Page 53 of Inside the Sun

He’s wearing a black tank top and a baseball cap. Even from this distance, the sheer bulk of his muscles is obvious. He’s definitely some kind of gym freak.

God, I wish I could go outside. The air inside this fortress feels acidic, suffocating.

But I know better than to hope. Asking Anzo for anything would come with a price I’m not ready to pay.

Then it happens again—

The gardener lifts his head and looks directly at my window, like he expects me to be standing there.

He’s too far away for me to see his eyes, but somehow I know, we’re looking at each other.

I hesitate. Should I wave? No. That’d be stupid. He probably wouldn’t react anyway.

But after a moment, I raise my hand and shyly wave.

He freezes just for a second but… doesn’t respond.

Soon, he goes back to work, acting like I’m not even there.

Ehhh. A fail.

Eventually, it hits 1 am, and Matteo returns, along with two other guys whose names I’ve already forgotten. Franco and Massimo? Maybe. Doesn’t matter.

They bring me downstairs to the first floor and lead me into a wide passageway that connects to a garage. A few cars are parked there.

We get into one; nothing flashy, just a plain civilian vehicle.

Matteo’s driving.

We roll up to a massive metal door. I only now realize how heavy-duty it is.

Two guards open it from a small booth I hadn’t noticed before, one side looks out into the garage, the other faces the outside.

They let us through, and we drive out of the fortress.

Outside, I see the place is surrounded by even more gardens. No surprise they need a gardener.

A short driveway cuts through, and then, another gate.

Fuck. Just as huge. Just as fortified.

There are more booths here too, but these look more like shooting posts, or hunting blinds. The kind hunters use to stalk prey.

For heaven’s sake. This place really is a stronghold.

One of the guards steps out of the booth and walks up to the car. He peers inside, eyeing each of us before heading back to his post. Only then does the second gate open.

Fuck, again.

Two guard checkpoints just to get in or out. Seeing this, whatever scraps of hope I had left just vanish. Although, let's be honest, it wasn't much anyway. No damn way I’m getting out on my own.

And even if I did, where the hell would I run to? The mafia finds everyone.

The drive to my dorm takes about forty minutes. The Sun is located just outside the city, near the coast. The whole ride is silent. None of the soldiers say a single word.

About ten minutes from our destination, one of them turns to me and hands me a small case that looks like a toiletry bag.

"I suggest you use some foundation to cover the bruises."

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