Stripped

Chapter two

The air was tense and somewhat chilly, Dominique stopped wondering what deal her parents could have gotten into with Stephano. He was to be feared. He was feared. She looked at her mother, sobbing uncontrollably,her father holding her back and at the same time trying to steady his ragged breathing.

“What did you do? '' She asked In the most understanding tone she mustered,trying hard to suppress the fact that whatever they might have done does not warrant her being used as payment.

Her mother sniffed,then coughed “your father was having a lucky day at the casino in Moscow,he cleared every table he found himself at and won every penny from each opponent,till he got drunk and challenged Rufus father,Chris Stephano.He got beat till he lost everything,his wins and capital to Chris that night. But Chris was merciful and gave him some money to start a new life and pay him when he settles down. Tony took the money and moved down to New York, opening this bakery. We had hoped Chris would forget about this whole thing,but apparently he didn't,and now his son is after his father's money”

“Isn't Chris dead,how then does Rufus get In”

“He is but he is the son and has the exclusive rights, especially when the father is dead. Anyways,your father and I took the money and moved to New York to start afresh,and also to escape his watchful eyes. That's all my dear,I promised him to give me time and he's already impatient as you can tell from today's visitors”

Dominique sighed as she contemplated on her current predicament. One thing she loved was freedom,with her family she felt that,with no restrictions,what would Rufus do with her,sell her off to his fellow ,kill her,abuse her??. The options are limitless.

She quietly stood and left the room, dragging herself up the stairs with her parents looking more shattered as their once spirited daughter became a shadow of herself. “I am going to bed” she said before disappearing into her room

…

2:00 am Saturday morning…

Gunshots…. silenced gunshots

A loud high pitched shout

Heavy boots meeting the floorboards

Blinking lights

Dominique tossed on her bed, sweating. Her right hand grabbed her sheets while her left hand fumbled across the side table, knocking down her table lamp in the process. The loud noise that followed quickened her from her sleep. Her eyes were full of worry,she had even shed a tear. She wasn't sure of what the Stephano's would do to her family and she was not ready to find out,not when she could do something about it. She got up and stood in front of her window, staring into the night. Plotting her escape.Every idea she came up with got crushed by the nightmare she awakened from. She sighed and stared in the mirror. “It can't be that bad. I hope…”

…

She met her parents asleep in their arms,the idea that they might have cried all through the night broke her spirit, she resumed the day like nothing ever happened. Making breakfast,doing the dishes and cleaning of the mud left behind by those men in black. She called her parents to the table and she served them breakfast. Pancakes with butter for herself and maple syrup for her parents. A light knock on the door jolted them from their gloomy moods. Dominique turned to see her mother with her hands placed on her chest and held back a tear. “I'll get it”, she said “I'm certain it's nothing”

She got to the door and opened it to reveal a plain box with a note sticking out of it. It was an invitation. A dinner invitation,and her parents were invited. She turned and sat at the table.

“Eat up mother,we have a dinner date at the Stephano manor” she smiled at her father and she wiped the crumbs from the side of his lips.

“Everything is fine, there's no other option,it has to be fine”.

…

Dominique watched from the window,even headlights,every horn,the sound of any motor engine made her heart skip a beat. It was worse whenever the lights or cars came closer. She stared at the unwrapped package that came earlier that morning. It came with the invite and something more. And it kept her on the edge, reminding her of her plans to escape and giving her a reason not to. The voice of the woman who came the other night was clear and distinct in her instructions.

“He's watching,don't try anything funny.it's just a dinner date, don't let it be more than that. Your parents are also going to be there too. Be wise darling”. Dominique still had this debate within her if that recording was a threat or an advice. She turned to her mirror and looked at herself,the gown was lovely. Though she personally didn't want to go there in the dress. But her host insisted on this.she swirled and the gown moved gracefully in the same direction. She smiled. “At least I see why anyone would want me…,but not like this”

She walked away and returned, tugging on the hair pin that held her hair upright,the hair fell and rolled off her shoulder. “Much better”

The doorbell rang,

Someone was at the door.

“I'll get it,” she yelled as she walked down the stairs,”coming”,she yelled at the door. If there's one thing she loathed,it was the consecutive ringing of bells.

She opened the door and a man dressed like he'd be a land pilot was in front of her.

“I'm here for the Fall’s”

“Dominique Fall,do come in” she invited him in

“I'm afraid I can't,I'm on a schedule,are you ready, it's a long ride” he declined

“A minute, lemme get my parents” she banged the door at his face,”it's just dinner, nothing is going to happen, it's just dinner Dominique,this will be fine and end well” she changed as she walked up to her parents room only to find them all dressed up and teary eyed. She rushed to her mom,on her knees she wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her father's head. “You can't be crying over food,it's dinner, no need to get emotional about it,” her mother tried to speak,to express her fears but Dominique was having none of it, “it's going to be fine, there's no other option”, satisfied that her parents were good, she stood and said “our ride's here”

“What a lovely gown you have on” her mother complimented

“I know right,thank you”

The blast of a loud horn from the streets got them heading towards the door

They headed and got settled in the limo.

“Next up, Stephano manor,” she turned to her dad and whispered, “first time in a limo?”

Her dad gave her a shocked look,she responded to her question “not mine though”

…

“I am a woman,you should be scared…very scared. We've won before and we'd win again. We've brought down men,angels and even demons to their knees.what makes you any different,any better than any of them.”

“I own you,you were never yours, you're been mine,you always have been”

…