2 - his price

DOVE

I felt a cold splash of water on my face. I suddenly jolted from my unconsciousness as I squeezed my face, my forehead forming wrinkles as I tried to make sense of what was happening. I started hearing faint muttering of people from a distance.

I tried to rub my palms on my face, but my hands got stuck. That was when I knew something was wrong.

I pulled the other hand. Still the same thing.

Tried to move my body but got stuck. I felt my hands and legs tied.

My stomach turns. My pulse hammered against my ribs instantly.

What in the world is happening?

I try to scream, even before opening my eyes.

But a warm large palm covers my mouth.

"Sih...." The voice muttered before slowly releasing his hands.

I furrowed my eyebrows, in confusion. Then opened my eyes slowly.

I blinked once, twice.

Just confirming I was in unfamiliar territory.

My heart skipped. The realization of what was happening hit me hard and fast.

Dad was tied to the chair in my apartment by some strange men probably gangsters who beat him up. He also said something strange.

I whipped around, and when I saw him my heart hitched into my throat as I recognized him immediately.

Well, at least his broad shoulders and frizzy curly hair since he was backing me.

The one who punched Dad repeatedly seemed like their boss.

The memory of an old man the worst part of my Dad being taken advantage of and beaten like that made my face turn red.

Not even a single respect from the elderly?

He was sitting like a king crossing his legs on a hanging chair cushion just inches away from me.

My memory started coming back.

"Where am I?" I yelled at the top of my voice.

"What did you do to my Dad? Who are you? And what do you want?" I stammered.

He leaned forward. His face coming into the spotlight. His sharp deep blue eyes held mine.

"Look who’s awake," he said, with a mocking tone.

He paused. Then continued with a devilish smirk. "Started to worry maybe you wouldn’t wake after all, it was a hard hit"

“Don’t worry I have taken care of that nobody will ever hit you again.”

Hit? Nobody will ever hit you again, what’s this dude talking about?

I shot him a devil's glare. It was that moment when I tried to turn my head that I felt a jolt of pain throbbing in the back of my head. Someone must have hit me from the back, it makes sense now.

It wasn’t him but someone else and I took a mental note whoever it was would pay.

"Want do you want?" I cried out in fear as I struggled wildly against the ropes. "If my Dad is owing you, I can pay back. Just give me time I promise."

"But you can't just beat up my father and then kidnap me. We are in the twenty-first century, we can settle this in dialogue--"

"Enough," he muttered, rage spreading throughout his physical features.

He rose to his feet casually, towering over me, and walked over to my side. I tried to move away from him but the restraints were tight and kept me right where I was.

"You dare tell me what to do? How dare you?" He arched an eyebrow, his gaze fiercely fixed on mine. "I am Ricco Moretti and I do what I want when I want"

The mention of the name Morreti rang a bell and sent shivers of fear down my spine.

I swallow hard.

The same Ruthless, cold, brutal Mafia boss who is the definition of the devil himself, rumored to have killed his own father taken over operations, and crushed all his enemies in pieces, stands right in front of me.

Finally putting a face to the name. And looking at his cold rash tone and rage in his eyes, the face justifies the name.

What has Dad got himself into this time? Normally it was just some low-budget wannabe gangsters but this?

He grabs my chin. Tilting my head upwards locking gaze with mine.

When his skin touched mine I felt a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins. He was a charmingly handsome man with frizzy curly hair thin lips a sharp jawline, a spreading mustache, and a smooth beard.

Dove, what are you doing? I snapped out of my thoughts.

You are kidnapped for God’s sake.

He tightened his grip on my chin.

"Sorry mister," I muttered in pain.

"What did you do to my Dad? And what do you want?" I pleaded but he simply stared at me for a second then smirked.

"I can pay you back whatever he owes you please."

"That’s not how it works." His tone was calm and measured.

"What do you mean?"

His lips curled into a smirk but there was no humor in it.

"The poker game was pretty intense, he actually won a lot of money I must confess but greed took the better of him,” he paused, exhaled before continuing. “He still went all in to double his already fortune. After losing he tried to get it back, but with no cash, his little princess was the price for his next loss."

What? Are you kidding me?

I don’t know which one I should be angrier about. The fact that he still went gambling or the fact that he won and instead of walking away he still went in and lost everything.

I clenched my strangled fist. "He has no right to do that and you have no right to buy me either, whatever business you have with Dad has nothing to do with me. I am not some property to be sold and bought"

"Sorry to disappoint you honey but I just did. You are my price possession now. You belong to me now," he said chucking.

"No," I said, as I maintained an angry stance. "I belong to no one. Not you, not my father, or anyone else."

"Quite interesting one we have here." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "What’s your name honey?"

I hesitated for a second before answering. "Dove"

"Do you know my specialty Dove?" His voice was calm but there was something devilish beneath.

"I don't even know you, so how would you ask me that." I snapped. "I don't care"

He arched a brow. "Oh you should my dear Dove"

"I was promised a virgin, here am I with a virgin as a dove. Beautiful.” His tone lowered like a stone dipped in water.

His words made my stomach turn, what type of a psychopath is this? Every inch of my body wants to punch this man in the face.

He wrapped his right arm around my neck and then yanked me closer to him. I felt his hot breath the minute it touched my skin sending chills down my spine.

His grip became tighter as I struggled to move my body but to no use.

My chest heaved and he liked it, I saw it in his eyes.

He glanced down with a very dangerous smirk on his face. I immediately shrunk under his gaze.

"Let go me," I stuttered while he leaned closer behind me.

"Behave." He warned.

Staring at me with hungry eyes ready to devour.

He brought out a knife probably from his pocket, because he wasn’t holding it earlier.

I swallow hard my pulse racing at the sight of it. What’s this creep up to? Is this my end?

I knew I thought of ending it but at least on my own terms.  Despite my recent struggles I still had plans, and goals before I reached twenty-five. Finish school? Pay up Dad's debt which was killing me recently. But now this is how I end up with a knife straight through my heart till I bleed out.

Despite the odds I knew wasn’t just going to just give in without fighting back.

"Please don’t kill me. I will pay you back what he owes no matter the amount." I pleaded.

He smirked. Then moved the knife to his mouth and licked it with his tongue.

He then used the tip of the knife to caress my neck, making long trails in S shapes.

I hold my breath, it freaks me out. At the same time, it tickles making me get goosebumps all over my body.

It's sharp, I remain still because I know if I move. It will likely pierce me.

"You worry so much about a man who just sold you at the first chance he had over a fucking bet." He muttered, in a low tone in my ears. His breath tickled me as much as the knife.

"Don't you think you should worry more about yourself? Or what your life will become now as my little price possession?"

I hated the thought but he was right, I should be more worried about my life now than trying to pay off my father's debt. But what is my life now? I didn’t sign up for any of this.

Dad's voice from the apartment echoed in my head.

"I belong to no one." I shuttered. Clenching my jaw.

"Oh yes, you do... And sweetheart, you're serving me tonight."

My eyeballs widen, and I swallow hard my pulse hammering against my ribs.

He cut my hands loose with the knife, then lifted me as I hung over his shoulders.

I was shocked he must have loosened the rope tied to my legs when caressing me with the knife.

"Hey." I struggled against him. "Let go of me"

He lay me gently on the bed.

I clutch my thighs together.

“You can’t have me.”

“Dear Dove I already have you”

He patted my legs open like a pregnant lady with both hands. Then moved his body in a precise way.