All eyes turned to Boner as he spoke, walking over to Christian. “Maybe you’ve been living in your perfect little world for long enough, but in real life? Things are not sunshine and rainbows. Especially not in the life of a mafia. You should know that, shouldn’t you. Don’t you still attend school like a good boy~?”
All around her, Rebecca could notice some light sighs and head shakes from a few people watching the interaction. Was this normal in a mafia? For someone to disrespect their leader in such a manner? Shouldn’t someone stop him?
“Boner. What did I just tell you earlier?” Retchet warned, in which Boner scoffed at.
“Ah, come on. You can’t really be telling me you’re all scared of him? Regardless of who he is in the surface world, in the underground that is the mafia- especially for people like us- that means nothing here.” Boner then leaned closer to Christian and, to Rebecca’s astonishment, took a few whiffs at him. “Heh. He even smells like a weakling. A spoiled brat like him… can just get lost!” Next anyone knew, Boner threw a punch at Christian. While Rebecca paled in worry at the occurrence, she was puzzled to notice others around her remained calm at the sight. Emotionless even, with some looking displeased.
“So…” Rebecca suddenly heard, raising more disbelief from her. “I take this to mean you want out, don’t you?” Upon taking a better look, Rebecca noticed Christian did not look fazed by the punch at all.
She was not the only one shocked by this, as Boner was also in disbelief to see his punch not affect the teen as he had assumed. Before he could even pull his fist back, Christian grabbed his wrist in a vice grip- surprising the older man with his grip strength- and slammed him down to the floor. While Boner was feeling a bit dazed from the slam, Christian was far from done, as he slammed his other hand down on his face, clutching it.
“I don’t know who you think you are. I couldn’t care less if you think so little of me simply because of my blood or because you think it’s too early for me to take any mantle of leadership,” he began. “However, if you truly wish to take my place that badly, have the strength to back it up.” Christian proceeded to lift the man off the floor, only to send him back down with an axe kick to the face, leaving the man in a bloody mess, unconscious. “Otherwise, just drop dead.” At those last words, he turned to the men around him. “Someone, dispose of this garbage. Or you will be next.”
“Yes, Lord Christian,” many around him answered, with a handful already moving to get rid of Boner.
Christian turned to Rebecca and Retchet, already frightening the former. “As for her, take her back where she belongs. And drag that bastard, Harold, here. Tie him up and drag him out the car, if you have to. He has played this stalling game of his for long enough. It’s time he pays back the money loaned to him. Be it in cash, or in his blood.”
Upon hearing him say such cold thing from his mouth, Rebecca snapped herself out of her shock and lowered the gag. “W-Wait, please!” she cried out, getting his attention. “Please, just buy me! I’ll pay back everything my father borrowed from you!”
“You? Pay back for what he has borrowed?” Christian questioned. “Forget about it. You won’t even be able to pay back a dime.”
“You don’t know that! Whatever the amount he owes, I’ll-”
“Do you even know how much he owes me?” At that question, Rebecca remained silent. Realizing that- though she knew her father owe some money- she did not know how much that amount was. “Show her.”
“Yes sir.” As soon as Retchet responded to the demand, he took out a slip of paper from his person and unfolded it, handed it to Rebecca to see. “This is how much your father has borrowed from us this month.”
Rebecca looked to the bottom of the paper, and was quite surprised by the amount shown. “It’s… a little much, sure. But I’m sure I can work it-”
“You are mistaken,” Retchet interrupted. “This is what he borrowed. For this month.” He took out another slip of paper and handed it to her. “This is for last month.”
Rebecca took a look, and was even more baffled by the amount. “He has been borrowing approximately this amount every month for the past ten years. And he was able to pay back the money in the first four years, and then paid back the amount in installments in the three years after that. Barely making the cut in the latter two of the three years. And up to today, he had been behind in his payments. Now, with the monthly late fee, this is how much he owes.”
He took out another slip of paper for Rebecca, who shakily took it into her hands as she replayed information of her father’s debt. Ten years? He had been borrowing from the mafia for the past ten years? When he was released from prison, it was ten years ago, and in that time, her mother was the one working. Providing income for the family. Not only that, but for the four years since his release, Rebecca often heard her mother ask her father if he knew what became of some of the money she had saved up, resulting in the beating.
‘It couldn’t be, could it?’ she wondered, having yet to unfold the paper in her trembling hands. ‘The money Mom saved up. He used it for them?!’
If she had thought about it, it would make sense. Not only did she doubt her mother would ever misplace the money she saved up, or misuse it, but even the money she saved from her part-time jobs... Rebecca could've sworn she had been getting less than usual. And even her funds in her bank... She couldn't check often as she was more focused on her school work, but she did notice a drop in numbers from time to time. She had been meaning to ask the bank about it, but never found the time to. Was it also because of...?
Rebecca swallowed down the lump forming in her throat, and unfolded the paper. Her eyes widened upon seeing the amount displayed on it. Left so speechless, she dropped the paper in shock.
“You see now?” Christian asked her. “Your father may have offered to sell you to us to pay off his debt, but you will never pay it off. You're not even willing to help pay. And that will be nothing more than a waste. Someone ought to show him that when a person wants things to be done, they want it to be done right. And that he cannot keep running from his problems.” To Retchet, he once again ordered, “Take her to her home.”
“I’ll pay it.” Both men stopped when those words left Rebecca’s mouth. “My father’s debt… I’ll pay it off.”
Christian and Retchet turned to Rebecca with raised brows. “I beg your pardon? You’re going to pay off that bastard’s debt?” Christian questioned. “A bastard he may be, he is still my dad,” Rebecca argued. “Besides, he may have offered to sold me, but I already volunteered myself first! You said you did not like how my father is running from his problems, and honestly, neither did I. But he’s the only family I have left. The one man my mother died believing in. This may be my dad’s problem, but it’s also my problem now!” It was silent when Rebecca said that. Christian only stared at her with narrow eyes. Judging her, observing her action. Although it was painfully obvious how hard she was trying to put on that tough act, she still stared back at him with such determination. Teary and wavering, yes, with her hands trembling and lips a bit tense, but she still stood before him. “Seems I’m not the only one hiding my claws,” he said in slight amusement, before inching closer to her. “
"This is the lord’s room. Make yourself comfortable,” Retchet told Rebecca, as they stopped in front of a door with various ‘Do Not Enter’ or ‘Keep Out’ labels right on it, complete with a barricade tape forming a large ‘X’ on it. After walking up several steps from that meeting room, Rebecca had assumed she would be taken to the car to Christian’s house. Her hands were finally out of the cuffs on the walk up- most likely to avoid any suspicions when they exit out this hideout. She did not expect to just be taken to a different room on a different floor. Much less for the door before them to be one leading to Christian’s room. Retchet noticed the perplexed expression and asked, “Is something wrong?” While unsure about asking him, Rebecca grew too curious about the situation before her and spoke, “I thought Christian doesn’t live here.” Retchet narrowed his eyes at the statement and said, “It’s ‘Master’ to you. Don’t forget, you’re his pet now.” Rebecca flinched at the reminder, b
Christian was tired of it all. He was tired of these men trying to make a fool out of him. Tired of life at school, where many people bathe in his presence- be it fans fawning over him, or teammates wanting to share the glory he brings. He was also tired of the teachers trying to get on his good side, mainly the females. All because of who his father was. Rather… who his ‘caretaker’ was.Although he is of the Riverdale family, he is but an adopted son. No, he was just being taken care of by them. Yet, despite that, not only did anyone not mind the indirect relationship with such (distinguished) family- not when he had the skills and smarts to back it up- he never felt like a part of the family. Not because he was never treated well there, but more because he himself never bothered to get close to them. Not his adopted family, not the servants, nobody. Not after what happened to his mother in that household.Although he could not remember her face, he could still remember it well. The
When Christian was told that one of his debtors sold their child to him to pay off their debt, he was disgusted by the news. A human selling their child away so easily? It reminded him much of his own mother. The pain and humiliation she had to suffer because of her own kind, especially her own blood. While he has never met his other blood relatives, he has heard enough about them and what they had done to her.Any thoughts he once had for there being good in the human world- namely in the kindness in family, the very same one his mother gave to him- diminished from then onwards. Rather, he was convinced that all humans were cruel, with his mother being the sole exception.And here he was, hearing one of the many proofs of such belief. “What do you want us to do? Shall we take the deal?” Retchet asked.“What do you think the answer is?” Christian retorted. “You can bring the girl. However, that bastard parent of hers… If they think they can just brush over their debt so easily with t
Christian never thought he would hear those words from Rebecca’s mouth. When it was clear that her father did not care for her? How could this girl be so foolish to still give her life to such irredeemable human? Even after knowing exactly how much he owes, she still dared give her life away. Seeing her act that way to her own life…It sickens him.“I beg your pardon? You’re going to pay off that bastard’s debt?” he asked, wanting to make sure if he had heard her right.“A bastard he may be, he is still my dad. Besides, he may have offered to sold me, but I already volunteered myself first!”How Christian felt his eye twitch from that retort. She ‘volunteered’ herself to this. Willingly. He thought she was pitiful before, but now, the longer he looked at her…‘No! This damn slut… is not my mother!’ he mentally snapped at himself, not wanting his memory of his mother to be ruined by this human. A false smile formed on his face, as he then spoke to Rebecca. “Seems I’m not the only one
The next day, Rebecca woke up feeling groggy. Something that wasn't new for her, having gotten used to sleeping on the floor for so long. What was new, though, was the slight warmth and comfort from her blanket and pillow. Both which should’ve been so worn out, she wouldn’t feel any comfort from them. ‘Why do they feel different?’ she wondered.Opening her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar room and instantly sat up in stupor. “Where am-?!” She stopped her question, recalling what happened last night. “Oh, that's right. I was sold off.”It may have been of her own volition, but Rebecca couldn't believe her own father sold her to pay off his debt. Granted, she was not sold as a slave, and her owner was someone she was somewhat acquainted with. However, she had doubts that either made her situation any better."For now, I should probably just get up,” she figured. At least as a pet she still had some form of freedom. Best not push that luck, though.As she rose to her feet, the d
One quick shower later, Rebecca emerged from the bathroom refreshed, wearing some new clothes, as Christian had promised her. At first, she had thought she was to be given some hand-me-downs to wear, when she truly was given some freshly new clothes. Words could never describe her surprise from this. Why, she ever asked the girl who delivered the clothes if she had given them to the right person. A question that gave her quite the response."You have a problem with these?"If she was given old, worn out clothes, Rebecca would understand the response given. The ones delivered, though, were relatively new, as far as she could tell from the cleanliness. More than that, the mafia woman did not seem angered or annoyed when she gave her answer.‘Even though I’m just a pet? Or is it because I am not yet a slave?’ she wondered, looking down at the new shirt and pants she was wearing in puzzlement, plain as they may be, as she gave them a feel. 'It has to be because Christian did not label me
Rebecca shuddered as she sat in the back of the limo, her head down with a black bag over it, her eyes further covered by a blindfold, and her mouth gagged. Her hands were tied together, and rested on her bare lap, preventing her from even rubbing her arms for warmth from the cold emitting out the air conditioner. “Aww. What’s the matter? Feeling a little cold?” came a voice on her right. One with much chill in his tone, as Rebecca flinched upon feeling a large hand rest on her thigh, massaging it in a suggestive way. “Cut it out, Jared. You know the lord won’t be happy if you do something to his property,” a stern voice warned from her left. “What? It’s not my fault she has to wear that rag. Surely she must be feeling cold from the strong air conditioning in here. I’m just trying to help her get comfortable.” “And you think the lord will take that excuse? You know how he is.” At that warning, to Rebecca’s relief, the hand left her person. ‘Why?’ she wondered then. ‘Why am I in