The Mafia's Pet: Pawn Of The Ruthless ( A Dark Romance)

Evangelina couldn't breathe. Her chest tightened with every passing second, her heart thudding so loudly she feared it would give her away. She pressed her back against the cold stone wall of the shed, willing herself to disappear, to become as invisible as she felt in this place. The night was still, but the sounds of her escape echoed in her ears: the creak of a floorboard, the soft rustle of leaves, the faint clink of metal as she dodged the guards.

This time had to be different. This time she would escape.

She had decided that earlier that evening, while watching the men move crates of drugs into the house. It was a sight she had grown accustomed to over time, but that night, something snapped inside her. She couldn't stand it anymore—the corruption, the violence, the hollow promises of a life that would never be hers. This wasn't the life she wanted. She had endured enough. The time to leave was now.

When the house had finally settled into an uneasy quiet, she began her escape. She waited, counted each breath, and when the guards began their shift rotations, she slipped out of her room, her bare feet gliding soundlessly across the cold floors. The hallway felt endless, every shadow stretching toward her like claws. But she kept moving, driven by the thought of freedom.

---

She had made it past the first few guards with ease, slipping between darkened doorways and using the darkness to her advantage. Her pulse quickened with every step she took toward the garden, her heart whispering the promise of escape.

Freedom. It was so close she could almost taste it.

As she tiptoed across the stone pathway that led to the garden, the cool night air wrapped around her like a cloak. She could see the high walls of the estate now, and beyond them, the world that had been closed off to her for so long. All she had to do was get to the gate.

But then, the sound of footsteps shattered the silence. Evangelina froze, her breath catching in her throat. One of the guards was approaching.

Panic surged through her veins as she looked around for a place to hide. Her eyes darted to the shed, a small wooden structure just off to the side of the garden. Without thinking, she darted toward it, crouching low behind the corner just as the guard rounded the path.

She pressed her back hard against the wood, her breath shallow and quick. She could hear the crunch of the guard's boots on the gravel, hear him muttering under his breath. He was too close. Much too close. She held her breath, praying he wouldn't notice her.

Then, the footsteps stopped. The guard was standing right in front of the shed, his shadow stretching long and dark across the ground. Evangelina's hands trembled as she clutched the fabric of her dress, her mind racing. Had he seen her?

Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out every other sound. She was sure he could hear it too, the rapid drumming that threatened to give her away.

But just as the guard began to step closer, another voice broke the silence.

"Hey! You coming or what? We're drinking tonight!" It was one of the other guards, his voice slurred with excitement.

The first guard hesitated, glancing back toward the shed before calling out, "Yeah, yeah, just a second. Thought I saw something over here."

Evangelina clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Please, just go.

The second guard chuckled, waving him off. "Man, you're seeing things. Leave it alone. Let's go."

For a moment, Evangelina thought the first guard would ignore him and keep looking. She could feel his eyes scanning the area, his suspicion hanging in the air like a weight on her chest.

But then, after a beat too long, the guard let out a sigh. "Yeah, alright. Probably nothing." He turned, walking toward his friend.

Evangelina watched as the two guards walked away, their voices fading into the distance. She stayed crouched behind the shed, her body tense, waiting until she was sure they were far enough away. Slowly, she allowed herself to breathe again, the tension in her muscles beginning to release.

She had almost been caught. Almost. But she was still in control. She could still make it.

---

After what felt like an eternity, Evangelina moved again. This time, more cautiously. Her body felt heavier now, weighed down by the close call. But she couldn't let fear stop her. Not when she was this close.

She crept toward the gate, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement. The guards had moved on, too distracted by their drinks to notice her. She felt a small spark of hope flicker inside her. It was going to work. She was going to get out.

The gate loomed before her, tall and imposing, but in the darkness, it felt like a doorway to freedom. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool metal of the lock. And then her heart sank.

It was locked.

"No..." she whispered, her voice barely audible in the night. Her hands frantically searched the gate for any sign of weakness, any way she could break free. But the lock was solid, heavy. Impossible to break without drawing attention.

She felt a wave of frustration and fear crash over her, her breath hitching in her throat. How could she have come this far, only to be stopped by a lock? Her mind raced, desperate for a solution, but nothing came.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. She had been so close. So close. But now, her plan was crumbling, and the walls of the estate felt like they were closing in around her.

She leaned her forehead against the gate, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. What was she supposed to do now? If she went back, she would be stuck in this nightmare forever. But if she stayed out here, someone would eventually find her.

In the silence of the night, Evangelina heard footsteps again, far in the distance but growing closer. The guards were making their rounds again.

Her heart raced as she stepped back from the gate, panic rising in her chest. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't go back.

For a moment, she considered climbing the gate. It was tall, and the wrought iron spikes at the top looked dangerous, but what other choice did she have? She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenge. She had to try.

Just as she grabbed hold of the bars, her mind flooded with memories of other failed escapes, other times she had tried to run from this life only to be dragged back, kicking and screaming. The bruises, the punishments, the pain. The constant reminder that she was nothing more than a pawn in their game.

But tonight had to be different. She wouldn't let them break her again.

She tightened her grip on the bars, pulling herself up with all the strength she had left. Her arms shook with the effort, but she kept going, her eyes focused on the top of the gate. She was almost there, almost—

The sound of voices reached her ears, and she froze.

"Did you hear something?" one of the guards called out.

Evangelina's heart stopped. She couldn't be caught. Not now.

She let herself drop silently back to the ground, landing in a crouch. The voices were getting closer. She had to hide, had to get out of sight before they spotted her.

Without thinking, she darted back into the shadows, pressing herself against the stone wall, her breath ragged and uneven. She listened, every muscle in her body tense as the guards passed by, their laughter and conversation filling the night.

It took everything she had not to move, not to run.

When they were finally gone, Evangelina slumped against the wall, her body shaking with the adrenaline. She had come so close—too close.

But the gate was locked. There was no way out tonight.

She would have to try again.