Chapter 4

Damon's pov.

Seeing her broken state and the way she replied submissively was all I needed. I wanted to break her will to the tiniest bit. But then, as I looked into her face, those arresting green orbs frozen in place pricked under my skin.

After a moment of softness, I sighed and helped her to her feet, caressing her hair gently;

"Now, Maya, all this wouldn't have happened if you had only kept what you saw to yourself, but now, I'll have to keep you here till all the controversy dies down."

She looked vulnerable yet suspicious of me, but she still managed to whisper, "When, maestro?"

I smiled a little at her reassuring voice. The Devil in me wanted to break it again. But even if I tried to hurt her, it would be slow.

"Soon" I leaned my head close and kissed her on her lips very tenderly. She didn't expect the action from me, so she froze in shock, not returning it.

She was like a rock, stiff. It made me frown against her lips. I enjoyed the taste of her lips and wanted her to make an effort. 

My hand moved to the back of her neck, and I ordered against her mouth, "Restituirlo."  Return it.

She stood frozen until I bit her lower lip, and she sobbed, closing her eyes in pain. But then, slowly, she kissed back.

I broke from the kiss and looked at her face. Her cheeks were reddened by embarrassment and confusion. She lowered her lids.

I grimaced. "Look at me!"

She slowly raised her blood-red eyes to mine.

"When I talk to you, look at me," she nodded. "I'll be going out. When I'm back, I don't want those clothes on you."

She looked confused. "I - I don't understand, maestro."

My brows furrowed. What did she mean by she didn't understand? I put my hands around her slim waist and pulled her; she fell on my chest, her two hands first.

"I want you naked by the time I'm back, no clothes, just naked, from your head to your toes" I kissed her forehead. "I'll see you later."

I left the room and was surprised to see Maria in the sitting room; she was supposed to be asleep, it was already eleven.

"What are you doing awake?" I asked when I was close to her; she turned her brown eyes on me suspiciously

"You said she was a maid, so what is she doing in your room?"

I poured myself tequila before answering, "She's my servant, and I don't want you going close to her whatever you're doing."

"Why?"

"If you don't want to go back to Derinem, you better do as I say" Derinem was my elder brother. He controlled half of the Mafia while I handled the other. He was also strict with Maria.

She pouted, "Fine." 

Soon, a cloud of sadness covered her face. I knew why she was worried.

"Don't worry; I took care of everything," I assured her.

She rubbed her shoulders, the silk gown she wore rumpling, and her blonde hair was packed in a loose ponytail.

"Are you sure no other person saw the report? What if the journalist writes another?" She whispers

I didn't know why she didn't believe me when I told her I had taken care of everything. "The journalist won't show up," I remembered Maya.

Maria glanced at me, "what did you do to the journalist?"

I thought of a lie, "I paid her off..."

"It's a woman?"

I held myself in check, so I didn't give more details. "What's important, Maria, is that no one will discover what happened."

        ONE YEAR EARLIER

It was a happy night, and the most prominent people were at a house party thrown by Alfredo. With so much pleading from my then seventeen years old sister, I took her along as my escort. 

She looked so beautiful in her straight blue gown, and her hair was done beautifully, with curls dropping down the side of her face.

We danced to the gentle music, my hand on her back and her waist while she stared at me in excitement.

"I'm so glad you took me along, Damon. Derinem will never have let me come," she whispers.

"You've been good. Do not just go near the alcohol," she smiles at me mischievously.

"Ok, Damon."

 I was tapped on the shoulder by Alfredo. He wanted to talk to me about business. We never talked business in front of Maria, so I left her, promising to come back for her. She didn't mind.

We went to the far end of the room where I could still have my eyes on her. She held her two hands nervously, looking around the room. Then a young man approached her.

He was the president's son. The president couldn't make it, so he sent his son. He asked Maria for a dance, and she accepted, looking thrilled.

I frowned, wanting to go over and separate them, but I also didn't want to be perceived as a control freak, so I focused more on what Alfredo was saying concerning a package that moved to the shore without my permission.

Soon they walked out of the party hall, his arm intertwined with hers. She was happy that she couldn't even stay still.

After about ten minutes and she wasn't still back, I excused myself and followed the route I saw them go through. It was empty,

 I frowned worriedly. How could she have gone far without my permission? I was angry at her too.

"We'll have a very long talk when we get home Maria" I muttered under my breath.

That was when I heard the gunshots. Loud and resounding

 It came from a room. I ran and tried opening the door, but it didn't budge. Maria cried inside.

With my feet, I kicked open the door, and what I saw made my heart race.

The president's son was lying on his stomach, and Maria was under him on the bed; she was trying to get away from him, and her clothes were torn and bloody. 

Tears welled down her eyes. "I didn't mean to shoot; he was coming on me..."

I placed my fingers on my lips, and she kept quiet. I closed the door and walked to the bed.  I rolled the president's son's body off Maria and saw that his flyer was undone. Hate and anger filled me.

If he weren't dead, I would have killed him in the most gruesome way possible. I just had to find a way to dispose of his body.

I wrapped a bedsheet around Maria, "Now listen to me, go to the limo and wait for me there. Do not let anyone see you. Now go"

She hurriedly opened the door and stood in shock when she saw someone looking back at her. It was Maya.

She looked frightened, looking at me, then at the dead body, and back at the crying Maria. Knowing better, she said nothing and just walked away.

Who would have known she'd waited a year to spill information to the police?

                 **PRESENT**

"I didn't mean to shoot him; he was just so strong" Tears welled in Maria's eyes. I hugged her, kissing the top of her head

"Non hai fatto niente di male" __You didn't do anything wrong__."

Seeing my sister in that state made fury rise to my chest. What other way to spill my anger than on the offenders? 

Her bruised cheek wasn't enough. I wanted her life.