CHAPTER THREE: A DARK PROPOSAL

Toby was supposed to be just a rebound, someone to help me forget that I was dumped by a guy I thought was going to be my forever but instead, I fell in love with him more than he could ever love me. I paid for the dates, made efforts to meet up and the sex rarely happened because I didn’t enjoy it. It was all about him and never about me. He ditched movie nights that I’d plan for us and return in the wee hours of the morning drunk and annoying. He was always in one debt or the other and one time, I had to lie to Joyce to give me six hundred dollars so I could pay off some of his debts. I felt so stupid thinking about all I did just to save a useless relationship.

Now, I was being held hostage all because I dated a stupid guy. I could literally hear Joyce scolding me in my mind. Toby and I were so done and I hoped I would eventually be released because I knew deep down that he wasn’t going to turn himself in just for my freedom, contrary to what Vincenzo or his dangerous gang may think, Toby did not love or care about me.

“This will be your room.”

Lydia, the lady I was taken to said to me. She was a tall pretty woman with a blonde hair in a mullet style. Her left arm was covered in tattoos and her ears filled with piercings. She was wearing a black corset blouse and skinny black trousers.

I looked away from her and took a good look at the royal-like bedroom, it was large and had a nice comfy looking bed. Now, this wasn’t a terrible room to be held hostage in.

“Clean up while I get you a nice meal, there’s some clothes in the closet.”

She told me and left before I could ask any questions.

I took a very much needed bath and changed into a plain white shirt and big black trousers. The clothes smelled of nice male cologne and I wondered if they were Vincenzo’s. Speaking of which, did he seriously cut off one of his men’s fingers just for hitting me?

That was something forever burned in my memory.

I woke up late the next morning because I had trouble sleeping early. I was scared that someone could walk in and slit my throat or cut off my fingers.

I awaited my fate that morning, hoping Toby would prove me wrong and turn himself in just to get me out of this nightmare.

Still deep in thoughts, I was startled when the door opened but was a bit relieved when Lydia walked in.

“The boss wants you.” She told me and I asked no questions, I just followed her.

I was taken to a dinning hall where I met Vincenzo having breakfast or should I say breakfast because the table was filled with enticing dishes.

“She’s here boss.” Lydia told him.

“You may go.” He told her and she bowed before leaving.

I was left alone with the leader of the Black cross. A ruckus started in my chest.

“Still no word from you man.” He said as he dutifully cut his steak.

I was silent for a moment before gathering the courage to reply.

“He won’t come for me, he doesn’t love me, he doesn’t care about me so please just let me go. There’s no point in letting me stay here.” I told him.

He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t read.

“Sit.” He pointed to a chair near him, surprising me. I hesitated before I did.

“How did you meet Tobias?” He asked and I wondered why he was asking such a question.

“At a friend’s party.” I replied in a small voice.

“You’ve been dating for two years.” He stated.

It wasn’t a question. He knew.

“How do you know that?” I asked, surprised.

He scoffed and dabbed his mouth with a white cloth.

“I’m the boss of the black cross of Chicago, I know anything I want to know.”

His beautiful eyes held mine for a moment and my heart did a little somersault.

“What else do you know about me?” I couldn’t help but ask.

He paused. I caught the hesitation in his eyes before he spoke, “I know that your parents died when you were ten and you have a sister four years older, she’s married to Noah Miller. He owns some tech company. You study Literature in Grayson’s College and you’re in your final year, you have just one friend, Penny. Your favorite color is blue but you have more red undies than—.”

“Okay, stop.”

I whispered and he immediately went quiet. I couldn’t believe how much information he knew about me.

“What will you do to me now that you know Toby isn’t coming?” I asked the most important thing.

“The idiot isn’t smart enough to hide from him, we got a tail on him in Tokyo.” Vincenzo told me.

“So will you release me?” I asked, my eyes wide with hope.

“Yes.” He nodded and I gasped in relief.

“If you agree to my terms.” He added and that relief instantly vanished.

“Terms? What terms?” I asked.

“You give me what I want, I give you what you want.” He shrugged, shoving away his almost emptied dish and running his hungry eyes all over me.

“What?” I blinked, my heartbeat rate picking up quickly.

“You’re going pale, bellissima, relax. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do.” He said with a grin and his dimples came into view. It was a contradiction, for a man like Vincenzo to have boyish dimples.

“I like my women willing.” He drawled sexily and I clenched my thighs together as I felt a familiar pulsing down there.

“Then what do you want?” I asked, anxiously.

“Simple. I want you.” He told me with so much confidence.

“I don’t understand.” I said, feigning ignorance.

“I want you in my bed.” He elaborated and my skin prickled with goosebumps.

“Me? Why?” I felt hot everywhere with the way he was looking at me like he wanted to eat me up.

“Because you are exactly what I want, bellissima. You make me feel things I’ve tried to suppress for years.” He told me with hooded eyes.

I couldn’t say anything. I was dumbfounded. Billionaire Mafia boss, Vincenzo wanted me!

And just when I was recovering from his dumbfounding words, he went ahead to completely distort me with his next words.

“Give me thirty one days to give you the dangerous passion you secretly wish for, let me fulfill your darkest desires and if you want to leave after then, I’ll let you go..”