by Haley Stuart
“Recognize this?”
Her eyes widen, and she begins sobbing loudly and begging for her life. I can feel excitement bubbling up within me. I love it when people beg. Especially this one. I already have my mind made up with what I am going to do with her life. The fact that she is begging makes that decision all the sweeter.
“Shhhh,” I tell her while placing my gun against her lips. “Tell me, what is your job here? You obviously aren’t one of the women being auctioned.”
She stares at me wide-eyed and begins begging for her life once again. I don’t even flinch as I shoot the nearest worker in the head. Her body strains forward against the rope. All the women around me are screaming. I point the gun back at Sophia.
“I won’t ask you again.”
“I … I … I … get the women p-primped a-and ready f-f-for auction.” She sobs. “Please, sir, I am so sorry! I … I didn’t know s-she was your w-wife!”
I can tell she is lying. She knows exactly who Elise is. I have no doubt that every person in here knows who she is. The fact that they’ve sold her anyway tells me someone high up must have given her to these people. High up enough that they think they will be safe. And they just may have been, if not for Sophia pawning that ring.
I bring my attention back to the woman.
“So what you are saying is that you ‘primped’ my wife for sale?”
I think back to how the girls that are about to be auctioned off are dressed. Skimpy lingerie. And I am betting Elise has been a part of the private auction because of who she is.
“You put my wife in barely anything and had her sold to the highest bidder? But before that, you decided to take something as precious as her wedding ring off and sell it for your own personal gain?”
She doesn’t respond; she only sobs louder and louder.
“Who bought her?” I ask.
She shakes her head, claiming she doesn’t know.
I shoot the nearest girl, and screams erupt. I place my gun under Sophia’s chin. “Who fucking bought her?”
Sophia still claims she doesn’t know.
A girl near her pipes up, obviously terrified, “We don’t know! It was an anonymous bid! Everyone went in anonymous when they figured out who she was! B-but you can look at the surveillance footage outside and see if the car that took her is on it! Please, that’s all we know!” She is sobbing frantically.
I stand from the pathetic women in front of me. This is their jobs here. To dress these girls to look nice and sexy for the auction. To be sold. Like meat. I look around until my eyes land on Matteo. His face is filled with anger. And hate.
“Matteo.” He looks up at me, and I nod in approval.
He pulls out his gun, and Sophia’s cries get louder and louder. Before Matteo can walk past me, I place a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
“I want their deaths to be slow. And painful. Understand?”
He looks at me and nods, a sadistic gleam in his eye. Good boy.
Romelo is standing against the wall, awaiting orders.
“I want them all dead. Castrate them. Shove their dicks down their throats, and then you can kill them.”
A smile makes its way on Romelo’s face. Russians have dared take my bride, so we will kill them Russian-style.
I walk to the car and pull my bolt cutters out of the trunk. Elise has been sold to the highest bidder. She has been fucking sold. I can only hope that whoever has her doesn’t have unprotected sex with her. I’ve taken her off her birth control, and I am secretly feeding her hormone pills. And there is no way in hell I am going to raise someone else’s child. I can already hear the cries of agony as I walk back into the warehouse. They are going to regret the day they’ve dared to defy Luca-fucking-Pasquino.
Chapter 36
Elise
The most degrading thing I have ever witnessed is living being “owned” by this man. I have to bring him breakfast, bring him lunch, and eat dinner with him. All the while wearing the most-revealing clothing I have ever had. It doesn’t help that I am currently having a heart attack because I still haven’t started my period. That is impossible, though. I’ve just gotten my shot recently. There is no way I can be pregnant. And if I am, why now of all times? How has this even happened? Could Luca have done something?
I feel a jerk around my throat. That is right. He has a fucking collar around my throat and is making me scrub the floor on my hands and knees as he holds the chain to the collar in his hand. He stands from where he is sitting atop his desk, and as soon as he gets closer to me, he smacks my ass. I yelp aloud in shock and pain. The bruises are starting to turn an ugly, greenish shade on my skin, and they still hurt.
I feel his shoe atop my back, and he pushes with all his might, forcing me onto the ground onto my stomach.
“Seeing all these bruises on your flawless skin … damn, I want you so bad.” He straddles my body, and I can feel his hard erection pressing against my bare ass. I immediately begin to struggle.
“No, please!”
The collar tightens around my throat, forcing me to arch my back from being pulled. He takes the opportunity to roughly grab my breasts. I can do nothing as I fight for air that is being cut off in this position. My nails are clawing at the floor because of my suffocation.
The pressure of him sitting on me lifts, and I am being dragged out of the room by the collar. I try to stand and catch my footing, but my legs are weak and I keep stumbling and falling.
“Please! Please, somebody help me!” I shout. But it all falls on deaf ears. If there is someone in here, they are ignoring me.
The pressure of the collar lifts, and he yanks on my hair. I scream in agony as he drags me across the house for what seems like forever. We end up in a room, but I don’t have the time to make it out. I am thrown onto a table. I immediately try to get up and run, but he slaps me across the face. Hard. Stars explode across my vision. And the room is spinning.
My arms are locked tightly above my head, and my legs are spread and secured so that I am unmovable, but there is enough space for Alexander to step in between them. He has an evil glint in those cold blue depths as he stares my body up and down with a lust-filled gaze.
He slowly begins to undo his shirt, his gaze never leaving my body.
“Please … please, you don’t have to do this.” I am literally begging him and screaming all in one.
As he takes his shirt off, he steps away from me, going to find a pair of scissors. He slowly cuts the little bit of clothing I am wearing off my skin, exposing me completely to his gaze. He reaches out, grabbing one of my breasts in his hand, and I have to fight the urge to vomit.
He takes his pants off, and his erection springs free. He leans in close to me, sucking on one of my nipples.
“Keep begging. I like hearing that.” He leans into my ear. “Say, ‘Please, Alexander.’”
I squeeze my eyes shut, and the tears run freely down my face. I refuse to give him what he wants. I gasp in pain as he roughly pinches my nipple.
“Fucking beg me!” He squeezes harder, and I scream.
“Please! Please, Alexander! Please!”
He laughs, licking my tears.
“Good girl.”
I can feel his hand rubbing me with a sticky substance. My eyes fly open, and I can see he is rubbing it on his large erection also. He positions himself at my entrance, and I can feel his tip.
“Please, please, please … just don’t do this. I’m begging you.” My sobs are the only sound. I open my eyes to an evil smirk plastered on his face, his menacing eyes staring at me.
“I know.” He pushes, and I can feel him slowly entering my body.
I feel dirty. Disgusting. He is fully sheathed inside of me.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” he murmurs.
He withdraws, only to roughly shove back inside of me. I cry out in shock from the force. My body is tied down and immobile. There is nothing I can do but cry. He begins to pick up his pace, thrusting harder and harder
inside of me, causing me to cry out in pain each time. His hands wrap around my throat, and he begins to squeeze. I tense immediately, but my hands are locked to the table, so I can only sit there helplessly as his hands tighten around my throat.
“From now on, you’re mine.” He squeezes even tighter, and I open my mouth, trying to breathe in something, anything. He finally lets go of my throat and slaps me across the face. I cry out in pain, but he doesn’t stop. He is literally getting off on my pain.
“You do exactly as I say. No ifs, ands, or buts. If you can’t follow those rules, I will punish you.” He gives his words emphasis as he slaps me again across the face. The pain is unbearable.
“You will answer me immediately when I speak to you. You will come when I call for you.” He wraps one hand around my throat again. “You will not lie to me. You will call me sir around the house, and in the bedroom, you will call me Alexander if I give you permission. Understand?”
I can’t speak, because he has his hand around my throat, so I meekly nod. A cruel smile crosses his face.
“Good girl.” And with that, he shudders in pleasure, and I can feel him as he spills his seed inside of me.
Numb. I feel numb. I am still crying. Sobbing. I can’t even cover my body as he pulls out of me. My arms and legs are still locked in an embarrassing position.
Alexander steps back, examining my body. He reaches out, tracing Luca’s name, his eyes running up and down as he reads it. A laugh escapes his lips.
“Not anymore,” he murmurs.
Chapter 37
Elise
The worst part of my day has become waking up. I barely eat anything. I am never allowed away from Alexander’s side. And even if I am, I have no hope of escape. The maid refuses to speak to me, as well as the kitchen staff. And if I get ahold of a phone, I won’t know whom to call. I’ve never learned Luca’s number.
I can feel the stinging pain as I awoke out of my deep slumber. I stir slowly, immediately flinching from the pain. At least with Luca, he only hurts me out of anger or “punishment.” I am not saying in any way that that is normal, but with Alexander, he is a constant sadist. He enjoys pain. He doesn’t even have to have a reason.
Arms tighten around my body as I try to move. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I cringe, and immediately, tears spring into my eyes. When I don’t answer, he violently shakes me.
“I asked you a fucking question.”
“J-just to the bathroom,” I barely get out before a sob breaks out.
His arms slowly release me, and I limp to the bathroom, closing the door. I am not allowed to lock it. I look at my body in the mirror, and silent sobs rack my body. I can break the mirror again and slash my wrists. My eyes travel to my stomach. But I have more to worry about than just me now. It has been a whole month, and I still have not started my period. It is safe to assume that I am pregnant. If my math is correct, then it is with Luca’s child. And from what I’ve heard from family members growing up, I have a few weeks until I start to show. I have to get out of here. I have no idea what type of person Alexander is, and there is no way I’ll tell that sadist this is Luca’s child.
My legs grow weak, and I collapse onto the floor. I am pregnant with Luca’s child. This is the last thing I want. I don’t need this. I can’t do this. I just wish Luca will find me.
The door to the bathroom opens, and in walks Alexander. He sees me on the floor.
“Elise, what are you doing on the floor?” His voice sends shivers up my spine.
“I … I was just—”
“Crying,” he interrupts me. He kneels on the floor in front of me and reaches out to touch my cheek. I immediately flinch away from him. He pauses, studying my face before a small laugh escapes his lip.
“Come.” He steps toward the shower, turning it on.
I slowly rise from my spot on the floor and follow him to the shower.
* * * * *
“Elise, you need to eat.”
I am literally staring at my plate. All the food makes my stomach churn. I try not to eat in front of him in fear I will vomit. I also try not to do anything that will make him aroused. Which means keeping movement at a minimum.
“Elise! I said eat.” His voice carries across the room like a whip.
I jump in my seat and begin sniffling. Fear of this man has literally eaten me up. I’ve had all but given up on Luca coming to rescue me. I take the food with shaky hands and shovel it into my mouth. I can’t even taste it as I force myself to chew and swallow.
And judging from the way I am feeling right now, I will see this food again.
Alexander watches me with those terrifying eyes. I can’t help but wonder what’s happened to him to make him like this. He shifts in his chair, placing his hand under his chin as he stares me down.
“Are you keeping secrets from me, Elise?” A small smile plays at his lips. My heart is trying to beat out of my chest. Surely, he doesn’t know. How can he?
“No.” My voice is an almost whisper.
He stands from his seat and slowly begins stalking toward me. “Elise, I know you.” His gaze travels up and down my body.
I begin shaking in fear.
“I know how you begin to shake when you’re scared. I know how you get teary eyes when you believe you’ve done something wrong, because you know I don’t tolerate impudence. And I know how your voice goes to barely a whisper when I’m on the right track. But you know what I know best?”
I feel his fingers under my chin as he pulls my face up to meet his. He has a serious expression on his face, all amusement gone.
“I know that you avoid eye contact with me when you lie.” He reaches out and places his hand over my heart. His eyes drop down to where his hand is, and he looks up to meet my fearful gaze.
“Why is your heart racing, Elise?”
Out of nowhere, the maid comes running into the room with wide eyes.
“Sir, you have a visitor.”
Alexander’s face shifts to one of irritation. “Who comes to my home unannounced?”
She clears her throat. “Uh, Mr. Pasquino, sir.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, and tears of joy spring into my eyes. I am saved! I don’t think I have ever been so happy to hear Luca is about to step into the room.
I don’t even hesitate; I jump up from my seat at the table and sprint to the foyer. Before I can get far, Alexander grabs ahold of my hair, yanking me back roughly. I can feel a few hairs being torn from my scalp. I cry out in pain. Now I really wish my hair were still short.
Alexander puts his hand around my throat. I can feel my feet being lifted off the floor, and I am being slammed into the table. I try to cry out, but I can’t from the pressure around my throat. Alexander is in my face. He grabs a knife from the table and holds it over my stomach. My heart stops.
“Listen to me, you think I’m a fool and don’t know what’s going on under my own roof? You try not to eat in front of me. My maid has heard you retching in your bathroom. And when I went to look, you haven’t touched any of your feminine products. I know, Elise.”
Oh god, no.
“And currently, I like the idea of having a child with you. But if you make a sound, I will kill that child.” Judging from his choice of words, he thinks it is his. I try to use that against him, building up all the strength I can.
“Y-you would kill your own child?”
He laughs. Literally laughs. “I like this bravery. How about we make a deal, huh?” He smiles wickedly at me. Fear crawls its way up my spine. He turns his head and speaks to the maid.
“Let him in and keep him busy until I say otherwise.”
Alexander is by far the strangest person I have ever known. Everything in this house that looks normal isn’t. His office floor has a trapdoor in it. There is a stairway, and he has me shackled to the columns.
“This is a soundproof ceiling. Which means that we above can’t hear a thing. It’s simple for you. Make enough noise fo
r him to hear you, and you’ll go free. I mean, I’ll be dead, anyway, because he’ll kill me once he finds out. So good luck.” He smiles evilly at me, walking up the stairs and closing the hatch.
I sprint to the stairs as soon as he is gone and begins reaching to bang on the floor. With the way he has my arm chained, only the tips of my fingers can brush it. I pull as hard as I can against the metal, feeling it bite into my skin.
I hear heavy footsteps overhead and look up through the tiny crack and see Luca. He is standing directly above me.
“Luca! Help me!”
He doesn’t even flinch. He can’t hear me. Alexander is right—the floor, or ceiling for me, is soundproof. I cry out in frustration. If I can only get something to at least beat against it.
Then I realize the stairs beneath me are wooden. Like wooden planks. But they are thick. I push all the doubt and negativity from my mind and begin punching at the wood, ignoring the pain shooting through my fist. Luca is standing no less than two feet above me. I am going to make him hear me.
Chapter 38
Luca
“This way, sir.” Alexander’s maid is leading me through the dark halls of his home. Miserable doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. And walking through this guy’s home makes it even worse. I have never met someone that lacks such … personality.
Alexander and I have grown up together, and we hate each other—that’s a fact. He isn’t a part of the Mafia, but he does play a huge part in all our wars. He is a dirty bastard that likes to see people fall. Including my family. He has been behind countless schemes that have had to do with us being set back.
We’ve checked the surveillance footage and have found nothing, but we do get a list of people that have been at that auction, and Alexander is one of them. I pray he doesn’t have Elise. He is known for brutality. Not just to people, but to the women he owns. He is merciless. More often than not sending them to the hospital. I have to calm my breathing. Just thinking of him laying a finger on her makes my blood boil.
