She Belongs To The Mafia

Chapter 6

Cherilyn Knight's Point Of View.

The moment those words left his mouth, I felt my tears spill over even more, streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably. His question, laced with anger and menace, hit me like a punch to the gut. It was the last thing I wanted to hear, the worst fear he could have possibly confirmed for me.

I tried to choke back my sobs, but it was no use. His presence, his words, everything about this moment made me feel even more vulnerable and afraid. The tears would not stop, and I felt even smaller, shrinking under the weight of his anger. It was like my worst nightmare coming to life, and all I could do was stand there, trembling and unable to speak.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to calm my racing heart and gather the little courage I had left. I knew I had to face him, no matter how scared I was, so I slowly opened my eyes and forced myself to meet his gaze, but as soon as our eyes locked, something unexpected happened—he burst out laughing, loud and harsh, like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

His laughter echoed through the room, filling the space with a sound that made my stomach turn. It was not just laughter; it was cruel, mocking, meant to belittle me. He was laughing at me, at my fear, at the tiny bit of courage I had managed to muster. It felt like he was ripping away any strength I had left, leaving me feeling small, humiliated, and utterly powerless.

Each laugh was like a slap in the face, and I could feel my confidence crumbling with every second that passed. I wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor and escape from his mocking eyes. His laughter made me feel like I was nothing, like my attempts to stand up for myself were just a joke to him. It hurt more than any physical pain could, cutting deep into my already fragile spirit.

I tried to keep my composure, to not let him see how much his ridicule was affecting me, but it was impossible. His laughter broke something inside me, and I could feel myself shrinking back, losing the little courage I had found. The strength I had tried to summon was gone, and all that was left was a feeling of overwhelming defeat.

"Oh, please. You are not even the slightest bit appealing," He said in a flat and emotionless voice. I knew I should have been relieved that he was not interested in me in that way, but his words still stung.

"You are skinny, and your skin, oh my god, it’s too dry and dirty," He continued further, piling insult after insult on me. Each word felt like a slap, dragging my already low self esteem even lower. It hurt more than I wanted to admit, even though I tried to act like it did not.

"...and most of all, you are not even beautiful. How pathetic of you to think I would ever force myself on you?" He scoffed, while his voice was dripping with contempt as he turned his back on me. I clenched my hands into fists, trying to keep myself from punching him in his perfect, arrogant face.

"You are here because you belong to me. Each and every part of you, even your soul, is mine. You are here to serve me, without question or hesitation. Do you understand?" He barked, still with his back toward me, while his voice cold and commanding.

I did not want to look at him anymore after everything he said. His words had cut deep, and all I wanted was to get as far away from him as possible. You would think that growing up poor and surviving in a tough world would have made me strong, but at that moment, I felt more vulnerable than ever. It hit me then — he wanted to break me down completely, to crush my spirit so that he could control me like a puppet.

"I said, do you understand?" He growled in a loud voice, while turning his head slightly to look at me.

"N-no, I don’t," I replied, surprising myself with the boldness in my voice. I had no idea where this sudden courage was coming from, especially in front of him but what did I have to lose? My life was already miserable, barely better than that of an animal living on the streets. I was doomed anyway, so why not fight back a little?

I almost laughed when I saw his face falter, his expression shifting from arrogance to a mix of shock and anger. It was like he could not believe someone like me would dare to defy him. The fury radiated off him, his body tense with barely controlled rage. I knew I was in for it now, but at that moment, I did not care about the consequences. There was something oddly satisfying about seeing him taken aback, even if just for a second.

"Do you know, with what the heck purpose I made you strip in front of me?" He suddenly asked, and broke the tense silence between us. His question caught me off guard, and I looked at him, confused. He stared at me with a grin that could only be described as pure evil. Humiliation.

I shook my head, signaling that I did not know, and lowered my eyes to the floor. He started walking toward me, then began circling around me like a predator with its prey.

He stared at my face with an side angel, as he slanted his neck. One could define the following as the most creepiest look, and my eyes could not meet his eyes. I was looking at the floor continuously, while my toes and fingers were quivering due to anxious state.

He lifted his one hand which startled me a little and caused a movement in my position. He took the hair out of my face and put it, behind my ear. He ran his fingers from my ear to the middle of my neck and grabbed it all of a sudden. This act made me look at him in his eyes, directly. He titled his face within my ears. My eyes bulged out in a panic state as I could witness his pure cold eyes.

"I made you strip to show you that you have nothing worth looking at," He whispered in my ear, while his hand suddenly wrapped around my neck which kind of, triggered the fear with the intensity of infinite inside me. My breath caught in my throat, and I gasped, feeling the pressure of his grip. At first, it was not too tight, but as the seconds ticked by, he squeezed harder, making it difficult for me to breathe.

"You do not have even a single thing that makes your life worth living. You are nothing more than a dirt beneath everyone’s feet—beneath my feet. You are a shoe, for them, for us, for me and not more than of that." He continued further, while his voice was cold and cruel. "I am honestly surprised you have the nerve to show any attitude, given how worthless you are. If I were you, I have have ended my life for good by now."

His words cut deep, as he spoke while emphasizing each and every words stabbing at my heart like a knife. My eyes filled with tears, but I forced myself not to cry. The pain from his grip and his words was unbearable, but I refused to let him see me break down. Even as he loosened his hold on my neck, the damage was done. I could still feel his breath hot against my skin, sending waves of dread through my entire body.

I stared up at the ceiling, at the chandelier hanging there. It was beautiful but also sharp and menacing, much like him. As he rubbed his thumb along my neck, it sent chills through my bones, reminding me that with just one quick move, he could end my life right there but even as he tried to convince me that I was worthless, I knew one thing for sure—I wanted to keep living. No matter how low he tried to make me feel, no matter how useless he said I was, I still wanted to see the sunrise each morning. Life might be hard, and I might be stuck in this nightmare, but I was not ready to give up. Not yet.