Chapter 1

Gabriella

“Arghhhhh!!” I ducked under the dinner table, my breaths shaky as the door to the family room was shot down and three men walked in spraying bullets in the air.

“Where is my money Antonio” one of them yelled, his eyes sweeping the room, hungry for blood. 

My chest tightened. “Will this be my last day on earth?”  I covered my mouth with my hands, peventing the sobs from escaping.

“I— I don't have your money yet” father stuttered from his hiding place beneath the table.

The man who had spoken stepped closer, his voice like ice. “You said you had something for me.” chills chased themselves down my spine as I heard my father sobbing. 

“I’m sorry!” father cried as the man pulled him out from beneath the table by the scruff of his neck.

“You know how much I hate games Antonio” he said as he pointed his gun at father’s head with a steady hand. 

“Wait! Wait! Please!” father cried. I saw the fear in his eyes from my hiding place but nothing prepared me for his next words. “I-I don't have your money but I’ll let you take my daughter as collateral, just give me a little more time”

I gasped in disbelief, my mind reeling. No. No, this can’t be happening. But the sharp pain of my hair being yanked from my scalp told me it was all too real.

“You think your daughter is worth fifty grand?” the man asked, cocking his head.

“I swear to you she's handy at a lot of things, she will do whatever you need” he said shaking.

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the man who had raised me. All my life, he has been a deadbeat but I never imagined he will actually go this far.

“You will sell your only child to pay off your gambling debts?” the man asked coldly.

A silence fell over the room, but the answer was clear.

“No—No papa. Please don't do this” I cried as I dropped to my knees.

He could not look me in the eyes as he said “Gabriella, you have to understand,  I don't have a choice—”

“No!” I screamed, “please you can’t take me, this must be a crime” I said as tears flowed down my face.

“Papa! You do have a choice, we can work to pay it off, I will forfeit all my savings” I pleaded, desperate for a way out.

The man chuckled as he walked towards me. He grabbed my face, as if to inspect it.

“Hm, she's beautiful” he said turning my chin from side to side.

“Papa, I beg of you, don't do this” I begged.

“What’s your name beautiful?” the man asked. I glared at him, raising my chin up.

“Oh that's how it’s gonna be” he said chuckling. “I'm going to enjoy breaking you” His words were laced with a sick pleasure as the other men snickered in the background.

“Gabriella” father answered. “Her name is “Gabriella.” I glared at him as he squeezed his eyes shut.

“You’re about to become my new plaything, Gabriella” the man whispered in my ears as I trembled.

He watched me for some time, his blue eyes cold. “I’ll take her” he said

I collapsed, sobbing loudly into my hands. “No please, please you can’t do this” I said, my voice broken.

The man grabbed my arm roughly, pulling me to my feet. I stumbled, my legs, too weak to hold my weight.

At that moment, one of the other men said. “Matteo, I don't think your brother will be happy if we take her.” I felt hope rising in my chest as I looked between them as they whispered to each other. But my hope was dashed as the man said.

“Fuck my brother” he hissed. “Now shut the fuck up and do as you're told” he finished.

“You’re mine now, to do with as I deem fit” he said turning towards me, smirking. “And babyyy, there are a lot of things I'll love do with you.”

I whimpered, trying to pull my arm free of his hold but I was too weak to fight him. “Please” I whispered in desperation, trying to make him see reason. “I can't do this sir, please, I’ll work to pay off his debts, I’ll do anything, just don't take me” I continued.

He ignored me, turning towards where my father was kneeling. “I’ll take her Antonio” he began. “But you won't see her again. Your debt is paid in full”

I howled like a banshee after hearing that I won't be returned, my body shaking as the man dragged me towards the door. “Papa please, you can't let them take me” I cried, my voice full of anguish.

Father closed his eyes like he could not also bear to look at me. “I’m sorry” he whispered.

The moment I was pulled past the doors, I bolted. Running as fast as I could towards the gate, I could hear the man chuckling behind me.

I was two steps away from the gate when someone grabbed me from behind.

“Noo!! Let me go!” I screamed, kicking as I was lifted off the ground. I pounded on his back as I was dumped unceremoniously in the back seat of an SUV.

“Don’t worry my love, you'll enjoy your life with me” He said, running his fingers down my cheeks. I spat in his face, he chuckled as he wiped the spit from his eyes with his index finger and my disgust for him skyrocketed as he licked it.

“Oh i’m definitely going to have my fun with you.” he said calmly. “Maybe I'll pass you around to a few of my men when I'm done with you” he added.

I glared at him but before I knew what was happening. I blacked out.