LOGINDARA’S POVPeter looked furious.I had never seen him wear such an expression before. His eyes were cold, and there was something terrifying about the way he stood in the middle of the room, seemingly unaffected by the chaos surrounding him.I was still struggling to understand what was happening. He had actually come for me.Despite everything, I couldn’t deny the relief washing over me. I had been terrified of what would happen next, and seeing a familiar face felt like being pulled out of a nightmare.“Peter,” I whispered again.His eyes remained on me for a moment before shifting towards the man who had kidnapped me.“Where is she?” Peter demanded.The sleazy man scoffed, straightening his shirt “She’s right there. What do you want?”Peter took a step forward. “Her. That’s all I came for. Release her, and my men and I will walk out of here.”The man laughed. “Do you think you can walk into my club, destroy my property, kill my men, and then make demands?”One of his guards approac
DARA’S POVI made it back to my uncle’s apartment just in time. Thankfully, nobody was around.I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. My entire body ached, and I had several cuts and bruises. There was also a throbbing pain near my forehead, but I couldn’t afford to worry about any of that.I hurried into the bedroom, pulled out my bag, and began packing the few belongings I had left. I didn’t bother folding anything neatly. I simply shoved my clothes inside, collected my documents, and searched the drawers for anything useful.That was when I found some cash hidden beneath a pile of old papers.It wasn’t much, but it would be enough to get me out of town.I stared at the money for a moment before slipping it into my bag. I couldn’t stay here anymore. Too many terrible things had happened, and I was tired of constantly looking over my shoulder. I wanted to go somewhere nobody knew me, somewhere I could finally have some peace.After checking the ap
DARA'S POV"Please." My voice came out weak and thin. "Please, just…"The belt cut through the air with a whistle and struck the backs of my thighs. My body jerked hard against the cuffs."Ahh!""Do you know what would make this stop?" He pulled the leather slowly over the burning spot. "A single word.""What word?""You'll figure it out.""Peter…."He struck once more, this time lower. "Ahh…""Something humiliating." He moved around to stand behind me. "Something that a man like me longs to hear from a girl like you.""Hahh…." My legs were trembling. "I don't….""Just say it, and then it's finished.""Please.""Not that one."The belt snapped down, and I let out a cry. I sank my teeth into my lip so hard that I tasted copper."I hate you…""Then say it the right way.""Let me think…ahh…""Or." He halted. The leather swung loosely. "Think back to where you've seen me.""That isn't an answer, it's homework.""Then choose one."My thoughts tumbled and found nothing. I just stood there g
DARA'S POVThe maid kept her hand flat against my back, guiding me through the crowd. The red light made everyone melt into the same soft blur.And there he was.Peter sat in a curved booth in the center of the room, as if the place had been built around him. Four men stood at his sides, and each one had a girl on his arm or his knee.I felt like a farm animal at a market."Hah…." I tugged at the hem of the dress."Come here."I stayed where I was. The maid shoved me forward.His hand closed around my wrist, and he pulled me down onto his thigh. My hip pressed against his, and his palm rested on my bare knee as if it belonged there."Ahh…." I grabbed his shoulder to keep my balance."Easy."The men turned their heads. Smiles spread across their faces."Well." One of them, the older one with gray at his temples, leaned back. "Fresh blood, Hawkson. I didn't think you had it in you.""Didn't think I had what in me?""Patience." The man laughed. "This one looks like she'll bite.""She doe
DARA’S POVI woke up with a stiff neck and a bladder that was about to burst. The ropes had scraped my wrists raw, and my entire body itched from sleeping in the same clothes. My stomach had been rumbling since dawn. No one had come. By the time the lock clicked, I was on the verge of screaming.A middle-aged woman entered carrying a tray, her gray hair in a bun and her face blank. She put the tray down and drew a knife from her apron."Don't move. I'm cutting you loose."She slipped the blade beneath the ropes and sawed through them. Then she stepped back and raised her apron, and there it was. A small black pistol tucked into her waistband, holstered as if it were nothing."Hah." My throat went dry."Try anything and I'll use it. Understand?""Yes.""Good." She tilted her chin toward the tray. "Hurry up and eat. The bath is filling."The meal was cold bread and cheese. I ate it standing up in four bites. She kept her eyes on me the entire time, as if I were a dog that might bite.A
DARA’S POVThe slap sent my head snapping to the side.Pain exploded across my cheek, and I stumbled into the wall, struggling to keep my balance. My ears rang, and for a moment, the room spun around me. I could taste blood in my mouth, but I tightened my grip on the money in my hand.“Give it to me!” my uncle shouted.His breath reeked of alcohol, and his bloodshot eyes looked almost wild. He stumbled toward me, his hand already raised for another blow.“No!” I shouted, pressing myself against the wall. “It’s my salary! I worked for that money, and I’m not giving it to you!”His expression twisted with anger. “You ungrateful little brat! Have you forgotten who took care of you all these years?”A bitter laugh escaped me.“Took care of me? You call this taking care of me?”The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had made a mistake.His fist struck my shoulder, and I cried out as I fell against the small table beside me. The old wooden furniture rattled, nearly toppling over, but







