"I think we got off to a wrong start. How about we start over. Sì?"Isabella wiped her eyes, trying not to fidget under his intense stare. "I will keep you happy if you stay with me." Antonio went on, running his hand through her hair. "I don't know the kind of life you lived before the auction center, but it's going to be different here. I will treat you well.""You left me hungry." Isabella pointed out. "I did, and that was wrong." He agreed. "I promise to feed you. Whatever you want."Isabella frowned, wondering why he was acting nice all of a sudden. This was the same man whose temper had placed her in a choke hold. The same man who effortlessly pulled a gun and killed someone. "Why did you kill that man?" She asked, clearly out of curiosity. Antonio's hand paused on her hair, and for a moment she thought he wouldn't answer her. But he did. "There is a lot you need to know about my world, cara mia." He muttered. "It isn't a rosy place. To survive, you must kill."The strange
Antonio noticed the look on her face and he smiled. "Don't be scared." He said, turning the muzzle away from her. "It's not meant for you."He reached out and placed a plate in front of her. The aroma of the food tickled her nose and made her mouth water. There were omelettes, bacon, fried pasta, steak, a tray of steaming croissants fresh from the oven, a basket of fruits, caviar, italian cheese, a kettle of coffee and a bottle of wine. Isabella had never seen such an array of food. It was enough to feed an army. Silently, Antonio filled her plate and set it in front of her. Then he helped her cut up the roasted steak into smaller pieces, poured her a glass of juice and set it beside the plate. Isabella watched him, mesmerized by his fluid movements. He had nice fingers, long and slender. When he grabbed a fork and handed it to her, she imagined those hands around her waist, and her eyes widened, shocked at her own thoughts. She lowered her face to her plate so he wouldn't notice
"Come here." Antonio murmured, gesturing for her to sit on his thigh. Isabella's whole body screamed at her to refuse, but she remembered the rules. She didn't want to anger him. When she hesitated, he arched a brow at her. "I said come here, Isabella. Don't make me come get you."Sighing angrily, she got up and walked towards him. She paused, standing before him, unsure of what to do.Suddenly he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his laps. His masculine smell hit her immediately. She breathed in, drawing in his scent. Why did he smell so delicious? She kept her gaze pinned on his adam apple, watching as it bobbed when he swallowed. She didn't like this, sitting so close to him. Yet her body betrayed her. Antonio on the other hand pulled her closer, keeping one arm around her. He crushed the cigarette on the silver ash tray beside him and turned to her. "Are you nervous?" He murmured softly. "No." She replied. She wasn't nervous. She was trying to stop herself from swooning
Antonio frowned the moment he saw the woman. He wasn't quick enough to stop her from lunging herself into his arms, so he stood there stiffly, waiting for her to step away. This woman was Francesca, one of the hot bimbos he had bedded. Blonde hair which had been bleached countlessly, blue eyes and a wide sensual mouth, Francesca was a wild one. She was one of those women who were physically attractive, but with a totally dumb brain. The only reason Antonio had been crazy over her was because of her huge posterior. She was dressed in a very short skirt which showed off her ass, and a tight blouse, with a clear view of her bountiful breasts, courtesy of surgery. At a time, Antonio would have grabbed her and taken her straight to the VIP lounge to have mind blowing sex. But now he just stared at her in disdain. "Oh, Antonio amore, it's so good to see you again." She held on to him for a while, pressing her breasts against his chest, then leaned back and smiled widely. "My, you're ev
The moment Isabella stepped into the mall, Antonio's warning of punishing her faded, and she gawked in awe at the area where numerous luxurious clothes were sold. She moved around happily, with Mario and one of the shop representatives slowly following behind. This was something she never had a chance to do, growing up. Her aunty never took her out for shopping, and definitely not to an expensive shop. She had already finished choosing the clothes she wanted when she spotted Mario far away, talking into a cellphone. He had his back to her, and the shop representative was nowhere to be found. She stole a look at the door of the mall, a million thoughts going through her mind. She could use this opportunity to escape again. She would find a place to hide until night fell, then leave when it was morning. If she moved now, Mario wouldn't even notice her. She started to move towards the door when another thought occurred to her. If she did manage to escape, where would she go? Back to
He carried her back to the bedroom, his arm holding her strongly. Even while she thrashed, her body slippery, he didn't let go. Her struggle only spurred him on. He dropped her on the bed and took off his shirt. When she tried to jump off, he caught her easily and pushed her back. Next he lay over her, resting his weight on his elbow. "Let me go!" She yelled, struggling with him. "The more you struggle, the harder it will be for me to release you." He uttered. When she didn't stop, he cursed softly and grabbed her arms. He pinned both her hands with one of his, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Moving smoothly, he cuffed both her wrists, pinning her arms over her head. With her hands restrained, Isabella couldn't move. She wriggled her legs and tried to kick at him, but he lifted his leg and pinned hers beneath his thigh. Now she was totally restrained, helpless, and exposed to his view. Her chest heaved, water droplets causing her to shiver. S
"Where are we going to, aunt Sophia?" Isabella asked as her aunty ushered her out of the apartment and into a waiting car. "We have to meet with one of your uncles." The elderly woman replied. "He has promised to give us some money for your upkeep.""Oh. Maybe I can finally go to college." Isabella said hopefully, but Sophia ignored her. They got into the car and the driver sped off. Soon the dusty roads of the countryhome where they lived gave way to the bustling express of Las Vegas. Isabella was just twenty two, young and totally dependent on her aunty, Sophia. Her parents had been murdered when she was just an infant, so the only family she relied on were her relatives. According to Sophia, she had her mother's physical beauty, but her father's rebellious streak. Isabella had midnight dark hair, a shade which was unlike any other. Her eyes were the darkest obsidian, sharp and filled with a million questions, with skin as pale as milk. Growing up, she had been curious about e
The glare of the hot sun roused Isabella the next morning. She opened her eyes and winced due to the sudden brightness. It took a while for her to adjust to the light, and when she opened her eyes again, she was shocked at the scene before her. She was in a metal cage, and there were other young girls around her. She sat up quickly, wondering how she got there. She was still in the dress she had on the previous night, damp from the rain. She was chained, just like the other girls. There were several other cages holding other girls, and the cages were chained to metal poles in a large open backyard. Frowning in confusion, Isabella leaned towards the girl beside her and whispered. "Hey. Do you know what's going on?"The girl stared at her blankly before answering. "What does it look like? We're going to be sold.""Sold?""To the highest bidder." The girl nodded. "A lot of us were lured here, while others were sold to dealers, who would resell us for pure gold."Isabella found it d
He carried her back to the bedroom, his arm holding her strongly. Even while she thrashed, her body slippery, he didn't let go. Her struggle only spurred him on. He dropped her on the bed and took off his shirt. When she tried to jump off, he caught her easily and pushed her back. Next he lay over her, resting his weight on his elbow. "Let me go!" She yelled, struggling with him. "The more you struggle, the harder it will be for me to release you." He uttered. When she didn't stop, he cursed softly and grabbed her arms. He pinned both her hands with one of his, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Moving smoothly, he cuffed both her wrists, pinning her arms over her head. With her hands restrained, Isabella couldn't move. She wriggled her legs and tried to kick at him, but he lifted his leg and pinned hers beneath his thigh. Now she was totally restrained, helpless, and exposed to his view. Her chest heaved, water droplets causing her to shiver. S
The moment Isabella stepped into the mall, Antonio's warning of punishing her faded, and she gawked in awe at the area where numerous luxurious clothes were sold. She moved around happily, with Mario and one of the shop representatives slowly following behind. This was something she never had a chance to do, growing up. Her aunty never took her out for shopping, and definitely not to an expensive shop. She had already finished choosing the clothes she wanted when she spotted Mario far away, talking into a cellphone. He had his back to her, and the shop representative was nowhere to be found. She stole a look at the door of the mall, a million thoughts going through her mind. She could use this opportunity to escape again. She would find a place to hide until night fell, then leave when it was morning. If she moved now, Mario wouldn't even notice her. She started to move towards the door when another thought occurred to her. If she did manage to escape, where would she go? Back to
Antonio frowned the moment he saw the woman. He wasn't quick enough to stop her from lunging herself into his arms, so he stood there stiffly, waiting for her to step away. This woman was Francesca, one of the hot bimbos he had bedded. Blonde hair which had been bleached countlessly, blue eyes and a wide sensual mouth, Francesca was a wild one. She was one of those women who were physically attractive, but with a totally dumb brain. The only reason Antonio had been crazy over her was because of her huge posterior. She was dressed in a very short skirt which showed off her ass, and a tight blouse, with a clear view of her bountiful breasts, courtesy of surgery. At a time, Antonio would have grabbed her and taken her straight to the VIP lounge to have mind blowing sex. But now he just stared at her in disdain. "Oh, Antonio amore, it's so good to see you again." She held on to him for a while, pressing her breasts against his chest, then leaned back and smiled widely. "My, you're ev
"Come here." Antonio murmured, gesturing for her to sit on his thigh. Isabella's whole body screamed at her to refuse, but she remembered the rules. She didn't want to anger him. When she hesitated, he arched a brow at her. "I said come here, Isabella. Don't make me come get you."Sighing angrily, she got up and walked towards him. She paused, standing before him, unsure of what to do.Suddenly he grabbed her waist and pulled her onto his laps. His masculine smell hit her immediately. She breathed in, drawing in his scent. Why did he smell so delicious? She kept her gaze pinned on his adam apple, watching as it bobbed when he swallowed. She didn't like this, sitting so close to him. Yet her body betrayed her. Antonio on the other hand pulled her closer, keeping one arm around her. He crushed the cigarette on the silver ash tray beside him and turned to her. "Are you nervous?" He murmured softly. "No." She replied. She wasn't nervous. She was trying to stop herself from swooning
Antonio noticed the look on her face and he smiled. "Don't be scared." He said, turning the muzzle away from her. "It's not meant for you."He reached out and placed a plate in front of her. The aroma of the food tickled her nose and made her mouth water. There were omelettes, bacon, fried pasta, steak, a tray of steaming croissants fresh from the oven, a basket of fruits, caviar, italian cheese, a kettle of coffee and a bottle of wine. Isabella had never seen such an array of food. It was enough to feed an army. Silently, Antonio filled her plate and set it in front of her. Then he helped her cut up the roasted steak into smaller pieces, poured her a glass of juice and set it beside the plate. Isabella watched him, mesmerized by his fluid movements. He had nice fingers, long and slender. When he grabbed a fork and handed it to her, she imagined those hands around her waist, and her eyes widened, shocked at her own thoughts. She lowered her face to her plate so he wouldn't notice
"I think we got off to a wrong start. How about we start over. Sì?"Isabella wiped her eyes, trying not to fidget under his intense stare. "I will keep you happy if you stay with me." Antonio went on, running his hand through her hair. "I don't know the kind of life you lived before the auction center, but it's going to be different here. I will treat you well.""You left me hungry." Isabella pointed out. "I did, and that was wrong." He agreed. "I promise to feed you. Whatever you want."Isabella frowned, wondering why he was acting nice all of a sudden. This was the same man whose temper had placed her in a choke hold. The same man who effortlessly pulled a gun and killed someone. "Why did you kill that man?" She asked, clearly out of curiosity. Antonio's hand paused on her hair, and for a moment she thought he wouldn't answer her. But he did. "There is a lot you need to know about my world, cara mia." He muttered. "It isn't a rosy place. To survive, you must kill."The strange
The next morning, Antonio woke up in a foul mood. He got out of bed and took a quick bath, before dressing up in a pair of grey slacks and a t-shirt. Then he grabbed a jacket and stepped out of the room. As he walked past the hallway, he stopped in front of the room Isabella was locked in. He moved close and gently touched the door, his fingers splaying over the cold metal. He was tempted to unlock it and bring her out, but he remembered what she called him last night. A monster. His brows furrowed in anger and he stepped away. He would leave her in there for a few more hours, as punishment. She had no idea how much that single word triggered him. As he made his way downstairs, forgotten memories flittered across his mind, trying to make him remember what he had buried deep within him. In his mind's eye, he saw whips and belts. He saw his father, the former el capo, a man who was a demon in disguise. Memories rushed back and he paused, gripping the stair rails tightly until his
The moment the towel dropped, Isabella made the mistake of looking down. She gasped, her face flaming red with an embarrassed blush, her eyes bulging out. Turning away, she shut her eyes and placed her hands over her face. Antonio watched her, amused by her behavior. His lips lifted in a wry smile and he asked. "What? Never seen a naked man before?"Isabella groaned in frustration and plugged her fingers in her ears. She was only just realizing that beneath all that rugged exterior and ruthless demeanor, Antonio was utterly shameless. "Please, Master. Put on your towel." She muttered. Antonio cocked his head to the side, his smile widening. It was surprising to see how flustered she looked, despite her rebellious streak. He leaned down and grabbed the towel, but didn't put it on. "You can open your eyes now." He murmured. Breathing a sigh of relief, Isabella dropped her hands and opened her eyes. But to her horror, he was still naked and the towel trailed from his hand. "Oh m
Antonio felt the splatter of vomit on his shirt and he went still. Cursing softly, he turned around and stared at Isabella silently. She stared back at him innocently, wiping her mounth. He was too pissed to say a word, to surprised to wonder what kind of girl she was. So he unbuttoned the shirt and tossed it the ground. He reached out to grab her hand and she backed away. "I can't believe you killed him." She whispered. "My patience is being held by a thin thread." He murmured coldly to her. "So you better behave yourself."Isabella looked up at him, her eyes flashing with defiance. The way he called her name sounded too intimate, too sensual. It belied the storm in his eyes. "If you don't come with me, you'll be standing behind my gun next." He grabbed her hand again and pulled her along with him to the car. When she got in, he slammed the door and walked to the driver's side. Then he got in and sped away. The ride back to the villa was quiet. But not for long. "What were you