Chapter Two: Making A Deal With The Monster

Cassandra

The gun is pointed at me and one mistake or act of rebellion, I know my brains will be scattered all over these walls, painting them red. 

My heart hammer against my chest as I try to think of something to save me. 

“Any last words, little thing?” he asks in a sardonic cold tone. His gaze is fixed on me as I remain frozen in place.

“Don’t kill me… l-I-I will do anything you ask of me,” I stutter, trying to tread carefully on my words, my hands trembling on my side. 

I see his lips twisting up. The rumors don’t do him justice. He’s deranged. I can’t believe I was admiring him minutes ago.

I’m feeling dizzy. 

“Little thing, you better be sure of the words you say or you might live to regret them,” he warns, his head tilted to the side. 

“I’ll do anything. Please spare me.” But my voice betrays how scared I am. 

“Well then, you’ll pay for your brother's sins and family debt. You’ll become my little toy.” His eyes roam over my body.

He holds my neck with a hard grip making it hard for me to breathe. My wind pipe is blocked, and my eyes roll back. I don’t bother to beg this time.

“You will pay every grain of my diamonds which your brother stole, little thing.” He coldly says.

My eyes turn to the back of my head as he pushes me to the floor like I weigh nothing . I take heavy, long breaths welcoming the air into my lungs. I cough holding my neck where his coarse hand left its mark. 

He crouches in front of me with a satisfied look on his face, grinning like a maniac he is. 

He is enjoying this. My pain and struggle.

“Now, little thing. Let’s go over my rules. You must address me as Master,” he says, putting the tip of his gun on my chin. “You belong to me. Every inch of you.”

“Yes,” I whisper.

His eyes narrow, and my chest heaves. 

“Yes, Master.”

He pushes off the ground, fixing his well-tailored black suit with a serious face. “Good girl.”

He leaves, the dungeon door closing behind him, and driving into my mind what I just plunged myself into. 

A stern-faced man arrives to clean up my hand five minutes later, and I remain in one position when he leaves. Crawling back to the worn out mattress is a struggle and I heave a sigh when I make it there. My whole body is in unbearable pain. I debate tearing off the bandage on my hand, making a new wound, and letting myself bleed to death. 

I cry bitterly, the uncertainty of hope killing me inside. 

Just thinking about Luca Dermarco makes my heart fill with so much hatred, and if given a chance, l will kill him without thinking or blinking twice. I loathe him so much now. 

I lift my head slowly and stare at the stars shining bright through the small window. It's nighttime already. 

At first it is hard for me to fall asleep, the constant fear that Luca might come back startling me at intervals.

Soon, my body betrays me, and my eyes begin to droop close, as I fall asleep.

…

Small rays of light piercing through the little window in the dungeon, wakes me up the next morning. There's a plate of porridge near the door. I crawl there, lifting the cold breakfast that indicated that it has been placed here for a while. 

I try to look through the little window to see what is going on outside but the mattress is too low. I place my head on my knees, just as the door cracks open and a middle-aged brunette woman walks in. 

I quickly stand up, holding my arm and seeking protection in the little corner. The woman doesn't seem shocked with my actions, but rather there's a glint of pity in her eyes. 

“Cassandra Gupta, right? I am Maria.” She introduces me, and I stare blankly. “I'm not here to harm you, but to take you out of this room to a better one,” she calmly says.

I remain rooted in that small corner. I don't trust anyone with my life, especially these people who work under Luca Dermarco. In the mafia, even a seemingly harmless woman can be a seasoned and expert assassin.

“Cassandra,” she continues, sounding stern. “If you don't do as l say, you will make the Master angry.” She warns.

I weigh my options and move slowly in her direction. She steps out of the little room and walks ahead of me. 

We walked down the hallway. This place is huge. My eyes keep on wandering around taking in my surroundings. 

“This will be your room, Cassandra,” Maria says as we reach a certain door. 

I walk in slowly. The room was spacious and huge. It was nice, the cupboards well built with mahogany and painted with a light shimmery paint. There were purple and gold curtains which were very long with a glint of silver. 

Maria looks at me as if contemplating on the right words to say. She turns to leave, but stops halfway and gives me a sympathetic look. 

“I’ve known Capo for a very long time, Cassandra. If you want to live here happily, just do as he says or you will regret it. Also, someone is coming to check on your wound later.” With that, she leaves. 

Finally alone, I sit on the bed, exhaling loudly. After a while, I went to the bathroom. I smell filthy, and my body is itchy. 

I fill the bathtub with lukewarm water and pour some bath salts. 

I am just getting comfortable, when the bathroom door suddenly flings open. 

I scream involuntarily, raising my hands to shield my bare breasts. 

There at the door, striking as always, his commanding presence filling the room, is Luca. My breath hitches as he steps into view. 

“What do you want?” The words are out before I can stop them. My heart starts racing at the thought of the punishment he might inflict on me next. 

“You're in my house, little thing. You don't get to ask me questions. He advances towards me, eyes burning with a hunger I haven’t seen in his eyes before. 

He surveys my partly exposed body, and I want to hide from him. Time seems to stand still, silence descending in the bathroom. We stare at each other, no words said, only gazes.

Luca stops right in front of me and lifts his hand. In a defensive manner, I cover my face, thinking that he is about to hit me. He brushes my hair to the back of my ears and starts drawing lines on my neck with his other fingers tangled in my hair. My heart starts racing again and a shiver runs down my spine. I feel a flood of emotions running through me, and I don’t know what exactly I’m feeling. I subconsciously close my eyes, taking in his scent. For a minute, I forget that I’m naked in front of him, as his body heat radiates between us. 

I hate to admit it to myself how much I want his touch. I should hate him. Avenge my brother’s death. My thoughts go haywire as he places his hand on my shoulders, his left leg sliding in between my legs. His left hand moves slowly down to my belly button and he starts making circles. His coarse hands leave a warm feeling on my body. He leans in and smells my hair, blowing warm breath on my skin. Goosebumps and a foreign feeling erupts from the pit of my stomach. 

‘He killed your brother, Cassandra, don't forget that.’ My inner voice reprimands me. 

I try to move back but he holds me tightly but not painfully. I wince. 

 He looks down on me with an unreadable expression. 

“You hate me don't you?” He asks, still holding me. 

Rage bubbles up my chest. 

“Yes I hate you.” I snap , forgetting Maria’s advice. “If given a chance, l will kill you, Luca DeMarco for making my life this miserable.” I seethe through my teeth. 

“Honestly, I like that.” He sneers, a psychopathic smile masking his face. Chills envelope me. 

"Get used to it, little thing. I’m going to break you slowly.” He steps back and heads for the door.