His collateral

Chapter Two: The devil's claim

Pov: Ivy

“Ivy," The faint sound of my name echoed; the pressure in my head intensified as if the weight of the world rested on it.

“Ivy," the voice came again. It sounded like Mum like she was calling from another world. My eyelids lifted slowly, and I blinked a few times, allowing the light in.

“Mum?” I croaked. My throat felt tight, my vision unclear as I tried to make sense of what was going on. I tried moving, but I felt my hands and legs bound tightly to a chair, and Mum was bound too few inches away from me.

“I am sorry, this wasn't what I wanted”, mum said with tears already in her

eyes. The heaviness in her words settled between us. My chest tightened, knowing whatever it was she had done, she wished to undo it.

“b***h where did you run off to?"

My breath caught, as I turned my head to see Dad. His face was covered with bruises, unlike Mum's face.

Before I could speak the metallic clang of a door opening echoed through the room, silencing everything.

“A little family reunion, I guess,” a low and steady voice echoed.

He appeared in front of us; His grey eyes bore into mine as if he was studying every detail of me; he rolled up his sleeve, revealing the veins beneath his hands. They ran like a tight cord, a sharp contrast to his smooth skin, his gaze still not leaving mine, making me uneasy.

“Leonardo,” Dad spat, struggling with his rope. “You have gotten what you want, she is here, why tie me up like a criminal!”.

Leonardo's gaze left mine and shifted to Dad, and a Devilish smirk curled at the corner of his face.

“I am Leonardo Deluca tu Bastardo ( You Bastard)” His voice was calm yet commanding, and each word was tinged with power “I run my business How I want it”

His eyes returned to my direction as he walked his way towards me, bending over to look into my eyes. The smell of his strong cologne hit my nose, and I don't know what it was, but my eyes went to his lips. He looked perfect, his dark hair slicked back, gleaming under the dim light, the structure of his jawline was striking, with sharp edges that seemed to catch the light and draw attention to his face”.

“Please let my daughter go,” Mum choked out between sobs, her voice trembling. “Take me instead”

He stood up, his finger brushing my chin, tilting it upward with a touch that was commanding and tender; the heat of his touch lingered; I hated how powerless I felt under his touch.

“Beautiful,” He mumbled, a smirk plastering on his face. “I will take her," he said, letting my chin go.

" Then put this f*****g rope off me", Dad growled. His eyes bored into him. Any chance given to him, he wouldn't waste time slitting his throat open.

" Mum, " I called she looked up, her eyes red and swollen overflowing with tears, her face twisted with unspoken agony

“I am sorry Ivy" she struggled through sobs

“I would have protected you", every word she spoke filled with regrets

" I wouldn't have signed the papers.” Her gaze dropped like she would have lost herself if I looked into her eyes any longer.

Which paper ? I wondered but let mum finish without interrupting .

“I thought he was going to pay off his debt earlier like he said" her body almost shaking while she sobbed “So I signed the papers as collateral to this man "

My eyes widened as the word echoed in my ears: “A collateral?". To whom? My heart raced, and I turned to face him, His face giving no information of how he felt – stoic like a robot, only his intense gaze betrayed him, burning with an unspoken warning, as though he was giving us the last chance to clear the air.

I wondered for a second what my life would be like, why they would do this to me. It was like I was being sold to this mysterious man, maybe one of my Dad's kind again. I don't know him, but there was no mercy in his eyes. He didn't look like someone who did care.

My whole world was crashing before my eyes. The dreams of one day being happy with Mum, becoming a businesswoman, and finding justice for Mum all felt far-fetched now. All my dreams of being happy in the future have been turned to a mere wish in one day

My heart clenched at the thought of this

" I'm getting sick of all this, Leonardo," Dad growls again, "You can have both of them set me free!” Dad said, his face showing no sign of pity for what was going on like he didn't care.

He got what he wanted, “Money, by signing out his daughter to an unknown man. When it comes to money, what would you expect from an alcoholic and a woman abuser who doesn't even fend for his family but is a control freak? He is more like a pest in Mum's life. He would be the worst decision Mum has ever made for herself.

“I never said I was setting you free Marco"

Leonardo spoke up; the little exchange between him and Dad, I couldn't miss such a name.

“And I have problems with your tone.” he moved closer to Dad, dragging his feet. Every footstep was deliberate and steady.

" And you didn't meet up with the agreement. You said you would be handing her over by yourself.” he bent towards Dad the way he did with me.

“You defiled the agreement, Marco, and I don't spare that.” His voice was cold and void of any mercy. He stood up, placing his hands in his pocket and strengthening his shoulder.

“ Fabio, take them out, this should be the last day they breath”,

What did he just say? " This should be the last day they breathe.” My heart clenched, and the air seemed not enough to breathe. Did he just order their death? Two men came over dragging Mum and Dad. My head was spinning, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I could feel the hot liquid burn my cheeks.

“You bastard, let me go" Dad screamed as he was dragged away. Was he going to kill them? My thoughts were everywhere; I wouldn't have thought he would go this far.

“She is what you needed; I wouldn't have trusted you." Dad's voice fades into the room, with Mum's sobs following as they are dragged away by his men.

“Please set her free” " Mom begged with the only strength she had. I could feel my eyes heavy, but that didn't stop the tears from flowing; he wasn't going to kill them, right? This is all a big joke. If he was going to kill them I wish to die with them too.

“You can't do this! I screamed, my voice cracking as panic clawed at my chest. “Please, they are my parents!”

My heart kept pounding, but he didn't budge. It was like talking to a cold wall, unmoving and entirely unconcerned. He turned towards me half his face veiled with shadow, but the dim light brushed his eyes, making them gleam with unspoken intensity.

He stretched his hands out, and one of the men rushed over him, placing a knife in his hands. He walked towards me, his eyes sticking to mine as he bent towards me.

The scent of his cologne mixed with alcohol blissed my nose as our lips were a few inches away. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it; each beat was a painful reminder of how vulnerable I felt.

In a s***h, the rope bounding my hand fell away. He did the same with my leg, but at that moment, I didn't want to be let free. I can't leave anymore; life isn't fair to me, so it isn't worth living anymore. I won't leave my whole life in fear, I would rather die now.

“Please kill me too if you are to kill them," I said, my hand clenching to his feet. All I wanted was to die, too; I was tired of everything. Maybe some people's suffering comes to an end when their life ceases, and there's no doubt I am one of them.

He tilts my chin up brushing away the tears escaping my eyes

“Kill you?” His voice was sharp, almost as if the suggestion insulted him, “You don't get to decide how this ends, you are mine now, Your life belongs to me and I don't waste what I own tesoro(Treasure)”

His eyes flashed with something unreadable, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

I knew he was never going to let me go or kill me. That would be a waste of money. I was foolish to think he would kill me like he would throw such a huge amount of money he gave Dad. Nothing is for free, different possibilities went through my head. A shiver ran down my spine, and my stomach churned at the thought of whatever he would use me for. I needed to escape. It's either I die or escape that is the on

ly thing I could do best.

“ Take care of her,” he said leaving the room.