Prologue
Dedication
To all the girl who never found love until they were broken by it
Veronica
18 years old
“You know the plan for tonight?” Nik says with a serious tone. “Yes, I know the plan,” I replied, not bothering to hide my annoyance. “Veronica, you need to take this seriously. We won’t get this chance again- “, he was cut off by the door slamming open.
“Dinner in five, and for God sakes, can you fucks try to look presentable. We have a guest tonight.”
A guest?
My heart skips a beat when I hear the door slam close. It wasn’t until Nik tapped me on the shoulder that I realized I was staring at the closed door. I took a deep breath. My mind goes back to the plan.
Follow the plan.
Escape.
Survive.
“Come on, we gotta get ready before he decides to come back to get us” Nik says, breaking through my thoughts. I slowly made my way to the small broom closet that held my clothes.
I selected a plain black dress and made my way to the bathroom. I applied light make-up to my face and put my hair in a bun. I wore flat black shoes. Something tells me I am going to need to be ready for anything.
“You ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go,” I replied.
Nik and I rushed down the stairs to the dining table. My movements came to a stop when I realized me, and Nik are the only ones not seated at the large dinner table. We moved quickly to reach the table, but I know our absence has held up dinner.
It’s the annoyed look on maid's face, the way she slightly bends at the knees indicating her feet hurt. The way the guard moves back and forth on his feet telling me he was impatient.
I looked around the room, noticing the tense air and just for a moment every eye in the room moved to the empty chair at the end of the table.
How the hell did I not see that?
It seems I am not the only one who is late. I glanced at Nik who looked just as confused as me.
“Where the fuck is this guy” Mike yelled, from across the table. Mike is the loudest person I know. And if there is anything the man hates, it’s wasting his time. “Shut the hell up.” Nero replied. Nero runs this shit. In other words, when he tells you to do something you do it. No questions asked.
Suddenly, a housekeeper came through the opening of the dinner room with three exceptionally large men behind her. “Sir, your guests have arrived” the maid’s voice is shaky, she’s scared. Nero takes a sip of his wine before replying.
“I see….” He draws out. “Well, please have a seat, my friend. I have to say I was expecting to meet with your father.” Nero’s words aren’t necessarily rude, but his tone is. The man Nero is talking to is in his late 20’s. The men behind him look older, mid 30’s.
It is clear the man standing in front of the two men trailing him is the boss. However, something tells me he is working for someone even more powerful. He seems powerful, but also very young. It is easy to tell who is in charge when it comes to the mafia. The look in their eyes, the way they hold themselves, but it is when he replied to Nero’s comment, my thoughts are confirmed. “Well, unfortunately I don’t have time for dinner, and I didn’t come here for pleasantries. I came here to collect what is my families, friend.” His tone is pure evil. It’s uncanny how scary they can make themselves sound.
Everyone at the table, silently observed, the two most powerful men in the room converse. It’s like a horror movie. You’re scared, but you’re even more scared of what happens next.
Nero glanced at me, it was quick, but I noticed.
Weird.
“Mmm, let’s talk in my office,” Nero stood up from the table and motioned the three men to the door on the other side of the dining room.
Nik taped his fingers on the wine glass. In front of him. Turned out we didn’t need to make a distraction; the unexpected guest made the perfect one for us. Me, Mike, and Nik exchanged looks. It was time to put the plan in motion. I spilled my wine glass on the white cloth that covered the table. “Oh my god!! I am so sorry!” All the housekeepers rushed to take care of the spilled wine.
I would say what me, Nik, and Mike do is the hardest job in the house, but the housekeepers have it bad. Nero hates any type of mess. He kills those who damage what’s his, or anyone who causes problems they can’t fix. I always thought he was being dramatic and honestly a little crazy for it.
More of the housekeepers in the room rush toward the table. And in the corner of my eye, I see Nik and Mike had already taken out the guard. “Let’s get the fuck out of here before they come back,” Mike said. We began running through the house as fast as we could. We made it outside of the house, leaving right through the front door. Security was low around the outside of the house. I guess Nero’s guest requires more security than we thought. “We will flee through the forest and meet at the end of Sage Road. Split up!” Nik yells. I looked behind me and just for a moment…. I pause. This was my home for 11 years. Now, I’m leaving. No, I am running.
Screaming guards break me out of my thoughts. “FIND THEM NOWWWWW!!!!!”
“Ahhh!” The screams of the guards fueled my movement, making me move faster and faster. I felt the sticks, rocks, and dirt under my feet as I fled through the forest.
My mind only repeats one thing.
Run. Run. Run.
“I made it to Sage Road,” I sighed. And repeat the words in my head.
I made it.
“Look for the stop sign at the end of the road.” I whispered to myself. I moved quickly down the road toward the stop sign. My movement quickened as I noticed an all-black car following me down the road.
Fuck! Was that car in the parking lot? I tried my best to remember, but I didn’t because I didn’t look, I just ran. A decision I'd started to regret. I stopped to see if the car was following me or if it was just in my head. Surely enough the car stopped when I did. Fuck!!!
The car began to move in and turned so instead of being on my side it was in front of me. The door opened, and it’s the old man Nero was talking to stepped out. How did he know I would be here? Why is he following me?
I watched as the man stepped out of the car. “Get in,” the man in black says with authority. “Look, dude, I don’t know you. Get back in the car and keep it pushin’,” I replied, my words as weak as my tone. I tried to mimic his authority; keyword tried. I watch his jaw clench in annoyance.
I felt my body getting weaker. What the hell? I moved my hand to my neck. That is where I felt it, a needle. I turned around on my feet to see the two younger men walking toward
me. When did they get out of the car?
Stay awake.
Don’t sleep.
Escape.
Survive.
I felt my eyes start to close. I felt my legs lose balance and the last words I heard were: “Time to come home, Love.
