Chapter 3: Sold
993 Words
They didn’t drag her far. The enforcer led Aria down a hallway and into another room that looked like it doubled as an office and holding cell. A desk sat in one corner, a worn couch against the wall, and a heavy metal door with no window. Victor was already there, slumped in a chair with his hands zip-tied in front of him.
The second the enforcer stepped out and closed the door, Aria exploded.
She marched straight up to Victor and slapped him hard across his already bruised face. The sound cracked through the room like a whip.
“You son of a b***h,” she hissed.
“You tried to sell me? Like I’m a f*****g car?”
Victor’s head snapped to the side. He tasted blood and spat it on the floor.
“It was the only way. They would’ve killed me, Aria. What was I supposed to do?”
“Be a man for once in your miserable life!” Her voice cracked.
“I’ve been working two jobs so Ethan can eat and you’re out here trading me to motorcycle thugs to save your own skin?”
The door opened again before Victor could answer.
Jaxon stepped inside, calm as ever, but his eyes were sharp. He’d clearly heard the slap. The enforcer followed him in and leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Jaxon looked at Victor with pure disgust.
“You really are a pathetic piece of shit.”
Victor tried to sit up straighter.
“I meant what I said, Reaper. Take the girl. She’ll pull her weight around here. Wipe my debt and we’re square.”
Aria wanted to slap him again. Instead she turned to Jaxon, breathing hard.
“Don’t listen to him. I'm not property and I have a life. A brother who needs me.”
Jaxon didn’t answer right away. He pulled out the chair behind the desk and sat down, studying her like she was a puzzle he hadn’t figured out yet.
“Why’d you come with us tonight?” he asked finally. His voice was low, almost casual.
Aria lifted her chin.
“Because if I fought, they might’ve gone back for Ethan. I’m not stupid. I protect what’s mine.”
Jaxon’s gaze flicked to Victor.
“And this piece of garbage? You protect him too?”
“Hell no,” she said.
“But he’s the only legal guardian Ethan has on paper. If he dies, social services might take my brother. I can’t let that happen.”
Something shifted in Jaxon’s expression.
Victor saw his opening and jumped on it.
“See? She’s loyal and smart. Pretty enough to keep your boys happy too if that’s what you want. Just take her and let me walk.”
“Shut your mouth,” Jaxon said quietly. The threat in his tone made Victor shrink back.
Aria’s stomach twisted. She hated how small she felt in this room. Hated that her whole future seemed to rest in the hands of this calm, dangerous man watching her like he could see straight through her bullshit.
Jaxon stood up slowly and walked over to her. He stopped just close enough that she had to tilt her head to meet his eyes.
“You got fire,” he said.
“I respect that but your stepdad owes a debt.”
“I don’t have five million dollars,” she snapped.
“I know.” He glanced at Victor one more time, lip curled.
“And I’m not interested in whatever half-assed work this coward thinks he can do.”
Victor started babbling again.
“Then take the deal. Please, Reaper. She’s yours.”
Aria’s hands shook. She wanted to scream, to run but Ethan’s face kept flashing in her mind…his scared eyes when she left the apartment.
Jaxon went quiet again. After what felt like forever, Jaxon spoke.
“Fine.”
Aria’s heart stopped.
“I accept the deal,” Jaxon said. His voice stayed flat, like he was talking about the weather.
“The girl wipes the debt.”
Victor actually laughed with relief, the i***t.
“Thank you. Jesus, thank you—”
“Get him out of here,” Jaxon ordered.
“Put him in the basement until I decide if he’s worth keeping alive.”
The enforcer hauled Victor up and dragged him out. The door slammed shut, leaving Aria alone with Jaxon.
She took a step back, pulse racing.
“You can’t just own people. This isn’t the dark ages.”
Jaxon crossed his arms, watching her.
“In my world? Yeah, it is. You belong to the Iron Reapers now. My club. My rules.”
“I have a brother—”
“We’ll handle that,” he cut in.
“But you don’t leave this compound without permission. You don’t call anyone, you don’t cause problems and you do what you’re told.”
Aria stared at him, anger and fear twisting together in her chest.
“And what exactly am I supposed to do here? Warm your bed? Cook and clean like some old lady stereotype?”
Jaxon’s mouth twitched..just the tiniest hint of a smirk.
“You’ll work. Kitchen, cleaning, whatever’s needed. Stay out of club business.”
He stepped closer, voice dropping lower.
“From today onward, you belong to the Iron Reapers, Aria. Best get used to it quick.”
She wanted to hit him, she wanted to cry, wanted to run back to Ethan and never look back.
Instead she stood there, fists clenched, staring into the cold gray eyes of the man who now owned her life.
Jaxon turned toward the door.
“Someone will show you to a room. Try to sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be a long day.”
He walked out without another word, leaving her standing there in the heavy silence.
Aria sank onto the couch, head in her hands.
What the hell had her life just become?
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