Chapter Two

GYPSY'S POV

By the time I get home, I feel like I'm going to burst from all the rage running through my system. But as soon as I enter my room and my eyes fall on Zeke, all my anger evaporates.

My son. My angel.

Strolling over to the bed, I stroke his hair gently. He's asleep, his pouted lips slightly opened. He really does look like an angel. Leaning down, I kiss him on the lips. My actions stir him awake.

"Mummy," He says sleepily.

"Hello, Zeke, my darling." I croon, kissing him on the cheek.

"You said you would come to read me a story." His eyes are closed as he says this.

My heart squeezes. "I'm sorry, Zeke. Next time.”

"Hmm." He murmurs, then his breathing returns to a deep, even rhythm like before as he goes back to sleep.

Then there's a loud knock on my door. I stiffen, glaring at it like whoever is on the other side will see it. It's obviously one of Falcon's men.

“The boss wants everyone in the dungeon. Now.”

My heart skips a beat. What is that twisted fuck planning to do now? Something twisted, cruel and deranged, of course. After all, we're talking about Arrow Falcon.

The man who has ruined my life because of my own mistakes.

Arrow Falcon has an underground basement where he keeps most of the rest of his slaves. Women who are forced to do all sorts of unscrupulous things against their will.

Some are spies and con artists like me, others are made to push drugs while others are made to sell their bodies for money without even receiving a single cent.

Five years ago, when he told me he would help me get my son back, I would've never accepted if I knew the kind of job he wanted me to do; spying on and conning people for his benefit. He kills some of these people too.

Now I'm stuck in this life that I hate so much, and I can't leave because if I even try to escape, he'll find us and make my son pay for it.

*****

"No, please. Have mercy. I... I will never... never do this again. Please."

A teary voice fills the eery silence of the underground, the timbre of agony ricocheting off the walls of the room accompanied by sounds of struggle with metals.

We can only hear because we have our heads bowed, our hands behind us just like Falcon wants it.

"Look here all of you." Falcon's commanding voice fills our ears. Fearful heads shoot up and gasps soon leave the mouths of many.

In front of us is one of Falcon's slaves, straddled in a chair, hands locked to the armrests and feet locked to the legs of the chair. She's completely naked but I know whatever Falcon has in mind, it's not about raping her in front of us.

Yes, he does that.

Falcon scans all of us. "All of you are going to keep your eyes fixed. And I swear by all things holy that whoever dares to look away will take her place after I'm done with her."

I can feel the shudder that runs through the other ladies. It's exactly the reaction he wants. Falcon turns to the naked brown-skinned beauty strapped to the chair and a sickening smile falls on his lips.

"Oh Stephanie, do you know the first thing that came to mind the moment my men brought you to me?" He cups her cheeks and strokes them gently. She whimpers.

"That you were going to be one of my greatest assets and make me so proud. All that beauty." He tsks, shaking his head. "So why did you try this thing with me? After how good I treat you?"

I scoff. Good my ass.

Falcon suddenly spins around, leveling his gaze on the rest of us. He's still smiling but the look in his eyes is cold and dangerous.

"Now ladies, as some of you are aware, this beauty joined you about two weeks ago and has been receiving the necessary training. But what does she do when she's sent to work on her first day?"

He laughs. "She begs the man who has paid to fuck her to help her, that she's being forced to do this. Can you imagine? After how good I treat all of you? Luckily, the client knew me personally and called me instead."

He pauses for a long moment and scans the girl before turning to us. "Now doesn't this deserve a punishment?" He asks.

Nobody speaks.

"I said doesn't that deserve a punishment?!" Falcon bellows this time. The smile on his face disappears only for a second before returning, even brighter this time.

That's just him. Always smiling and yet full of so much evil.

"It does." His men answer for us.

Those stupid dogs who worship the very ground Falcon walks on.

Falcon motions with his hand, and a large kitchen knife is brought to him. The girl in the chair starts to struggle again, the fear evident in her eyes.

"Shh...shh.." Falcon shushes her. She stops struggling but can't stop sobbing.

Falcon brings the edge of the knife to his hand. He looks the girl in the eyes as he drives the knife edge against his palm.

Blood spills. Many ladies wince, but I don't. He does that sometimes just to prove a point. If he can hurt himself 'so much', don't expect your pain to be anything less.

"Now stretch out your left fingers." He says.

Stephanie's eyes widen and she shakes her head wildly. "Please no. I beg you. Please, have mercy. I've learned my lesson. Please."

"Stretch out your fingers this instant." Falcon bellows. "I promise it won't hurt."

When she continues to struggle, balling her hand into a fist, Falcon calls one of his men. A few blows later, she is weak enough for the man to pry her fist open and spread out her fingers.

Around me, I can hear the whimpers of dread from the other ladies as Falcon brings the knife forward.

He doesn't chop off her fingers in one go. No, he takes his sweet time slicing them off. One by one. And he does it with a loving smile on his face. Screams of pain fill the basement.

Some of the other ladies are already crying, and others puking or retching. I just stand there with my eyes burning with tears that I don't let fall.

When you've seen something like this as many times as I have, you learn to get accustomed to it. Numb the brain. Deaden the mind. That's the only way to get through this.

After he's done, he throws the knife on the floor. Then he turns to us. If anything, his smile is broader.

God, I hate him. I hate him with every fiber of my being. Given the chance. I won't even think a microsecond about it before chopping his head off.

"My beautiful ladies, I hope we all learned something from this. Just learn to accept all the love I give you and you'll be fine."

As he says this, his eyes are fixed on mine and I know he's sending a message.

I may be his favorite slave but he won't hesitate to torture me like this if I betray him.

*******************

THREE WEEKS LATER

Among all of Arrow Falcon's slaves, Zainab is the one I'm closest with. She takes care of my son when I'm away.

Zainab convinced me to quit my job at the bar because of how much it takes me away from my son. So I began searching for a job.

I recently graduated online in a secretarial course, so I decided to use the mediocre qualification to apply for a job. Honestly I didn't have much hope and got a lot of rejections too.

But to my surprise, I received an email yesterday that I've just been given the job I applied for at Russo Enterprises! It still surprises me because I was initially rejected for an interview probably because of my qualifications.

But who cares why they changed their mind? All that matters is that I got the job!

The elevator dings and parts its doors open. Taking in a deep breath, I finally step into my new workplace. Wow, the place is so beautiful but it's almost bare with just about five offices.

Lena, my new boss's personal assistant, who's just stepping out of her own office, stops when she sees me. She walks in my direction.

"Oh don't I just love how much you value time." A bright smile adorns her face as she stops in front of me. "That's gotta make you a tad bit likable in his books."

Just a tad bit.

"How likely is he to fire me on a scale of one to ten?" I ask.

She giggles. "Uh, let's just say... He's had eight secretaries in the past two years."

"Eight?" My eyes widen.

“You'll be fine.” Lena flashes a smile that fails to assure me.

I let out a sigh as I watch her go, I step into my new boss's office. Everything inside is immaculate and beautiful. It's fairly sizable but not huge.

Just then I remember that I don't even know what my boss looks like.

The researches I did yesterday was only intended to make me learn as much about how the world of businesses with multi-sectors worked and I forgot to research about my boss.

Whatever. it's not like that'll make a difference.

Just then the office door clicks open. Every fibre in my body cools down to negative ten degrees.

I don't hear footsteps, which means he's just standing at the door watching me. My palms grow sweaty. Is he going to fire me already?

I swear to God if he does that I'm going to kick him in the nuts.

My new boss, finally walks around me and comes to stand in front of his desk. All my angst morphs into shock. My mouth drops open, and I stare at him dumbfounded.

"You?" I blink, wondering if I'm seeing right. "Mr. Forestry?"

Those forest green eyes. That sharp jawline. Those perfect lips. Oh God.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

The douchebag from the bar whom I slapped and put in his place is my boss?

Somebody shoot me now.