Chapter 1: The Debt

Juan Moreno sat at a table in the crowded bar. It was one of the minor establishments he kept just for the fun of it.

A pole dancer was entertaining the men who sat drinking, smoking and jesting but his eyes were focused somewhere else. There was a young waitress who was pouring an old man a glass of wine. She smiled at him, her green eyes lighting up beautifully.

"You are beautiful," the old man said in English. It was obvious he was American.

"Thank you."

He wondered if she were American from her looks and the way she talked. He shook his head, an American couldn't come to Italy just to work as a waitress in a bar. Those Westerners were usually in Italy for tourism. He signalled for her to come over but just then, the man who was owing him millions showed up. His name was Diego and his face was scarred and his eyes swollen.

"Hey," Diego greeted in Italian. "Sorry for not coming in a while, I got busy with... Life."

"I was thinking you did not want to pay my millions," Juan said with a mischievous smile. Earlier that day, he had sent his men to attack Diego and told him that if he did not show up at the bar, he would be beaten up.

The bar had a secret gambling room, unknown to even some staff members and he had met Diego there. Diego has been desperate and unlucky with cards. He has offered Diego a huge sum of money but with a contract that indicated he pay it back within three months including 75% interest.

"Why would I refuse to pay?" Diego chuckled nervously.

The girl came over to the table. "Would you like me to get you anything?" She asked.

Juan noticed that the moment she took a good look at Diego, she shifted on her feet uncomfortably.

"Is there a problem?" He asked her in English, knowing Diego did not understand. "Has he wronged you? Or is it the other way around?"

"Not at all," Arya replied with a tight smile. She avoided eye contact with the Greek god-looking kind of man in her front. He was smoking hot but something within her told her he was dangerous.

"Sei sicura di quella principessa?" He asked, switching to Italian. He wanted to be sure.

"Of course."

"If that is the case, get us two beers. We'd like to keep things simple."

Arya walked away from them and got the drinks. She was being very cautious as she could feel a piercing on her back. The sexy Greek god-looking man was still staring at her.

"Here are your drinks." She set them down on the table carefully and walked to another table.

She felt uncomfortable with her stepfather sitting at that table with the man for some reason. Somehow, she knew he was one of the many men her stepfather owed from gambling. Most of the money she got from working was to pay off debts because she had no choice.

Her stepfather was terrifying so she had to dance to his tune. Several times, she had run away— even moved to a new city to start a new life but he always found her and made sure to punish her for it. Now, she resolved to please him while praying every day for his demise.

"So about my money," Juan grinned, opening the can. He took a generous gulp from it. "When will I be getting it back?"

"I am working on it. I'll make sure to pay it as fast as I can."

"Are you sure you can pay it?" Juan laughed. "It is a pretty large sum and you have nothing left.

Remember our agreement? Pay the money or I harvest any of your organs."

"Hey, boss. Don't be cruel to your man."

"You are not my man," Juan hissed. "I hear hearts are expensive and are in high demand. Is your heart in good condition?"

Arya overheard this. She knew her gut feeling was right, the handsome man was dangerous. However, she was happy if the man would harvest her stepfather's heart. She needed him to die but she did not want to get her hands dirty and she was too scared and naive to hire someone.

"Best he dies at the hands of his creditors," she muttered to herself.

"Juan..." Diego laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Come on, be a little lenient."

"I want my money." Juan locked eyes with the girl again. She had been staring at them and he knew she listened to their conversation. He felt a little prodding at his heart. For some reason, he did not want the girl to think of him as a monster. "But yeah, I am just joking. I would not harvest your organs, man."

Diego scratched the back of his head nervously. "Are you sure about that boss?"

However, Juan's attention was not on Diego. The girl was refusing to break eye contact and something about her captivated him. He wondered if it was her angel-like face; with soft yet angled facial features. She was well-tanned and had pouty lips.

She walked away from his sight finally but he still could not take his eyes off her. Her body was also perfect. She was slim and slender but with a full chest and hips that swayed as she walked.

He began to imagine doing certain things with her.

My mind needs cleansing. Juan muttered to himself.

"Hey, boss?"

Juan was snapped out of his reverie by Diego's voice. The man had been talking for a while but Juan had not heard a single thing.

"I see that look in your eye," Diego had a teasing smile on his face. "How about I give her to you? She's beautiful is she not?"

"Give her to me?" Juan raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, I own her and I am willing to part with her but only if you cancel my debt."