THE TAKING

I walked home from the airport. I was supposed to leave the country today. But I'm a quitter. 

I couldn't go through with it. It wasn't what I wanted anyway. All I needed now was a warm bath and some soft tunes to help me fall asleep.

I'd face my brother's disappointment tomorrow. 

It was strange... the way he forced me to leave the country. Even now, as I made my way home, something felt off. Like danger loomed around every corner I turned. 

The streets were busy at this time of night. And around here, everybody knew who I was. Mainly because of my brother. Kian became the savior of our neighborhood after our dad died. 

He was the only protector I had left in this world. 

I finally reached our house and made my way toward the front door. I realized there was a small crack in the door and nervously sucked my bottom lip between my teeth before pushing the door open.

"Kian?" I called into the house before carefully stepping over the threshold.

The silence became deafening. I threaded forward, glass shards crunching under my feet. I looked down and found glass scattered all across the floor. 

The metallic smell of blood hung heavy inside the house. 

"Kian?" I called once again, hoping that he would answer, but he never did. 

I followed the blood smeared across the floor. It led to the staircase. I sucked in a deep breath before making my way up the staircase.

I carefully peered down the dark hallway before continuing toward my brother's room. I froze when I found him sitting at the foot of his bed. 

He was covered in blood, bruises tattooing his entire body. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I watched him. 

"Kian? What happened? Are you okay?" I wildly questioned before running over to him. 

"Livia? What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be on a flight to the UAE," he uttered, his voice sounding panicked, rushed. 

"I changed my mind. What the hell is going on?" I asked, my eyes widening at his assaulted form. 

"You were supposed to be gone, Via. Do you realize what you've done?" He asked, getting up from the bed. 

"Yes, I stood up to you for the first time in my life. You don't control me, Kian. And you can't just force me to leave without giving me an explanation." I pointedly stated. 

"Whatever happens next... is completely your fault," he rasped out. "I did my part, alright. I tried everything in my power to save you." 

"What did you do?" I whispered, but he didn't answer. "Kian, what the hell did you do?!" I yelled into his face. 

Kian's bedroom door swung open behind me, and he slowly lifted his gaze. I turned around and found three shadows looming in the corridor. 

My eyes widened when the Graves triplets appeared in the doorway. They shared the same face, but they each carried their own unique danger. 

First, there was Apollo, the eldest and feared leader. Ares, the second eldest, and the notorious sniper. And lastly, Atlas, the dangerous manipulator. 

"Kian?" I whimpered out. "What are they doing here? What did you do?" 

"They offered to settle the neighborhood's debt. If I gave them the one thing I loved most in this world." Kian explained. 

"What did you give them?" I asked, my patience slowly running out. 

"You. I gave them you. I'm sorry, Livia." He apologised before wrapping his arms around me. And I just stood there frozen. 

"Get off me!" I uttered before pushing him away from me. "You traded me? Like some piece of property?" I spat, my voice cracking. 

I couldn't believe what was happening. As the Graves brothers stepped closer, I felt a surge of defiance rushing to the surface. 

I grabbed a heavy lamp from Kian's bedside table and swung it at Apollo. "Stay the hell away from me," I seethed through my teeth. 

Apollo grabbed the lamp from me with ease. Within seconds, he was standing behind me, his teeth grazing my earlobe. "You should've gotten on that plane, Princess." 

Ares stepped forward and only stopped once his chest was pressed up against mine. He looked over at Kian. "The deal was simple. The neighborhood's debt in exchange for your sister. But you tried to send her to another country." 

Atlas joined his brothers, trapping me between them. "Should we punish your brother for disobeying us, Princess?" Atlas asked, his thumb grazing my bottom lip. 

"Don't touch her," Kian said, but he was stripped of his authority the moment he signed me over to them. 

"What do you think, Princess?" Apollo asked before brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. I tried to pull back, but his other hand firmly wrapped around my chin, keeping me in place. "What should the punishment for your brother's defiance be?" 

"I say," Ares started. "We take her. Right here. And make her brother watch every second of his failure." He said, before slowly unbuttoning my pants.

"No," I whimpered, trying to twist away. 

"Yes," Atlas whispered, before kicking my legs wide open with his foot. "We're going to touch you everywhere, Livia. And learn what makes you scream out in pleasure."

A terrifying heat shot through me as their attention was now completely set on me. My body trembled with fear that felt dangerously close to anticipation. 

"First, we make you ready," Ares whispered into my ear before moving his hand closer to my lacy thong. I arched away from his hand, but only managed to press myself more firmly against Apollo behind me. 

"Wait," I whispered. "Y-you can have me. But not here. Not when my brother's watching." I finally caved.