Chapter 1 - Into the Devil's Den

Ava's POV

My body slammed against the hard floor of the van as it made sharp turns. I could swear something sharp was stabbing into me, tugging at my shorts. I winced at the pain but couldn't reach for it. My hands were tied tight behind my back, and everywhere was dark. My lungs filled with fumes…a mix of gasoline and cigars.

"Oh my gosh, am I blind?" the panicked voice in my head screamed, but I let out a sigh of relief. Last I checked, I wasn't blind.

I squeezed my eyes shut a thousand times and finally saw a thin ray of light leaking through whatever covered my face. I couldn't cry for help because my mouth was gagged with some filthy cloth.

I could hear the two men in front of the van talking quietly. Then one of them said a name. Lorenzo Valenti. My eyes flew open under the blindfold. No… it couldn't be him. My heart sank into my stomach, and tears burned in my eyes.

Oh no!

I had no idea where the van was going. All I knew was that the road kept stretching, the van kept moving and turning like it would never stop. And every second, I felt like we were moving farther away from everything I knew.

My stomach tightened with every bump. The ropes on my feet and hands made every small movement send sharp, aching pain through my body.

Honestly, I wasn't surprised. Why would I expect to be treated well in this situation?

My brothers owed Lorenzo fifteen bloody billion pounds.

Shitheads!

They couldn't make a simple down payment for our mother's treatment, but they could owe this much.

The van took a sharp swerve, sending my head crashing into the side.

I was now a slave to the most feared man in the city of London--Lorenzo Valenti.

Just the thought of his name made my chest tighten in a strange way…part fear and part something I couldn't explain.

I shut my eyes tight under the blindfold as the memory hit me. I could still see myself being pulled out of my own house, straight out of my bed. The look in my mother's eyes flashed in my mind… the fear, the shock.

It totally crushed me.

I never wanted her to go through this, not after the doctor said her heart was weak. I swear I saw her struggling to breathe as I left, and I just hoped she was still alive.

Suddenly, the van came to a full halt, jerking my body forward. Before I could catch my breath, I felt a sharp sting cut through my skin, making me flinch.

"Shit!" I winced. Tears dripped down my face as warm blood spread across my skin. Then a huge arm grabbed me. I screamed, but the gag muffled everything.

"Shut up, bitch," one of the armed men snapped, landing a harsh slap on my face that sent me tumbling before pulling me by my injured arm.

I could feel the concrete ground beneath me, and it was burning hot. I limped from the heat of the scorching floor. Was this the gate of hell the priest always preached about? Maybe, because Lorenzo was the devil, or so I'd heard.

The air suddenly became cold, and I was led down a flight of stairs. It smelled damp and cold, like a basement - like death. One of them tugged at the blindfold on my face and pulled out the cloth in my mouth.

A tiny bit of light leaked through a small window high on the wall, but my feet and hands were still tied.

I looked around the dark room, watching as the men picked up some black bags before leaving without saying anything.

My throat felt dry. It hurt so much to swallow.

"Hey, can I at least have some water?" I shouted at the men who were already halfway out the door.

No answer.

My mum's terrified expression flashed through my mind again, and all I could think about was finding a way out of this death hole.

I need to get back to my mother.

But how?

What way out? I didn't even know my way in.

I leaned my back against the chair I was tied to, my body aching, and slowly, I sank into a deep, restless sleep.

After a few minutes of restless sleep, my eyes flew open, and I tried hard to look at the window. It was starting to get dark outside. The door suddenly opened, and two men grabbed me by my arms and dragged me into a hall. One of them pressed so hard on my already sore arm that a sharp pain shot through me.

"Ow!"

"That's not what I hope to hear when I thrust into you."

Lorenzo Valenti.

You insolent, perverted fool.

"Is that all you want? Then have it." I walked up to him and let my chest brush against his.

How daring.

"That's not all I want. I want you to worship me," his breath burned against my neck. His lips hovered near mine.

What is this - an instant attraction?

Does it have something to do with my negligee?

"...while you pay for everything you've done to me," his voice went deep.

"Done to you? What? Have you lost your mind? Look… at what… you have done… to me." I said, counting my words.

Fuck!

His hand hung in mid-air while my cheek tingled from the impact. My eyes spun, and my ears rang from the slap.

"Tie this piece of disrespectful shit up. Let me show her who she's messing with!"

My eyes burned with tears.

Fuck, what have I done?

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please forgive me," I said, falling to my knees as the men in black suits held me back in place.

The next thing I knew, a sharp pain shot through my gut as he threw a punch to my stomach and then my head. My mother's face flashed through my mind.

What is going on?

"Forget about what I said. I will do anything for you," I breathed out. "I will do anything for you, I promise." My eyes welled up with tears.

My head still rang from the punch. He tilted my head up with his hands. No doubt they felt like death's touch, very cold.

"You will be my slave, and you will do everything I tell you."

He wiped his hands on a towel and tossed it at me.