30 | In the Dark

EVERYTHING WAS BLURRY AND DARK. First I noticed a pain in my head, just above my right ear. It prickled like hot needles stabbing, or thousands of tiny pins all hitting at once. I rolled my head to the left then right, noticing how stiff my neck was. In fact, how stiff and sore my whole body was: everywhere ached.

I took me minutes to recognise why the wound on my head felt hot – I was bleeding. I could feel the warm liquid oozing down the side of my neck. I tried to bring my hands up to probe the injury but they wouldn't move. I opened my eyes. Where was I? The room span too fast for me to pull it into focus. And all the while the ringing in my ears continued, a morbid soundtrack to my silent despair.

The last thing I remembered was falling down the stairs in the safe house. After that, my memories became jumbled, like a fractured hard-drive. I'd been running from Dmitry. Had Alex turned up in time to save me? Why else would I still be alive?

I closed my eyes and focused on what I could feel, since I couldn't see well enough yet. I was on the ground – rough, concrete ground, it felt like – with my legs straight out in front of me and my back against a wall. My hands were behind my back, bound by a thick knot of rope, just like my feet. I couldn't move.

The air in the room was cold, like a draught was getting in from somewhere. I shivered, spine pressed painfully against the wall. It was hard to open my eyes because my lids felt heavy and swollen, and my mind seemed to have been blanketed in cotton wool. Someone had probably drugged me. But who, and why?

An answer came in the form of a burly man throwing open the metal door which finally permitted a flood of light into the tiny room. I blinked, eyes adjusting to the brightness as the man's heavy footsteps came closer.

"Who are you?" I demanded weakly, squinting up at him. From my position on the floor, he seemed like a giant.

A smirk tugged at the giant's face in response.

"Where am I?" I continued to interrogate. I wanted to sound fierce and commanding but my voice came out hoarse. For some reason, it was hard to swallow as my throat felt like it had been lined with sand paper. Still, I persisted, "tell me what's going on!"

"What's goin' on?" The giant asked rhetorically in a thick cockney accent, hands shifting to the back of his belt where a gun was tucked. He pulled it out and examined the weapon casually as he shrugged, "whats goin' on is that if you don't keep your mouth shut one of these bullets will make sure you do."

I frowned, "I don't think so."

"Oh, really?" He raised a disinterested brow. "And why's that?"

"If you wanted me dead you'd have let Dmitry finish the job."

"Interesting deduction." He clicked the safety of the gun off, making the sound reverberate around the room. "But a flawed one."

I was terrified inside but I couldn't allow myself to show it. I just needed to waste time. Alex would be on his way, and once he got here I would be safe. Yes, I had to be brave. Keep the giant talking.

"How is it flawed?" I demanded, keeping my eyes fixed on the gun. His fingers twitched against the metal like an agitated cat might twitch its tail.

The man snorted arrogantly. It was only as he threw his head back in amusement that I realised just how young he was. He must only have been my age, perhaps a couple of years older. He wasn't wise or well-practiced like I'd thought. I could use that to my advantage.

"Why would I discuss our plan with the enemy?" he chuckled. He must have come in here for a reason but at least for now he seemed to have been sufficiently side-tracked.

"I'm the enemy?" I asked coyly, flashing him an innocent smile.

"Well you ain't exactly on our side," he pointed out with a shrug.

"Who said I was on any side?"

The man chuckled at this, his whole, thick-set body shaking until he started to cough and straightened himself up again before speaking. "You don't fuck around with Alexei Ivanov and not wind up on his side," he said.

"I'm not!" I immediately denied, cheeks heating red. So much for a poker face. "I mean, I've never slept with him. I barely know him."

"Right." The man took a step closer and I could tell he was getting bored with my idle chit-chat.

"So whose side are you on?" I asked, wishing my hands and feet hadn't been bound. If only I had a way of fighting back – of lashing out at this guy. I tried fiddling with the ropes behind my back but unlike in the movies the knots didn't budge.

"Look, I'm gettin' sick of hearin' your voice." He span the gun between his hands as if to emphasise his point. "If Alex keeps you in the dark this much then 'e deserves to lose you."

"He doesn't keep me in the dark," I defended.

"Yet you 'ave no idea what's goin' on."

"How could Alex have warned me when he had no idea himself?" I shot back.

My words seemed to have caught the man's attention. His eyes shifted from the gun as he began to watch me with interest. "You really think Ivanov 'ad no idea?" He sounded genuinely curious.

"I wouldn't be here if he did," I responded simply.

He pointed to my shackled feet, "yet 'ere you are. And now it's time for you to come with me."

"Where are you taking me?"

The giant ignored me as he pocketed his gun and stepped closer, leaning down. "Stay still," he commanded, reaching for my legs, "it'll make things easier."

I took the opportunity as I saw it. He bent down, arms reaching for the tops of my thighs and waist, but just as he came close enough I rolled onto my side so that my whole body was parallel to the floor.

"Son of a—" he began but was cut off as i used every ounce of strength I had to fling my legs towards his groin. Unfortunately, this move was much more difficult than I'd anticipated with my legs tied together; they collided just above his knee but made little impact.

My feet hit the ground again with a jarring impact and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. Damn, concrete was hard.

Before I had the chance to recover the giant had drawn his gun and pointed it straight at my head. We were both breathing hard from the exchange.

"Move another muscle and I'll shoot," he warned. "I don't care who wants you alive."

I didn't say anything but instead lay there panting, totally exhausted of whatever energy i had before. The pain in my head was immense now; I closed my eyes for a second hoping for relief, but then everything felt like it was spinning.

"You...have any aspirin?" I slurred, totally delirious. "Or para...para..."

I never finished my sentence. There was a grunt as the giant hefted my weight into his burly arms and from then on everything became muffled, as though my head was submerged underwater.

For a while – I couldn't tell how long – everything was dark. With each step the giant took my head pounded and a pulse of pain shot through my body, but I was too out of it to care.

I finally came around again when we stopped moving, forcing my groggy eyes to open. We were now in a huge, empty warehouse, stood right at the back.

What was in the middle of the warehouse made me lose my breath. A solitary metal chair which no doubt had been welded to the ground was occupied by a figure I would recognise anywhere. I didn't need Alexei to turn around for me to know it was him sitting leisurely in the chair and smoking a cigar as if this whole situation wasn't completely and utterly mental.

At first I was confused and angry, wondering why the hell I had been left in the dark about all of this if it had something to do with Alex. I was furious and terrified all at once, because if this was a plan devised by the man I had trusted, where did that leave me? Very far up shit creek and certainly without a paddle.

"Stay still," the giant grunted as I began to struggle against his grip.

When we got closer, I realised that Alex was not alone. A man stood opposite him...a man whose face made my heart skip a beat. Luca Gambino, the man from the Italian restaurant I had taken my father to. He looked even more menacing now than he had then, a fedora tilted low on his head and a cigar between his lips. He stood with his hands on his hips, suit jacket tucked back behind them so that several gun holsters could be seen.

"Well, well, well, Alexei," he drawled, stalking around the metal chair so that he was stood with his back to Alex and facing us. "We have company."

Finally it hit me that Alex hadn't been involved in any of this. He hadn't a clue.

"Take her to the other seat," Luca ordered the giant, pointing to a plastic chair which sat a few meters away from the metal one Alex was on.

"Get off me," I snarled when I was dragged forward, but there was no way I could put up enough of a fight to free myself. Even if I did manage to by some miracle, where would I go? What would I do? I had no weapons, no guns or knives, no method of self defence. My dad had tried to get me to go to karate lessons after mum died as an outlet for my emotions, but that hadn't lasted longer than a few months. I couldn't even remember the basics.

Alex continued smoking casually, showing no interest at all in the situation, as I was dragged onto the metal chair. He had been glaring silently at Luca, but the moment his eyes flickered to me I noticed his body tense just a fraction before he relaxed again.

"Alex!" I called out as my body was practically dropped onto the chair and I saw the giant retrieving his gun. He rearranged me so that my hands were behind my back, pulling my shoulder joints at an awkward angle.

"This hurts," I snapped, letting out a string of profanity so creative I wondered where I'd learnt any of it.

For a fraction of a second, I caught Alexei smirking before the giant's gun butted into my head and his expression rearranged into one of neutrality.

God that hurt. "You fucker!"

"She certainly has some fight in her, doesn't she?" Luca seemed to be outwardly amused by my outburst, but anyone could tell from the way he prowled between our seats that I had majorly pushed his buttons. "Annoying, like a yapping dog."

"Bastard."

"Careful, tesoro, you know what people do to annoying dogs." From his belt he produced a switchblade which glinted under the fluorescent light strips, stalking over to me until he stood behind my chair. I could feel myself visibly shaking as one of Luca's hands came to rest on my right shoulder, fingers curling around the base of my neck.

"Let go of me," I demanded. My voice faltered at the feel of cold metal pressed to my throat.

Ignoring everything I said, Luca leaned down until his breath washed over my face, lips skimming my earlobe. "We put bad dogs down," he whispered.

I caught Alexei's eye across the room but his stone cold gaze was fixed on Luca. He wore a white shirt with no suit jacket, the pristine material now stained red with his tie half unfastened and hanging at an angle. How was he staying so calm? How did none of this effect him? I could feel my heart racing; was his still as stone? My breaths were rugged; did he breathe at all? He was a marble statue, uncaring and unmoved; he was impenetrable. Untouchable. The complete reverse of the man I met all those months ago. Was this the real Alex?

"But perhaps there will be no need for putting any mutts down today, eh Alex?" Luca released me from his touch and I felt my body sag with relief.

Alex spat the stub of his cigar onto the floor. "Why am I here, Gambino?" he sighed with obvious disinterest.

"Isn't that just the question," Luca smirked. He had made his way back over to my chair and began stroking my hair, pulling it out of a ponytail and then twisting it between his fingers tightly.

"Don't touch her," Alex warned in a low growl. I noticed he had a deep bruise forming along his jawline and a bloody nose, fresh blood still trickling down his chin.

The other man chuckled, jerking a fistful of my hair so sharply that my head snapped backwards and I screamed. "Hit a nerve, have I?"

"She has nothing to do with this."

"She has everything to do with this." Luca leaned his face closer to mine. "Such a pretty girl, too."

I considered spitting in his face but with my head bent at this awkward angle I knew it would be impossible.

"Let her go and we can talk."

Finally Luca released my hair. "Let her go?" he chuckled. "Let her just walk out of here? I don't think so." In a movement so swift I didn't see it coming his foot connected with the back of my chair sending me flying forward.

I landed on my knees hard and cried out in pain.

"Grace –" Alex called causing my eyes to snap up to him. It was the most unsettled I'd seen him look since I walked in.

"What does she mean to you?" Luca demanded. I was on the floor, face pressed hard into the concrete and unable to pull myself up. I was too stunned to even cry.

"She works for me," Alex said through clenched teeth, his eyes never leaving my own.

"So she means nothing beyond that?"

A staring contest broke out between the two men until Luca grew bored. He stood in front of me, blocking my view of Alex. His shiny brogues touched the top of my head where the gun had hit. "Get up."

My eyes rolled to his but I knew I couldn't move. "Go to hell," I spat.

"Wrong answer."

In one quick movement Luca bent down and wrapped my hair around his fist, yanking me up. Until that moment, I'd felt numb. Like I was watching a situation that couldn't possibly concern me, like everything that was happening was happening to someone else.

Nothing compared to the agony of his fist in my hair as gravity fought against the movement. My bleeding knees scraped back and forth against the ground as I struggled to stand with my feet bound together. My already tender head felt like it was on fire, pain  like I'd never experienced before.

In the background I could hear Alex roaring, calling out a string of profanities and threats but Luca paid him no heed.

"Please," I cried as tears finally started to fall. "Please stop."

Just as quickly as he'd reached for me Luca let my hair go so that I fell to my knees before him.

"Don't cry, bella," he whispered, tilting my head up with an index finger. "You really are so...perfect."

(Beauty)

His thumb wiped away the tears that had fallen my eyes as he leaned down, and for a second I thought he was going to whisper another threat until his lips connected with mine.

Instantly I recoiled, screaming another string of insults as a  smile widened on his face.

Luca turned to Alex looking pleased. Alex, however, looked impassive. As cold and unmoving as granite. He glared at the other man, and I noticed that his hands had clenched into fists by his side.

"Touch her again and it will be the last thing you ever do." It was said so calmly, so dispassionately, voice barely above a whisper.

It chilled me to the bones.

Luca seemed disturbed for only a moment before he recollected himself. He had mastered the art of masking all emotions almost as well as Alex had.

"Then we talk."

He strode across the room and picked up the plastic chair I'd been sat on earlier, placing it down right beside me. Then, taking out another cigar, he lounged onto the chair, kicking his feet out in front of him and crossing them at the ankle. He was the picture of calm.

"You see," Luca began around his cigar, "I have something you want–" he picked up a strand of my hair and began playing with it, "–and you have something I want."

I didn't miss the twitch of Alex's fist when Luca touched my hair. "You have something of mine," he corrected flatly. "I, however, have nothing that belongs to you."

"Be that as it may." Luca shrugged, opening his arms out in a wide gesture. "Who has the upper hand here?"

Alex stared at me for a moment, eyes raking up and down my body, before he switched his gaze back to Luca. A smirk appeared on his face. "You think you have the upper hand?"

Suddenly my blood ran cold in my veins. Didn't Luca have the other hand?

Was I a useless bargaining chip?

A/N YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARE ABOUT MY LIFE BUT HERE'S A SUPER LONG NOTE:

Okay so I have to do *some* justifying of this chapter, I know. I've tried to stay away from common mafia ploys for most of the novel so far, and I know that this scene has already been written a thousand times by hundreds of different people. HOWEVER. I ultimately think it is more than likely that any woman getting close to a mob boss would be used against them in some way, at some point. Not to mention the fact that Alex is basically a newbie at all of this, so he wouldn't necessarily have known how to prevent that from happening as effectively as someone more experienced.

I also think Alex needed a jolt into reality as to how he feels about Grace.

Anyway, I'm essentially acknowledging that this chapter is over-done but am keeping it in the story anyway.

As for my two-month-long absence, well, I've been busy. Right now I've got uni exam revision to do so that's taking up most of my time (sigh). That means that I am only writing when and if I feel like it. Updates could come twice a week or not at all – I simply can't say. Initially I'd put the book on hold until my exams were done but I've decided against that since I've been feeling so creative lately.

ALSO, excitingly...

I originally planned this book as a stand-alone but I've realised we're literally 30 chapters in and it feels like Alex and Grace's story is nowhere near finished. I've been thinking, therefore, of creating a Book Two.

Having said that, I kind of shot myself in the foot by calling the book 'Alexei and Grace' because how the hell do you create a sequel name for that??? Any suggestions would be more than appreciated and I'll dedicate the (theoretical) second book to you if I choose yours.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO FOLLOW MY OTHER ACCOUNT/MAFIA SERIES: updates have started again on AtBL so head on over to @behindthewardrobe

Anyway, have a lovely week

-e