Zara was forced to spend two nights there. She tried to find the man but Marvin was hovering over her every step and every move that she made. He kept her on the second floor of the house and brought her meals to her since the "master" was busy with work.

Until the afternoon, where she went down to the dining hall for lunch.

"It's so suffocating." Zara said, even though she was wearing light clothes. All her clothes, except for the ones in the hamper, were with her. She had found a cargo bag waiting in her room with them inside and that morning, her phone was given to her. "Will I get a tour of this place now that I have to stay here?" She asked, taking a seat at the same chair she had taken the previous day.

"No 'good morning' yet. I see." He said, taking his glass of water to the other side of the table as Zara sat down.

"Good morning." She said.

"Morning." He nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"You don't have to hide water every time I'm around. I'm not used to being kidnapped, and that too not by mafia leaders." Zara could have sworn that she saw him hide his smile. And with that, the curiosity train broke down. "What's your name?"

He looked at her, holding her gaze for a while, considering whether he should lie or not. "Adrian Cardena." He quickly took a sip of his morning coffee before she could jump on him with more questions, ones that were much more difficult for him to explain than telling his name.

"Let me go, Adrian." She knew that the usage of one's name only hit the conscience even more. She was glad that the timing had worked as she had wanted it to. "I promise that I'm of no threat to either of the gangs. I'm only a normal person."

"I can't."

Two words. 

Then silence.

"Why not?"

Two more words. 

More silence.

"Because the Ferraras will track you down, and they will, believe me, and they will hurt you. I don't want that on my conscience."

"Why would they come after me? I haven't done anything."

Adrian opened his mouth and let out a sigh. "They think that you are important to me somehow." The expression on her face was immediate to change. "That day that I came to the bar. They saw me talking to you and now, they have sent a threat that they would harm you if I didn't give up my position on the Council."

"And....I'm guessing that you can't do it."

He shook his head. "I won't."

"But that's so stupid! We don't even know each other. You didn't even know my name until the threat came." She said. "Why can't you tell them that you don't care about me....oh wait. I heard it, never mind." She held her forehead in her hands.

He smiled a crooked smile seeing her distressed, wishing that he could tell her what she wanted to hear. "If I tell them that I didn't care about you, they would come after you anyway. The bottom line is that they've seen me with you."

She placed a hand on her collarbone as she told her heart that everything would work out in the end. It was only a matter of time like Marvin had told her. "Fine. I'll cooperate." She said. "Provided that you ensure that my aunt is safe."

"She is."

Zara nodded, telling herself that everything would be fine. "What about that tour then? Or should I simply ask Marvin for help?"

Adrian laughed, and even that seemed like a chime of bells. Now Zara was grateful that he had kept the water away from her because he really did infuriate her. Always so mysterious and prideful.

"Be ready in the evening." He said, getting up. "And dress nicely."

Zara pulled the collar of her sweatshirt. "What's wrong with the way I dress?"

Adrian's head turned sharply to her. He looked at her from top to bottom and smiled softly, a genuine one. "We will have dinner together. Outside."

"I don't want your sympathy."

Adrian's smile grew. "It's not."