Chapter 5

I smooth the fabric of the skirt I'm wearing, the heels today are heavier than usual. I go through the kitchen and eat a little watermelon before getting ready to take a dip in the mansion's pool. Angie brings me some morning cappuccino, the one I love to drink every day. The employees ask me about things in the house and I tell them that they make the decisions, since today I want it to be a day for myself.

“The gentleman has gone to close a deal in Bramen.” I try not to smile listening to Gasper, one of his best men.

"You can go." He turns away, but turns back as if remembering something.

“The gentleman left a message—damn,” he says. “He is waiting for her at eight o'clock at night in the restaurant where he took her to dinner for the first time. That she wore the red dress that he liked so much. Dimitri will take her.”

I lean back on the beach chair. The bikini I wear Sabrina was bought for me a couple of weeks ago on our trip to Paris. Angie helps me apply sunscreen before she leaves. She threw me into the cold water trying to control all my vivid emotions. I swim to the bottom.

I need to find a way for the German to see that I am not what he thinks and let me go, I go back to the surface since that is impossible.

I turn to check for the towel and find an expensive pair of shoes. I look up a bit until I meet Erick's blue eyes. His hair falls to one side gracefully. His stubble makes him look so masculine. His ocean blue eyes contrast perfectly with his medium blonde wavy hair. A half-smile appears on his face when I finish analyzing it.

“What are you doing here? Haven’t you noticed or are you an idiot… this is a private pool. My husband designed it closed, so that no one could enter here. Why did you break the rules?” I demand him.

He smiles showing his teeth. "Are you always like this?"

"What?" I get out of the water, put on a bathrobe. I look determinedly at Erick when I catch him looking at my butt.

He walks past me. "Bossy…" he whispers close to my ear. I walk away a bit.

“Sorry? Has no one told you who I am? If I feel like it, I'll tell Sabrina to kick you out.” I snap my fingers “and today you'd be out on the street.” His eyes lower to the neckline of my robe. I watch him smack his lips.

“That is not possible. I'm the best man in my area and your husband knows that I am here to save your ass. Shouldn't you be thankful to me for that?”

“You will be stupid in life!”

I stab him with my index finger. “I make this very clear to you, and I don't want to repeat it again, when you talk to me, you talk to me with respect. I am not your equal and you are not mine. You're only here to work, whatever he does or doesn't do, you're forbidden to tell my husband everything; You will only tell him what I authorize you. You move if I say so and I say stop then stop.”

Erick lets out a laugh. “Shall I stop when you tell me to?” he bites his lower lip. Holy Christ the Redeemer! This man must be a fucking sin.

“That?! You know what I mean. Now get out.”

"Ma'am…" he says with amusement and I roll my eyes.

“What do you want now?”

“It was also a pleasure to meet you, I know we're going to get along very soon.” My skin bristles at the tone he used to say that last thing.

Erick, are you going to give me a headache? I hope not!

*********

Angie helps me close the corset on the dress I'm wearing.

This damn red dress that every time I put it on, Sabrina fucks me like there's no tomorrow. I touch up my hair and makeup, before taking Dimitri's hand to arrive at the dinner prepared in Chef Marcelo Montessino's haute cuisine restaurant. Sabrina's best friend looks at me every five minutes in the rearview mirror. This asshole is another one who owes me so much. It's so… creepy that it annoys me even.

"Are you going to tell me or will you continue being an idiot?" I mumbled looking at him sideways.

"Only, you look beautiful," I blink without looking at him.

“How long to get there?”

“We're here.” I open the back door and get out without anyone's help. Behind me is a body of the mobster's men, Erick at the head. They make me wait at the entrance to make sure that the whole place is clean of an attack or assassin they have sent to kill me.

Erick nods, places his hand behind my back as I walk through the door. His touch makes me tense. I look at him and he smiles toothily.

Sabrina stands up when I get to the table, kisses me on my cheek. He places a hand on the back of the chair so I can pull it out and sit down. I thank him in a low voice. The menu is brought to us by a young and elegant waitress. The German traces imaginary lines on the skin of my hand. The mobster's guards are scattered all over the place. People look at us and murmur. Everyone knows who he is.

“Sautéed shrimp, asparagus and cauliflower puree.” I order for myself. I drink some of the white wine that they have left us as a starter.

"You look beautiful, Himmel meines Himmels."

Heaven of my heaven.

I focus on the plate that has just been brought to me with what I order, I take another sip of wine. Sabrina touches my leg under the table. I blink unable to move. I cut a bit of shrimp with the knife, taking it very carefully to my mouth so as not to drop anything on my dress. I hear him as he takes a deep breath.

In the background one of those romantic songs by Johnny Cash plays, Sabrina's phone rings and he hangs up without even looking who it is. He gets up and I look up so I can see what he's doing. He takes out of one of the pockets of the black jacket he wears a blue velvet box. From now on I must fake happiness.

I bring my hands to my mouth feigning surprise; the people around us are aware of what is happening. The German opens the box showing me a ruby ​​and diamond bracelet. With the money from that jewel he could pay to build a new high-tech school in a needy suburb. But no, all my jewelry I must accept, because otherwise, I would not count it.

"Do you like it?" I nod. I hear the click as it closes on my wrist.

“It's beautiful.” I fake a smile.

“Like you…” Erick walks up to us, whispers something in Sabrina's ear, looks at me and smiles briefly in my direction.

The German asks for the bill, he goes around the table to help me up as if I were stupid and couldn't even do that by myself. I get in his camaro to leave with him. The trucks behind us board us to protect us from whatever Erick told the mobster.

Dimitri approaches his best friend. I go up the stairs that lead to the main door, I cover my face a bit as I feel the strong light of the crystal lamp that adorns the ceiling of the mansion. My body is thrown forward. Sabrina holds my arm tightly and his face shows me that he is furious.

“What's going on?” I speak fearfully. I get alarmed as I climb the stairs that lead to the detention room.

It cannot be possible…

I review everything I've done that day. As far as I know I haven't broken any of his rules. I'm very careful about everything I do so as not to anger him. I see him take a toy out of one of the drawers. He asks me to take off my shoes and kneel in front of him. My crying doesn't stop the German beast from doing whatever it pleases to him, and I sniff my nose at it. I stifle a cry of pain, feeling the pain from the blow on one of my buttocks.

Sabrina removes his shirt exposing his pecs, my name on the left side of his chest making me smile bitterly. Love? This is not love.

"Why didn't you tell me your cousin Adele is in town?"

It cannot be possible…

Adele and Sabrina were like cats and mice; they hated each other to the death. My only cousin has never held back when it comes to saying things to German's face. Adele Erick is my Aunt Marina's youngest daughter with Mom's older brother Gregory Erick. Last summer and after begging Sabrina for almost a month to let Adele stay in our house, things turned into chaos. My cousin kept challenging the German every time she saw something hateful in him (more times than she wanted to admit) so the mobster kicked her out and forbade her to come back to our property.

“I didn't know she was in town.” And it was true.

He squeeze the toy firmly. “Aren't you lying to me?” I deny. Sabrina takes my hand to pull me up. He kisses my lips gently. The one that reminds me that I'm in hell and I haven't even died. “I only got angry when Erick told me that your cousin came looking for you. Dimitri took her from the property.” I blink scared, he realizes my fear. “To a hotel, Mein Liebling, you know he wouldn't be able to touch her, she's important to you. She is your only family alive and I don't have the heart to cause you the pain.” He bends down to kiss my knees "do you understand me?” I nod my head in yes.

He carries me in his arms until we reach our room. I place my head on the pillow. This must stop.

"Sabrina…" I hear his boot hit the floor.

“Yes darling?”

“Because I…”  He turns to see me.

“What are you talking about?”

"Why did you choose me? I have seen beautiful women, much more beautiful than me… if it had been for money, Dad had the means to get ahead, but why did he sell me? By the way... you...?”

He laughs derisively, "Do you think I made your father sell you out? Do you think I'm such a beast?”

I don't want to answer that, because yes. I know how far he will go to get what he wants. If he was able to kill his own aunt (she was in charge of the family business when he was still young and his father died), what does he expect from someone like me? Or like the rest of the world?

I lie down in bed with my back to him. Instead of continuing to fight, I want to rest and be free in my dreams.

*********

I crinkle my nose with my eyes closed.

The German touches every part of my body with his hands. I turn to see him and he smiles at me as soon as I open my eyes. I sat up in bed, looking at the room full of flowers. He looks at me again, then kisses the knuckles of my hands.

Angie and a newly hired employee serve us breakfast. Erick walks through the front door and I can't help but make eye contact with him. He is wearing an all-black suit. His hair is slicked back today and I can smell his masculine scent from where I'm sitting.

Spencer gives some orders to her subordinates, Sabrina waves for him to come and sit at the table with us. I pout because it's the first time the German has given such confidence to an employee other than Dimitri. Angie serves the new bodyguard eggs and bacon.

"Dimitri told me you're good with bombs." Sabrina glances at the blue-eyed man briefly. He brings a piece of egg to his mouth and nods confirming what he just told him.

"What am I suitable for, sir?" I try to get up from the table, but the mobster stops me.

“I need you in this business, love—espabilo—, Erick, I need you to arm some bombs for Gian Lucas's whorehouse; love, you will be my bait, I need you to seduce the new boss in charge of the place. Italian asshole stole my merchandise and I want it back.”

He wants to bring down the night club with them inside.

Damn son of a bitch!

********