Chapter 6 Safe?

EVANGELINA I spared a look at the man who had saved me, and I realized I didn't even know his name. He had removed his jacket, and his arms were covered with tattoos. The ink was black and red, highlighting pictures, a tiger eating a snake, and a couple of letters in Portuguese that I couldn't quite decipher. And, the worst thing was that he seemed suddenly out of reach. Had I made a mistake? I clenched my hand against my thigh, conscious of the flimsy material. Jeez! Being rescued like this was awful, but I still didn't know my fate. I could only hope that Raimundo had not said anything to this man that would sullen my reputation in his eyes. I needed his help still despite everything that had gone wrong. He wouldn't go back on his words, would he? He suddenly pulled out an iPhone up. As he typed away, I noticed for the first time that his hair wasn't slicked at all, but it was long from the way he had tied it at the back in a manly all-back bun. The man was so handsome, and the ink was just too much. It seemed like it was moving into his back, but I couldn't see much since he was still dressed. "Oh, God! What the fuck am I thinking about now?" I whispered to myself as I looked away from him to the field. There was no sense of life around the parameters, just trees and good roads. I placed my face against the window of the Benz, loving the way it cooled my cheeks. Raimundo would have never let me do this. It was going to be ok. I just needed to stop projecting and go with the flow. "We are here, boss!" I blinked as I shifted around in my seat, looking forward. A guarded gate stood tall a short distance away, and I couldn't see anything beyond it. This was ten times better than all the places I had been to. The gates suddenly flung open at our presence, and the driver drove through the gate. Everywhere I looked, there were lush trees and a few grasses by the side. It was so beautiful to me. "Let's go," the handsome stranger said suddenly. I smoothened out my clothes since I didn't have anything else I had to take. The driver stopped suddenly, and he stepped out. I did the same, too, almost tripping on my own feet. Everything was going to be okay this time, yes! He moved pretty fast, but I was able to catch up with him barefoot. When I looked up when we got to the front porch, I marveled at the glass house that revealed nothing that was going on inside. It was built like a fortress, and I noticed black metal springing out at odd places. "Bomb?" I whispered. Jeez! Was this man a mafia Lord? His other companion opened the door, and we entered the excellent home. It was magnificent, with a Snake-crafted staircase, simple white chairs, and a sliding table. The space was just right, and I couldn't help but open my mouth in shock. Both men talked for some time, and my rescuer's companion walked towards an elevator I had just realized was beneath the stairs. I pushed all the beauty out of my mind and moved quickly to him, touching his hand a bit. "Thank you so much for saving me," I gushed. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable, but I continued. "I know that I'm not worth much, but still, you went ahead to do it. You have no idea how much I wanted to get out of that stink hole. I was getting suffocated so badly." With a sigh, I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "It's not like you're interested in knowing about my life struggles," I mumbled with a nervous laugh. "It's just that I'm so happy about how I've escaped hell into paradise. This place is so beautiful, man." I placed my hands over my lips to stop my laughter, but the man shrugged his hand from my grasp, moving like I had not told him a thing. Rude! My laughter died down at once, and I followed him through the side of the house that led to another hall. The whole place was starting to feel like a giant maze. But who cares? I was not so captivated by the black and white furnishing anymore. Instead, I was scribbling at the man in front of me. He was so talkative earlier, so what happened now? "You know," I said as I shifted the gown hem with growing irritation. "When someone says thank you, it is nice to say something back, at least." He ignored me. I looked skyward and ran over to him, clinging to his hand. "I know that I should shut up since you're not saying anything. But this is the first time someone has tried to save me from an awful situation, and if you don't acknowledge my gratitude, I won't leave your hand." He tried to pull his hand away from my grip, but I held him tightly. "Nope, I won't let you go today!" I cried hard. He sighed as he turned to look at me. "I don't like such acts, Lina, is it?" he said briefly. "Evangelina!" I said with a tight frown. I released my hold on his hands. "I'm so sorry, but I need to let at least you know I'm grateful to you." "Don't be grateful," he said coldly. "What?" He tugged his man-bun in irritation before turning to face me. "I would be brief, and whatever I tell you, you have to listen to it attentively." A feeling of foreboding washed over me, and I didn't know if I could breathe. I took a step back as a form of preservation. "I bought you by partnering with that son of a bitch against my own better judgment. And, do you have any idea what it's worth?" I shook my head to simplify a 'no'. "I thought as much. It's worth your life because selling you wouldn't bring Ten billion pounds back into my account. So, just be a fucking good girl and mind your lane. You're not my friend, and I don't need your fucking gratitude," he said coldly. I held my hands together, itching a bit to get the pain out. "You...I..." "Shut up!" He cursed as he turned away from me. "If you don't do everything I tell you to do to the letter, then I would have no choice but to offer you up to whoredom. You were good at that as a whore, right?" I couldn't say a word as he walked away from me. This had been my greatest fear. That I would make a costly mistake in my life that would cripple me entirely, and this was what was happening. I had no idea what he wanted me to do, but one thing was sure: my life no longer belonged to me. He turned about twenty steps from me, glaring right at me. I had no choice but to run to where he was. "And, before I forget, I'm Aemilio Lisborn Riberio, but you must always call me Don," he said. Don? I closed my eyes, hoping that this nightmare would go, but instead, when I opened my eyes, Aemilio the Don was in front of me. "This too shall pass," I whispered sadly as I walked behind him.