Chapter 3: The New Girl
Alex’s Pov I leaned back on the bed, my fingers drumming absentmindedly against the sheets. Rihanna was beside me, her presence soothing, familiar. But even with her here, I couldn't shake the thought of Emma. The way she'd looked at me, her fear, her defiance… it lingered in my mind. There was something about her. I had not stopped thinking of her since the other night. I needed to see her some more. It was Rihanna speaking again. Not really paying any attention as she says all the stuff for probably a hundred times that night alone-my gaze hung onto the door. One of my men stepped inside, and I gave him a curt nod. "Bring her in," I said, my voice calm but with an undercurrent of impatience. The man didn't hesitate. Moments later, the door creaked open again, and Emma stepped inside. She was hesitant, standing in the doorway like she wasn't sure if she should come in or turn and leave. The moment her eyes had met mine, I'd had to study her-the fidgeting, the hesitation in her stance, almost intoxicating. She didn't belong here, and yet with every breath I could see she was being pulled into this world-my world. Rihanna turned to Emma, a sly smile pulling at her lips. "So you're the new girl," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Here to serve Alex, I assume? I watched Emma, noticing the way her shoulders tensed under the comment. But she didn't speak, didn't fight back. She was still so afraid, so out of place, and I found myself wanting to see more. Wanting to break through that fear. Rihanna continued to tease. "I guess you'll be here to satisfy him, huh?" She laughed, light and airy. I watched Emma's eyes flicker between the two of us, trying to make sense of the situation. But I didn't want her to leave. Not yet. Not when I could still taste her on my lips from the last time we were together. "I'm keeping her," I said, the words coming out more firmly than I intended. Rihanna looked at me, intrigued, but she didn't argue. "You sure about that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I could use some help around my place. Maybe she'd be better off with me, helping with housework or something." I wasn't ready to let Emma go. Not when I remembered the way she screamed under me. Not when I remembered the softness of her skin, the way she shook. I wasn't done with her, and I wouldn't let Rihanna take her that easily. "I'll let you have her for a while," I said, the tone rough, reluctant. "But when I want her back, she's coming to me. Rihanna smiled, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Fine,” she said, standing up and brushing her hands together as if brushing off the matter entirely. “But I’m not going to keep her forever.” I watched her move toward Emma, her grip firm on the girl's arm as she started to pull her toward the door. But just before Emma could step out of the room, I stood up. I walked toward her, my presence commanding, and I saw her freeze as she realized she couldn't escape. You'll remember this, I whispered into her ear, my voice low and cold, words slipping off my tongue like venom. You belong to me now. I felt her shiver under my touch, the catch of her breath in her throat. But before she could utter a word, Rihanna tugged her out of the room. I watched them go, my head clouded with frustration and desire. I wasn't done with Emma yet. I wasn't even close. But something in my gut was telling me things were about to get complicated. And I wanted to be the one in control.Chapter Four Alex’s Pov I could hear the muffled murmur of voices as I approached Rihanna's room. The door was slightly ajar, and I hesitated for a moment before pushing it open. I wasn't expecting to walk into anything pleasant, but what I found still managed to infuriate me. Rihanna stood by the bed, arms folded, glaring down at Emma, who knelt by the laundry basket. A tight knot of anger began to twist my chest as I watched Rihanna swipe Emma's hands off the pile of clothes. "Get it together," Rihanna said nastily. "You're here to serve, aren't you? Then do it properly.” My fists clenched. I should have known Rihanna wasn't going to make this easy for me. She wasn't one who took well to losing control, and that's exactly what I'd done when I took Emma in. I'd removed her from the bottom of the pecking order, and now Rihanna was seething. Emma did not say one word, only her body eloquence spoke aloud. She was humiliated, her shoulders slumped as if trying to make herself
Chapter Five Alex Pov Thick tension lingered in the room as I tightened my grip over Emma's much smaller fingers, which were slightly trembling in my hand. I needed to get her out of here-away from Rihanna and away from this stifling chaos. My mind preoccupied with finding our getaway, my sight inadvertently strayed to the wide ornamented window that overlooked the driveway. I stopped dead; my eyes narrowed as the sleek black car pulled up. The heavy weight of recognition hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that car. And I knew exactly who was inside it. The doors opened as one, and three men emerged. Their movements calculated, deliberate, menacing, no suits necessary, no obvious weapons to telegraph who they were. It was just the way they carried themselves-the predatory confidence, the subtle smirks-that said enough to get my nerves on edge. My rival. Victor Moretti. Of all the places, what the hell was he doing here? My grip on Emma's hand tightened involuntaril
Chapter Six WeaknessEmma’s Pov The silence during the car ride was heavy, with an air of nothing-but-silence, a silence a bit thicker and heavier, like it smothered all breathing. My hand tingled still, but that was due to Alex dragging me out of Rihanna's house; however, the hand simply lay limply on my lap now. I was not sure if my trembling stemmed from what happened or some sort of tension exuding from Alex. His jaw was set in a tight line, his hands clenching the wheel so hard I was afraid he would snap it. The look he gave to the road ahead-as if it had wronged him in person-made me curl back into my chair. I wanted to say something, to ask him what had just happened, but the words caught in my throat every time I opened my mouth. There was something about Alex in this moment that was… different. He wasn't just angry; he was shaken, vulnerable in a way I hadn't seen before, and it terrified me. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Alex," I said softly, my voice no m
Chapter One: Sold to the DevilEmma's POVThe air was stifling, heavy with smoke and the sharp tang of alcohol. My wrists burned where the rope bit into my skin, and every instinct screamed at me to run. But there was nowhere to go. The room was packed with men whose eyes slithered over me like snakes—calculating, cold, predatory.I swallowed hard and forced the lump down my throat. I wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of them."She's the payment," a voice like gravel said from behind me. Those words cut through the haze of noise and fear, and I straightened.Payment-that's what I was now: something noto pay off a debt I had never incurred. A life for money I never saw."You expect me to take this?" a deeper, smoother voice replied. Cold, and it sent the hairs on the back of my neck rising.For reasons that eluded me, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.Behind me, the man stammered frantically, "S-she's worth it, I swear! She'll do whatever you want. Just… take her and call
Chapter Two Emma's POV The room is small, cold, and suffocating-a cage. A dim light bulb flickers above me, casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls. The bed-a thin mattress on a metal frame-the sheets scratchy. The air smells damp, with a metallic tang I'm not quite placing. I manage to sit on the edge of the bed, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees in an attempt to still the relentless trembling. My head is racing with questions that aren't mine to answer. Why am I here? What does Alex want from me? The sound of footsteps outside the door wrenches me from my thoughts. I tense, my heart racing as the heavy door creaks open. One of Alex's men steps inside, his expression hard and unreadable. "Boss wants to see you," he says, his voice gruff and devoid of emotion. I stare at him, my throat dry. "Why?" He doesn't answer, just jerks his head toward the hallway. I swallow hard and rise to unsteady legs. My hands shake as I smooth my dress, trying to find the courage
Chapter Six WeaknessEmma’s Pov The silence during the car ride was heavy, with an air of nothing-but-silence, a silence a bit thicker and heavier, like it smothered all breathing. My hand tingled still, but that was due to Alex dragging me out of Rihanna's house; however, the hand simply lay limply on my lap now. I was not sure if my trembling stemmed from what happened or some sort of tension exuding from Alex. His jaw was set in a tight line, his hands clenching the wheel so hard I was afraid he would snap it. The look he gave to the road ahead-as if it had wronged him in person-made me curl back into my chair. I wanted to say something, to ask him what had just happened, but the words caught in my throat every time I opened my mouth. There was something about Alex in this moment that was… different. He wasn't just angry; he was shaken, vulnerable in a way I hadn't seen before, and it terrified me. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "Alex," I said softly, my voice no m
Chapter Five Alex Pov Thick tension lingered in the room as I tightened my grip over Emma's much smaller fingers, which were slightly trembling in my hand. I needed to get her out of here-away from Rihanna and away from this stifling chaos. My mind preoccupied with finding our getaway, my sight inadvertently strayed to the wide ornamented window that overlooked the driveway. I stopped dead; my eyes narrowed as the sleek black car pulled up. The heavy weight of recognition hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that car. And I knew exactly who was inside it. The doors opened as one, and three men emerged. Their movements calculated, deliberate, menacing, no suits necessary, no obvious weapons to telegraph who they were. It was just the way they carried themselves-the predatory confidence, the subtle smirks-that said enough to get my nerves on edge. My rival. Victor Moretti. Of all the places, what the hell was he doing here? My grip on Emma's hand tightened involuntaril
Chapter Four Alex’s Pov I could hear the muffled murmur of voices as I approached Rihanna's room. The door was slightly ajar, and I hesitated for a moment before pushing it open. I wasn't expecting to walk into anything pleasant, but what I found still managed to infuriate me. Rihanna stood by the bed, arms folded, glaring down at Emma, who knelt by the laundry basket. A tight knot of anger began to twist my chest as I watched Rihanna swipe Emma's hands off the pile of clothes. "Get it together," Rihanna said nastily. "You're here to serve, aren't you? Then do it properly.” My fists clenched. I should have known Rihanna wasn't going to make this easy for me. She wasn't one who took well to losing control, and that's exactly what I'd done when I took Emma in. I'd removed her from the bottom of the pecking order, and now Rihanna was seething. Emma did not say one word, only her body eloquence spoke aloud. She was humiliated, her shoulders slumped as if trying to make herself
Chapter 3: The New Girl Alex’s Pov I leaned back on the bed, my fingers drumming absentmindedly against the sheets. Rihanna was beside me, her presence soothing, familiar. But even with her here, I couldn't shake the thought of Emma. The way she'd looked at me, her fear, her defiance… it lingered in my mind. There was something about her. I had not stopped thinking of her since the other night. I needed to see her some more. It was Rihanna speaking again. Not really paying any attention as she says all the stuff for probably a hundred times that night alone-my gaze hung onto the door. One of my men stepped inside, and I gave him a curt nod. "Bring her in," I said, my voice calm but with an undercurrent of impatience. The man didn't hesitate. Moments later, the door creaked open again, and Emma stepped inside. She was hesitant, standing in the doorway like she wasn't sure if she should come in or turn and leave. The moment her eyes had met mine, I'd had to study her-the fid
Chapter Two Emma's POV The room is small, cold, and suffocating-a cage. A dim light bulb flickers above me, casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls. The bed-a thin mattress on a metal frame-the sheets scratchy. The air smells damp, with a metallic tang I'm not quite placing. I manage to sit on the edge of the bed, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees in an attempt to still the relentless trembling. My head is racing with questions that aren't mine to answer. Why am I here? What does Alex want from me? The sound of footsteps outside the door wrenches me from my thoughts. I tense, my heart racing as the heavy door creaks open. One of Alex's men steps inside, his expression hard and unreadable. "Boss wants to see you," he says, his voice gruff and devoid of emotion. I stare at him, my throat dry. "Why?" He doesn't answer, just jerks his head toward the hallway. I swallow hard and rise to unsteady legs. My hands shake as I smooth my dress, trying to find the courage
Chapter One: Sold to the DevilEmma's POVThe air was stifling, heavy with smoke and the sharp tang of alcohol. My wrists burned where the rope bit into my skin, and every instinct screamed at me to run. But there was nowhere to go. The room was packed with men whose eyes slithered over me like snakes—calculating, cold, predatory.I swallowed hard and forced the lump down my throat. I wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in front of them."She's the payment," a voice like gravel said from behind me. Those words cut through the haze of noise and fear, and I straightened.Payment-that's what I was now: something noto pay off a debt I had never incurred. A life for money I never saw."You expect me to take this?" a deeper, smoother voice replied. Cold, and it sent the hairs on the back of my neck rising.For reasons that eluded me, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.Behind me, the man stammered frantically, "S-she's worth it, I swear! She'll do whatever you want. Just… take her and call