My back slams against the bars, and I realize I've been backing up to put distance between me and my new owner. While nothing has been formally agreed, I know without a doubt this man will get what he wants.
"O...okay," the piece of shit trafficker says, watching as the Romanian narrows his eyes, the sight making my knees shake. "Yours. She's yours."
"That's what I thought," he mutters before glancing back at my cage, this time letting his gaze travel over my body. He starts at my head, taking in every inch of me. The soft curl in my blonde hair, the subtle arch of my back, my tits and waist, right down to the way my ankles hold me up in these ridiculous black heels.
Approval flashes in his eyes, making my stomach clench, and I hesitantly take a step forward into the center of my cage, my eyes locked firmly on his. Just like earlier, I can't look away. I suck in a breath, every second of this connection growing more intense, more wicked, and more terrifying.
As if on cue, the large security guard who'd stepped in
with Broken Nose e appears at the door of my cage, and I tear my gaze away from my new Romanian captor. The security guard, who'd so casually disregarded my life, now looks at me with such pity that it almost tears me to shreds. "May God have mercy on your soul," he murmurs, meeting my stare as he slips the key into the lock and opens the door,.his gaze filled with darkness.
Fuck.
Fear pounds through my veins. Only an hour ago, this man was more than happy to allow some asshole to purchase me, to spend their time abusing and destroying me without a fucking care in the world. He didn't care if I Iived or died.
But now that this Romanian has claimed me as his own, it somehow warrants him to fear for my soul?
The cage door swings open, and I find myself glancing
back at the auctioneer to see the same pitying look in his eyes. Hell, Broken Nose doesn't even try to put up a fight.
The Romanian dude captures my stare, and the way his eyes burn into mine sends a chill over my skin. "Come to me," he says in that thick accent, his words penetrating deep into my chest like an agonizing command, summoning my unbreakable obedience.
I swallow hard as the warehouse settles into a chilling silence, every eye in the room watching as I shakily step from my cage, the sound of my heels clicking against the blood-spattered concrete.
I take one step and then another, each daunting move bringing me closer to my undeniable end.
What does this man want with me? Who the hell is he to be able to walk into a room filled with men like this and command authority in such a brutal, unsettling way?
My heart races and my palms sweat, but his ghostly stare draws me in until I'm standing right before him, my whole body shaking with unease. "Understand me now," he says, his voice so low yet somehow heard throughout the warehouse. "You are mine. You belong to me. There is nowhere you can run or hide. No escape. No freedom. No reprieve. If you follow my rules, you will find life with me.quite satisfactory, comfortable even. If you do not, if you refuse me, you will spend every waking hour wishing for death. Is that clear?"
Swallowing hard, I will myself not to crumble and nod my head, knowing without a doubt he means every word he says. The terror has a chokehold on me, and I try to get the words out past the fear weighing me down. "Yes, I understand."
Those dark eyes blaze, refusing to break away. "What is your name?"
"Chiara," | tell him, his height and brute size overwhelming me. "Chiara Thorne."
"This will be the last time you hear the name Chiara Thorne. She no longer exists," he says, stripping me of my identity with nothing more than a thick Romanian accent. "Forget your old life, scrub it from your memory."
There was a strict bluntness in his tone, colder than ice. He spoke to me like I was a robot, a slave bound to do his every bidding. Without a mind of her own.
"Your friends, your family, schooling, or work. Your world revolves around me now. You cater to only me. My every will and desire will be your only priority."
Fuck.
I nod, the weight on my shoulders making me feel smaller than ever before. I can't help but wonder if this asshole has a Daddy kink, but I think it might be more than that. He's not looking for some whore to call him Daddy and act like a brat. This man wants complete submission, and I don't mean the Fifty Shades type of submission. I'm talking about the real messed-up shit.
This man wants complete ownership. He wants to strip me of my identity to the point where my world no longer exists. My name will be wiped from public record, my life wiped from existence. Those who once knew me will be made to question if I was ever really there. My friends, my work, my life...all of it gone, just like that.
He watches me a few seconds longer, daring me to challenge his word, but while I might have the tendency to run my mouth and fly off the handle, I'm not fucking stupid.
I know when to argue and when to back down.
Approving of my silence, he gives a curt nod. "Follow me."
Without another word, the tall stranger turns on his heel and stalks toward the exit, every eye in the room watching him with fearful caution. He doesn't bother to look back at me. He simply expects that I will follow every last demand given, and that's exactly what I do. Sticking to his side, I'm spurred on by the idea of finally stepping outside of this wicked warehouse.
We take the stairs, and as we reach the top to find the
burly security guard, I can't help but meet his stare. It's still so full of pity that I'm forced to look away. The guard opens the door, and I expect my captor to walk straight through it.
But when he stops and waves me through, allowing me to pass in front, I'm taken aback. Trusting my situation enough to know nothing is about to happen in the next few seconds, I hesitantly step past him and over the threshold. His hand drops to my lower back, guiding me through the door as any gentleman would, and my back stiffens at his touch, a shiver sailing over my skin. Trying to ignore it, I step out into the cold winter night, the chilling breeze settling right into my bones.
Quickly glancing around, I take in my surroundings and find us in what looks to be an abandoned industrial estate.
Each broken streetlight and run-down building looks as sorry as I feel.
My gaze settles on a black SUV with darkly tinted windows parked right by the door as if waiting for me. I stride toward it, my gaze shifting from left to right, waiting and watching for any chance I have to make my escape.
"You do not want to discover what lies in wait for you if you try to run from me," he warns, moving in beside me to reach for the door handle of the SUV.
Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I shoot a timid glance at him as he holds the door. "I wasn't going to."
His gaze narrows slightly, and it's clear as day he doesn't believe me, but instead of calling me out, he nods toward the open door. "Get in."
I flick my gaze between the door and him, knowing the second I get into his SUV, it's all over for me.
"Who are you?" I ask, waiting only a second before blurting my next question. "Where are you taking me?"
"There will be time for questions when I get you back to my manor," he explains. "Until then, you will remain silent."
Then with another pointed stare, he indicates for me to get in his SUV, but this time his sharp gaze warns me of my fate if I do not obey immediately.
Not wanting to put my life on the line any more than I already have tonight, I silently slide into the back of the SUV and watch with unease as this mysterious man gets in beside me. He closes the door, and the tension rises in the car.
A tear sails down my cheek, splashing onto my collarbone, and with that, the driver hits the gas. I take a moment to grieve the life I once knew because, from here on out, I'm as good as dead.