Purchased by the Mafia

4

Mia’s POV

Just as I had begun to resign myself to my fate, the sound of footsteps grew louder. He was walking closer.

My heart raced as a tall, dark figure stopped in front of me. Even though his face was obscured by the darkness, his presence was obvious.

His piercing hazel eyes bored into my soul as I stared back, making me feel small and even more scared.

I felt like a mouse cowering before a lion, intimidated by his powerful build and commanding presence. But I couldn’t help wondering who this man was, and what he wanted from me.

I was scared. Really scared. But I had been through worse, and I told myself this couldn’t be as bad.

Yet despite his imposing figure, there was something strangely captivating about him. He had an undeniable aura of authority that I found both intriguing and unsettling.

He stared at me for what felt like hours without saying a word. I could smell his cologne, a mix of alcohol and cigarettes. The room seemed to shrink as he got closer, and my heart pounded.

In an instant, his demeanor shifted from alluring to threatening. I didn’t know what this man was capable of, but I knew I had to be careful. The air felt heavy and I could barely breathe, but I needed answers.

“Why am I here? Who are you?” I managed to say loud enough for him to hear.

He didn’t answer. He raised his hand to touch my face. I flinched as his fingers brushed against my cheek. I looked up at him, terrified.

“Beautiful little slave,” he said.

Nausea rolled through me. It was clear now. My stepfather had sold me to him. Who else would?

I felt sick as I remembered how my stepfather had acted nice after being missing for three days. It wasn’t normal, but I thought he had changed. He made me coffee. Drinking it was the last thing I remembered.

He’d drugged me.

“Please, let me go,” I begged with the little strength I had left. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I realized what my stepfather had done to me.

I begged, hoping he would let me go. But the look on his face told me everything. He had no plans to let me go.

“That’s not going to happen. Your father stole from me,” he stated clearly.

“He’s not my father. He’s my stepfather. My father is dead,” I said, hoping it would change his mind.

“Oh? Your father is dead?” he asked.

I nodded immediately, thinking he might feel pity.

Instead his eyes lit up and he laughed loudly. I was confused. What was funny?

“I don’t care if he’s your father or not,” he said. “You’ve been traded for what he owes me. And he doesn’t know this yet, but he still owes me his life. The moment he gets comfortable, I’ll cut his head off. Why would he think you’re worth five million dollars?”

He laughed, hands on his waist.

“Please,” I said one more time. “Let him pay you. I have nothing to do with this. I didn’t even know he stole from you.”

“Shhh.” He pressed a finger to my mouth.

I wasn’t even loud, but it didn’t matter.

“If you don’t want to die, keep your mouth shut. No more screaming. No more begging. You stay put until I decide what to do with you. Can you do that?”

With his hand still over my mouth, I nodded repeatedly.

“So obedient. I like that,” he said.

His phone rang. He shoved my face aside and stood to answer it.

“On my way,” he said, walking out of the room.

I thought I had seen everything. I thought life had shown me every ugly side. But this… this was it.

My body ached. I was lost, confused, and devastated.

Dante’s POV

My phone ringing was a perfect distraction because for some reason I couldn’t stop staring at her face.

I can’t tell what I felt. Except I don’t feel anything.

She looked nothing like I thought she would. She had obvious blue eyes. Big and pretty. I could see them even in the dark room.

And her body. I didn’t see much, but I saw enough to know her build was beautiful.

Her hair was scattered and all over the place, but it was black and curly. It complimented her blue eyes.

All of it wouldn’t matter by the time I sent her head back to her stepfather.

“Hey.” Matteo’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“We’re late. I’ve been looking all over for you. What were you doing up there? You never go up there.”

“That’s where I kept her,” I said as we made our way outside.

“What do you intend to do with her?” Matteo asked.

I honestly didn’t know. I just wanted Alessandro to get comfortable so I could find him and deal with him.

“I’ll make her suffer until he pays,” I answered.

“Alessandro never liked her,” Matteo said. “Obviously. He doesn’t care about her. She’s of no use to you.”

“If that’s the case, then I’ll kill her,” I said, the rage building in me. “I can’t keep trash lying around.”

“Listen,” Matteo said, his voice calm. “She’s just a young girl. She hasn’t done anything to deserve this. Let her go.”

I let out a cruel, mocking laugh. “I don’t care what you think, Matteo. She has to pay for what Alessandro stole. I took her in exchange for what he owes me, and I’ll do whatever I please with her.”

“Listen, I have an idea,” Matteo said, his voice low. “Since your grandfather asked you to bring a girl home this weekend, why not use her? We can make up a story about how you met her. That is, if she’s beautiful. Is she?”

I stared at him. Shocked by the suggestion.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Matteo said, eyes on the road. “It’s distracting. Unless you want me to drive us into a ditch.”

“You don’t think my idea is perfect?” he asked.

It was a risky plan. But to Matteo’s surprise, I liked it.

“I like the sound of that,” I said, nodding. “At least I won’t have to listen to Grandfather’s rants.”

*****

Mia’s POV

I woke up the next morning to the sound of birds chirping.

I got up from the floor, finally realizing I was in a place where I knew no one. It wasn’t a dream.

I walked straight to the window and looked down. Armed men were walking around the building like they owned it.

I was terrified.

Then the cracking sound of the door distracted me.

Finally.

A woman in her late fifties came in with a tray of food, followed by one of the men I’d seen with the man who called me his slave.

She dropped the tray on the table near me and turned to leave.

“Please,” I said, looking at her with a pitiful face. “I want to go home.”

The guy by the door moved aside to let her out, then reached to lock the door.

I ran to the door and grabbed the knob, struggling with him.

He slapped me hard and I fell to the floor. But I didn’t give up. This was my chance to escape.

I got up and lunged at him again.

Just then, he walked in.

His cold gaze burned through me.

He looked at me, then signaled the other guy to leave. The door closed behind them and he walked toward me.

I grew more scared, backing away as he followed me with that fixed stare.

My back hit the wall. Nowhere to hide.

He raised his left arm above my head and looked down at me. He was way taller. His eyes were so cold and intimidating that I couldn’t hold his gaze.

“What do you want from me?” I managed to ask, tears in my eyes.

With a cold, emotionless voice, he replied,

“No, Princess. The question is, what can you do for me?”

How did I move from being his beautiful slave to being a Princess. What a switch.

“I didn’t come here because I wanted to,” I said. “I was forced here. I can’t be of any help to you.”

He dropped his hand and put both hands in his pockets, pacing the room. I wondered what he was thinking, but his face revealed nothing.

“Please let me go,” I begged. “What do I have to do to leave here?”

Nothing could have prepared me for what he said next.

His response was casual. Almost nonchalant.

“Marry me.”