Chapter 001

It took me seconds to realize the situation I was in. There was a man over me—smells like shit—his disgusting breaths on my bare neck as he was trying to tear off my pants.

I pushed him with all the strength I could muster, forced by a wave of adrenaline. And he staggered a few steps back, but it was a short-lived victory.

It was too dark that I couldn't recognize his face features. All I could see was his shiny evil eyes.

I screamed desperately, “Help! Someone help me, please!”

“Shut up, you little slut.” he hissed, slapping my face, and roamed over my bare thighs with his other hand.

When I was about to scream again, he covered my mouth with his hand.

My body was betraying me, I started losing it and I felt interacted. I shook my head to both sides trying to keep myself warned. I bit down hard on his palm and scratched his face.

My defenses started to crack. I felt something was off with my body. I must be drunk.

“You, little bitch!” he shouted, grabbing my hair and I cried out in pain.

The room door cracked open and a dim light surged in just to see a tall figure standing at the doorway almost blocking the light behind him from the corridor.

I was in a daze, and whatever it was in my blood, it took over me and felt my body's temperature unbearable as a beating pulse between my legs stormed. I wanted to take off my pants and bra.

The tall man just said, “Fuck off!” And the bastard got into his pants and fled after he mumbled in horror, “Il Cattivo!”

Then, a hot masculine body. Hot breaths. And hot kisses. It was all I could remember beside my weak whispers as I said, “Help me, please. I'm burning.”

******

When I woke up, the sunlight was already lingering through the black curtains of an unfamiliar room. In panic, I pulled the black bedcover off my body just to see that I was naked.

My body ached once I saw that it was full of bruises and scratches. And my heart sank from the view of the blood stain on the bedsheets.

The reality hit me.

I’d been raped.

Violated.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I tried to remember exactly what happened last night. It was the drink that my bestie Liana handed me. Could it be that she put something in that drink? Sn aphrodisiac, perhaps?

Then, last night events ran in my head like a film tape.

**Flashback**

“Try this, Mila! It will make you relax.” Liana handed me a glass of wine with a challenging look in her eyes.

I scanned the place, fearing that maybe one of my foster brothers was here. I couldn't imagine their reaction if they saw me at a nightclub. No good. I know.

I wasn't used to loud parties, and crowded places. But still, here I was, trying to live the first adventure of my life.

“Come on, don’t cower. Let’s have fun,” Liana insisted, pushing the glass of the golden drink into my hands as she moved her body in rhythm following the flow of the loud music.

Tonight, I broke the rules: sneaked out of the mansion, got into a nightclub, and now drank wine.

I hesitated, “Well, I…”

“Don’t be a child, Mila. You're a grown woman now. You celebrated your eighteenth birthday two days ago. No one has the right to dictate your choices and your freedom anymore.” Liana tried to convince me.

Her words sank in, hitting a nerve. Even though my foster family was treating me like a princess, they kept me locked in the house. And if I were to go to any place, I’d be followed by a dozen of armed guards.

I grew up to be the perfect little doll—quiet, obedient, and always well-behaved for them. Tonight, however, I wanted to be different.

I wanted to feel alive, far away from blood, guns, and guards.

I lifted the glass to my lips, and Liana shouted in excitement, “Yeah, that's my girl.”

Then, she laughed and said in excitement, “Want to dance?” Her voice cutting through the loud music.

Nudged me with her elbow, gesturing with her head to a tall, masculine guy who smiled at me and raised his glass.

“That handsome guy has been eyeing you since we got here,” she said.

I didn't return his gesture though. I wasn't into dancing or flirting.

“It can be your first night tonight,” she pushed again, her eyes shining with excitement, trying to convince me.

I rolled my eyes. “I'm here just for fun, Liana. Not to make some random dude nuke me up.”

She smiled mischievously from behind the glass of her wine. Narrowed her eyes and hissed, “Well. We’ll see, sweety.”

I ignored her weird smile, and as I reached again for my glass, the room tilted. I placed my free hand fingers on the sides of my forehead.

The loud music receded, becoming a dull hum in the background as my head spun.

I darted my gaze towards Liana, but her face was blurred in my eyes.

“Liana …” I whispered, trying to reach for her, but she took a step back, avoiding my outstretched hand. My glass slipped from between my fingers and shattered against the floor before I followed it quickly on the hard ground.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was her mischievous smile as she bent down and whispered sweetly, “Sorry, Mila, you haven't got the chance to have fun yet. I didn't think the drug would hit you that fast.”

Then, the darkness swallowed me whole.

**End of the Flashback**

“Why?” I muttered in shock and disbelief.

A bitter taste of betrayal cut deeper than any physical pain. She set me up. But why…?

I clenched the bedsheet sides tightly until my knuckles turned white. I screamed in pain, “Liana, you bitch.”

Horror crept into my bloodstream like an ugly snake as pictures of my Papa—the ruthless mafia lord—and my foster brother's angry faces flashed. They must be looking for me now.