ESCAPE

Chapter 45

DOMENICO DE LUCA

I could feel the bile rise to my throat as I approached the door to the infamous New York brothel, where my precious jewel lay in the hands of thieves.

The door opened and I was greeted with a discreet nod, of course they wouldn't dare to shut the door in my face, these men could smell money from afar and from where I came from, that's all there ever was.

'How can we entertain you tonight, sir?', asked the man.

'Where is your boss?', I asked sitting on the high bar stool.

'He's not here', he said clearly confused.

I chuckled at his incapability to lie as I noticed he looked nervous as well.

'I will ask you one more time, where is your boss?', I asked eyeing him.

'I told you-'

I pointed my gun at him and he gulped.

'Fetch boy', I said and he scrammed into the nearby door.

I looked around the room and found it to be dingy and cold. What kind of low life comes here for pleasure? You could catch STDs just by sitting here and on that thought I immediately got up.

There were worn out sofas and chairs in the room. The wall had a peeling brown wallpaper which had little fancy lanterns that emitted a warm yellow glow. The floor was in need of a desperate scrub as it was infected with dirt and what not.

The door opened again and this time entered the man I was looking for.

'Mr. De Luca', he stammered.

'So you do remember me', I said with a dragged smile.

'Of course', he said trying to keep his calm.

'Then where is she?!', I roared and he flinched at my sudden outburst.

'We're trying sir. We really are! I just lost one of my best men to the cops-'

'I don't give a damn about what you've lost!', I shouted and pointed my gun again at him.

He raised his hands at me and I smirked.

'Pathetic', I said cocking the gun.

'Please-', he said and I lowered it.

'Tell me what you know', I said.

'The slut is-' but he ducked the ground as I fired at him.

'You will address her with respect you filthy bastard', I spat and he stood up trembling.

'The girl, Valentina', he said.

'Valentina?!', I asked incredulously.

'Yes, tall brunette with brown eyes', he said nervously.

'Yes I know what she looks like you imbecile but her name is not Valentina!', I roared.

'She couldn't remember her name when we brought her-', he started but I silenced him by pointing the gun at him again.

'Shut up before I pull out your tongue. Just tell me where she is', I said.

'Last time I checked she was with One Direction', he said nervously and I looked at him confused.

'One Direction is a boy band, they're quite famous making it difficult to get into their circle', he said and I smirked.

'Difficult for you, not for me', I said and he gulped.

'Now, back to the issue of name, Valentina?', I asked curiously.

'Like I said, when we brought her in, she couldn't remember anything, so we named her Valentina', he said and I felt my blood boil.

'You name a princess with such a name that would attract perverted men like you?!',I asked furiously and he cowered at my rage.

'She didn't disagree', he said.

'Well that's strange as she always has an opinion', I said wryly.

'She can't talk', he said and that made me do a double take at him.

'What did you just say?', I asked.

'She can't talk', he said.

'What do you mean she can't talk?', I asked through my teeth.

'She could but then she lost her speech', he stammered.

What had these monsters done to her?

I overturned a table causing it to smash into pieces and I chuckled as I cocked my gun again.

'Please don't shoot me', he begged as he fell on his knees.

'DO YOU DARE ASK ME TO PARDON YOU AFTER YOU TREAT MY LADY WITH SUCH DISRESPECT?!', I spat and he fell back to the floor as I towered over him.

'I didn't know', he cried.

'Of course you wouldn't, men like you are mere animals who want nothing but to quench the desires of their dark souls. What do helpless women mean to you?', I laughed and he continued to cry for forgiveness.

'I despise your very existence', I hissed and turned to walk away but i just couldn't knowing what he had done.

'Oh and one more thing, her name is Serafina, Serafina De Angelis', and with that I put him down for good.

'Take care of this', I said to my body guards and they nodded.

I got into my car and ordered to be taken back to my hotel.

'Yes, I need information about a band named One Direction, I need to know where they are and I need it fast', I said through the phone.

I hadn't gotten time to check into a proper hotel so for now I was stuck in a place which was irritatingly improper for one of my stature.

I walked through the doors with my men and just as I was about to pull out my phone I heard a voice call out ,'HEADS UP!'

I looked up just in time to block the football that had been kicked my way as if I were some goal post.

'Wow, you've got super reflexes', said the boy who looked about 20 as he quickly approached me. I took in his blue eyes and light brown hair than fell across his face. He donned a sports jacket and sweatpants; how classy.

'Louis you idiot!', exclaimed another who seemed to be with him as well. This lad had raven black hair and an olive complexion. 'I am so sorry, it was an accident', he said extending his hand and I eyed him.

'You shake it?', said the one named Louis and I shook my head as I shook his hand.

'I'm sorry, I was remembering how it felt to be so young and carefree', I said with a smirk.

'Well you look young enough', said the raven haired one.

'Yes, one may think so', I said curtly and with a nod I left them.

What kind of fools play football in a hotel?!

Correction.

What kind of hotel allows this show of indecent behaviour?!

'Are you sure this is five star?', I asked annoyed.

'Yes sir', squeaked my secretary, Ricci.

'Then you better make sure my original stay is fixed up fast', I said with a scowl and entered the elevator with him.

My lovely readers, let me introduce Ben Barnes as Domenico De Luca.