Chapter 4 - Inner Hoe

Viviane

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I have always been fearless...

Not much scares me. Honestly, I haven't found myself in a situation that could yet. Maybe I'm just too stubborn to let fear get to me, or maybe I've just seen too much to be fazed. Either way, it takes a lot more than the average threat to rattle me.

Take this situation, for instance: staring down a guy who looks like he could shatter a man's jaw with one punch? Doesn't even make me blink.

All I can think is, "Meh, I've faced worse." Which is probably a dumb thing to think, considering Alessandro Costello probably eats girls like me for breakfast.

Then again, I'd probably give him a stomach bug if he tried.

I tightened my grip on the bat, a confident smile spreading across my face. “Or we can do it my way, where you get nothing back and end up bleeding to death in my living room.”

With that, I swung the bat at his face. Alessandro reacted quickly, jerking back as the bat whooshed past, missing by a hair.

His eyes darkened, and he lunged forward, trying to grab my arm. I twisted away, bringing the bat around for another swing. This time, he caught it mid-swing, the force of the impact sending a shockwave up my arms. He yanked it from my grasp and tossed it aside like it was nothing.

“You’ve got some nerve,” he said, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips as he stepped closer.

I didn’t back down, instead, I lashed out with a swift kick to his knee. He staggered but recovered quickly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me close.

Our faces were inches apart, breaths mingling. I glared into his eyes, and for a moment, I found myself appreciating his piercing blue irises.

“You really think you can take me on?” he sneered, his grip tightening painfully.

I smiled, my free hand reaching for the SIG tucked at my back. “Try me.”

He moved to disarm me, but I was faster, pulling the gun out and shoving it against his chest. His eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t back off. Instead, he grinned, the kind of grin that sent shivers down my spine.

He grabbed my wrist, twisting it just enough to make me gasp in pain, but I held onto the gun. I used my free hand to punch him in the jaw, the impact making his head snap back.

He retaliated by slamming me against the wall, knocking the wind out of me. I didn’t let go of the gun, though. I brought my knee up sharply, aiming for his groin, but he predicted the move, blocking it with his thigh.

His hand found my throat, squeezing just enough to make me see stars, but I managed to twist out of his grip, bringing my elbow up to connect with his ribs. He grunted, the sound satisfying, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he pushed me down, forcing me to the ground.

I rolled, trying to get out from under him, but he was on top of me in a heartbeat, his weight pinning me down. I could feel his breath on my face, his eyes boring into mine with a mix of fury and something darker. I fought against him, trying to wriggle free, but he was stronger, his grip like iron.

“Give it up,” he said, his voice barely breathless and low, “You’re not getting away.”

“Not a chance,” I spat back, using all my strength to bring my knee up, managing to connect with his side. He hissed in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to reach for the SIG again.

I pointed the gun at his head, my breath coming in ragged gasps. “Get off me.”

He didn’t move, his eyes locking onto mine. Then, with a fluid motion, he reached behind him and pulled out his own gun, pressing it against my temple.

The room was filled with the sound of our heavy breathing, the cold metal of the guns the only thing keeping us apart. His eyes burned into mine, a challenge in them that made my blood boil.

I swung the butt of my SIG at his head, making contact with his temple. He grunted, his grip on his gun wavering. I used the moment to push him off and scramble to my feet.

Alessandro wasn’t down for long. He was up in an instant, his eyes burning with anger. He lunged at me, and our bodies collided harshly.

He tried to pin my arms, but I twisted free, landing a punch to his gut. He doubled over, but only for a second.

His arm connected with my side, sending me stumbling back. I ignored the pain, charging at him again. I slammed my knee into his side again, and he retaliated with a sharp elbow to my ribs.

He grabbed me by the shoulders and threw me against the wall. The impact rattled my bones, but I didn’t back down. I lashed out with a roundhouse kick, catching him in the chest and knocking him back a few steps.

I managed to disarm him, sending his gun skittering across the floor. But before I could draw a breath, he tackled me, and we crashed to the ground...again. Alessandro was on top of me...again. His weight pinned me down...again.

Our faces were inches apart, our breaths, heavy and ragged onto each other's lips. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, his body radiating heat.

I brought my SIG to his side, pressing it against his ribs, feeling the hardness of his body. In a heartbeat, Alessandro matched my move, drawing another gun from his waistband and pressing it against the side of my neck, the cold metal biting into my skin. The bastard had another gun on him.

“Looks like we’re at a stalemate,” I said, my voice low despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

His lips curled into a dangerous smile, “For now.”

“For now..." I repeated his words as my heart hammered in my chest.

His breath tasted like the sharpness of spearmint, the burn of whiskey, and the bitter edge of dark coffee.

“Tell me,” he said, his tone almost conversational, “why did you think you could get away with stealing from me?”

“I needed the money,” I replied, my grip on the SIG tightening. “And you looked like you could afford to lose it.”

A dark chuckle escaped his lips, “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But guts alone won’t keep you alive in this game.”

“I’ve survived this long,” I shot back, my eyes never leaving his.

His smile widened, “Barely.”

I rolled my eyes at him and put on my best-bored face.

He pressed the barrel of his gun harder against my neck, “Here’s the thing, Freckles. I don’t take kindly to being crossed. And I certainly don’t let thieves walk away unscathed.”

“Funny,” I replied, a sardonic smile playing on my lips. “I don’t plan on walking away. I plan on running.”

He laughed, a low, throaty sound that I felt in my stomach, “You think you can outrun me?”

“I’ve outrun worse,” I said, my voice a whisper.

His eyes gleamed with something sinister, but the twisted amusement was clear—he was enjoying this way too much. The way he laughed made it obvious he wasn’t taking me seriously, and that infuriated me, “I doubt that," he said smugly.

Before I could react, he shifted his weight, trying to gain the upper hand. I countered, using my legs to push against him, but he was relentless. We rolled, the fight turning into a desperate struggle for control. His hand gripped both of my wrists above my head but I held onto my gun. He tried to twist the gun from my grasp as I fought back to his strength.

I managed to free one of my arms, bringing the SIG up again, pointing it at his neck. And at the same time, Alessandro's gun now aimed at my heart.

We froze.

Two guns.

Two lives hanging in the balance.

“What now?” I asked, my eyes locked on his.

“Now,” he said, “we see who blinks first.”

His grip on the gun tightened, his gaze never left mine. My finger hovered over the trigger, every muscle in my body coiled and ready.

His eyes narrowed as he studied every detail of my face. I could see the gears turning in his head, the strategies and counter-strategies playing out behind his eyes. He was trying to gauge my resolve, searching for any sign of hesitation, any weakness he could exploit.

Just as he seemed to reach some internal decision, a soft, scared voice pierced the air. “Viviane?”

Both of our heads snapped toward the hallway. There stood Felicity, looking like she had just seen a ghost. Her wide eyes darted between us, taking in the guns, and the danger.

My heart sank. For her, this must have seemed like her worst nightmare coming to life. I could see the fear etched on her face, the confusion and terror swirling in her young eyes.

“Felicity, it’s okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, to project calmness even as my heart raced. “Go back to your room.”

“Viviane, who is he?” she asked, her voice trembling. Her small frame was taut with fear, and it broke my heart to see her like that.

Alessandro’s gaze flicked back to me, “A kid?” he murmured, almost to himself, but loud enough for me to hear.

“Get out of here, Felicity,” I repeated, more forcefully this time.

But she didn’t move. She stood frozen, her eyes locked on Alessandro. “Is he going to hurt you?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Alessandro’s lips curled into a dark, twisted smile as he seized the opportunity my distraction had given him. In an instant, he grabbed my wrist and slammed my hand onto the ground with brutal force, sending a jolt of pain through my arm. The SIG slipped from my fingers, clattering away across the floor.

He then shifted his weight, pressing me down hard as he twisted my body around. I found myself face-down on the floor, my arms pinned behind my back. His strength was overpowering, and I struggled futilely against his grip.

Felicity’s scream cut through the air, and I snapped my head around to see her still standing in the hallway, eyes wide with terror.

“Fliss, go to your room and lock the door!” I shouted as he adjusted his hold, making sure my arms were securely restrained. The pressure on my shoulders and wrists was harsh, and I could feel the sharp edges of pain shooting through my limbs.

“No, Fliss,” Alessandro’s voice was smooth but laced with mockery as he uttered her nickname, almost as if everything was too damn funny for him, “You’re not going anywhere.” He paused, and then added, “If you don’t want Freckles to get hurt, you’ll stay put.”

His words were like ice, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. The bastard was relishing every second of this, enjoying the power he had over both of us. I could almost see a smile forming on that smug stupid face of his.

She took a hesitant step back, but her eyes never left Alessandro. “Please don’t hurt her,” she pleaded, “She's my aunt. She’s all I have.”

The raw fear and desperation in her voice hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t let her see this, couldn’t let her be part of this.

Fuck Brandon for never being a decent uncle, not even once in his entire fucking life.

“Felicity, go to your room,” I ordered, trying to inject as much authority into my voice as possible. “Lock the door and don’t come out until I say it’s safe.”

“Felicity, sweetheart, why don’t you fetch me something to help tie up your aunt?” Alessandro said, his tone condescending as if he were talking to a baby.

Her voice trembled as she asked, “You won’t hurt her?”

“Only if you don’t listen to me,” he replied, his weight pressing down on my lower back, forcing my hands into an excruciating angle. The pain made me clench my teeth, fighting back a grimace.

Felicity bolted into her room to get something, and I slammed my forehead against the wooden floor, pounding it repeatedly in frustration.

I could hear her footsteps echoing as she moved around, the clatter of objects as she searched for what Alessandro had asked for. My mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, any plan, to turn this around. But with Alessandro's weight pinning me down and his grip on my arms holding me immobile, every attempt to wriggle free only made the pain worse.

Alessandro’s voice, calm and measured, floated over me. “Don’t worry. I’ll be thorough.”

I ground my teeth, refusing to let him see how much he was getting to me. “You think this is going to stop me?” I spat back.

He breathed out a scoffing laugh, “Oh, I don’t think it’ll stop you. I just need to make sure you think twice before crossing me again.”

"Fuck you, you're not getting a cent out of me!"

"I have my ways," he answered smugly.

Felicity returned, breathing heavily. My lips pressed into a thin line out of anger. She held a length of rope in her hands, eyes darting nervously between Alessandro and me. “I got it,” she said softly.

“Good girl,” Alessandro said, taking the rope from her, “Now, let’s get this done.”

I could hear the faint tremor in Felicity’s breath, and I hated that she had to be part of this nightmare. My blood burned with the need to protect her, but right now, I was powerless. With her failing kidneys, I was terrified of the toll this would take on her health.

Alessandro positioned the rope, it bit into my skin as he tied it around my wrists. He tightened the final knot with a satisfied tug, making sure the rope was securely bound around my wrists.

Once he was finished with my arms, he shifted his weight off my back. I seized the opportunity and quickly rolled onto my back, hoping to catch him off guard. My legs swung up, aiming to land a kick on him. But Alessandro was quick. He dodged the kick and seized my ankles, his grip like iron.

He reached for more rope. I thrashed my legs, trying to free myself, but he managed to wrap the rope around my ankles, pulling it tight until I could barely move.

He cinched the final knot and sat back, admiring his work with a twisted satisfaction. The ropes dug into my wrists and ankles, and as Alessandro adjusted himself and leveled a dark, dangerous look at me, my mind wandered to places it shouldn’t. My dirty thoughts were taking over, imagining how this situation could turn into something far kinkier than I ever intended. I shook my head, snapping myself out of it.

This was not the time for my inner hoe to take center stage.