•SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA•

Julia's POV

A distant instrumental melody resonated from one ear to the other as my eyes fluttered open, and my obscured sight struggled to make out the dimmed view around me. Playful moonlight danced over the Egyptian blue comforter while my feet and toes stretched across the cool side of the blanket.

I arched my aching back and sat up allowing my vision to clear and scatter over the floor to ceiling windows that gave an overwhelmingly lofty view of San Francisco.

Sapphire curtains that hung from iron rods placed above the window just barely graced the glossy wood floor while the soft grey walls proudly held adroit art pieces and a few Maniscalco family portraits.

Reminders of the events at the hospital replayed in my mind like a horror film on the big screen; and my eyelids went haywire as I rubbed my palm against them. The weight of the day fought me to stay put, but my thoughts and I had other plans.

Where is Nicolai?

I gritted my teeth while sliding off of the bed-my focus fanning out to find the bedroom door. My bare feet wobbly led me to the closed frosted-French doors.

I wrapped my trembling hand around the polished knob as it resisted my turn.

Locked.

Disappointment poured over me like hot wax as I resisted the urge to tear down the door with my bare hands.

Be calm. You're in control Julia. You're... in... control.

My breathing steadied and my attention lasered in on my purse that was surprisingly waiting atop the dresser on the wall nearest to the bathroom.

Reluctantly, I padded over the Bohemian area rug towards the dresser and rummaged through my bag, finding everything inside- including my phone.

It was fully charged and had a strong signal for making outgoing calls. I unlocked it, scrolled through my settings and phone calls for any sign of tampering, but came up short.

Was I being punked?

Did Andres do this?

I quickly brushed that thought away. After the fight we had, I doubt if he's even in my corner anymore.

My heart pounded and I checked the empty surroundings as my pupils grew with the desire to call for help.

No cameras in the room.

No tampering with my phone.

What if this is my only chance to get help, and I miss it because I watch too many kidnapping documentaries.

I took a breath so deep my lungs hurt as I hurriedly found Olivia's contact and prepared to hit call.

"Stai attento (be careful). It's bugged tesoro." Adrian's husky but relaxed statement broke the silence.

My entire body spiraled as my never- coordinated feet tangled within themselves and slammed my back into the sturdy dresser.

The speed of my heartbeat was a gentle stroll compared to its current hypersonic pace as I eyed my ex-husband leaning against the wall by the door with a mug fitting snuggly between his hands.

"Can't have you trying to get away from me now can I?"

"Why let me keep it at all?"

"Julia, you're my wife -not my prisoner. You're allowed supervised freedom." He took a collected sip and sat on the bench at the foot of the bed.

Control Julia. Maintain control.

"Where's my son Adrian?" I crossed my arms while marching over to him.

"Who?" He peeked over his mug.

"Nicolai."

"Oh. You mean our son."

My mouth twisted as I held my tongue.

"He's resting. Did you know he was shot?" Adrian placed his mug on the floor and leaned back.

"Yes." I bit out.

"See, that's something that bothers me." Adrian stood up as he wagged his finger and backed me up against the window.

"If he were with me that wouldn't have happened."

"You're right. He'd probably be dead like Eva."

Adrian pinned my jaw between his tight grip.

"Testing my patience a little early in the night aren't we?"

I snatched my face from his touch as I fiercely pushed him back, "I've got six years to catch up on."

"I wouldn't make it a habit. Somebody could get hurt."

I straightened my back, putting on a brave face, "I'm not afraid of you anymore Adrian. You can't hurt me."

"I wouldn't want to hurt you. I love you baby girl. I don't know if can say the same about the other people you know."

My eyebrows pulled together as I shuffled forward.

His lips gathered into a smirk, "You know like your mom, Olivia....Nicolai."

"You'd hurt a child?"

"I'm not an animal, tesoro. He's my son after all. But how you act is gonna dictate how tough his training's gonna be. When he's healed of course."

"He's six!"

"He needs to learn his place in this family! He's already been stifled by whatever you've taught him—he needs to be trained."

If Adrian's training was anything like what his father put him and his brother through; Nicky would be dead by the end of the month.

How'd I let this happen?

Getting just myself caught was always a worry for me, but as long as my son was safe I could bare the brunt of Adrian's wrath.

He was never supposed to find Nicolai.

"Adrian he's just a baby..." My words came out as pleas.

A strident ringing speared through our conversation and Adrian held a finger to his lips.

"Che cosa?" (What?)

I strained my ears for a sliver of the replacement conversation as my eyes took a tour of the rest of the room.

"Why is she here?" Adrian questioned curtly.

The person on the other end spoke in hushed tones making it impossible for me to grasp anything they said.

"I ordered you to keep her in Jersey—no, you know what? You're done." He hung up, his expression remaining stoic.

"Having trouble boss?" The light behind my eyes sassily flickered.

Adrian blinked, as his mouth sported a nefarious grin that didn't dare reach his frigid gaze.

"Stella's almost done with dinner. Come downstairs after you get cleaned up. Everything's in the bathroom for you." He turned his back to me as he scooped his mug from the floor and headed to the door.

The question that had been gnawing at the edge of my mind finally chewed its way to the front.

"...Where is Andres?"

Adrian's hand rested on the door knob, his black moccasins stopping short.

"When my men do their jobs, by morning he should be joining my father." -he opened the door- "don't take forever in the bathroom. You know how I get when people are late to dinner."

A/N: what's your favorite song at the moment?

Also, in your opinion, should this book be marked mature?