The devil you begged for

023

ISLA

~•~

I had a hard time sleeping the previous night but the morning after was a lot better, especially now that I had figured out what to do.

I stumbled out of the motel, the sun just starting to rise. The streets were quiet. While I was still doubting Lorenzo last night, I didn’t care about him anymore. I had decided to leave the city first before I thought of what to do next. That way, I wouldn’t be under Lorenzo’s thumb anymore. He wouldn’t be able to threaten me if he couldn’t see me, could he?

I finally felt… free.

My thoughts wandered to life beyond this city. I could find a small apartment, and search for a job no matter how little it paid. I still had money from my allowance. I could survive on that for a long while. I wouldn’t have to watch my back like I was doing at the motel. I wouldn’t have to worry about being locked up in someone else’s house.

For a brief moment, I wanted to give up my revenge but I thought better of it. It would be hard to deal with Lorenzo but I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I let him go like that. I had to leave. I had to be stronger. I had to be able to win him in his game.

I carried my small bag and walked ahead, hoping to get a taxi to take me to the train station.

A shadow flickered in the corner of my eye. It was too fast for me to catch and before I could register it, a cloth slammed against my face.

My eyes widened in panic. I tried to scream, tried to fight back, but it was useless. Chemicals invaded my senses and my voice got caught in my throat. My body jerked, panic surging, but my limbs betrayed me. The world spun in front of me and darkness took over.

The next time I woke up, I could immediately register that I was tied up. My body was weak all over. My hands were tied behind my back, my mouth was gagged and my eyes refused to open. I was too weak to force them open.

Then I heard a voice.

“I’m surprised Lorenzo let her go this soon.” It was a man. His tone was cold and amusing. “I thought he was going to keep her around for a couple more months. After all, it’s not easy to conquer the only daughter of the Smiths.”

Another man laughed. “The name Smith is nothing. They’re all dead. She has nothing. No name. No power. I’m sure she’s not as interesting as she used to be. He probably made her his fiancée for his ego.”

“He’s probably tired of f*****g her.” A new voice spoke nonchalantly. His words made my skin crawl with irritation. “Wore that p***y out night after night till it ain’t fun no more.”

Was this what people really thought about me? When they saw me with Lorenzo, did they assume he was keeping me around for s*x?

“So what? After he got his feel, he tossed her out?” The second person who had spoken laughed like anything about their conversation was funny. “That’s so cold of him.”

“The bastard drained her dry. Used her up until there was nothing left. I bet she’s loose as hell now. Just another hole for him to pump and dump. You know Lorenzo, he doesn’t keep the same cunt for long.”

“True,” the first guy replied. “She’s lucky enough he kept her around for a month. Most of his whores don’t last two weeks anyway.”

Laughter filled the room. I felt a flush of shame. They were talking about me like I was nothing, like I was an object for men’s desires. Why would they immediately assume I was sleeping with Lorenzo? I wanted nothing to do with the man.

“Bet she thought she was special. Thought she was going to be his queen or some s**t. Dumb b***h. She latched on to him after she lost her little palace but turned out to be a warm hole he just kept wound until he got bored.”

“Lorenzo had his fun and now, she’s just a leftover,” another one agreed. “I bet she begged him to keep her and he still threw her out.”

Their laughter grew louder, crueler, and bounced off the walls.

In my life, I had never been spoken about like this. For the most part, my parents kept me shielded. They wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect against me. I didn’t know what I did to these men for them to speak about me like this. I didn’t know what to do now that they saw me in this light. I didn’t know why they kidnapped me. I didn’t know anything. My eyelids felt lighter but I was scared to open them. Were they waiting for me to wake up so they could start carrying out their plans?

“I heard she fights though. Slapped some unfortunate fucker the other night for touching her.”

“Good. I like it when they fight. Makes it better when you finally break them. There’s nothing sweeter than watching that fire die when you’re inside them.”

“Smith's name doesn’t mean s**t anymore.” One said, their voice hardening. “All it means is an unpaid debt. Her family bled us dry, crushed us. And now we can finally collect. Every drop of blood they spilled, every territory we lost, we’ll get back and she’ll be the one who pays.”

So they were enemies of my late family? f**k, I was in trouble.

“With her body and her pride,” I could hear the grin in his voice as he spoke. “She’ll pay every way we want and when we’re done, she’ll beg to die.”

My eyes snapped open at those words. What exactly did they want from me?

“Do you think Lorenzo still wants her?” Someone asked as their faces came into sight. They were three in number, sitting on unopened boxes.

“I hope not. It’ll be a bit of trouble if he does.”

For once, I hoped Lorenzo was going to come. I doubted he cared about me that much but I hoped his pride was going to push him to save me.

I hated that I needed Lorenzo to save me. I hated myself for even thinking about him but I had no choice. I was tied up with three men guiding me, each of whom had nothing appropriate to do with me. They didn’t make a move earlier because Lorenzo apparently claimed me. Now that he had let me go, they thought they could do as they pleased.

As though they could feel my stare, one turned toward me. “She’s awake. Finally.”

“Took her long enough.”