Chapter 2

"Ha! You finally walked right into my line of fire." Sofia hooked a finger under my chin and forced my head up. Her gaze raked over my body like a blade.

A sharp blow cracked across my face.

"Tell me. How many times did you book rooms with my boyfriend?"

Another strike followed, just as hard.

"How many things did he buy you? How much money did he spend on you?"

Her hand came down again, fierce and humiliating.

"Is this how you usually dress, wearing clothes this revealing to seduce my boyfriend?"

Every question came with a slap. My cheeks burned, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I clenched my teeth and swallowed every cry of pain.

Then, Sofia lazily waved a hand at the two men behind her.

"Go. Put one of those trash bags over her. I want to see who she can still seduce when dressed in filthy garbage."

A black trash bag was yanked over my head, sealing my mouth and nose tight. The world plunged into darkness. Then fists fell like hail—fast, heavy, and merciless.

I was certain several ribs snapped.

Only when my vision dimmed and I was on the verge of passing out did Sofia lift her hand to signal a pause. She planted her foot on my dislocated wrist, ground it down, tore off the family signet ring, and tossed it into the trash.

"Filthy bitch! This is what happens when you dare touch my man.

"You'd better pay up immediately. Otherwise, even if someone dies here today, Luca will clean it up for me. Capito?"

I curled on the floor, gasping, my voice hoarse as I said, "I'm Luca's superior. If you don't stop, you'll pay for this."

Sofia's expression darkened instantly. She kicked me hard in the stomach.

"You're Luca's superior? Then, I might as well say I'm the Donna of the Russo family. Lying without a shred of shame. I'll show you your place."

The two brutes understood at once. Their blows grew even heavier. They even cinched the trash bag tighter, and suffocation washed over me. I coughed up bloody foam and realized that if this continued, I might truly die at the hands of this madwoman.

I gave up on useless explanations and chose the only option left, asking for mercy.

"Stop. I won't book the room. Let me go."

Sofia laughed. "Now you know how to beg? Too late. You're booking this room whether you like it or not, and the price just went up. One million dollars."

At that moment, my phone rang. It was my secretary, Marco Bianchi.

Sofia motioned for the men to keep hitting me, snatched the phone away, and answered it herself.

"Hello? Which client of this bitch are you? She tried to seduce my boyfriend, so I locked her up and taught her a lesson. If you want to save her, bring one million dollars immediately."

A sharp, frightened intake of breath came from the other end.

"What? I will come right away," Marco said urgently. "One million dollars. No, I will give you two million dollars. Please, do not hurt her."

The moment Sofia heard two million dollars, unconcealed greed flared in her eyes. She hung up and pinched my thigh viciously.

"Filthy bitch! You have quite the appeal, huh? Knowing you're seducing other men and they are still willing to send money for you. What kind of dirty tricks did you use? Hey, teach me your ways."

My entire body shook. I said nothing.