Claimed by the don

LENA THE SMELL that filled my nose was not the usual scent of chemical spirit of a fresh paint. But what trickled my nose was the pungent smell of alcohol, and cigars. My ears tingled with the loud playing of the sultry music, ears grabbing the clicks of the heels of the strippers dangling on the pole above the table. Glancing down at my phone, the time read 1:30 am. By this time, I, too, would have been dangling on the pole after mornings of forging fake art on the canvas, wearing heels -inches- higher than necessary, clothes wrong for the season. I didn’t mind. My body was sinuous, and in a world of sinful men, that seemed to chase everything under the skirt, I was sure meant to use it to my advantage. The sound of rolling dice caught my ears, as I dragged my eyes from the exotic strippers to the round table in front of me. Gambling. Round table, consisting of a man and another— my father, with several men standing around like bodyguards. I was really unamused being h

LENAI WATCHED my father’s hands tremble as he picked his set of cards. Sweat trailed down his back. There was no emotion on his face, nothing indicating what his cards were.Then he suddenly spoke, barely above a whisper. “Raise. All in!” Rumbling rang through the room.“Are you sure?” The opposer asked, his words dry and tired. He didn’t seem excited about this match. I watched his eyes trail to me.My father squinted his eyes. “I said, ‘All in!”The opposer stared at me with pity, painting his eyes.Viktor pushed his chips forward; the same with the opposers.“Call.”The turned card was the Queen of Diamonds, and the river was the card Ace of Spades. Then my father slowly flipped his cards. Two pair. A king and a queen.I let out a relaxed sigh. What could beat the pair? I wondered. The only way he could possibly beat my father would be with another royal flush or with an ace.‘I won’t be sold. I won’t be sold!!’ I chanted in my heart. My chest was full, as I felt a wave of relief

LENATHE DEALER was sitting in front of me. Why? “Where am I?” I asked, shifting away from him. A clanking sound caught my attention.Chain cuff.I was cuffed again.Why?“What do you want from me?” I said. But he only gave me a knowing smile, as if asking me to get more riled up.But, honestly, without him even asking, I surely would. I was in an unknown place with an unknown man; how am I meant to stay calm in this situation?Kidnapped?I have been kidnapped.No. I remember what happened yesterday. Gambling, my father traded me; he lost me—more like gave me away—then he—the dealer—gave me a gun, telling me if I wished I could kill him and have my revenge.Yes, I hit my father with the gun when I was about to pull the trigger. I was… What happened after?Swiftly crawling to him, I yanked his collar up, pulling him closer to my face.“What happened after? Did I kill my father? Is he dead?”He tilted his head before answering. “Would that make you happy? If he were dead, I mean.”I pau