Chapter 1

/-Octavia-/

My body curled on the floor, trembling as the tears streamed down my cheeks. Another kick met me in the stomach, and I rolled, wincing. 

He took the opening to assault my ribs, and I was screaming helplessly, begging him to stop. I didn't know how much I could take anymore. My heart was constricting tightly; even my lungs were gradually closing up, restricting my airflow. 

"Please stop... Please..." I sobbed, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. He wasn't going to stop. Nothing would make him stop until I was unconscious or possibly dead. 

The next blow sent blood gushing out of my mouth. 

"Pa..." I cried, "it hurts. It hurts."

I spat out more blood, and his feet connected to my face; the kick had my blood vessels bursting open. At least that is what it felt like. 

"I am not your father!" He barked. "How many times do I have to warn you?"

He slammed his foot against my chest, pressing down so hard as if the intention was to crush my heart. 

"Just how worthless can you be?!"

A knock suddenly interrupted my cries for pain and his curses, but he was stubborn. He didn't want to let go until I was limp.

However, the knobs became aggressive bangs, and before he could decide whether to leave me or not, it kicked open, slamming hard against the wall. 

A group of hefty men stormed in and he immediately released me. 

They all had a ruthless look to them, with different kinds of weapons hanging loosely in their hands. 

The only man in a suit stepped forward, his dark, onyx eyes scanning between my father and me. It was the first time I had seen my father so terrified. 

His face had already gone pale, and he looked like he would pass out if the man as much as blinked.

"Hello, Phillip. I don't mean to interrupt your fun, but I was passing by and decided to visit an old friend." The thick voice was accompanied by a pin-drop silence. 

My father was visibly trembling. I wasn't sure how much longer his legs could hold him from the way he was panting heavily. 

"Please, Axel, don't do this... I swear I'll pay you everything I owe. I just need a little more time, please." My father's knees dropped helplessly to the ground. 

"Humph ...." The stranger pretended to be thoughtful for a minute. "While I do intend to leave here with my money, my men feel obligated to bless you." He drawled, and my father's body dropped completely on the floor. 

"Please... I beg of you..." He pleaded desperately as the men stepped forward. Just like my pleas, his plea was ignored as they descended on him, hitting him with the thick pieces of wood and guns they carried. They kicked and punched him in every spot they could access.

It was almost satisfying to watch him suffer the same abuse he dished out to me. I raised my head slowly, wincing as I attempted to stand, but my body slumped back on the bed. 

My eyes connected to those cold onyx eyes. His footsteps seemed to be louder than my father's cries for mercy as he approached me. 

He took a squat to my level. 

"What happened, little one? You want to beg for your father?" He asked. 

"He... He..." My throat was dry and hurting as I tried to force the words out. "He is... not my father."

He was, biologically, but this man had treated me with nothing but contempt since my mother's death. He blamed me for every misfortune in his life when he was the one who gambled away his life savings and got fired because of his drinking habits. 

He hated me, and frankly, I hated him too. My body was covered with scars and bruises because of him. Even the concealers were not able to hide it. 

If he was not beating me, he was sexually assaulting me. At fourteen, I had seen more troubles than a fifty-year-old. 

"Is that so?" He smirked.

I didn't know who this man was or why he had goons flocking around him, but I knew for sure that if anyone could protect me, it was him. 

My father would never be able to come close to me with this man by my side. 

"Please… Please take me with you." I sobbed. "I'll do anything you want... Just take me with you."

"Boss...." The men drew his attention. "The old hag gave out."

My eyes widened in panic as my brain processed the meaning of those words. My gaze shifted to my limp father, who had blood gushing out of him.

The stranger straightened and walked over to the body. He kicked my father over and dropped his foot on his chest. Then a sigh escaped his lips.

"You let the fool off easy!" he hissed, glaring at them. "Who is going to pay me now?"

My heart drummed heavily against my chest as I stared at his limp body. 

My father was gone! Dead! Not breathing!

Tears poured down my cheeks. 

I hated myself for caring about his life when he had done nothing but make my life miserable. He was nothing but a beast and deserved the painful death he got, yet my heart kept aching for him.

I couldn't shake off the feeling of loss, no matter how hard I tried.

The stranger walked to me once again. 

"Do you knowwhere your father keeps his savings?" He asked, but I was too shaken to give a response. 

My eyes were still fixed on the corpse, waiting for him to stir. Hoping he would open his eyes.

But none of that happened. 

When he noticed I wasn't going to give him a response, he turned to his men.

"Comb every corner of the house and bring every piece of cash you can find," he ordered.

"You won't find it..." I didn't even realize when the words left my mouth. "My father was a drunk and gambler; he had no savings."

"Boss, we have to confirm..."

"There is no need; I believe her. He, after all, left a huge pile of debt in my casino." He cut them short, squatting to me once again. 

He lifted my battered face with a finger and nodded in approval. He signaled the men to help me stand and took a critical look at me. 

"Since you are the only thing of value your father has, you will work to pay off his debt."