Chapter 5

Amelia's POV.

“If you want them out of there, get your ass over to Viktor and get my money.” Raymond fired back, his sharp voice reverberating through the phone.

My wobbly knees gave out, making my body collapse on the road. I pulled hard on my hair, yelling out my frustration as I ran to Anna's place.

Sprinting through the night wind should have calmed the tension erupting inside me but all it did was make my skin burn even more.

When I arrived at Anna's place, she wouldn't stop questioning me and I couldn't find the words.

“My–my mother, he–he,” I stuttered, bursting into tears as Natasha wrapped her hands around me.

“Calm down, everything will be fine. Please, calm down,” Anna whispered, rubbing a hand down my back and that managed to stop me from sobbing so hard.

She broke the embrace, helping me sit on her couch, “What does he want? He's still insisting on sleeping with Viktor?” 

I nodded, stifling a breath to hold back the tears as my eyes were already burning from the incessant tears. 

She sighed, squeezing my hands, “What if I help you talk to Madam Natasha?” She offered.

I shook my head, “Anna, I saw them in her ward. If I don't go there tonight, they'd hurt her, I just know.” 

Anna bit hard on her lips, the silence from weighing me down even more. 

Deep down, I knew she wanted to remind me how I should never have accepted Raymond's proposal. She warned me about hanging around with dangerous men like Raymond, but I thought I could change him. 

Now, I was not only broke but truly helpless.

I exhaled deeply, “I'll have to go. I can't lose my mom Anna. I can't–” I broke down into another round of tears.

I quickly wiped them away, rising up from the couch. 

Anna nodded subtly, though her eyes glistened with a silent plea to rethink my decision but my mind was made up.

~

The cab stopped in front of a sleek, sophisticated building with lights peeling out the windows. 

I swallowed hard as I paced towards the building, assuring myself that this would be over as soon as possible.

Using the address and details Raymond had given me, I was able to bypass the receptionist who had a lot of questions to ask. 

I soon reached the room door with the number “300” and I knocked softly. There was no response from inside, so I made up my mind to knock a few more times before taking it as the chance to run away. 

“Knock knock knock” the sounds echoed back in my face with no response.

And with that, I turned on my heels but then a voice came from inside.

With my hands balled into fists and a heavy heart, I plopped inside. The room was dark but I could spot Viktor’s figure by the window with a glass in his hand. 

“I'm here. I'm willing to do what you want as long as you get me the money you're supposed to pay Raymond.” I muttered, hating the sounds of the words on my own tongue.

The lights got turned on and my eyes widened when I saw the figure in the room.

“You,” I breathed, wishing I could disappear from here almost immediately.

Those green orbs scanned my figure, almost like he was sizing me up, and then he dropped the glass. 

My lips stayed sealed but my mind was racing with a thousand thoughts.

How was Raymond's father when this was Viktor’s room?

And where on earth was Viktor? 

“You're the whore Viktor is expecting?” He asked, his baritone voice booming through the walls of the grey painted room, making the room feel small.

I shook my head, stepping back like he was going to hurt me, “No no..I mean, yes, I just-”

“So you sleep with people for money?” Don Mateo fired another question, his expression turning cold and I didn't know why that made my stomach knot.

“No, I'm doing this so Raymond doesn't hurt my mother,” I finally choked out, fiddling with my fingers.

The next thing I heard was a slow hum, followed by footsteps and in no time, the figure standing at the end of the room was now standing at only an inch away from my body.

“You don't have to do this. I will ensure not a hair on your mother's head is tampered with.” His voice hovered above me, making me breath with relief.

But I’d been around dangerous men and dangerous weapons to know that nothing came from them without a price.

“Why are you even helping me?” I ask, my brows pulling together in confusion.

“See it as me correcting his mistakes,” He stated, and though it sounded like he was my savior, I knew better than hurriedly agreeing to another dangerous deal.

“What mistakes are you even talking about?” I asked, my chest heaving as I inhaled more of his expensive scent.

He breathed, the air fanning over my face in a way that made my heart flutter with a strange feeling of excitement.

“I know everything he's been doing to you.” 

Hearing that made my tears burn at the corners of my eyes but I fought them back. I knew father and son didn't get along, and that was why he probably couldn't stop his son.

“What's in it for you?” I asked, my voice sounding cracked.

His expression softened but his brows stayed arched, “Become my wife for a year. You'll get revenge on him, and I'll take care of you. Only if you'll let me.”