Chapter 02

“YOU DID WHAT?”

Vivienne actually had the nerve to startle at my yell - not just that she had the nerve to look at me with shock on her face.

Yup! She had the nerve to look shocked as if she had not just delivered a huge blow to my face.

“How dare you?” I asked my voice getting higher, “How dare you trade me off like that? You had no right Vivienne. You had no right!”

She frowned, “Why are you acting like it's a big deal.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it when words failed me, because honestly my was flabbergasted gasted!

Why am I acting like it is a big deal?

She was really going to ask me that with a straight face?

Why am I acting like it is a big deal?

“Oh i am sorry,” I responded with a smile, “I was really not aware that you selling me off to the same man who murdered my father, was not a big deal - oh, and against my knowledge might i add.”

She rolled her eyes, and I clenched my fist so rightfully it hurt. If anything but to control my family.

I have always disliked Vivienne - she was always a bitch but never in the five years I have known her have I felt the urge to wrap my palms around her perfectly tanned neck and just - strangle the breath out of her.

Never.

“Do not be so melodramatic.”

“I AM BEING DRAMATIC!” She jumped again as I slammed my fist on the table rattling the plates, “Am I being dramatic? I have not even gotten started, you stupid selfish bitch!”

“Yes! Let me be the selfish one for trying to hold onto everything your father worked hard for. For trying to protect his legacy… go ahead and call me selfish, i don't care. I had a choice and i made the one that would benefit the family.”

She took a deep breath, “We are your family too, Dahlia and this is your father’s empire. Giving yourself should not be too much to do for your family.”

Her nonchalant shrug pissed me off more than her words and I hid to take three - no four deep breaths to stop myself from reaching across the table and dragging her hair.

“If you cared so much about our family- why did you not offer yourself instead?”

“Because for whatever reason, the man requested for you. I cannot challenge him.”

I bit my lip, “I do not care what your agreement with that bastard is, Vivienne. You two better sort it out between each other because I refuse to be some sort of antique that you can just trade when you feel like.”

I turned to leave the kitchen but her laugh stopped me in my tracks.

“That is too late. The contract has been signed, sweet girl. And Caius’ men are already here to take you.”

My eyes widened, as shock glued my feet to the ground.

Because as if they were waiting for a cue, two men walked into the kitchen dressed in suits and heavy cologne.

They looked so huge, so huge and powerful that for just a flickering moment i thought about my father. And what he must have gone through trying to fight for his life against these men.

Did he even have the opportunity to fight?

I turned to Vivienne who was looking at me with a smirk, “Please Viv, please do not do this. They killed my father - don't do this to me. Father would not want this.”

“I did not want your father to dump me like this either but what is done is done. You cannot blame me for trying to look out for myself instead of being kicked into poverty. Can you?”

She sounded serious and I knew that no matter how hard I begged, it would not change her mind - but that does not mean that I am going to give in that easily.

My eyes darted around the kitchen frantically, looking for any way at all I could escape, but before I could get my muscles to move, strong hands grabbed my arm and started pushing me towards the door.

I dug my feet to the floor strongly, trying to fight off their hold but these men were just too gigantic, my effort didn't really make a difference.

“Let me go you bastards! If I am going to go with you, I will do it free and not dragged.” I spat and thankfully they released me.

I turned to Vivienne, “keep smiling and I hope you enjoy this as long as it lasts. Because I swear to you in my life, Vivienne - you will pay very heavily for this.”

She flipped me off and picked up a glass of wine she had poured earlier, “Take her out of here. I might puke if I have to keep staring at her face a while longer.”

And they did.

But neither of them pushed or dragged me. They followed closely besides me though as I walked out of the house and went into their black car packed outside the house.

None of them spoke to me, not that I was expecting them to start exchanging pleasantries with me. Besides, I rather liked the peace and quiet in the car as they drove me to an unknown destination.

I tried so hard not to shed a tear, I tried so hard not to think hard or cry even though every fibre of my being demanded that I just curl myself in the car and cry my heart out.

But what would crying solve? Nothing.

My tears would definitely work as a magical eraser to write off this horrible fate I am being faced with.

So I will not cry - neither will I appear before Caius looking like a weak and vulnerable mess.

I don't know why he wanted me and I do not care.

But he is definitely going to regret it nevertheless.

The car stopped and I looked outside the window for the first time.

A gasp left my lips before I could stop it.

I was looking at heaven - I am sure of this, because this house before me was beyond magnificent.

It could be heaven except that I know the owner is the devil’s spawn.

The door opened and I walked out, following into the house. I tried not to look at it, or stare at the details.

That was not necessary and definitely not what I should be focusing on right now.

The sitting room was magnificent, but i couldn't bring myself to stare even if i wanted to because a sight by the corner of the room made me freeze to my bones.

Caius De La Cosa.

The devil’s spawn.

He was leaning casually against the wall, with a cup in his hand and I saw his serious face stretch into a smile when he saw me - us.

Damn!

I have heard a lot about this man and have only seen him twice or once on TV.

Never did I imagine that a man so evil would be this beautiful. But it is said that Lucifer was once the most beautiful angel, right?

His smile spread into a full on grin - a happy one at that as he spread his arms and walked towards me.

“Dahlia!! I have been waiting so long for you.”

The excitement in his voice not only confused me, but also sent ugly shivers down my spine.

Why was he acting like we were supposed to be old buddies?

“What do you want with me?” I asked as he approached me and his eyebrow raised.

“A straightforward one aren't you? Down to business it is with you, innit?”

He still had that sickening grin on his face - and I hated myself for noticing how his smile made him more beautiful - and made his blue eyes glint.

“What do you want with me?”

“Calm down. You just arrived here. How about we have a drink first, tea then we talk? Huh?”

The way he was acting so nonchalant and less concerned with me irritated me to the core and blamed it on the rage, but I took a few steps close to him and spat on his face.

“Bastard! Tea? You want to drink tea? You linked my father, then you fucking all but me for what? To Have tea with you?”

The act of disrespect would have cost me my tongue, or my head judging from how cruel I knew him to be but Caius didn't lok offended.

He only brought out a handkerchief and wiped his face clean, his smile still intact.

My stomach coiled.

“I love the fact that you are fierce,” He nodded, “that should make everything easier. Or maybe tougher depending.”

Everything?

Everything like what?

What does he even want from me?

“You want to get right into it? Fine.” He took three steps close, so close to me that I could feel his warm alcohol filled breath on my cheek.

“Here is the thing. I know you want to keep it locked in that pretty head of yours that a group of mafias killed your innocent father. But that is not what happened because he was not innocent.”

I tried to mask the shock on my face with a neutral loom as I stared back at him waiting for him to finish whatever nonsense he had to say.

“Your father died because of his dirty business with a league of assassins he was working with. And that is why you are here - you are going to give me information about this league of assassins.”

I froze.

“And I don't mind forcing it out of you the hard way.”