Mafia's Forced Love

Chapter 7: The Bait

Lily’s Point of View

I woke up late. Well, we have technically nothing to do. Cora wasn’t on the bed. Slowly, I dragged my legs to look for her. The mansion was empty since my uncle went to purchase some farm equipment. He would be back after a week or so. Low noise from the kitchen told me where Cora was. What was she doing in there?

Rubbing my eyes, I made my way to the kitchen. To my wonder, she was watching something on my phone. A frying pan was on the stove, and she was carelessly holding an egg.

“What are you doing?” I asked her.

“Good morning, sweetie. I am making breakfast.” She smiled.

“Okay!” I was speechless. Cora and cooking didn’t sound well.

“Don’t give me that look.” She spoke, putting the phone down. I raised my eyebrow, which was enough for her to understand my thoughts.

“Well, you are doing so much for me. Can’t I even make you some breakfast?” She sighed, showing that pouty face.

“You can. The only problem is you can’t cook.” I scoffed.

“For your information, I’ve watched several videos on YouTube for half an hour. Just wait and watch.” She looked confident while she spoke.

I sat on the counter, watching her closely. She held that egg in her palm and then looked for a bowl. Then her eyes scanned the video once more. After that, she poured some oil on the pan and then concentrated on the egg again. Holding it with only two fingers, she knocked it against the bowl, making the mess I was expecting. The raw egg was everywhere, on the counter, on her hand.

“Gross!” She was clearly annoyed. Defeatedly, she looked at me. I couldn’t help it anymore. I laughed out loud.

“I was doing this for you! How could you laugh?” She yelled. That was my Cora. A girl with no patience.

I stood up, making my way to her. “Leave this to me and wash your hands.”

“Ugh!” She groaned.

“It’s okay, babe. I’ll always cook for you.” I kissed her cheek. 

"I just wanted to learn it for you, you know," she blushed shyly, pecking my lips quickly. Then she made her way to the washbasin.

“Well, another piece of advice, Cora. Next time you wanna cook something, turn the oven on.” I tried my best to sound serious. But her clumsy-angry look was enough to make to laugh harder.

“You think this is funny?” She responded, washing her hands.

“Oh, sweetie, you’re adorable.” I hugged her from behind, placing another soft kiss on her neck. Her loose hair brushed my nose. God! I loved this girl so much. I would do anything to be with her for my entire life.

The loud ringtone broke our solitude. I sighed as I pulled away unwillingly. Very few knew my new number and hence whoever it was should be important. The name on the caller id proved me right. Kelly, that friend of mine, helped me with the car and sim and everything. Why was she calling me?

Cora looked at me with concern as she read my expression. I picked up the call. “Hey, Kelly!”

“Li… Lily… where… are you?” She spoke in an unsteady voice.

“Kelly, what’s wrong?” Her voice was enough for me to understand something went wrong. She didn’t respond.

“Kelly?” I spelt out. The other side was still silent.

“Hello? Kelly? Are you there?” A sudden fear surrounded my heart. Was she alright?

“Kelly?” I shouted her name again.

“She’s a little busy.” An unknown masculine voice answered this time, bringing a shiver down my spine.

“So will be your parents if you don’t return to the city by nightfall.” That cold voice ordered.

“What… do you mean?” I tried my best to keep my voice calm.

“Don’t be worried. They are still alive, and they will be if you obey my order.” He replied. Alive! Was he going to hurt them? This was Lorenzo, for sure. I didn't have to think twice.

“Bring her back to the city, Lily. Am I clear?” That cold voice spoke again.

I couldn’t reply. The only thing was in my mind was Lorenzo telling Austin about sending Val into a brothel. The foreigner who could say something calmly to a Rodriguez, he could make my family disappear in a blink.

Seeing my dumbstruck situation, Cora snatched the phone from my hand. But it was too late. He had already hung up on me.

“Lily? Who was that?” She asked, putting the phone on the counter. Before I could reply, a notification popped up with a ‘ding’. With shaky hands, I took the phone. It was a video from Kelly. My heart skipped a beat. I opened it, gulping hard. The video made me froze then and there.

Kelly was tied up on a pole. The surrounding was telling me she was in some bar. The only thing she was wearing was lingerie. Her hair was in a mess, so was she. Her cheeks were decorated with tear stains. Then the camera moved towards the left, where my parents were sitting on the floor, defenselessly. Dad’s forehead was bleeding. I could see blood at the corner of my Mom’s lips. Along with that, I saw five fingers imprinted on her cheek. How could they do that? Mom! Dad was hugging her. They were at gunpoint.

With that video, another notification popped up. A simple message this time.

“Your beautiful mom will be next on the pole.”

No! MOM! NO! My mind was clouded. I slowly fell on the chair, losing all my strength. Cora snatched the phone from my hand, reading it with creases on her forehead.

“Lily, what’s going on? Who are these people? And why are they holding guns?” Her voice trembled a little. I couldn’t answer. She bent to my height, cupping my face. Looking into my eyes, she spoke again, “tell me, Lily. What is it all about?”

I still kept quiet, not knowing how to tell her it was all because of her. Lorenzo was a monster, and Cora was like his obsession. I wanted to protect her. I never thought it might harm my family. Dragging them in a bar, tying Kelly up with a pole, half-naked. They were ruthless.

Cora’s Point of View

I couldn’t believe my own eyes. Lily’s family was devastated, along with her friend Kelly. I knew Lily for long enough to know about her lifestyle. She was never associated with any such people who could kidnap her family at gunpoint. Something was wrong. Lily was scared but not surprised. Her eyes were telling it all. Was she hiding something from me? And why on earth Kelly was involved?

Tears were rolling down her face. Her lips shivered, and her breathing became heavy. Her hands were trembling. She was scaring me.

“Lily, please, tell me.” I wiped my tears with an anxious gaze as I asked.

“Cora… this… this all is…” Finally, she said something.

I made her look into my eyes as I asked again, “Who are these people, Lily?”

“Lorenzo…” she mumbled.

What did she say? Lorenzo? Why would he kidnap her family? I knew he was rich and ruthless as a businessman, but what her family was going through wasn’t what some decent person would do. I stared at her blankly. That name always had been creating a mess in my life. A sudden thought came to my mind.

"Don't be scared, Lily. I will talk to Val or Austin. They will help us." I blurted. Yes, the Rodriguezs were powerful enough to bring that b*stard down.

I took the phone from the counter. I was about to dial Valerie when Lily snatched the mobile from my hand.

"Don't do that! Austin can't help us..." She mumbled in fear.

"What are you talking about? They are the Rodriguez!" I was beyond surprise. What had she been hiding from me?

“Cora… what should I do?” She sobbed, hugging me tightly. “I don’t want to lose you, Cora. They got my parents.” She buried her face as she sobbed.

“Lily… Tell me, what exactly going on?” I asked her again, caressing her hair, trying to hold back my tears.

"Lorenzo... he... he isn't just some guy... Cora... The day I arranged this all because... I overheard his conversation with Austin. He threatened Austin to sell Val and their daughter to some brothel, and Austin was silent. I've seen fear in his eyes, Cora... Lorenzo isn't just some guy..." She spoke finally, leaving me speechless!

“He is obsessed with you, Cora. He is a monster. He can do anything… He isn’t someone you should be with, Cora. He will destroy you.” She sobbed again.

Her words made sense now. Was that all because we ran? And Kelly! That poor girl, she helped Lily. And Lily‘s family was nothing but bait for him to reach me. How could he drag Lily’s parents in that? They meant no harm. Reality hit me hard. All this was happening because of me, only because I ran away.

“All these… because of me, right?” my voice was unsteady. I couldn’t help the tears anymore. They flooded my cheek as I remembered what a mess I had created for four other lives.

Lily pulled away instantly. Clenching my hand, she shook her head, “no… no, it isn’t. Listen to me, Cora. That guy can do anything. You can’t go back. I won’t let you.”

What was she talking about? Was she out of her mind? Her family was in line.

“Lily… your family is there.” I spoke in disbelief. Her tears were telling me how hard it was to make a choice. I would never want her to go through something like that. When you loved someone, but you were forced to depart. No one could understand the pain. Lily’s silence was enough. She loved me unconditionally, enough to hesitate even when her parents were in danger. That girl was in a mess. I knew I had to take the call here. The choice was clear. We had to head back.

What you did was wrong, Lorenzo and I would never forgive you for this. Not in this lifetime.