Owned.

Chapter 3: Owned

Julian’s hand shook so bad the ring slipped twice before he finally ripped it off. “Liar!” The word tore out of him, raw and broken, like it hurt to say.

He threw it…hard. It hit the wall with a sharp ping and disappeared behind the couch. His eyes burned, hot tears he refused to let fall. ‘How dare he play with me like this?’

Caesar didn’t even look mad. Just stood up, slow, picked it up like trash, and walked upstairs.

“Don’t you dare leave!” Julian screamed after him, voice cracking in the middle. “I need answers! You owe me!”

His fists clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms. He knew Caesar heard every word.

Footsteps stopped. Came back.

Caesar’s hand shot out…wrapped around Julian’s throat. Not choking, but there. Thumb pressing right on his pulse, feeling it race.

“Want the truth?” Caesar’s voice was low, almost a growl. “Pass the test. You got that?”

Julian’s breath hitched. His heart slammed against Caesar’s fingers. Patrick. The file. The ring. Caesar had everything, and he knew Julian was starving for it.

“Fine,” Julian whispered, hating how small he sounded. “Whatever you want.”

Caesar’s smile was slow, scary. He left and came back with a black box. Opened it.

A collar.

Julian’s stomach dropped like he was falling. The leather clicked cold around his neck. Tag glinting: You are mine.

His face burned. This is sick. But he didn’t fight. Not yet.

“Tonight,” Caesar said, tugging the chain sharp enough to jerk Julian’s head, “you’re not Julian. You’re mine Come.”

He pulled him into the study. Let go. Sat down like a boss.

“Walk to the door. Crawl back. Put the chain in my hand to show your total submission”

Julian’s knees buck. He walked. Dropped. Crawled. The rug scraped his skin. His chest was tight…’I hate this. I hate him.‘ But he needed the truth more.

He dropped the chain in Caesar’s hand.

Caesar’s eyes darkened. “Good boy.”

He kicked off one shoe. Peeled off the sock.

“Suck.”

Julian stared. His stomach flipped. “You can’t be…”

“Do it.”, Caesar sharp voice cuts him off at once.

The taste hit him…salt, skin, shame. Julian’s face was on fire.

Tears stung his eyes. He sucked, tongue moving slow, hating every second. But his body… his body liked it. The buzz under his skin made him want to scream.

“You can do better,” Caesar said, voice flat.

Julian tried harder. Just get the answers. Just get through this.

Later, he was in Caesar’s lap like a kid. Grapes forced into his mouth. He turned away…

Caesar’s thumb dug into his chin, hard. “Open.”

One grape. Two. Three. Julian gagged, tears spilling now. He couldn’t breathe right.

Then the gun.

Cold. Heavy.

“Clean it.”

Julian’s hands shook bad. The cloth slipped. Caesar watched, talking low.

“Seen men bleed out on breakfast tables. Trust? That’s how you die. Don’t trust me, Julian. Don’t trust nobody.”

He went on for hours. Julian just sat there, collar choking him, gun in his lap like a bomb.

Caesar stood. “Night. You had the chance to shoot me. Why didn’t you?”

Door shut.

Julian stared at the gun. His finger twitched. I could end this. But his hand wouldn’t move.

‘Why can’t I?’

*****

Morning. Collar still on. It itched.

He walked past guards…they bowed. Like he was important. Julian’s skin crawled. What the hell is this?

“Where’s Caesar?”

“Not here, sir.”

He slowly walks to a Library,filled with old books. Dust in his nose. Snooping around, trying to see if he could get anything. Then…A shelf moved. Click. It was a secret door.

Julian’s heart jumped but he slipped in.

Files. So many. Dust made him cough.

‘Patrick’, a file was labeled with the name.

His fingers closed around a USB drive. This is it.

“You just don’t quit, huh?” Caesar’s voice…he heard it close. Too close.

Julian ran, panic surging through him.

BAM…hit a wall. No. Caesar’s chest.

“Oh, Julian…”

SLAP.

Julian hit the floor hard. His cheek exploded. Tears came fast.

Caesar crouched. Took the USB. Grabbed Julian’s face…squeezed till it hurt.

“Next time?” His voice was soft. Scary soft. “I break something you need.”

He walked away.

Julian stayed on the floor, shaking.

*****

“Get dressed. Banquet. Thirty minutes.”

A Maid came in with a Black tailored suit and a collar too.

“I don’t want…”, but before he could complete his sentence the door slams shut.

Julian put it on still, the suit hugged too tight. The collar choked.

Caesar saw him and stopped. Eyes went dark and hungry.

“You look…” He stepped close, holding Julian’s face. “Pretty.“

His lips brushed Julian’s ear. “Tonight, everyone knows you’re mine.”

Julian’s stomach flipped. Hate. Want. Hate. He couldn’t tell anymore.

The ride was long, the suit too tight, so uncomfortable.

“Smile, Julian. Or they’ll eat you alive.”, Caesar snaps him out of his thoughts.

Inside, Caesar dragged him around like a trophy. Hand on his waist. Fingers digging in.

“Cute one.”, “Caesar’s new pet.” People whispering words as they walked through the crowd.

Julian smiled till his face hurt.

“Stay here, I would be back”, Caesar says before walking off, leaving Julian alone in a room filled with mostly predators.

Then…a tall guy. Blue eyes.

“You look just like your brother,” he said, voice low. “Right before his throat got cut.”

Julian’s world stopped. His knees went weak. “W-what did you say?”

Caesar was there in a second. Hand like iron on Julian’s hip.

The guy laughed. “Still can’t let go, Caesar?”

He walked off.

Caesar’s face…of pure fury. Pure rage.

“Who was that?” Julian whispered, voice shaking.

“Nobody.” Caesar’s grip bruised. “We’re leaving. Now.”

“Why do you…”

Caesar yanked him so close their noses touched. “Shut. Up. Or you end up dead like Patrick.”

He dragged Julian to the car. Door slammed so hard the windows shook.

Julian sat there, cheek still burning, heart pounding.