Arianna’s POV
A banging ache on the side of my head stirred me awake. My eyes shut back as the bright light flashes into them.
Where was I?
I squinted and opened my eyes slowly. I was staring at the open skies.
“What the-” I snapped my eyes to the side and saw water!
I made to get to my feet but blinding dizziness came to me and I sat back down at once. I was weak. I had to conserve my energy. How did I get here?
I started searching through my brain but the continuous movement of the platform below me made it impossible.
That was when it dawned on me -I was on a ship.
I sat up, gently this time. My eyes roamed around me and I confirmed my thoughts. I was indeed on a ship in the middle of nowhere.
There were about four guards on the platform with me but they were far enough for me not to be able to see their faces.
The first, thing that came to my mind, was an escape -I had to leave. I had to escape from here.
As I stared around me trying to make a mental calculation of my escape plan, using everything Agostino had taught me, my memories flooded back into me with a blinding force.
I had just landed in Italy from America when I felt pressed. I needed to use the restroom and that was where these people -whoever they were got to me.
How did I even get so pressed?
Then like a movie, I remembered the air hostess that had served me in first class. There was something wrong with her smile.
“I should have known!” I hissed out but I was too focused on the thoughts of that horrible picture to think straight.
Shit!
They spiked my drink and made sure I used the toilet, so they could get me!
This was a well-thought-out plan. This was no coincidence. I should tell Gabriele.
I tapped my pockets and hissed out in frustration as my hands came back empty. My phone wasn’t with me.
They took everything from me.
They were definitely enemies of Gabriele. They wanted to use me to get to him -but I wouldn’t let them.
How was I going to contact Gabriele? He must have been worried sick about me!
Basilio too. I told him I was coming today -was it still the same day?
I couldn’t stay here.
My eyes snapped to the railing closest to me. There was water below. All I had to do was jump into the water and hang around underneath the ship till they became distracted enough for me to jump back in and steal a lifeboat.
But first, I had to jump.
I took deep breaths and watched the four men at the far ends of the ship. I would get to the railing before they got to me.
Without wasting a breath, I jumped off the bed I was placed on and started running. I still felt slightly dizzy but I refused to give up.
I ran with all my might like my butt was on fire and the only way to survive was for me to get to the water.
“Hey!” The guards yelled as they discovered too late what I was doing.
The railing was just a few inches away from me and I stretched my hand to get to it to derive enough momentum for me to fly over.
But just as my fingers brushed the railing, the air got knocked out of my chest.
I was pushed to the side and the wind propelled me further back till I saw myself rolling in midair.
“Ahh!” I cried out as my body landed with a loud thud against the ship’s platform.
Rolled over using my arm as support. I was still pulling myself together when I heard someone clapping.
I turned my head in the direction of the sound and as my eyes narrowed on the chubby man, my heart turned into hatred -I should have known it was him all along.
“Demyan, you didn’t tell me Gabriele’s new whore is into acrobats. Sexy little thing isn’t she?” The man beside him said.
My eyes darkened and I quickly pulled myself off the floor. I wasn’t going to give them the luxury was seeing me in pain.
“You should feel ashamed of yourself, old fool!” I spat at Demyan.
But they exchanged looks and broke into shrilling laughter that echoed over the sea.
“Gianni, I told you she has an amazing attitude. The boss will be excited to have her,” Demyan said and my eyes shut up in shock as I registered the name he mentioned.
I knew that name. Gabriele had mentioned it on several occasions. He was Gabriele’s greatest enemy. He was also the one using Demyan as a pawn.
But they mentioned having another boss.
“Where are you taking me?” I blurted out. Whoever commanded them must have been there.
“Eager to meet him?” Gianni asked with mockery lacing his voice.
“The whore needs to be fucked. The boss will be excited!” Demyan replied and they laughed again like they just shared a lovely memory.
My hands pulled into fists and I wished more than anything to punch them into flat bags. But I held back. I had a surprise card that they didn’t know about. I could use it to my advantage.
I walked towards them but stopped where my bed was, I sat down slowly and looked straight out to the sea.
I wouldn’t gain anything by engaging with them, it was best I waited till we got to their destination. Then I could make-
“Aah!” I groaned as I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.
I tried to hide it as a second wave hit me but a bile rose in my throat. I had to throw up.
I jumped to my feet and started running to the railing but Gianni stopped me thinking I wanted to run again.
Stupid!
I hurled out all of the dinners I ate the previous night over him with a sudden belge.
“What the fuck!? Fuck!” He cried out pushing me away.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and glared at him in satisfaction as my vomit dropped off his shirt. But my victory was short-lived as I felt another wave hit me.
This time, nobody stood in my way as I ran to the railing and emptied my stomach. I suddenly felt terribly sick and the pain in my head returned.
I was seasick…
After a couple of minutes of me wrenching over the railing, I pulled myself away and made to return to my bed but everything suddenly became dark and the last thing I remembered was Demyan screaming my name as I collapsed.
The next time I opened my eyes, we were no longer on the ship. I was in a room.
I sat up at once and looked around me.
It looked like a sort of hospital bed. There was a table nearby with a syringe and a small tray with cotton and bandages.
I made to get up but something pulled me back. I glared at it and found IV lines connected to my hand.
“Damn it!” I cursed as I pulled them off my skin.
“Hmmm,” I moaned as the sharp pain stung.
I made it to the table just as the door flew open and a young woman with olive skin came through. She was putting on a long white coat above her sundress. There was a stethoscope on her neck and she looked at me like I had grown a second head.
I could easily take her out but I decided to save my energy. I stylishly slipped the syringe on the table and hid it in my clothes.
“It is a good thing you are awake. I will just check on you and you are free to go,” She said cautiously as she observed me from the door.
“I am Dr. Catherine, you were unconscious when they brought you,” She added like what she said the first time wasn’t enough.
I moved back to the bed and sat down.
“Get your job done and I leave. If you try anything funny, I will kill you,” I whispered in a stern voice.
It didn’t sound scary enough but the young doctor seemed to buy it as fear flashed in her eyes.
“Of course,” she stuttered as she entered the room.
She hesitated before touching my hand so I pushed it toward her. She checked my pulse and underneath my eye.
“Do you feel any pain?” She asked and I grunted negatively.
“Okay. But you may feel some pain soon. The injection will start working in a couple of hours,” She said and I frowned at her.
“What did you give me?” I hissed glaring at her but she took a cautious step away from me.
I got up still staring at her but I stopped on my track as another voice filled the room.
“You may leave us Catherine…” He said and I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing.
He looked like him. He sounded like him but it couldn’t be him.
“Welcome to my island, Bella.”
“Brett!”