Arranged love

“Tell him to go to hell,” I growl at Titan, turning my back to the window to face the room.

My brother sits on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, staring at me. I didn’t want him to come. I told him to stay behind. I know it took a lot for him to leave April home alone after his recent meltdown at his dining room table. But he refused to listen to me, and Jasmine told us she’d stay with April so she’s not alone while we’re gone.

Titan sighs, pocketing his cell, but doesn’t say anything else.

I go to exit the room, and my brother jumps to his feet. “Where are you going?”

“I need a shower.” I walk down the hallway to the back bedroom. I enter the room, not bothering to turn on the light, and make my way to the adjoining bathroom. Stripping out of my clothes, I turn on the shower and step into the water before it even warms.

I place my hands on the wall and bow my head, the cold water making my body break out in goose bumps. My heart races, and my mind wanders to the worst. That video Luca had me watch plays over and over in my head once again. What they’ve done to her this time. Did they record her again? Have they beat her? Raped her? Anything is possible. She’s no longer a virgin. I took that from her.

Her virginity was something they wanted to sell. Now that it’s gone, will she be worth less? Will they take advantage of that and do as they please with her before she’s sold once again? What if she’s not here in New York and already gone?

I won’t be able to live with myself if I lose her. I should have stood up to Luca and told him to fuck off when he told me to give her to Nite, but I was so pissed at myself. I have always had a plan and made sure to think before I acted. That hasn’t been the case with her. I’ve done things that I thought were best, but they turned out to be the worst.

Like going public with her. That was fucking stupid. She was the best-kept secret, and I showed her to the world. Did her father want that? Was that his plan all along? To show off his best weapon? Make her more desirable by being unavailable? Men will always want what they can’t have. And Mia Rosa Bianchi is most definitely what every man wants.

Finishing up in the shower, I pull myself together, reminding myself that I need some rest. I haven’t had much in months. And if I plan on saving her, I need to be on my A game.

I’m standing at the sink brushing my teeth with a towel wrapped around my hips when there’s a knock on the bathroom door. “Yeah?” I ask with a mouthful of toothpaste.

It opens, and Titan steps inside, pocketing his phone. “Tristan just called.”

“And?” I ask, the toothbrush pausing.

“He was just informed the auction is tomorrow night. And Mia is on it.”

I drop the toothbrush and rinse my mouth before turning to face him. “How does he know for sure?”

He shrugs. “He didn’t say. Just that he was read a list of names and hers was mentioned.”

I run a hand through my damp hair, letting out a long sigh.

“This is good news, Bones. She’s here in New York. And tomorrow night, she’ll be yours again.”

He turns, leaving me alone once again, and I place my hands on the edge of the countertop, gripping the black marble. He’s right about one thing. Tomorrow night, I’ll be buying Mia for the second time. And I’ll pay whatever it takes to make sure she comes home with me for the last time.

MIA

I WAS DRAGGED onto a plane back in Vegas-Matteo’s private jet-and brought to New York, where they’ve kept me at a warehouse. One that my father has used since before I was born to do his dirty work. A place the cops won’t go because they’re paid off. If they want to keep their family safe, they stay away.

This time is different from the last time I was being sold. There’s no expensive hotel. There aren’t any women who did my hair, makeup, or waxed me. I’m not dressed in an evening gown to show off what I could offer.

Instead, I stand in an oversized white T-shirt that hangs off one shoulder and falls down to my knees. I’m barefoot, and my hair is a tangled mess. Pieces fell across my bruised face. It still hurts. Like a throbbing pain that won’t go away. I can feel a patch of hair stuck to my head where I was bleeding at one time. They haven’t allowed me to shower. I guess they don’t care about my appearance or if I stink.

Matteo wraps his fingers around my upper arm, pinching my skin, and I whimper. I try to pull away, but of course it doesn’t work. I don’t even know why I try at this point. I’m too weak to fight him right now. This morning, they fed me a few crackers and a bottle of water. They want me as weak as possible. They’re no longer interested in the fight. Just compliance.

“Does Dad know what you’re doing?” I growl.

He snorts but doesn’t answer. After what he said to me about our father back in Vegas, I’m not sure what is the truth or a lie anymore. Have Matteo and the twins been behind this the entire time? Was my father ever a part of it? Obviously, he allowed me to be sold the first time, but did he really want Kingdom? Was he after the Dillan and the Kings?

“Two more, and she’s up,” Richard announces, coming into view from around the corner. “Here.” He holds out a device that resembles a plastic gun. It’s black and has what looks like a very short needle on the end.

“Hold her.” Matteo shoves me forward into Richard’s arms. I instantly start fighting, slamming my fists into his chest and face. Anything I can make contact with.

“Fuck, you’re such a pain,” he growls, grabbing my hair. I scream out as he pulls me away from him. Spinning me around, he shoves me face-first into the wall and yanks my arms behind my back. He slides something rough over them, and I feel the zip tie tighten around my skin.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

I scream at the top of my lungs, pieces of my hair now in my mouth and my eyes closed to try holding the tears back. I hate for them to see me weak.

“Hold her still,” Matteo barks.

A hand grips my hair, pulling it off my shoulder, and I feel something press into the base of my neck before a shooting pain has my knees buckling. I fall to the floor, my breath momentarily taken away as a lingering sting in my neck leaves me breathless.

“Get her up. She’s next,” my brother demands.

I’m yanked to my feet by my hair, and Richard has to throw me over his shoulder because I can’t will my legs to work. I hope whatever they just did to me kills me because I can’t go on like this-be their toy to toss around and use.