Blood and Roses.
Chapter 4
Ava's legs barely skimmed the floor as she walked round the mansion.
It had been boring the last week with just being fed and left alone, no one to talk to.
Her hands caressed the walls as she walked through the walkway. She pushed a door open and walked in, it was a mini library but the books in there were about economics and business. Above the shelves hung a portrait.
A man - dressed in black, icy cold jet black eyes, a tattoo peeking at his neck and long black hair that was rare in urban times resting on his shoulders.
Her gaze lingered on it for a minute too long before she turned around and walked out of the room.
Back downstairs, a wooden door caught her attention. A dragon carved into the woods shimmering under the lights. She placed her hands on the door knob feeling the coldness and pushed but it did not budge.
She pushed again yet nothing.
"Ava" She heard her name being called and turned around to see Aunt Zena walking towards her. "What are you doing?" Zena asked and walked over.
"Why is it locked?" Ava tilted her head to look at Aunt Zena.
"I don't know, it's not open to us, you should not be here" Aunt Zena said and pulled her away.
"What's in the room?" Ava wondered.
Aunt Zena pulled her to the sitting room but she followed her to the kitchen.
"Aunt Zena, how long have you been working here?" Ava asked.
"About 30 years ago, I was Sandro's nanny before becoming his cook," Aunt Zena smiled.
"Do you know why I'm here?" Ava asked and Aunt Zena stilled.
"I'm not sure, he had not brought any girl home before, I think you are different" Aunt Zena said.
"I want to negotiate with him, maybe paying the debt slowly" Ava sighed.
"Don't," Aunt Zena warned.
"Why?" Ava raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe if you want to go to the casinos and throw away his little kindness of keeping you say from there, you can do it, he hates negotiation" Aunt Zena said and pulled Ava out of the kitchen placing a bowl of fruits and a cup of milk before her. "You should stay here," She suggested.
Ava shook her head as Aunt Zena returned to the kitchen. Anytime, she asks Aunt Zena a question about Alessandro, she was always tight-lipped about it.
She picked up a fruit and took a bite from it while switching on the TV.
The TV lit with recent news; Alessandro Moretti, CEO of Moretti holdings returns to US after half a year away. The reporter's voice echoed in the quiet house.
Ava's chest tightened as her breathing became rapid - he was coming home today. She had heard whispers from the other staff earlier but...it was still sudden.
Back in the kitchen, Zena looked over her shoulder to Ava munching on the fruits when her mind wandered to a memory she had buried deep.
Twenty years ago, Don Moretti was hosting a late night gathering, she had weaved through the crowd searching for him - Sandro. The air smelled of smoke, strong drinks and strong cologne with men talking in deep voices.
"Sandro" She whispered only to her hearing. And then she saw him, in the east wing of the building - standing over a groaning man lying in the pool of his own blood.
A broken wine bottle stained with blood was held by Sandro as his cold eyes were fixed on the dying man.
"Sandro" She called with shaken breaths.
The barely eight year old boy turned over to her.
"Zena," He whispered.
"Sandro, what have you done? " She questioned her voice below a whisper.
"He touched me, I told him to stop but he did not let go," Sandro said in a voice too icy for an eight year old.
"I know," She consoled holding him close to her. Her eyes found the almost lifeless man on the floor, he was Lucas, one of Don Moretti most trusted aides, with hands that refused to stay with him - all maids had complained about it.
" We should tell mom" Sandro voiced out. " But dad should not hear about this," He added. "I warned him" His cold voice sounded.
"You did nothing wrong but next time you should tell me first" She said, holding his trembling hands.
But he never did.
The voice of the reporter cut through her thoughts and she brought the plate of snacks to Ava.
"You should stay here" She repeated to the wide eyed girl.
She shook her head helplessly when there was no response and returned to the kitchen.
She was afraid for Ava, she should stay quietly at the kindness Alessandro already gave her by not dumping her at a casino.
Because Alessandro was never a man to negotiate with.
He was a storm you survived.
The house became even more quiet this night than every other night - Hushed whispers, the men walking through the house putting last touches to the house.
Aunt Zena walked over to Ava who was sitting on the couch after dinner.
"You have to go to your room and stay there throughout the night" Zena said and pulled her up, supporting her to her room.
Ava could not see that always smiling Zena, she just saw a nervous faced woman.
Ava sat on her bed, her mind flashing to the images of Alessandro that were shown on TV. She cleaned her eyes but sleep was not forthcoming and then she heard it, the sound of a car driving into the mansion.
She quickly shoved the blanket out of her body and walked over to the window looking down. A black car drove in with tinted glass closely followed by another and several others.
And then they began alighting the cars - men on black suits hurried over to open the door of the third car - a pair of black shoes entered her line of view before he alighted fully from the car.
The man in the portrait.
The man in those images.
The man in control of her fate.
Alessandro Moretti.
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