feel for my surroundings when there was a knock on the door and it opened soon after.

"Hey Shortcake- What's wrong?" I heard Mike say, striding over to my bed with a look of concern on his face. Even though I knew very little about any of these people around me, I knew that he had to be the youngest out of the four med I had met. He looked distinctly different to the rest of them, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

Although his skin looked tanned, it wasn't as dark as the rest of the men who all had dark hair and dark eyes. He seemed to a bit friendlier than the others too, he was the only one I seen talk to me and smile genuinely. He came across as a warmer person than the rest too. His brows were furrowed and he knelt down so he was in eye shot. I flinched as he went to put his hand on my shoulder. He thought twice about it and put his hand by his side again.

What's wrong? What's right would be a better question to ask me at this moment.

"Nothing." I decided to say but I struggled to speak loudly, the words past my lips as a whisper. I wiped my tears away and looked at his big blue eyes.

"Listen, I know this whole thing is cruel and unfair but we need to be very careful in this business. One slip up could cost us a lot but I'm sure you'll be out of here sooner rather than later." He reassured me. Why? I wondered. Why wasn't he like the rest of them? I just nodded, my lip quivered and I tried not to cry again. How long? How long until they would let me go? His kind eyes tried to calm me and I blinked at him but tears welled in my eyes again.

"Don't be upset, please. Uh, I don't know what to do when people cry." He said awkwardly, patting me hesitantly on the back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying." I shook my head.

"It's okay. Hey, why don't we go out for a spin huh? I probably won't be allowed to let you leave the car though. My apologies." He smiled at me before getting up and leading me to the door. I heard voices coming from the living room as we walked up the hallway.

Three men, including Adrianno, stood beside the coffee table. One of them was the remaining man from the diner, his face was familiar. He looked to be about the same age as Adrianno while the unrecognizable man was much older. He had dark greying hair and his features were almost the same as Adrianno's except aged. They all stopped speaking and looked at both of us. Adrianno's eyes trailed down to our linked arms, which Mike had done and back up at our faces. His expression was steely.

"This is her?" The old man spoke, eying me. I felt nervous now. Adrianno nodded.

"What is your name?"

"Angela." Adrianno spoke for me.

"Well, that's enough getting to know each other for today, we're off." Mike said nervously, like he knew something I didn't and walked quickly with me to the door.

"Where are you going?" He picked up his keys from the end table by the front door but stopped immediately when Adrianno spoke.

"We're going out." Mike said, both of us with our backs to the men.

"Out?" Adrianno laughed, causing Mike to turn around. "You aren't going anywhere with her." He stated.

"Look she'll be fine, it's not like I'd let her escape or anything."

"No." his voice raised a little.

"But she's upset-"

"I said no. Now bring her go back to her room."

"Wh-"

"Angela, go to your room." I flinched at the loudness of Adriannos voice but done what I was told.

"No, Angela. You stay here." Mike held my arm gently. I stopped, not knowing what to do. Adrianno glared between both me and Mike.

"Angela! Go, now." I quickly pulled my arm away and started to walk again.

"No, why do you have to such a d**k all of the time Adrianno? She's upset because you have her locked up in this apartment until god knows when and she's afraid!" How had this escalated so quickly?

"You are no naïve Mike. God you don't even know her? She could be pretending for all we know!" Adrianno shouted at Mike, his face reddening with fury.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to be an argument I'll just go back-"

"Shut up!" Adrianno spit and pointed at me. I looked down meekly and done what I was told.

"Don't tell her to shut up!" Mike shouted. I walked to my room, my third attempt and noticed how quiet the other two men had been in the room. The younger one was smiling wickedly at me, and looked like he was trying to suppress laughter while the old man was saying nothing and watching carefully at the dispute between Mike and Adrianno.

When I got to my room, I closed the door tight and walked towards the window. The bright sky had faded quickly into a musky blue-black color. The skyline of the city was amazing from up here, I thought. I sat there and watched as the cars past by for a while and then got into my pajamas and went to bed with the sound of the men still arguing through the wall beside my head where I lay in bed.