Deal with the Angel I know

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Chapter 4

“Everything?” I questioned back. 

Rather than answer, he circled me like a predator, his eyes fully roaming over me as his six-foot-3'-inches tall body towered over me. 

"You defied Luca in front of everyone.” I couldn’t read his tone. Was he angry, proud or was he just playing?

I swallowed hard, my words catching in my throat. "I—I won’t be treated like some whore."

His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile, more like satisfaction. "You’re brave but also reckless. Luca won’t forget this."

I inhaled deeply. “I will deal with Luca’s issue later but for now, I was concerned about what Damon Dark wanted from me. "What happens now? What do you mean by wanting everything from me?"

Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze darkening. "I’ll offer you a deal."

I blinked. "What kind of deal?"

He halted and then came to stand before me. His voice lowered, the words like ice as they slipped from his lips. "I’ll pay off your uncle’s debts. All of them.”

“What do you get?” I hit the nail on the head. 

I didn't care what he could offer me. What buzzed my mind was what I’ll offer him. Would it be something I can manage or not?

“In return, you’ll belong to me. No one else touches you. No one else even looks at you. You’ll be mine. Exclusively." He trailed the last word, making sure I understood what he meant by that. 

The room seemed to shrink around me, his words wrapping around me like chains. My mind spun, disbelief crashing over me like a wave. This couldn’t be real.

"What—what do you mean ‘belong to you’?" I managed to ask, though my voice was shaky.

Damon stepped closer, his eyes never leaving mine. I felt my breath leave me due to our proximity. 

I could swear he could hear my erratic heartbeat but that did not stop him. Like Xander, he was equally handsome in not more, but unlike the blond, his presence seemed to drown one in hypnotically.

"You’ll stay by my side. I’ll protect you. In exchange, you’ll do as I say. No one here will touch you, but you will answer to me."

I couldn’t breathe. My body felt like it was trembling, though I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or something else. He was offering me freedom from the horrors of Arthdal Strike—freedom from men like Luca. But it came at a heavy price.

"Do you accept?" Damon’s voice was a dark whisper, his eyes boring into mine.

I hesitated, every instinct in my body screaming at me to say no, to run. But I had no other choice, did I? If I didn’t take the deal, Luca and others like him would never leave me alone. My uncle’s debts would continue to drag me down. Damon’s offer was a lifeline, but it came with heavy chains.

Shutting my eyes, I responded. “No.” 

I didn’t want to see it, feel it, or know, but I bet his eyes went wide, not expecting a rejection.

“No?” he hissed. “Do you have any idea the death warrant you’ve signed for yourself, little mouse?” 

I bit my lower lip. I hated how they called me names. "Yes," I whispered. 

“Then?” 

“Then…” I drawled, my mind trying to focus on the matter at hand and not on his scent and aura. Sensing my difficulty, Damon decided to help me out, every word dripping with a dangerous edge, still I found him impossibly appealing.

“I believe the saying was, its better to take the angel you know’s deal, right? At least here no one would humiliate you outside again.”

‘Meaning he’ll humiliate me?’ I couldn’t help asking myself. 

I looked up, meeting his stare. “You got it wrong. The devil you don’t know is better than the angel you know.”

“Shh,” he cut me off, pressing his index finger on my lips and leaned close to my ear. “You’ll be wise to fear the angel you do not know but my protection is something you cannot pass out on.” 

I gulped. Not out of fear but due to how seductively he spoke about danger, his warm breath fanning my cheeks, making them flush a little. 

Damon straightened his back, tucking his hand in his pocket as he withdrew. “I only offer once. Once I close it up, there’d be no more chance, Ms. Draco, and you’ll find how heavy my ears can be when the situation becomes dire.”

My brows drew close. Was he low key threatening me?

“Going once, going…”

“Yes.” Damon paused, dropping his fingers from counting. “Yes, I agree,” I added. 

He sighed a little, spun on his heels and resumed his spot before me. “Wasn’t so hard, now, little mouse.”

My furrow deepened as I was about to retort when he cut me. “Ah…ah, first rule… never talk back at me. Always obey my command.”

Silence ensued until I realized he wanted me to note that I understood. I gave a nod, and his perfect pink lips twitched, almost smiling. "Good. You’ll start tonight."

My heart sank. There was no escaping this.

Damon snapped his fingers and the lights were off as he turned toward the door, leaving me to absorb the reality of what had just happened. 

"Take her," he called after he left.

As I stood frozen in the office, I reminded myself I agreed to belong to Damon Dark, but at what cost? What kind of man had I just bound myself to?

A minute later, Scarface and the first guy from my house came inside and took me away. I swallowed hard, following Scarface into the club's depths.

The air inside was thick with smoke and desire. Patrons laughed and whispered, their eyes scanning the room for the next thrill, often praising the dancer on stage.

Just then, we walked past a waitress, dressed in a skimpy outfit, her eyes flashing with a warning. "Hey, newbie," she whispered. "Be careful in here."

Before I could respond, Scarface led me away.