Chapter 6 - Do we have a deal?

V E L I N A

"Father?" I let out in disbelief, failing to believe my father's words as I stare at him, waiting for him to correct himself, waiting for him to say that I misunderstood, waiting for him to look at me and tell me that this is only another one of his cruel tests, the kind he used to put me through when I was younger, the kind that forced me to prove my loyalty, obedience, and strength.

But he does none of that.

Instead, my father raises his hands slowly in surrender, his movements calm and composed as he rises to his feet, walking past my mother, my brothers, and Kyla without hesitation, without even glancing in my direction, as though I am no longer part of the family standing behind him, as though I have already been separated from them.

"Take her and make her your wife. We will pay in full... for all the trouble that we have caused you..." My father says, his voice calm, almost indifferent, as he steps closer toward Luciano.

And that is when I realise he means every word.

There is no hesitation in his tone, no strain in his voice, no sign that he struggles with the decision he just made. He speaks as though he is negotiating territory, or shipments, or alliances, not offering his daughter to the enemy standing inside our home.

"Hm..." Luciano lets out quietly as he glances over at me, his gaze slow, thoughtful, as though he is assessing me, trying to determine whether I am worth what my father is offering.

The moment his eyes land on me, I feel the shift instantly, the sudden awareness that I am no longer standing here as his daughter, but as a bargaining chip, a tool being handed over to settle a dispute.

Suddenly, something inside me snaps.

"Father, no, please! You can't do this!" I scream, panic rushing through me as I push forward, my legs still weak from the drug and smoke, yet I force myself forward anyway, trying to reach him before he finalises the deal.

But I barely take two steps before strong hands grab me.

I gasp as I am pulled back sharply, my arms pinned to my sides as I struggle instinctively, twisting slightly as I try to break free, my breath uneven as I glance up at the men holding me.

They are not our men.

They belong to Luciano.

The realisation makes my chest tighten as I struggle again, though my strength is failing me quickly, my body still weak, my lungs burning faintly as I try to pull away.

Luciano watches me briefly, his expression curious yet unbothered, before he turns away from me and takes a few steps toward my father.

"The girl. 15 million, and a monthly advancement of $300,000 for as long as I see fit... I also want New Haven, Queensport and Acres Town." Luciano says calmly, lifting his gun slightly as he gestures through the air.

My breath catches instantly as my mind travels to all the territories he's talking about.

New Haven, Queensport, and Acres Town.

Those are our strongest positions. I know it, my brothers know it, and my father definitely knows it. Those territories hold some of our largest operations, and losing them would significantly weaken our family...

"I can not give you all three of those. It would put my family at a great disadvantage." My father begins, his tone tight as he attempts to argue, yet before he can finish, Luciano raises his gun and points it toward my siblings, making the room immediately fall silent.

My brothers stiffen instantly, their expressions tightening as they glance at the gun aimed in their direction. At the same time, my mother gasps quietly, pulling Kyla closer to her as she clutches her protectively.

"Would you rather have a bullet in each of your children's heads?" Luciano asks calmly, his words hanging heavily in the air, and I feel my stomach twist as I watch my mother tighten her hold on Kyla, both of them trembling as they stand together.

My father glances toward them once, his expression tightening slightly, before his gaze slowly shifts back toward me, and for a moment, our eyes meet.

I search his face quietly, hoping to see hesitation, regret, anything that suggests he is reconsidering.

But I see none.

He then looks at me, then at Luciano....

"Fine..." My father says quietly, his words causing my heart to sink sharply, and I feel the last bit of hope inside me crumble as I stare at him, struggling to process what just happened.

He agreed, just like that, with no argument and no hesitation.

"So, do we have a deal...?" Luciano asks, holding out his hand toward my father, his expression calm and confident.

My mother shakes her head quickly, panic visible on her face as she looks between them, but she knows now that she can't do anything and risk disrupting the delicate balance of Luciano's emotions, not when my father has done everything to keep him calm.

"Russello..." she whispers, her voice trembling, yet my father ignores her and sighs deeply, stepping forward and reaching out his hand without hesitation.

"We have a deal." My father answers just as he finally shakes Luciano's hand.

And just like that, it is done.

The sound of their hands meeting echoes in my ears, and I stand frozen where I am, still held firmly by Luciano's men, my mind struggling to catch up with what just happened.

I feel my breathing grow uneven as I stare at them, at the handshake that just sealed my fate, at the man who just traded me away as though I meant nothing to him.

My father releases Luciano's hand and steps back slightly, his expression composed, as though nothing unusual has just taken place, and I feel my chest tighten as I watch him, waiting for him to look at me, waiting for him to say anything at all.

But he doesn't.

Instead, he turns slightly toward my brothers, his expression returning to its usual calm as though he has already moved on from the deal.

My mother remains frozen, her hand still gripping Kyla as she stares at my father in disbelief. Kyla looks between them quietly, confusion visible in her expression, though she says nothing. My brothers remain silent, their expressions tense, yet none of them speaks.

None of them protest, none of them object, and that shatters me completely.

I stop struggling against the men holding me, my body going still as I stare at my family, realising that none of them is going to stop this.

None of them is going to fight for me.

Luciano glances toward me again, his gaze steady as he studies my reaction, and I feel my throat tighten as I force myself to remain calm, even as everything inside me begins to unravel.

This is really happening.... I am being taken away... sold... traded...

And there is nothing I can do to stop it...