HIS PURCHASED CAPTIVE

TheStorm

AUTHOR'S POV

Damon felt his fury rise further. "How about I make sure you never disturb me with your screaming again," he said coldly.

"I want you all to know nothing but pain. You'll beg for death, and it still won't come. I'll make you feel exactly what you put that innocent girl through," Damon muttered angrily.

He continued their punishment methodically, each of them screaming in turn, Tessa loudest of all.

"Bring the hot water," he told his men.

They brought it, and he had it poured over their wounds. Tessa, barely conscious, screamed again as the pain surged through her.

"Please! Please! Please!" she begged.

"I'm sorry, Damon ;please forgive us. I know I've wronged you from the start. I'm truly sorry.Please, just end it now," Alex pleaded, but Damon only smirked.

"Don't worry — you'll die soon enough. I just intend to make it slow."

He continued until they could no longer speak, only groan.

"Clean this up," he said, and left the torture room.

"Capo, we couldn't find her."

"What do you mean, you couldn't find her?"

"We believe she was taken — only her bag was left in the room."

"What?!" Damon shouted in shock.

MITCHELL

"Please! Please!" I screamed, struggling against the man pinning me down.

"And what do you think you're doing, Scorpion?" a cold, commanding voice cut through the room, and I felt a wave of relief.

"I just wanted to have a taste of her before we get rid of her," the man said, stepping back reluctantly.

"Did I give you permission for that?"

"I'm sorry, boss — she's just—"

"Get out," the voice said sharply.

"I'm sorry, master."

The stranger turned to me. "Get dressed."

I scrambled to cover myself, shaking.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"No, sir."

"You dare lie to me?"

"Sir, please — I swear I don't remember you," I said, my voice trembling with fear.

SOPHIA

I felt a surge of anger, knowing there was some nobody out there apparently trying to outshine me.

How could anyone possibly have a voice or beauty greater than mine?

I would do everything in my power to make sure she suffered. She shouldn't even be seen in public, and I intended to make her regret ever trying to compete with me.

Call me whatever you want — evil, obsessed, whatever — but one thing about me is I don't play around when it comes to my career or my image. I have to be the best. No one else gets to be.

For years, I've held that title without competition, and now Pop tells me some girl is stealing attention that belongs to me. I won't allow that.

I don't even know her yet, and I already despise her. The day I visit Pop's hideout, it will be the day she learns her place.

Even though Pop is the prime minister of Australia, I've worked hard to be the best at everything — and I won't let some nobody undo that.

I get everything I want without effort, and she won't be the one to change that. I can't wait to finally see this girl Pop keeps mentioning — the more I think about her, the more my resentment grows.

MARY

"Mary, we can't find her," Ma Alice said sadly.

"Ma, I'm sorry — I should have told you sooner. I honestly don't know exactly where she is right now. I'm having trouble sensing her."

"What do you mean you don't know where she is either?" Capo asked coldly, and I felt real fear.

I sat staring into space. It had been a while since Rina visited, and I'd tried using my power to locate Mitchell, but it kept failing.

Someone was blocking my abilities, but I couldn't tell who. I could feel their presence, but not see them. Whoever it was, they were stronger than me.

I couldn't even reach Rina to let her know what was happening.

CADENCE

"Cadene, this is the last time you will ever bring up the prime minister ," my husband said angrily.

"Baby, that's not what I meant—"

"Don't 'baby' me. I can't stop him from coming here, and I won't. If you have a problem with that, figure it out.

I know what I heard. I would never accuse him falsely. I'm serious. I heard them clearly, both him and our doctor. Why would I lie to you, or accuse anyone wrongly?" I said, growing more upset.

"Are you still unwell?"

"I'm not unwell! I'm serious; please believe me. I'm your wife, for heaven's sake. I would never lie to you or make false accusations. I heard exactly what I heard. Please, believe me."

"And would you stop talking? What is all this nonsense you're spouting? If you don't like them, that's your business, but this is the last time you bring this kind of conversation to me," he said, slamming the table before storming out.

I stared after him in shock. This was the first time my husband had ever raised his voice at me, and all because of those two men.

Oh Lord, why does everyone see this prime minister and doctor as good people? Alex's life is at risk, and I refuse to let him lose it.

No, I swear I will protect him, and make sure he learns the truth about his real family.

That wretched prime minister has done real damage, poisoning that innocent boy's heart against the truth.

"Please, Caroline be safe for me. I miss you so much, and I need you to stay strong, wherever you are, whatever's happening to you," I muttered, crying.

DAVID

I stared at her again, and I felt a surge of jealousy. How could a girl look this much like a goddess? She was even more beautiful than before. I can't wait to be rid of her.

I want Sophia to see her face she's been asking to. Sophia is my only child, and as the prime minister I give her whatever she wants without hesitation.

I remember Caroline has always been the best, ever since she was taken. She was once considered the most beautiful girl in the world, and even at a young age, she'd won countless competitions.

Beyond her looks, her voice could melt even the coldest heart. Sophia has a great voice too, but nothing compared to Caroline's.

I've envied her father since she was a little girl. For years, I've planned how to destroy the president's family, it infuriates me whenever he boasts about his daughter.

I think I need to call Sophia. We need to finish Caroline once and for all — I have far more important things to focus on than keeping this girl here.

She's escaped death for years, but this year, I'm ending it for good. I want to destroy her family completely. I want the president and his wife on their knees, begging.

I want everyone to fear and respect me the way they respect the president.

For years, I've used my position to deceive everyone. No one knows the truth about who I really am.

I kill without hesitation. Everyone believes I'm a kindhearted prime minister, but none of them know my true nature.

I was trained since childhood to mask my true emotions. My goal now is to destroy the president; to become the one everyone fears, the richest, the most respected man alive.

📲 "Pop."

📲 "Sophia, meet me at my hideout right now. I want to finish her tonight."

📲 "Ok, Pop, I'll be there shortly."

I cleared my throat, and she looked up.

"My daughter is coming to see you now. Tonight, I finish this."

"Sir, what do you mean by—"

"Quiet," I said, and she shivered with fear.

MITCHELL

I watched the strange man until he opened the door and left. I sighed, exhausted. When would I ever be free from one problem after another?

It hurt, not knowing who I really was. In under three months, I'd faced one nightmare after another.

From being abandoned, to being saved. From being saved, to being sold. From being sold, to being freed. From being freed, to being kidn*pped. From being kidn*pped once, to being kidn*pped again.

Oh Lord — when will this end? Even if it's my last request, I need to know who I am. Even if I die, I need to understand the real reason my life has always been this hard.

I've been told I'm evil, that I could hurt someone with just a look — but through everything that's happened to me, I've never once harmed anyone. I'm grateful for that, at least.

But the question that keeps weighing on me is: who am I? Tears streamed down my face.

I regretted leaving Damon's mansion. Just thinking of him made my heart race.

I won't deny it — even though he might be a monster, I miss him.

I don't understand it, but I feel unhappy that I left. Maybe I should have stayed. But would he have missed me the same way I miss him?

AMOS

"If you say one word, you're dead," Scorpion said, and fear gripped me.

"You thought you could betray Boss and walk away free? Absolutely not."

"But, Scorpion—" Before I could finish, he pressed a handkerchief over my nose. The last thing I heard was, "Sleep tight, fool."

I woke up in a familiar place and realized it was Boss's hideout.

I felt eyes on me and looked up to see Boss and Scorpion.

"Boss," I greeted.

"You fool — who's your boss?" he snapped, and struck me hard across the face.

"You thought you could run from me?

You belong to me, to do with as I please. I gave you your first assignment, and you ruined it — you fool!"

"Please, boss, I'm sorry — I swear I'll make it up on the next assignment."

"Quiet, fool! There won't be a next assignment. This was your first and last."

With that, he shot me in the arm, and I screamed in pain.

"Fool. You dared to reveal our plans to the president's wife? Tonight, I'm ending both of you," he said, and drove another heavy punch into my bleeding arm.

"Arrrrrrrgggg," I screamed.

"You'll die tonight, along with her."

"Please, boss, don't kill me."

"Why not? I've kept you around for years for a reason — now that reason is over, and you don't get a say in it," he said, delivering another blow to my stomach.

I collapsed, screaming — the pain unbearable.

Back in Damon's Masion

"Dagger," Damon called.

"Yes, Capo."

"Get the cars ready. We're heading to Austria now.We need to arrive before nightfall."

"Ok, master."

Damon had already arranged everything he needed. His men opened the door, and he stepped out, several more following behind in a second car.

He sighed heavily. I just pray I find her. I know I've hurt her far more than I can imagine, but I pray I find her, and that she'll hear me out, he thought sadly.

He remembered the sound of her screaming, the pain he had caused her, her innocent pleas — all the ways he had wronged her.

I know I've hurt you more than I could ever undo, but please, just give me the chance to make it right.

I was a fool not to trust you from the start. I've hurt you, in every way — but please, let me find you, and explain everything.

You are the only one who has ever truly healed me.

SOPHIA

I stared at the girl, and I won't lie ;she was beautiful, even weak and disheveled as she was, her hair pulled into a messy bun.

I looked at her with pure hatred. Why would she be more beautiful than me? It only made me angrier.

Sophia, stop staring at this girl, she's your enemy, I reminded myself.

I stepped further into the room and grabbed her by the hair, and she winced in pain.

I wanted her to feel every bit of the pain she'd caused me, simply by existing; by threatening to take the spotlight that belonged to me.

"Please, please," she said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, please," she winced.

"Shut up."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't speak when I'm speaking."

"Yes."

"Say 'yes, ma,'" I said, and struck her several times.

"Yes, ma. Yes, ma."

"So you're my enemy, aren't you?"

"Ma, I don't—" I struck her again.

"Quiet! So now you're denying it?"

"I'm not denying anything — I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Well, when you reach heaven, say hi to my grandparents for me."

I continued to threaten and rough her up, and she cried softly. I smirked. "Today is your end," I said, smiling.