I sipped my wine.
"Uhm.." I hesitated but watched him calmly. He was waiting for my answer, and there was no way I was gonna deny it. He knew, he caught me. But what he didn't know was that I lived in Sicily before we relocated.
Sip.
"Why do you ask, your highness?." My voice came out hoarsely. I spoke without thinking, maybe I'm starting to get drunk, drunk in the morning?.
"Because I want to know."
"Yes, I am. I lived in Sicily back in the days." I answered, not allowing myself to think of my days in Sicily.
His eyes rose at my answer, and he sat upright, clasping both hands together and resting his elbow on his thighs.
"Why did you move out of Sicily?." He asked me, eyeing me suspiciously.

No,no, no. Why's he asking me that?. I do not want to remember that.
Tears stung my eyes and I tried not to spoil this moment of peace and fresh air since I went out of his abode.
For the five years that we left Sicily, I hadn't tried to remember the things I left behind. My friends, the lovely neighborhood that I grew up in, and my mother's grave.
"You're.." Zavi paused and drew closer, he looked into my eyes, "You're crying.."
I sniffed and used the tip of my thumb to wipe away a tear.
"I..we relocated after my mom died," I replied to him frantically and gulped down the whole content.
Quickly, the young boy refilled the glass. Zavi was watching me closely, he was not able to say a word.
"I asked because I taught you were…"
"A spy," I interrupted him.
He nodded, "Si, it's something I should be careful of... Don't tell anyone you understand Italian ." He said in a serious tone.
"I take care of many things, my men are very competent in handling my businesses, but we need a female figure by my side. They've asked me to consider taking one, and this is where you come in."
I scoffed, "You have lots of women by your side." I told him.
He relaxed back in his seat and stated, "None of them knows what I do."
My eyebrows raised, is that true?.
"Why?. Why do you choose me?." I asked. I'm confused. I know my dad owes him but I do not know why it should be me. Why am I not asked to sell my body and bring him income?.
He smiled. The very first time I saw a genuine smile on his face.
"Because I can see it. The willingness to survive. You're a beautiful girl who would kill to survive," I blushed when he said I'm beautiful but I can't kill to survive, rather I would strive to survive.
"But..you must be careful. You're trouble, I don't want to spend all day tending to you like your nanny. The first step is to grow up."
I frowned.
"I'm 19, sir."
I'm an adult.
He shook his head, "You have a lot to learn."
He's fucking doing it again.
"I hope I can learn from you, captain."
Touchy!.
It makes his head swell.
"You'd better do."
I licked my lips and dropped the glass on the table.
"Do I have a say?."
"No. You do all I want you to do, I'll make you extinct once you disobey me," He threatened. He will have me do it even if I disagree.
"Do you do this often?." I asked him.
He asked in confusion, "What?."
"Threaten people often."
"That is why they fear me." He answered.
"No, that is why they want to kill you,"
He scoffed, "I won't die easily. Even if I die now, you won't live,"
I was confused.
"Why?."
"Because you're mine. You die with your master." He smirked.
I almost broke into laughter, he's such an ass.
"Can't I just pay you back and leave?."
"Would you?."
My eyes brightened at the suggestion. I will just pay him and go on my way than trying to look for a way to escape. Will I run forever?.
"How much does my father owe?."
"3 million." He replied and I screamed.
"What?!!."
All eyes went on us, I was beyond shocked.
"How did he use the money?, we didn't buy a house," I said in a quiet tone.
"You know your dad."
Once again, I was reminded of my silly dad. How could he use all that money on gambling?.
"Would you pay back?." He asked again.
I picked the glass up again and gulped down its content. I was halfway through the food and I didn't want more. The thought that I was forever he was a life-ending thought. I do not have uncles or aunties who would pay such a huge amount of money to Don Zavi.
"I don't even know why you're thinking, you could use this opportunity to find your mom's killer."
I stopped thinking.
Nice idea. I wanted more than anything to find the bastard who killed my mom.
"I'm giving you a suggestion anyway, not that you have an option not to join me."
I folded my hands together, "So what exactly, will I be doing?."
"First off, not any basket mouths make it in life, if you want to survive, learn to keep to yourself."
He always finds a way to insult me.
"Secondly, you'll need to defend yourself," He looks at me in a demeaning manner, "You're weak and vulnerable."
"You gonna teach me to fight?." I questioned, finding this more interesting.
"No, but someone will."
"Then you'll stand with me, attend events and work with me. Everyone would see how important you are by my side."
Hmm.
Not a bad idea. So, I'm gonna be the bad girl.
"My first rule is no disrespect, to me and my men. No snooping, just do your job and leave the rest." I almost rolled my eyes. I'll kick any dick who gets in my way.
I looked back for the first time I went into the restaurant, there were men in the doorway. I looked back at Zavi.
"They're my men. Any question, V?."
"No. No question sir."
"It's Zavi."
"What?."
"Call me, Zavi."
….
Finally, we came back, I had a really good time out there. Getting some fresh air and being away from many eyes had been okay for me. And now, I didn't come back as a prisoner, but as Zavi's right-hand lady.
Zavi wasn't dragging me as always but he was keeping a close watch on me. Relationships had changed, we were more than a slave and its master now. He was my boss and I'm his woman.
"Pack up, we'll leave at 5 today."
I stopped walking but he continued walking upstairs.
"Where are we going?."
"Home."