CHAPTER FOUR

XAVIER COSTELLO

He was one of the most notorious men during Althea's stay in Calabria and her ex-boyfriend when she was in high school. She had left him because of his constant trouble making in the area, everyday were new scars or tattoos. Althea left him cause of the violating ways of asking for sex, especially when she said she wasn’t ready for it yet.

Althea shook her head furiously not wanting to believe that she was back to him again, and in this case in a worst position, she was his sex slave and he was her master. All this had to be a joke, maybe a hidden camera prank or something.

In front of her was Xavier Costello, even the sound of his name would run chills down anyone’s back.

He was wearing an all-black Aramis suit, with some undone buttons of the shirt showing off his chest, his jawline was more defined, coated with a little amount of facial face, well carved to bring out his facial handsomeness. To be honest he looked sexier than he was four years ago. Althea internally scolded herself for having such thoughts at this time in her life.

“Miss me baby girl?” he grinned at her as he watched her try effortlessly to cover her exposed body. He knew he was teasing her, but was going to enjoy every dying second her in and out of bed. She was his for the taking, his look turned dark too quickly for her to understand what he was thinking about.

“Xavier, what the hell is going on? If this one of your stupid pranks it stops now.” No woman or man as ever raised this voice against Xavier before, when that happened time the person dropped and never spoke a work again. She didn’t think her voice would go any higher than intended.

“Did you just shout at me? I’ll let it slide this time. Don’t let it ever repeat itself again. Understood?”

“Whatever, now what the hell is all this?'' Before Althea could register what was happening, she could taste blood in her mouth and she was on the floor. Althea looked back up at Xavier, her vision was blurry from the slap. He had just hit her, maybe he never changed. His look was more vivid than ever.

“How dare you disrespect me? It looks like you still have a tongue shaped tongue of yours. How about we cut it?” Althea’s eyes widened with fear, at this point she didn’t want to test him further. Whatever was going on was real, she was in one of his traps and this time way too deep to come out alive.

“It’s ‘yes sir’ or ‘yes master’ to you. Bitch.” he spat venomously walking back to his seat. Althea could do nothing but obey like the pet she was.

“Yes, master.” She said cowardly, as she kneeled on the floor. It only seemed like she had no option but to get used to this new life of the present.  What was the worst that could happen? Is she dying? She was more than ready for that right now.

“As from now on, you are my property to be treated as I please. You have to follow the house rules.  You must never leave your room, unless I call for you. You must never enter my room opposite yours, no matter the tempt. You will submit to me whenever I ask for it, where and how? Understood ? (kitten in Italian)” some men entered the room, Xavier had called them in back.

“This meeting is over, take her away and keep her away till I say so.” He stood up to walk away from the room.

“Ma—Master, please wait,” Althea said in a very shaky voice. If it was that Xavier was horny early he was fully turned on. Hearing her call, his ‘Master’ stirred something in him.

“What?” he didn’t turn back to face her, not to show the satisfaction he got from her voice

“Please could I at least get a thicker cloth, please sir.” begging was her only way out of this, playing along to survive was her plan for now. A thick shirt landed on her lap, from one of the men in the room, he looked almost the same age as Xavier, maybe younger. She smiled sadly at him, gratefully wearing it to keep the icy wind out. The ladies that dressed her when she first arrived picked her up, digging their nails into her soft skin. She was sure it would leave a bruise by morning.

“If you know what’s good for you, enjoy this life as it may be bitter but you get to sleep and eat comfortably. And just a warning, never, ever, go against the boss or even think of running. It usually doesn’t end well for some people. Good night.” With that she left Althea to her misery, locking the door behind her. That didn’t move Althea, at least she was given the privacy to cry all she wanted.

So, she did as a hot spring of tears rolling down her eyes, soon graduating to loud wailing and agonizing crying. Her heart and lungs burned, but it didn’t seem to stop her from giving it her all. The pain had been piling up for years, she couldn’t do it anymore, acting brave and strong. She could care less if anyone could hear her. this was her last chance to cry, because after this never was she going to tear up again. After several hours of painful crying, Althea passed out on the floor. Maybe she would die by tomorrow, she had no more motivation to live again.

Xavier couldn’t focus on his work or the papers in front of him, under all the mafia business he had legal businesses like hotel management, import and export for the government. Maybe a little violence with his men would. It was like her voice was everywhere.

“Marcus, how about we play a bit?” with that he picked his phone and keys, driving straight to their warehouse. This was where they keep their prisoner to be tortured or maybe killed straight.

Marcus reached before his boss, Marcus was the right-hand man to Xavier, they were almost like brothers. He prepared the place before Xavier arrived just how he liked it to be and with his favorite weapons of torture.