The Mafia Bride (Katrina and Silas)

Katrina's POV

"Don't even think about running and get into the car like a good girl, Phillip ordered and I did exactly as he had said

My heart thumped loudly in my chest, blood rushing to my head.

What have I done, what have I done?

I could have gone to the highway.

I could have kept running. Damn, I should have gone somewhen with more civilization instead of hoping to get a ride here.

Fuck!

Different thoughts ran through my head and I dug my fingers into my palm.

I could feel Phillip's eyes on me but I kept my eyes on my lap.

We drove through the gates, goosebumps rising in my arms. I had sweat dripping down my body and I struggled to

breathe

This can't be happening.

Phillip's promise a

of torture ran through my mind and I tried to think of a way to escape but I came up with nothing.

My entire mind was blank and I was stuck.

I gasped lightly when the door was pulled open roughly, someone grabbing my arm and pulling me out

"You had tried to escape. You poisoned Silas and now you're trying to run," Phillip sneered, his voice holding no warmth.

His grip on my arm tightened as he dragged me towards the house, my feet barely touching the ground as I stumbled.

Phillip stopped suddenly, pulling me closer to him.

The hard ground beneath my feet bit into my skin painfully.

wasn't wearing any footwear when I was pulled out of my room and now my feet were swollen

stared up at Phillip, my heart beating in fear.

His hand wrapped around my jaw, squeezing his fingers tightly into my cheek.

he force of his fingers clamping down on my chin sent a spasm of pain through my face and I gasped, my lips parting voluntarily.

is eyes bore into mine and I could see the promise to make me feel pain in them and my face blanched.

asked you a question!" he growled, shoving me down to the cold, hard ground.

relped when I lost my balance, falling to the ground.

ly already injured knee hit the floor with a loud thud, and I bit clown on my lip to keep from crying out.

in burned through my leg as blood seeped through the torn skin.

I could taste the blood on my tongue from how hard I was biting down on my lip.

I tried not to cry, repeating the same plirases over and over.

Don't show weakness. Don't let him win.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my chest tightening as panic filled me,

I didn't poison Silas, I finally managed to say through gritted teeth, struggling with each word.

My voice was low, barely able to pass as a whisper.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Phillip's grip on my jaw tightened.

Liar"

He leaned in close, his hot breath fanning my face.

"You're going to tell me who helped you escape, Katrina. If not make sure you regret everything in more ways than one."

I flinched, trying to pull away from Phillip but his fingers dug deeper into my skin.

I forced myself to meet his eyes, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear I was truly feeling.

No one helped me," I whispered, my heart pounding so loud I hoped he didn't hear it.

"I got out by myself"

I had to deny getting help from Alisa, I didn't want to pull her into this.

She had helped me enough.

Phillip let out a scoff and he released my jaw, sending me sprawling back to the ground.

My palms scraped against the rough surface, and I winced as the pain in my knee got worse.

I cradled it, pressing down on the wound to stop the fresh blood from flowing.

Phillip watched me on the ground pathetically; he seemed to be enjoying seeing me this way.

You expect me to believe that?" His voice was low and dangerous, each word laced with venom as he stared at me with hatred in his eyes.

My body trembled, but I lifted my chin, trying to keep the defiance in my eyes.

I couldn't let him see how scared I was. I couldn't give him that satisfaction.

I had been brave up until the point he had caught me, the last drop of my bravery had dried up when I was brought back to this place.

'Believe what you want." I said, my voice shaking now. "It's the truth."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement.

AlisaContent from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

My breath hitched as our eyes met across the courtyard.

She stood at the edge of the crowd that had gathered, obviously drawn by the commotion. Her expression was a mixture of fear and guilt and my heart twisted in my chest. Alisa had risked everything to help me and now, because of my bailure, she was standing there, witnessing the

consequences.

My fingers clenched into the dirt beneath me as Phillip stood in front of me, gazing down at me.

"One last chance, Katrina," he said softly, almost mockingly.

Tell me who helped you, and I promise, I won't make this too painful. But if you keep lying to me

He didn't need to fish the sentence. I already knew what would happen if I kept my silence.

I swallowed, my eyes flicking back to Alisa. She was about to take a step forward, but I shook my head discreetly.

Non

I couldn't let her get involved. I couldn't let her pay for

my mistakes.

Phillip was going to torture me either way, there was no point for her to get involved.

Phillip's eyes followed my gaze, narrowing slightly as if he were trying to piece together the silent exchange between Alisa and me.

He turned back to me, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

A light gasp escaped my lips as I turned away from Alisa.

Did he see it?

I hope he didn't. I didn't want him to think that Alisa had helped and then get her involved in this.

"Still nothing?" he asked, crouching down to my level, his face inches from mine.

"You're loyal, I'll give you that. But loyalty has a price, Katrina."

The air around me seemed to thicken, pressing down on my lungs. I tried to take a breath, but it felt like I was inhaling shards of glass

My chest tightened painfully, and I clutched at the fabric of my shirt, gasping for air

No, not now.

Panic surged through me as the familiar sensation of an asthma attack began to take hold.

I hadn't gotten an attack since I got here and I had been praying that I wouldn't have one,

My vision blurred and 1 could feel the world spinning around me.

I need... My voice came out weak and I struggled to finish a sentence. My inhaler...

hillip raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening as he watched me struggle.

le stood up slowly.

You want your inhaler?" he asked, pulling something out from his pocket.

1

1.30

My eyes widened as I saw the familiar shape of the small plastic device in his hand.

Relief Blooded through me for a brief second before his next words crushed it.

"It just happened to be that I'm asthmatic as well. Tell me who helped you, and I'll give it to you." His lips pulled into a smile. showing his teeth. He had me just where he wanted.

"Watch your next words, Katrina. Who helped you,"

He dangled the inhaler just out of reach, his smile widening as he watched me gasp for air.

He was enjoying this way too much and he didn't care if I died or not.

I tried to crawl forward, desperate, but every movement sent a wave of dizziness crashing over me.

My throat felt like it was closing, and each breath became shallower, more painful.

P-Please." I begged, my voice barely audible. "No one helped me.."

Why wouldn't he believe me? What was so hard in escaping from here with more than twenty men standing guard?

I knew the answer to that question but I still prayed that he believed me..

Phillip knelt again, his face cold and expressionless now.

I don't tolerate traitors, Katrina. Not in my house. Not in my family. So you're going to tell me who helped you, or I'll let you suffocate right here. One of my people helped you escape after you had poisoned their leader. Such a person doesn't deserve to live," I shook my head weakly, tears stinging my eyes as I struggled to breathe.

I needed that inhaler more than anything but if it came with the price of giving Alisa away after she had helped me, then 1 didn't know what to do.

Was 1 going to give my life away just for that?

But I couldn't forget that Phillip still had plans to torture me after this, Each time I thought about that, what came to mind was Silas' torture room, which was filled with different equipment.

The screams of that man mixed with the sickening sound of fists pounding against flesh still filled my mind and I couldn't

shake it off.

Wasn't it better I went this way instead of going through the torture that waited for me?

I hadn't even lived up to twenty-five.

My whole life I had been doing whatever was asked of me. My father had controlled my life and then Silas kidnapped me.

haven't done any of the things I wanted to do and yet this was me gasping for breath about to die.

dy chest burned, my vision darkening. I couldn't think. I could focus on anything but the crushing weight in my lungs

disa took another step forward, but I managed to look at her, shaking my head again.

he shouldn't step in for me; I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to her because of me.

his was my fight. Not hers.

he shouldn't try to help me because she had done enough for me already. Helping me escape was the best she could have Thu, Nov 21 t 4 B

done, I can't let her get involved any further.

Phillip's fingers brushed against my cheek, and I flinched at the coldness of his touch, turning my attention back to him.

His eyes held no sympathy for me as he watched me fight for my life, each breath I took was a step closer to death without my inhaler. And he didn't care about that

"Last chance, Katrina," he whispered, holding the inhaler up so 1 could see it. "Just say the name."

T

"Okay, how's this? You say the name, and I won't do anything to harm you," Phillip said, but I couldn't trust his words.

He could be lying, and the moment the name slipped from my ps, then he'd kill us both

I tried to reach for the inhaler, my fingers weakly grabbing at the air. The more I tried, the higher Phillip raised his hands.

Phillip threw his head back, his chest vibrating as he laughed at my pathetic attempt to get the inhaler.

He was enjoying seeing me in this state.

"You can't even save your own life, doesn't that show how useless you are?" Phillip mocked, still laughing.

Tears burned my eyes as I struggled to breathe. I felt so helpless and I was angry that my life was dangling in Phillip's fingers, and there was nothing for me to do about it

Isk tsk tsk." Phillip tutted, shaking his head at me.

Why would you risk your own life to save another who would have given you away if roles were reversed?" His eyes stared down at me as though I was stupid, holding no form of warmth towards me

I gasped, my lungs screaming for air, my body trembling uncontrollably

I couldn't breathe.

Even as the world tilted and faded around me, even as the crushing darkness threatened to swallow me whole, I refused to give in.

Not again. Not ever.