Velvet Chains (Preview) - Faye Pierce

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Chapter One

Isabelle

I was in a terrible mood. I knew it, my friends knew it, hell, even the noisy kid who sat behind me on the flight knew it.

The moment the plane landed, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my family to let them know that my plane had landed safely in Italy.

“My valium didn’t kick in, can you believe that? I’m so stressed out that even Valium couldn’t calm me.” I texted my mom, who had been trying to get me to back out of this trip for the past two weeks.

Half a second later, my phone rang. “Hi mom.” I said.

“You know, it’s not too late to turn around and get on a plane back home.” She suggested, and that made me laugh.

“I can’t do that, and you know why.”

“I know, I know, you’re the maid of honor. Honestly, I don’t know why you accepted. If she’s going to have a destination wedding, the most she can do is provide for your transportation.” I sighed. It was a topic that mom had a lot to say about.

“Mom, I’m already here. I just want to make the best of it.” I responded in a tired tone, feeling resigned. Already, my mind was running through the checklist of things I had to do. As the maid of honor, I had some tasks and although I told them I would be late, I was still responsible for helping the bride.

Once the call ended, I considered switching my phone off. My attention was drawn to the carousel, where I spotted my bag. In one swift motion, I stepped forward and pulled it off. From the corner of my eyes, I could see a hand reach for my bag too, but I swiftly moved it out of the way. I didn’t bother looking at the person because I believed it was probably a mistake and I was in a hurry to take a shower and take a nap.

“Hey! Signorina!” I heard someone yell behind me alongside a pair of frenzied footsteps running in my direction. The voice was in a thick Italian accent, and although I hadn’t seen the speaker, I could practically feel the magnetism rolling off the low voice.

I looked around briefly, but the crush of the crowd made it hard for me to see anything, so I quickly put it out of my mind.

My arm felt weighed down a bit by my bag, but I didn’t think anything of it. I was tired and cranky, and no doubt that made my luggage feel heavier than it had when I had checked it in.

“I just need to get to the hotel and rest.” I mumbled to myself, feeling quite exhausted from both the trip and the crush of people all around me.

As I walked, I kept my head down, relying on spotting the feet before me to avoid bumping into anyone. It proved to be an efficient method until I spotted a pair of black leather shoes blocking my way. Without looking up, I moved to the left, intending to sidestep the person, but the person moved to the left too. When I moved to the right, the person did the same. Finally, I lost my temper and looked up so I could face whoever it was squarely.

At first glance, I was stunned. A man stood before me with tanned skin, broad shoulders, dark hair and even darker eyes. He had a sharp look in his eyes, like an eagle looking at its prey. He was wearing a dark suit that sat on his body so well that I had no doubt it was tailored. A had a gold watch on his wrist, and his hands were clenched into fists.

“Who sent you? Where are you going with my bag?” He asked, making me raise an eyebrow. I turned my gaze to the bag I was pulling behind me. It was black with a bright red tag dangling from its handle. It was a distinctive thing, so I knew that I was not mistaken. It felt like the interruption from the man before me was some kind of scam.

“This is my bag. You need to get lost and try your scam somewhere else.” His eyebrows raised at my words, and the look in his eyes grew even sharper, like an unsheathed blade.

“American?” He asked in a thick Italian accent.

“What’s it to you?” I asked.

“Lady, you have my bag and you’re refusing to give it back,” he said as in one swift motion, he stepped forward and grabbed the bag.

“Lady? Buddy, I’m saying you’re trying to scam the wrong girl. You think I don’t know what my bag looks like? I just had it on the carousel.” I felt like the unreasonable one as my voice grew louder, but I didn’t take kindly to being called lady.

Something about how loud I was being must have frightened him because he took a step back before looking around. However, he couldn’t move too far because we were both clutching the bag.

“Let’s be reasonable, why would I want your bag?” He asked after taking a deep breath.

“I could ask you the same thing, pal.” Him telling me to be reasonable just managed to piss me off even more.

“I’ve tried to be nice but I don’t have time for this, lady, let go of my bag now.” All traces of patience were gone as he spoke. Something about his aura shifted as he looked angry and dangerous. The shift scared me for one moment before I felt a quick rush of courage.

“This bag is mine, and since you’re not going to listen, I’m just going to prove it to you.” I finally snapped, tired of going back and forth with him.

I swiftly pinched the zipper before pulling it open so he could see the contents of the bag.

“All the stuff in here is mine…” My words trailed off as my gaze fell on the contents of the bag.

Money. Stacks of it. Clear bags of white powder. Maybe drugs. And worse, four black handguns. There was no mistaking them for anything else.

I could feel the blood drain out of my face. Immediately after I saw those things, I let go of the bag as fast as I could. My hands started trembling and I slowly lifted my gaze from the bag to the man holding it. I couldn’t see the expression on his face through the blur of the tears that were forming in my eyes.

“See? Definitely not my bag.” I managed to stammer. However, I didn’t need to see the look on his face to tell that I was in serious trouble.

Chapter Two

Vincenzo

I had just met this woman, but she was already getting on my nerves in ways that I couldn’t have imagined. I could see the fear in her hazel brown eyes and I couldn’t help but sigh. All of this could have been avoided if she had not been so stubborn. I had started to get suspicious when she had been so adamant to claim that the bag was hers. Who had sent her?

I looked into her eyes and I thought I saw a hint of a plea there, but I knew I couldn’t let her go. This woman might not have just been a random stranger. Who knows which one of my enemies may have sent her?

I zipped up the bag quickly, making sure not to take my eyes off of her. She had already seen its contents, who knew what she would do next?

With one hand I picked up the bag and slung it over my shoulder, with the other, I pulled her close to me, her brown curls coming loose from her updo and cascading down her back. Quickly, I brought out my gun from my jacket and held it firmly against her small waist. I could feel her whole body go stiff the moment she felt the cold metal against her side.

“Don’t make a scene,” I whispered, moving even closer to her. I took in a whiff of her scent. She smelled amazing. I could feel every hair on my body standing straight. Who the fuck was this strange woman, and why did she have such an effect on me’ I liked it and hated it at the same time.

“Focus,” I thought, snapping myself out of it. Now was not the time to bask in this strange woman’s scent, or even admire how beautiful her hair sat in soft curls on her shoulders.

Her eyes were now as wide as golf balls and looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. I could see that she was scared and it almost made me smile; what had happened to the confident woman from a minute ago? It was then that I noticed that her eyes were not just hazel brown, they also had emerald green specs in them.

“You’re coming with me,” I whispered, pulling her close and taking in more of her scent. She smelled like roses with a hint of chocolate, and it was slowly becoming addictive.

“One wrong move and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

I could tell that she understood the gravity of the situation then.

“Walk,” I said, holding her tighter. I made sure there was enough force in my voice that she would take me seriously.

I ignored the looks of people around me and continued to move towards the entrance. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but I knew that my face and my demeanor was keeping them at bay. They dared not approach. When we got there, I signaled to my driver to bring the car closer. He nodded and moved the car in front of us.

“Where…?” she started to ask, but a look from me shut her up immediately. She was practically shaking, but I didn’t care. If she was really my enemy, she deserved what was coming to her.

My driver stepped out and opened the back door for me to enter. I kept ignoring the inquisitive looks of those around me and shoved her into the back of the car.

“Get in,” I said. She seemed like she was about to resist, so I pushed her harder until she was fully seated. I couldn’t afford for her to make a scene in a place that was as crowded as the airport, it would not end well.

I didn’t need to tell my driver what to do, because as soon as the door closed, he sped off, away from the airport, leaving the bustling terminal behind. I didn’t take my eyes off her for a second. I had a feeling that if I let my guard down, she would do something stupid. I watched her, waiting for her to make a move, but she didn’t; she just sat there, looking like a deer caught in headlights. I kept the gun trained on her still, unwilling to give her any chance; who knew what she was capable of. I no longer had to hide it, so I lifted it a little bit higher, directly above her chest.

All of a sudden, she started breathing heavily, casing the gun to move up and down. She was looking around frantically, as if she suddenly realized how much danger she was in.

“Keep quiet and behave,” I said, lifting the gun so that it was now pointed at her head. She calmed down instantly, raising her hands a little as if trying to tell me that she was up to nothing. I let my grip on the gun relax, not because I trusted her, but because I knew that I could overpower her if she tried anything. The car was now very silent, the tension so thick that it was palpable. I cleared my throat and began to speak.

“We are heading to my estate. There, we will have a little chat about your involvement in all of this.”

She said nothing, she just continued to stare into the distance. She was now gripping her thighs. I could tell that she was scared. Even though she was scared, she clenched her jaw, staring stubbornly ahead.

I suddenly became curious about her. Who exactly was she? If she had been sent to spy on me, at this point she probably would have started begging for her life and spilling the secrets of the master that sent her, but instead she was quiet. She said nothing, she didn’t even look at me. She looked scared and stubborn at the same time. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of her.

She then turned to look out the window, gazing at the sights around us. It was like she was looking at everything except me. I shrugged, thinking that it was probably because I was her captor.

I looked outside and saw that the sun was already setting over Palermo. Though it was beautiful, it meant I had to hurry and get to the bottom of the situation that I found myself in.

Her eyes were now darting nervously around, I just watched her. It was good that she was nervous, that was more of a normal reaction than her staring straight ahead. She was probably reacting that way because of the opulent gate we were driving into.

The estate, a sprawling villa nestled among the trees sat ominously at the top of a hill. I glanced at her and I could see that she was still looking around nervously. Her face was now pale, and her knuckles white as she gripped her seat.

The tall gates were open, revealing meticulously maintained gardens and

the imposing mansion that served as the Caruso family’s stronghold.

“Out,” I ordered, as soon as the car came to a stop.

She hesitated for a moment before she finally stepped out. She took one hesitant step after the other before she stood, looking around her in awe and a little bit of apprehensiveness.

I quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards the entrance. She got the message and started to move, matching my steps. Soon we passed the foyer and went up the staircase. I could tell that she was trying to hide her emotions, I could tell that the house was very impressive to her. I had lived there all my life so I was no longer moved by the grandeur of the mansion.

Soon, we reached the guest room and I dragged her to the bed, waiting for her to snap out of whatever she was feeling.

“You will stay here,” I said, in a calm tone. I wanted her to understand that I was serious, “Don’t even try to escape,” I said, looking straight at her.

I could see a flash of defiance in her eyes, but I ignored it. She would realize soon enough that there was no escape. Even if she tried to run, she wouldn’t get far. The room was far too high for her to use the window, and if she ran, one of my staff members would shoot her before even letting me know, because that was just standard practice, and they were always watching.

I closed the door behind me and locked it. I waited a moment, knowing I would hear her try to open it. When she did, I almost laughed, then I shook my head and left. She just doesn’t listen.

“Pietro!” I called, putting as much volume behind my voice as I could. I knew he was around the house, and I needed him now.

He appeared soon enough, with an eyebrow raised, as if asking me what I needed. Pietro and I had always been different. He was a calmer, more relaxed version of me, but that didn’t mean that he was any less dangerous. We had received the same training, we had had to, for our survival. Even now, he was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt with sunglasses while I was in a dress shirt, pants and dress shoes. He was my second in command, the one I asked to do almost everything when I wasn’t available. I trusted my brother with my life.

“Take the suitcase to the buyer,” I said, giving him the box, “make sure everything goes smoothly.” Pietro already knew about the suitcase so I didn’t need to explain too much. He also understood how important the suitcase was and why it had to get to the buyer. Pietro nodded, not needing an explanation.

After he left, I went back to the guest room and unlocked the door, taking a moment to prepare myself for the interrogation ahead.

When I entered the room, she was pacing nervously. She was moving so fast that it was almost dizzying. She also didn’t notice that I had entered the room until I stood in front of her. She stopped immediately, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. I stood on the tips of my toes like a cheetah about to pounce. I didn’t know what to expect from her.

“What is your name?” I asked.

She looked confused and then shocked.

“I said what is your name, do you not speak English?”

“Isabelle,” she said. She looked both confused and shocked that she had spoken..

“Sit, Isabelle,” I commanded, pointing to a chair by the window.

She looked like she had something to say, but she moved quietly to the chair, albeit reluctantly.

“Why are you in Palermo?” I asked, standing directly in front of her. I made sure to sound as serious as possible, so that she knew I wasn’t playing.

Isabelle took a deep breath then started talking. She was talking about a lot of things but at the same time she wasn’t saying much. I realized that she had started rambling out of nervousness. I let her speak, perhaps I could find something useful if I listened well.

“I’m here for my best friend’s wedding. I didn’t even want to come, but she insisted. My ex-boyfriend is the groom, and it’s just… it’s a nightmare, honestly. I thought your suitcase was mine. It was an honest mistake!”

I raised an eyebrow, watching her speak. For someone who seemed so quiet, she certainly talked a lot. It was a bit comical, the speed at which she was talking. If not for the seriousness of the situation, I might have laughed.

“You really expect me to believe everything you just said?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

“Yes!” She answered immediately. I just continued to stare at her, really studying her. I searched her eyes and saw that there was nothing but earnestness there. In my line of business, you had to be very good at reading people, and I was not sensing a single bit of deceit from her.

“Do you understand what you saw in that suitcase?”

I was leaning down now, making sure that my eyes were on the same level as hers.

She nodded, swallowing hard, so hard that I could see the lump go down her throat.

“Ye-yes, I’m not stupid,” she was stuttering now, just like that, her confidence has evaporated, “I know what it is, I also know that it’s illegal.” She paused, searching my eyes. She was trying to figure out if she had said something wrong.

“Oh really?” I asked, raising a brow, “do you understand what happens to people who get involved in things like this?”

She froze. Leaning back a little, I could tell that I had scared her. Good. I maintained my stance, making sure not to look away from her eyes. I saw see fear in them for a second, then it faded away, she now looked defiant.

“You can’t kill me,” she said, her voice firm at first, then trembling. “I’m supposed to be at the wedding. If I don’t show up, people will notice. Authorities will be alerted. I’m the maid of honor. It’s the wedding of the year.”

I leaned back, looking at her, trying to figure out if she was lying. She never once looked away from my gaze. She was telling the truth.

If she was right, then I really couldn’t get rid of her. I couldn’t afford to draw attention from the American police right now. It could jeopardize my position in the election for the Cupola, I needed to be careful.

“Fine,” I said, with a long sigh. I was going to play along, for now, “if your story checks out, you can go to the wedding.”

I rolled my eyes when she mumbled a weak “Thank you.” She must’ve thought she’d be free to go.

She didn’t know I had a condition.

“But, I’m coming with you. And I won’t let you leave my sight, not even for a second.”