◽A CHILD'S GAME? II◽
◽MARIAN'S POV◽
Being tased felt like my body was hijacked by a lightning bolt. Every muscle seized, my brain screamed for control, but nothing responded. I was aware of everything but could do nothing about it. It was like my body shut down, leaving me trapped in my own skin.
When I woke up, it was to Lorenzo shaking me and Martini telling him to stop. Slowly, I became aware of my surroundings again. I was lying on the living room floor, surrounded by the boys.
And Carmello.
Carmello, with his ever-present scowl, looked like he wanted to strangle someone. “sei proprio stupido,” {Are you fucking stupid} he barked. No idea what he said but he sounded sexy as hell.
I groaned and rolled my eyes clutching my chest. Was this how you were supposed to wake someone who had just came back from death?
Carmello didn’t wait for a response. He stormed off towards the stairs, muttering something about everyone leaving.
The boys groaned in unison, but I smiled at Lorenzo, eager to know if we had won. His face was a bit swollen, which worried me. “What happened to your face?” I asked, reaching out instinctively.
He grinned. “I won,” he said proudly.
“At the cost of your sharp jawline? That sucks,” I blurted, instantly regretting my words. The boys burst out laughing, and I felt my cheeks go hot.
Lorenzo handed me the box with my new iPhone, and I nearly jumped with excitement. TikTok, here I come.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I sat at the dining table, trying to remember my password to set up my phone, when suddenly, it was snatched out of my hands.
“What the—?” I started.
Carmello tood over me, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t think someone who’s a flight risk should have a phone.”
I bit my tongue, resisting the urge to argue. “I earned that phone,” I pouted, attempting my best puppy-dog eyes. “I won’t contact anyone, I swear.”
Who would I contact the police, everyone knew the police worked for them,
If it isn't so, why haven't I seen anything or heard anything about me going missing. At first I had thought I hadn't made the news but then, my parent were brutally murdered and it just felt like my family disappeared off the face of the earth.
He scrolled through the phone before finally dropping it back on the table. “How could you be dumb enough to agree to that game?” he asked, sounding genuinely bewildered. All I could here was his accent.
Damn.
“It was better than sitting here, bored out of my mind,” I replied. “Besides, I experienced being tased. Isn’t that fun?”
His expression didn’t soften in the slightest. “You make the dumbest decisions,” he concluded flatly, turning to walk away.
“Can I please have my phone back now?” I asked and he just dropped it on the table
I was left confused as to why he’d taken it just to give it back
Without another word, he disappeared up the stairs. I pouted, staring at my phone, but then it hit me
We just had a normal conversation, and I didn’t pee my pants from fear. Maybe he wasn’t so angry at me anymore.
Smiling to myself, I realized that, for the first time in a while, I didn’t feel like I was walking on eggshells around him..
But I couldn’t understand why that made me happy. I had been kidnapped against my will, why was I happy that my kidnapper was finally having a normal conversation with me?
Thinking back, I should have just asked for my old phone. What was I supposed to do with a new phone without my SIM card, where all my contacts were saved?
I rolled my eyes. Even though I had promised not to contact anyone, I would.
It was simply the smartest thing to do. They might kill me tomorrow. Not that I really minded dying—there was nothing to live for. But I knew I’d never forgive myself if I died without at least trying to figure out what really happened to my sister.
I scrolled through TikTok, unable to comment or like videos because I wasn’t signed in. It was frustrating.
I searched for my friends’ accounts, but something felt weird.
off.
Their accounts were now locked and private. Farian’s account had been completely deactivated. Lauren, who was chronically online and had built a pretty good following for herself, was nowhere to be found.
ns3.139.86.128da2
