Page 17 of De Luca: The Sinister Game

I swallow hard when I look at the picture of my sister, on her knees, chained to the wall behind her, and dried tears on her cheeks. This is real. This is as real as it gets. Once Giada apologizes for her crying when I was only being nice to her, I grab my bag and head downstairs to say my goodbyes. Although I reassured her it's okay, I have much bigger issues to deal with. I don’t know what they want, but I’m going to find out, and then I’m leaving.

Slipping into my car, I put the address he texted me into my GPS and leave. It’s a twenty-minute drive from Giada’s house, and that’s a relief because I’ll be there in under their one hour demand. As I make the drive to the unknown address, I run through the different things my mind thinks they could want. I come up empty because yes; I know Dante has a thing for me. But Drake? That man hates me just for being alive. I have done nothing to him. I’ve always been pleasant, yet every time I’ve run into him, he looks at me like he wants to tear me limb from limb. If I’ve earned his ire, then I don’t know what it is.

For a moment, as I pull into the driveway of this mystery home, I wonder if she fucked one of them to end up chained in what looks like a basement, but I dismiss it. This is why you don’t get mixed up with men like this. It’s the exact reason I’ve told Dante no every time he’s asked me out. My skin tingles with the need to ease the pain. Right now, I can't use the razor blades in my purse, although I always carry them with me. I’m sure they know I’ve pulled up to their mansion. I assume one of them owns it. Traveling the circular driveway, and park as the gates that were open close behind me, giving me the feeling of being trapped. It feels like walls are closing in on me and I put my car in park and step outside into the cool air. It was warm earlier but now that I’m here it feels cold. I wonder if it’s the weather or if these men carry the coldness within them.

I glance around at the neatly trimmed hedges. There are flowers planted all around the front of the house, and it makes it look non-threatening, but somehow, I know better. Danger lurks inside this beautiful building. The outside is a beautiful sandstone, and I can picture a princess being kept here. The only thing missing is the drawbridge with hungry snakes in the water below. I snicker to myself as I realize this castle has snakes. But they’re inside, waiting for me.

After taking a deep breath, I step up to the porch and ring the doorbell as I take in the black iron doors with an intricate swirly design. There’s no doubt these doors cost more than my car is worth, which is sad, but I will not think about that right now.

It’s Dante that opens the door and waves me inside. I step into the foyer and if I weren’t so angry that I’ve been forced to come here for whatever reason, I’d be in awe of this home. I take a quick glance around at the white walls, expensive artwork hanging sporadically. As I follow Dante, I spot a living room to the left with a white sectional sofa. Off to the right, I notice a large white dining table with matching chairs with black legs. A black iron candelabra sits on the table, but a quick look tells me they’ve never been lit.

“Have a seat,” Drake says from the other side of the room.

I sink down onto the sofa that looks modern and not comfortable, but surprisingly, it’s quite cozy. Other than the two men that take a seat across from me on a large matching love seat.

“Do you want a drink?” Dante asks.

I laugh. “This isn’t a social call. Tell me what you want.”

Drake leans back with a grin, runs his hand over his neatly trimmer beard. “Right to business. I like the way you think, Pretty Girl.”

My gaze moves to Dante when he speaks. “Your sister owes us a great debt. One she’d already be dead for if it weren’t for you.”

I shake my head. “That’s impossible. My parents have money. She’d never have to come to you for money.”

Drake grins. “You obviously don’t know about your sister’s little problem. She stole drugs from us. If you give us your cooperation, she will be the first person ever to get away with that.

Did I know my sister used drugs? Yes, recreationally. When she’s out at a club, she will partake in ecstasy and whatever else seems like a good idea. But a drug problem? Addicted to the point of stealing from the mafia? No. That is definitely news to me.

Arching a brow, I ask, “And what do you want?”

Drake's lips curl up into a sinister grin, the closest to a smile I’ve ever seen from him. “You.”

I clutch my purse with a white-knuckle grip, like it can somehow save me. I shake my head and say, “I’m not for sale. Goodbye, I’m going home.”

Dante glares at me like I’ve wronged him greatly. “Check your phone.”

Reaching into my purse, I retrieve my phone and see a text message from Drake—another number I never put into my phone. Before I press play, I see a house—not just a house, but my house. As the video starts, I watch my home go up in flames.

CHAPTER 15

DRAKE

Her mouth drops open as her eyes widen as she shrinks before us, “You burned-”

She doesn’t finish her sentence because I’m sure this is unbelievable to her. She swallows hard several times, and darts her tongue out, licking her lips before she speaks.

“Why?”

Lifting one shoulder, I tell her honestly, “Insurance.”

She shakes her head as if this is confusing, even though it’s quite simple. I had her house burned down when I knew she was on her way here.

Natalia laughs nervously, “This is insane.”

I nod, fully aware of how crazy this is. I’m not an idiot. I know this isn’t something most men would do to keep what they want. When I kissed her, it only cemented my obsession. That’s grown to the point of consuming me.

“You burned down my home. Do you know how many people might have died?”

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