Little Irina

IRINA POV

"Hunger can make you brave or stupid. Sometimes both."

My stomach growled so loud it almost echoed through the empty street. The city was quiet except for my footsteps and the wind pushing dirt across the road. I pulled my jacket closer and hugged myself, but the cold still cut through. My shoes were worn out, with holes in the bottom. I could feel the rough ground under my feet with every step.

It had been two days since I'd eaten anything real. Just water from a rusty pipe behind an old shop. My body felt weak, but I still kept moving. I hated this part of the city, rich houses on one side, trash bins on the other. People like me didn't belong anywhere.

I walked past a dark alley, my eyes scanning through the shadows. At the end of the street, I saw a small house with yellow paint peeling off the walls. Through the half-open window, I saw what I needed. A whole basket of bread sitting on the counter, my mouth watered.

I walked closer, my pace picking up. I was so focused on the bread that I didn't hear the sound of footsteps until I heard a voice. 

"Well, look what we got here."

I paused and turned around, two men stepped out from between the parked cars. One was tall and thin, the other built like a truck with muscles on top of muscles. Both wore leather jackets and wore ugly smiles. 

"I'm not looking for trouble." I muttered, backing away slowly.

"Too late," the tall one barked, moving closer. "You shouldn't be sneaking around, pretty thing."

He grabbed a piece of my hair and sniffed it. "Smells clean for someone living in dirt."

I slapped his hand away. "Touch me again and I'll break your nose."

The other one laughed, "She's got fire, I like feisty girls."

"Let me go!" I yelled as he grabbed my wrist, his fingers digging into my skin so hard I knew it would bruise.

"You'll scream louder in a second," the short one whispered in my ear. His breath smelled of stale beer and cigarettes.

They both burst into laughter like this was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.

The short one leaned in closer, his face getting near mine. "You're a wild one." Before he could finish talking, I lifted my knee and hit him straight between his legs. He gasped and fell over with a groan. 

His gun slipped out of his jacket and hit the pavement with a dull thud.

I didn't think, my hand moved before my brain caught up. I grabbed the gun, my fingers trembling as I held it. The metal was cold, heavy and terrifying. The tall man's eyes widened and he rushed at me, moving fast.

I pulled the trigger.

The sound was deafening, the man flew backward and hit the ground hard. The short one was trying to crawl away, gasping and bleeding, I pulled the trigger again and he stopped moving.

The alley went completely silent.

My hands trembled as smoke curled from the barrel. "Oh my God," I whispered, dropping the gun. My legs staggered backward and I covered my mouth, but nothing stopped the shock from flooding through me.

I killed them, I actually killed two people.

"I didn't believe you'd fall for the trap so easily."

A deep voice came from behind me, I turned around, trying to see who was talking, but all I could see was a man standing in the shadows. His black shoes were polished and spotless apart from that, everything else about him was darkness.

I opened my mouth to speak but something hard crashed into the back of my head and everything went dark. 

*******

My eyes fluttered open, I could still feel the pain from where I was hit, I looked around and realized I wasn't on the streets anymore. This room was polished and expensive with high ceilings and a chandelier that probably cost more money than I'd ever see in my life. The furniture looked like it belonged in a magazine.

For a second, I thought I was dead. Maybe this was what death looked like.

Where the hell am I?

I sat up and the pain got worse. My hand went to the back of my head and felt a bandage wrapped tight. My eyes narrowed as I tried to remember. 

"Good, you're awake."

I turned fast and immediately regretted it, the room spun.

A man sat in a leather chair beside the bed, his legs crossed and his back rested into the chair. His black suit clung to his body perfectly, looking expensive and we'll tailored. His black hair was slicked back perfectly, his shirt was half buttoned, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing the veins in his hands and a snake tattoo coiled up his neck.

He looked dangerous, he looked like if money and violence had a baby it would be him.

"Who are you?" I croaked out, my voice hoarse from not using it.

He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees, his dark eyes locked on mine. "Lorenzo De Luca."

"Lo... what?"

"I didn't know you stammered. I should have just killed you," he muttered, like he was talking to himself.

My heart almost skipped. "What are you saying? Where am I?"

"Where do you think you are?" He tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. "This doesn't look like the street. You're in my house, I brought you here for a reason."

"What reason?" I asked, my voice shaking now.

He tilted his head and a smirk formed on his lips. It wasn't a smile, it was something more dangerous. 

"You're going to marry me."

I blinked."What?"

"You heard me."

I chuckled. "You're crazy, I don't even know you."

"You will." His lips curled slightly at the corners. "It's a simple contract, and you're going to do exactly as I say."

"I'm not marrying you, are you mad?" I stood up on shaky legs and walked toward the door, but my body was weak and moving felt difficult. 

"You're leaving," he announced quietly. "The cops are on their way."

I stopped, my hand froze on the doorknob. "What are the cops doing here?"

"If you choose not to marry me, I'll make sure you rot in prison for the murder of those two men, Irina." He stood up slowly and walker towards me.

He knew my name, I never told him my name.

“Don't act surprised, I know everything about you, so what will it be Irina, rot in prison for murder… or be my wife?"