Chapter 1: Sold

~AURORA~

“You’re fired.”

My heart threatened to burst out of my chest as my boss, Miss Keye said those harsh words to me. All because I refused to serve a cup of coffee to a customer that was literally harassing me sexually.

“Please…” I begged, falling to my knees. “I need this job.”

And that wasn’t a lie. I really needed the job– even though it couldn’t pay half of our bills. The rent was due and the landlord had already served a quit notice. My salary was due today and I anticipated it all along and now… this had to happen.

“Drop your tag and get out or I will call the cops on you.”

The harshness of her tone was unmistakably evident and I sighed, distraught. I placed my tag gently on the desk before walking out slowly.

Once I was outside the cafe, the afternoon sun blinded me, and I placed my hand above my forehead in an attempt to keep my skin from burning. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I picked it out. It was a text from my brother, Kevin.

“You need to come home now. It’s urgent.” It read.

I scoffed before tossing my phone back into my pocket. Kevin was my only family now after my foster parents died in a car crash. Kevin was their biological son but I despised him. He gambled all the money I saved and landed us in debts. I wondered what must’ve been so urgent that he needed me to come home.

Taking out my purse from my worn-out bag, I took out a 50-dollar bill which was the only cash I had left and hailed a taxi.

“Landon street.” I said. The driver nodded, and I entered, watching the streets of New York blur past as he drove.

It didn’t take long before I arrived home. I quickly paid the driver and made my way into the apartment.

“Where the fuck have you been, bitch?!” Kevin growled. He was clearly high on something, and that scared me. Even though I was two years older than him, his presence intimidated me and I took two steps back away from him.

“Answer me!” He demanded.

“I…” I stuttered. “I got fired.”

“And?” Kevin scoffed. “Are you the first person to ever get fired?! You took a fucking hour to get here!”

“I’m sorry.” I flinched, bowing my head to the ground.

He moved closer to me now, smirking mischievously. His presence towered above me, and my heart pace increased. This was one of the reasons why I feared him. He was much taller than me and muscular. I looked smaller and much younger than him even though I was way older.

“Pack your bags, Rory. You will be leaving soon.” He announced.

He always called me Rory. I never knew why, but I hated it.

My lips parted slightly. “Leaving? Where?” I asked, my voice low, but it was loud enough for him to hear it.

“Are you questioning me you fucker?!” He snarled, gripping my throat forcefully.

I struggled under his grip, choking and gasping for air.

“Y… you’re hur…ting me.” I managed to mutter.

Kevin let go of my throat and I coughed terribly. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” He said. “Just obey and pack your things.”

I wanted to obey him like I used to do, but something in me snapped. I don’t know what triggered it, maybe it was his constant insults or the fact that I just lost my job. “I’m not going anywhere, Kevin. You have to explain why I’m suddenly leaving. What did you do this time?” I asked, my tone strangely confident as I stared at him in the eyes.

Kevin clenched his fists at his sides. He gripped my chin furiously, and for a moment , my confidence wavered. “Who the fuck do you think you are to speak to me that way, huh? You’re acting tough when you’re fucking nothing!” He spat.

“I..I’m sorry.” I quickly apologized, not wanting to anger him further.

“You should be.” He said, before letting go of my chin. “But… you’re right. You have the right to know where you are going.” He walked towards the bar and took out a glass of whiskey before pouring it into a cup. “So if you must know, Rory, you’ve been sold.”

“What?!” I gasped, unsure of what I had just heard. “What do you mean sold?” I asked.

“I lost a bet okay? It’s twenty billion. And obviously, we don’t have such money so—“

“Hold on.” I said, cutting him off abruptly. “Twenty billion? Twenty fucking billion?!”

“Yes. Look, it’s not a big deal. Besides, it was my inheritance. I just lost and placed you as the collateral so they’ll be coming over to get you tonight.” He said so nonchalantly.

“How could you?!” I asked, raising my voice at him. “You gambled away your inheritance and used me as collateral?! What the fuck is your problem, Kevin?!”

“Look, you can argue all you want, alright? But what is done is done. I sold you off to Marcel Dante. He’s coming tonight.”

Marcel Dante. The name hit me like a ton of bricks. Everyone in New York knew that name. Marcel was a ruthless Mafia Don. He owned a chain of underground businesses— illegal ones of course. Everyone feared him including me. How did Kevin get involved with him?

“Listen… you have to do this or they are going to kill me.” He said, and for a moment, it seemed like he was begging— pleading for his life.

I certainly wasn’t going to do this. I still had my future ahead of me and I couldn’t spend it locked away as a prisoner to Marcel Dante.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Rory.” Kevin continued. “He will be here by 8pm. I’m sure of it.”

I stared at my brother. His eyes were cold and full of hate. He clearly didn’t care about what he had just done to me. A thought came instantly. I wasn’t going to subject myself to this harsh fate. Instead, I was going to do the one thing I should have done a long time ago— run away.

“Fine.” I said, heaving a sigh. “I won’t do anything stupid. I will obey and leave with Marcel.” I lied, hoping that my tone was convincing enough.

“Good.” Kevin said.

I nodded with a forced smile and made my way to my room.

The moment I got into my room, I gathered my things from my closet and began to pack my bags. It was starting to get dark and I was sure that Kevin would leave soon to probably gamble again.

I glanced at the small clock on my bedside table. 6:30pm. I only had an hour and thirty minutes to get ready. Marcel was going to be here by 8pm.

By 7pm, when I noticed that everywhere was silent, I carried my bags and tiptoed out of my room. Everywhere was dark, and I knew that Kevin had left.

But I was wrong. Dead wrong because when I stepped into the living room, the lights came up suddenly, startling me.

Kevin sat on the sofa, crossing his legs. He held a glass of whiskey and tossed a cigarette in an ashtray.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going with those bags?” He demanded, his voice probably hoarse from drinking and I knew… I knew this was going to end bad.