ELEANOR
Armando’s words kept playing over and over in my head as I hurriedly rummaged through my wardrobe. The tone he used left no room for argument, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me that if I didn’t act quickly, his temper would explode. The massive mansion-which sometimes felt like a labyrinth-was suddenly suffocating once again, its walls closing in as the weight of the previous evening’s events pressed down on me. My mind flashed to the blood, the screams, the gunshots-all too much that I could barely think straight.
I pulled out a sleeveless white gown-simple but neat-and slipped it on. I didn’t have time to fuss over accessories or the perfect look, especially because Armando wasn’t exactly the type to wait and I didn’t want to test his patience today. I quickly applied a light layer of makeup-enough to mask my tired eyes and pale complexion-and glanced at myself in the mirror. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs. Each step felt heavier than the last, and my heart raced as I spotted him standing in the living room. He was flanked by Giuseppe and Matteo-the same two men who had been there during Alessandro and Lorenzo’s bloody confrontation. The sight of all three of them together sent a shiver down my spine, and then my uneasiness deepened even more. I didn’t know where exactly Armando had planned to take me or why, and that uncertainty gnawed at me several times.
When I finally reached the foot of the stairs, Armando barely glanced at me before turning to Giuseppe. “Take her to the car,” he ordered, his voice calm but firm.
Giuseppe nodded, his face unreadable as he motioned for me to follow him. I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but then my feet started moving on their own. The cool air hit me as we stepped outside, and I saw the sleek black limo waiting at the edge of the driveway.
I climbed in-settling into the plush leather seat-and the door closed with a soft thud, sealing me inside. A moment later, Armando slid in next to me-his presence filling the small space-while Matteo took the front passenger seat, then the chauffeur started the car.
The low hum of the engine and the gentle vibrations snapped me out of my thoughts. My eyes flickered towards Armando, but he didn’t look at me. His focus was solely straight ahead, and his expression was calm but also impenetrable.
The car was too quiet for my liking, the kind of silence that made every sound feel amplified. The hum of the engine, the faint whoosh of passing cars, even my own breathing-it was all too loud in the absence of conversation. I sat as far from Armando as I could manage, pressing myself against the door like it could somehow swallow me whole and keep me safe from his cold, calculating stares.
I couldn’t take the silence anymore. “Where are we going?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.
Armando turned his head slightly, his eyes sharp as they met mine. “Does it matter?”
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. “I… I’d just like to know,” I said, trying to sound calm.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” He answered as he leaned back, one arm draped casually over the seat.
His cryptic response only added to my anxiety. My mind raced with possibilities and none of them seemed to be comforting in any way. Was he taking me to another function? A meeting? A trap? I didn’t know, and I hated the feeling of being in the dark.
“I’d prefer to know now if possible please,” I pressed in a low tone, my hands fidgeting with the fabric of my gown.
Armando’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening. “I didn’t realize I needed to explain myself to you.”
I froze, realizing I might have pushed too far. “I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly. “I just… I’d like to be prepared, that’s all.”
He stared at me for a moment longer, his gaze unnerving, before finally speaking. “It’s nothing you need to prepare for. Just sit, and be quiet.”
His tone was final, and I knew better than to argue further for the mean time. I nodded, my lips pressing into a thin line.
The rest of the drive was quiet for a while, but my thoughts were anything but that. Memories of the last time he’d taken me out like this flooded my mind-the dinner party where he’d paraded me around like some kind of prize. I clenched my fists at the thought, my nails digging into my palms. I didn’t want to go through that again.
“Is this about a function?” I asked, breaking the silence again.
Armando glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “No.”
His answer didn’t comfort me. If it wasn’t a function, then what? My unease grew, and I shifted slightly in my seat.
“Why do you need me to come with you?” I tried again. I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
This time, he let out a low chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “Piccolo why do you ask so many questions?”
“Because you don’t tell me anything,” I snapped before I could stop myself.
The air in the car seemed to freeze as Armando turned his full attention to me, his eyes narrowing dangerously. I felt my heart skip a beat, and I immediately regretted my words.
“I do not owe you explanations girl,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “You’re here because I want you here. That’s all you need to know.”
I looked down, my face flushing with a mix of anger and fear. “I understand,” I mumbled.
“Good,” he said, leaning back again.
I could feel his eyes on me, though I refused to look at him. He wasn’t looking at me constantly, but every so often, I could sense his gaze shifting in my direction, lingering just long enough to unsettle me. My fingers fidgeted with the edge of my dress, and my nails brushed against the fabric in an anxious rhythm.
“Shift all you want,” Armando said suddenly, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. His eyes were on the window now, his tone carrying that familiar edge of mockery. “Hell, become one with the door if you feel like it. Won’t change the fact that we’re still in the same car.”
I froze, my body stiffening as his words sank in. I didn’t dare move again, feeling like any further reaction would only make me look stupid. Heat crept up my neck, a mixture of embarrassment and frustration that he always managed to find a way to make me feel so small.
Armando didn’t even bother to look at me after speaking. He just tilted his head slightly, like he wanted to catch my expression in his peripheral vision before shifting his focus back outside the window. His posture was casual, but I knew better-that with him there was always something simmering beneath the surface.
I swallowed hard, letting the silence stretch on for a few moments, hoping it would make the tension less unbearable. But it didn’t. If anything, it only made the air in the car feel a lot more heavy, so I worked up the courage to speak again.
“Can you at least tell me why I have to go with you?” I asked, my voice quiet and measured, careful not to sound like I was demanding anything.
Armando didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned his head, locking his piercing gaze onto me. The way he stared made my stomach twist, like he was dissecting me with his eyes. Then, with an almost lazy scoff, he finally answered.
“You’re not in a position to worry about that,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ll take you wherever I want, whenever I want. Understand?”
My throat tightened, and I nodded quickly. My hands clenched into fists on my lap to stop them from trembling.
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing.” He cut through, his gaze lingering on me for another second before he turned back to the window.
I pressed my back further against the seat as my mind raced even faster now. Why wouldn’t he just tell me? What was the point of keeping me in the dark like this?
My thoughts spiraled, each possibility worse than the last.
Had he found out that I’d lied to him about what happened when I was kidnapped? Did he know I hadn’t told him about Don Salvatore and his threats? Was this his way of punishing me, taking me somewhere far away to make me pay for my deception?
The idea chilled me to the bone. Armando wasn’t a man who forgave easily-or at all. If he knew, if he suspected even a fraction of the truth, I had no doubt that he’d make me regret it.
I stared out my own window, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in my head. The city blurred past us, buildings and people and cars merging into a haze of motion. I focused on the rhythm of the passing streetlights, their steady pattern giving me something to hold onto.
But it didn’t help. My mind kept drifting back to the possibilities. What if this was it? What if he was taking me somewhere to get rid of me? My chest tightened at the thought, and I forced myself to take a deep breath.
“Are we going to be gone long?” I asked after a while, my voice barely above a whisper.
Armando didn’t respond immediately. He shifted slightly in his seat-his movements deliberate-before glancing at me with a faint smirk. “Eleanor do you have somewhere else to be?”
His question hit me like a slap. Of course, I didn’t. He knew that as well as I did, and the smugness in his voice only drove the point home.
“No,” I said quietly, lowering my gaze.
“Then stop asking me damned questions,” he said firmly, his tone stiff and cold with a dangerous edge to it.
I nodded again, swallowing the lump in my throat. I folded my hands in my lap, forcing myself to stay still, but my heart wouldn’t stop racing. The car felt smaller with each passing second, and the air felt heavier-like it was pressing down on me.
I stared straight ahead, trying to focus on the road-on the rhythm of the car’s movement, but my thoughts refused to settle. Every possible scenario played out in my mind, each one more terrifying than the last.
Then, out of nowhere, something caught my eye outside the window. Of all the things I had imagined, this wasn’t one of them.
My breath hitched, and my body stiffened as I turned my head slightly, unable to fully process what I was seeing.
I kept silent, unwilling to speak just yet. Not until I could piece it all together-until I could truly understand what was going on.