CHAPTER 4

“Who are you?” His voice was cold and commanding. All of a sudden, I lost the ability to speak. Fuck, why am I suddenly surrounded by such dangerous men?

“She's Volkov's new toy. He bought her from the Russians. I'm assuming he used our money because he bought her for 50 million dollars. I got confirmation from one of the guys.” The driver spoke.

I'm guessing that the driver was never Terry's driver. This might have been a plan all along, to get him isolated and kill him.

Is this how New York has always been? Or am I in a different place?

“Why the fuck would he buy a whore at such a price? Fucking asshole, he just wanted to use the money.” The tall man spoke. My eyes drifted to his hands. He was wearing a black sweatshirt that hugged his body.

His arms were covered in tattoos, and he looked toned. His biceps were huge.

“I think the reason why she is that expensive is because she's a virgin.” Fuck, whenever I hear that, I feel like falling into a hole and never coming out.

That fact that my private matter is now something discussed hit a spot in me, and it's all because of my stupid, immature boyfriend Tommy. God, I hate him with everything in me.

“What should I do with her? Should I kill her?” My eyes shot to the driver and back at the tall stranger. Why are they discussing death like it's some normal thing? Who are they?

Oh my God, am I going to die like the girls back in the cell?

“No, She's too expensive. Plus, she was bought with my money so that makes her mine now.” I don't know why I'm feeling relieved even though I'm not supposed to because I'm just being claimed like I'm some animal.

“You don't talk much, do you? It's good, I like mine quiet.” The driver grabbed my elbow and led me inside another car. What the fuck did he just say to me? Did he just make a sex joke? That is fucking disgusting.

We arrived inside a huge mansion and I couldn't help but admire the place. “What is your name?” The tall man asked.

“E–Elena.” I stammered in fear. Who knows what would happen to me here?

“Ric will show you to a room. You'll be there until I figure out what to do with you.”

The fake driver started walking in front of me, and I followed. I kept on pulling my dress as I felt uncomfortable walking with my butt sticking out.

“Little advice, don't try to be adventurous here, stay in your room until we call for you, don't cross Archer.” I nodded timidly. Ric looked more American.

“I'll get you some of my clothes. You seem uncomfortable.”

“That would be very nice, thank you.” I was shown a room twice the size of the apartment I used to stay in.

The room was painted in a cream colour, and it smelled like wood. Ric soon returned with a shirt and a sweatpant. “They're a bit big but manage for the meantime.”

I nodded and took the clothes and quickly changed. It felt like I could finally breathe.

Ric seems like a nice person, but I can't tell for—is his name, Archer? What a weird name.

Archer looks scary with his tattoos and his bulk body. He reminds me of the joker guy back at the cell.

“Shit, what the fuck is happening in my life?” I muttered to myself.

How did I end up in this kind of mess? First Russians, and now Italians? Fuck me.

Is this a sign to die already? What is going to happen to me here now?

I glanced around the room and my eyes landed on a drawer. I scanned through them until I found scissors.

“Why sit around waiting to be killed when I can do it myself?” I muttered to myself as I raised the scissors.

Once I die, I'll make sure to haunt Tommy for the rest of his life.

Finally, with force, I plunged the sharp edge of it into me, or so I thought. I opened my eyes only to see strong hands preventing me from moving further. His grey eyes had a hint of anger in them.

A gasp escaped my lips when I realised what was happening. How did he get here? How did he know what I was doing? None of this makes sense.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” His deep voice echoed in the room. “I—I—uh.” I stuttered.

“I own you, I decide if you get to live or not, and you don't have a say in it.” He said harshly and my stomach twisted.

He forcefully took the scissors and threw them on the floor.

“Why not just kill me now? Why keep me around to kill me slowly?” My breath was shaky as I fought back my tears.

“That's for me to decide, not you. Don't fucking get on my nerves. You cost way too much to just kill you. ” Why is he talking like I'm some-thing?

But of course, I am; to him, I'm just a thing. These people do not value women. With what I've seen these past few days, I'm convinced that men are demons.

Because how can you sell a human being? They looked at us like we were some animals.

His eyes drifted to what I was wearing, and his brows knitted. His forehead drew lines as his gaze shifted back to my eyes.

“What the fuck is this, how did you get this?”

“Ric gave it to me, my other dress was uncomfortable.”

“What are you gonna do next, fuck him?

“What?” I asked with a puzzled face.

“This is not a brothel.

“I am not a whore.” I bit my lower lip to hold in my tears. Walking around in that dress was what made me look like a whore.

“Don't do that, stop biting your lips. The maid will bring you something else. Take these off.” And with that, he left. I was left shattered.

He called me a whore, even though he didn't say it, I know that's what he meant. Why am I surrounded by such jerks? I wish I could just hit them in the face repeatedly until their skulls cracked open. Fucking assholes.

I sucked in a deep breath. “Be strong El, you don't have to waste your tears on these.” I consoled myself.

The maid arrived with different clothes and I changed into one before laying on the bed. It was so soft and comfortable that I drifted to sleep in no time.