Kendra
I had played the devil and now, he had come to hunt me.
After everything that happened in Monaco, Killian suggested that I return home with him. "Playing nun really doesn't suit you," he had said.
Maybe he was right. Maybe this wasn't my life but I was not ready to go back to that life. After everything I'd done in the past few days, I probably wasn't cut out to be a nun. But the life of crime wasn't very appealing either.
"I'll pay you a visit one of these days," I had told him.
"Kendra…"
"It's Sister Maria for now," I cut him off gently. "Bye, Killian," I said as I pulled him in for a hug. "And be careful," I added and I could tell he was rolling his eyes. "Try not to piss anyone off for now."
"I'll call you," he said when we broke the hug.
That was a week ago and life had been somewhat peaceful since then. When I returned to the convent, Mother Agnes gave me a whole lecture, scolding me for what my brother did when he came.
A meeting was held for my fate to be decided and when they couldn't decide if they wanted to let me stay, I was placed on indefinite probation. I didn't mind it at all, but this life had become boring.
I was starting to want more and the day I thought about leaving the convent for good, three black SUVs pulled up into the courtyard.
Like the day Killian came, almost everyone was in the courtyard. A security man had been hired after the last incident, but he couldn't stop these people and I just knew this wasn't Killian.
Seeing that man who had been with Alessandro in Monaco, I realized who these men were and why they were here.
"Shit!" I hissed as I watched them talk to Mother Agnes. Not waiting to be caught, I slipped away through the back, disappearing into the space behind the church building.
Frantically, I pulled out the phone I had hidden under my clothes. With shaky fingers, I dialled Killian's number and he picked up immediately.
"Sis?"
"Killian, Alessandro found me!" I whispered into the phone.
"What?!"
"Something probably went wrong in Monaco and now, he's here for me."
"Fuck! I knew that plan was stupid," he said. "I can't believe we really thought we could get away with this."
"Will you shut up and find a way to get me out of here?" I almost screamed. My eyes were already glancing up the tall fence. I could easily scale up and get out of here, but my clothes were going to be an issue. "I'll call you back," I told Killian and quickly hung up.
I was just about to take off my habit when I heard footsteps behind me. I froze, my palms already sweaty as I figured I'd been caught.
Slowly, I turned, coming face to face with Alessandro's man.
"Going somewhere, Sister?" He asked, but I didn't answer. "Get her," he ordered the men with him and I did not resist. That would be useless right now.
When I was brought back to the courtyard, I caught a glimpse of Il Diavolo sitting at the back of one of the cars. Seeing him made my heart sink. He came all the way here?
He slowly rolled up the window the next second, concealing himself behind the tinted glass. I could tell he was still watching and I figured I should just say my last prayers.
"Sister Maria?" Mother Agnes called. She looked shocked but that expression was quickly replaced by a cold glare. "So you're the one these people are looking for?"
I said nothing to that. What could I say? This was probably the last time she was going to see me anyway, so she could judge me all she wanted.
"Do not ever come back here!" She yelled as I was led to the first vehicle.
"I'm not planning to," I muttered under my breath.
I was glad that they didn't put me in the same car with Alessandro, but where were they taking me? Why was I still alive?
Sandwiched between two hefty men, I sat quietly, keeping my eyes peeled as the cars pulled out of the compound. After a not so long drive, we arrived at a harbor and we got on a luxurious yacht. I was led in first and was seated under the watchful eyes of one man.
I didn't need to turn my head to know when Alessandro got into the yacht. He just had this imposing presence that seemed to suck the air out of a room.
I kept my head down even though I watched him from the corner of my eyes. He barely looked in my direction and all sorts of thoughts began running through my head.
Why were we on this boat? Did they plan to kill me and dump my body into the sea?
I lifted my head to see a maritime policeman staring at me. Was it just me or was he looking at me pitifully? Did he know how this was going to end for me?
Many would probably say "Alessandro De Santis was a criminal. Why was he walking around freely with a hostage? How come no one was stopping him?"
Well, the truth was that no one could challenge him. At least not here in Italy. This man's influence stretched over the continent and beyond. Let's just say everyone knew the kind of man he was and what he was capable of. No one would dare call him out. He was the devil of Sicily.
Wait. I suddenly looked in his direction when I realized that could be where he was taking me.
I suddenly locked eyes with him, realizing he had been watching me. And for some reason, neither of us looked away.
Dread crawled all over me and I could imagine all the cruel ways he planned to deal with me. Just then, I heard a man's voice coming from the lower deck. "Please," he cried. "I'm sorry."
I didn't look away from Alessandro just yet. The small evil smirk playing on his lips bothered me. I finally looked in the direction the voice was coming from and my heart skipped when I saw a man.
He was battered and bruised to the point that his left eye was swollen shut. What could he have done to piss off a man like Alessandro?
"Kendra Marino," that familiar baritone voice called out and my stomach twisted knowing who had said my name.
I returned my attention to him and this time, his gaze was intense.
"You owe me $12 million dollars," he added and I heard the man that had just been dragged in gasp.
I glanced at him once more and he looked sorry for me. Did he owe less?
"That's Barry and he owes me almost $5 Million," Alessandro answered the question in my mind.
My lips parted in fear. I had to get out of this situation one way or another. The boat had already begun to move. I couldn't die out here. So with a straight face and a middle finger to my nerves, I decided to play dumb.
"I still don't know why I'm here, Sir," I spoke up and he frowned hard. I went on regardless. "You just accused me of owing you money. I think you're mistaking me for someone else. My name is Sister Maria and I demand to know where I'm being taken."
I knew I sounded stupid, but I had to keep myself alive for as long as I could.
"Did you bring me here so I could pray for your soul?" I asked further. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Alessandro smiled. I didn't know if he thought I was stupid or funny, but I hoped it was the latter.
"So you deny being Kendra?" He asked, leaning forward. "You don't know Killian Marino and you weren't in Monaco a few days ago?"
"I don't know what you're talking about", I answered simply. "I'm just a nun."
"A nun who lies through her teeth," he sneered and then glanced up at his man who didn't seem to share in his amusement.
Alessandro suddenly took out a gun and tossed it towards the man named Barry. "Pick it up," he instructed and the man obeyed, his entire body trembling.
I swallowed, watching in silence while wondering what was going through Alessandro's head.
"I'll let you go if you do something for me, Barry," he said, leaning back as Barry's face lit up. "Kill the nun and I'll let you go."