4. Defiance is her middle name

BELLA

“There’s an event tonight and you’re coming with me,” I stated in an authoritative manner.

“And why would I do that?” She shot me a glare.

“You’re holding me here against my wish so why on earth would I go anywhere with you?” She clapped back at me angrily.

“Because I said so.” I hissed, she opened her mouth to say something again and I just knew she was about to counter me so I grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to me.

She tried to shake me off but I held her still by grabbing her chin roughly,

“Don’t get me wrong, that wasn’t a request and for your own safety, when I say something, you fucking do it without making a single sound.”

I had lost a drug shipment for a client and was not in the right frame of mind at that time plus I hated how she always fought back, she was supposed to be submissive. For a man like me that was used to people being afraid of me, she was definitely different.

“So what am I to you? Some kind of puppet or what?” She countered.

I scoffed in disbelief. She wasn’t scared of me and it was quite evident from her attitude even after I’ve shown her a little of my bad side. I am Vincent Castello and upon hearing my name, hundreds would shake in tremor but not her.

“Yes.” I stated firmly and sternly. “You are mine to control Bella and that’s because I bought you. Do you understand?” I shook her wildly and even though there was this defiant spark in her eyes, she heaved heavily and nodded.

I shoved her towards the two maids in the room, “Get her dressed.” I ordered before I walked out.

The maids dressed her up just as I had instructed, in a black dress and when my eyes rested on her at the top of the stairs, her beauty captivated me. Her hair was styled in waves and the black dress clung to every single curve on her body, the color made her skin look even more beautiful and the net like material revealed just the right amount of cleavage that made me swallow real hard in order to keep myself in order.

My cock twitched as I watched her come down the stairs and by the time her scent filled my nostrils when she got close enough, I stretched out my hand to take her hand but she simply walked right past me.

She headed straight for the car and didn’t even stop to acknowledge the fact that I had been waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.

I had assumed she would be happy to finally step out of the house.

“The whole point of asking you to come with me is for you to be my date.” I said as I got into the car, taking my seat next to her and she glanced away angrily but even a frown was not enough to dim her beautiful facial features.

“And what makes you think that I want to be your date?” She replied gruffly.

“For someone so fragile and tiny, you tend to go beyond your limits, don’t you?” I clicked my tongue. I’ve never seen anyone as tiny and stubborn as she was.

“You should be careful though, it can always get you into trouble and I know just the right way to deal with people like you Bella,” I warned.

I could have sworn I heard her hiss as she turned to stare out the window. In all my years, no one had ever hissed at me until that moment.

The ride was silent and when we pulled up in front of the club, private security escorted us through the back door and we rode the elevator down to our secret meeting place underneath the building.

The noisy and bustling club kept our affairs a secret so it was the perfect hideout.

It was a private event for members of our cartel and I knew no one expected me at such a gathering because I rarely attended them so to see me show up with a woman by my side made every neck in the room turn in our direction.

With a smile, I wrapped my hand around her waist and pulled her closer to me but she immediately tried to step away from my touch. I held her firm and leaned closer to whisper to her as we took our seats,

“You had better be on your best behavior because I’ll not hesitate to set you right, right here in front of everyone.” I threatened.

She sat down grudgingly but she didn’t try to move away from me anymore.

We had barely been seated for up to ten minutes before Bella mumbled something about needing to use the restroom. She stood up sharply but I immediately reached out and pulled her back down.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I snapped at her.

“To the restroom, I told you, I need to use the restroom or would you also deny me the right to ease myself? Why don’t you just chain me to you so the whole world can know you own me.” She hissed and I smirked.

“That idea is tempting but that would have to be some other time.” I winked at her and she frowned.

That response was intended to get on her nerves and I loved the fact that it did.

I couldn’t let her out of my sight so I signaled one of my bodyguards,

“Escort her to the bathroom and bring her back safely to my side. Am I clear?” I instructed and he nodded.

“Yes sir.”

The moment I released my grip on her waist, she jumped up as if she just couldn’t wait to get away from me and hurried out with the bodyguard.

I watched her leave, my eyes fixed on how her hips swayed from side to side in such a sensual manner. Other than the fact that the woman was just outrightly annoying, she was indeed beautiful.

The event started soon enough and there was going to be a private auction later on that I looked forward to but for the meantime, I just wanted to…

“Sir,” someone whispered into my ear and I turned around sharply to find the bodyguard that had escorted Bella behind me.

If he was here then where was she? I thought to myself as my brows furrowed.

“She escaped. I can’t find her.” The bodyguard added and I jumped up.

“What did you just say?”

“I am sorry sir but I lost her. She was right there in the bathroom and then the next minute she was…”

“Find her right now!” I yelled, still managing to keep my voice down so as not to draw the attention of the others.

She was really something! How did she even manage to slip past the bodyguard? She had no idea what she was doing. The underground meeting room was like a maze and it was almost impossible to exit it without using the elevator and to do that, she would need an access card.

It was dangerous for her to roam around a place like this with the type of men around at that moment.

I suddenly stopped and dipped my hand into my pocket for the elevator access card that she had seen me use when we arrived and wasn’t surprised to see that it was gone.

I had really underestimated Bella and it irked me.

“Catch that red haired little brat, right now! She must not leave this building.” I yelled angrily at the guards behind me and they scurried off.

I headed towards the elevator but couldn’t find her. Just as I was about to turn around, I heard a familiar voice and my posture stiffened in reaction to it as I clenched my jaw.

I didn’t have to move closer to know who it was. I would have loved to walk away in the opposite direction and totally ignore him but then, my eyes rested on her.

She was standing right next to him and my eyes dropped down to his hand wrapped around hers in a firm grip.

My eyes darkened as my fists clenched tightly by my side.

“Get your hands off her, right now.” I growled and he glanced up just in time to lock eyes with me.

He knew better than to touch what was mine so the bastard definitely had a death wish.