Prologue

Reina’s POV

We all stood in front of them, about ten of us lined straight up with cuffs tied to our hands as different Mafia gangs scanned us and picked who they wanted.

We were about to be sold.

Different gangs, from the small ones to the notable ones, came forward, picking which of us they wanted to own, the ones they wanted to buy. I stood at the last corner, making myself small and trying to disappear.

The Magaddino came first, then the DeCavalcante, the Gambino, as they picked one each. Some picked two of us at once and I wondered what we were getting sold for. Pleasure or death? My hands shook.

The next was the biggest Mafia gang. The Podolskaya. The most feared, the most famous, and obviously the deadliest. Even when my life was still a fairy tale, I had heard stories of how brutal they were and how whispering their name made people shiver. As I scanned the faces of the rest of us from the corner of my eyes, I could see their nervousness and their silent prayers not to get sold to Podolskaya. I tried to hide myself and wished for the same.

I met him then. Rai Mikailov.

The most brutal and ruthless Mafia leader of the Podolskaya gang.

He came by himself . Usually, he was supposed to send his right-hand man, right? But seeing him now, my heart thundered.

I had seen him on TV, but it did no justice to what I was seeing right now.

He was really tall and broad-shouldered, his long dark hair rough and untied, like it was done on purpose. He was flawless, nothing out of place except for the tattoos peeking up his neck and arms, down to his fingers. I could swear he had more all over his body too.

Every other gang stepped back until he was alone to pick. He had an intimidating presence. The kind of man who could enter a room and have everyone bend without speaking.

I shivered and quickly averted my gaze. I heard his footsteps as he walked, stopping in front of each of us, assessing. My heart thundered as his footsteps neared and suddenly stopped.

In front of me.

I went stiff.

I was still looking down until he suddenly placed his fingers roughly on my jaw, pulling my face up to look at him. I stared wide-eyed at him while he looked at me. Surprisingly, his dark grey eyes were warm, despite the dark bottomless pit behind them. The mafia monster lurking.

He trailed his fingers across my chin, emotionless, still looking at me while I shivered at his touch. Then just like he grabbed me, he pushed me back like I was a disease.

I finally breathed out.

That meant it was a no for me.

He started to move, then stopped abruptly.

“I choose her,” he said in a chill tone, and left.

Who?

It couldn't possibly be me. He recoiled when he touched me. But the faces suddenly turned toward me in pity, and that was confirmation.

It was me.

I just got sold to Rai Mikailov. Mafia leader of the Podolskaya gang.

Hands pulled me as the seller uncuffed me, removing my tag. “You have a hard life ahead of you, little rat,” he spat, his breath reeking.

I was tugged forward to two huge men in black with masked faces. I wanted to scream for help, to escape, but I couldn't. It meant death. But was my life not worse than death right now?

I acted on the only thing in my head.

I pulled a gun from one of my escorters and pointed it at my head. I’d rather die than be sold to the Podolskaya gang.

Before I could pull the trigger, the gun was swept out of my hands and onto the floor, one of the escorters’ hands wrapping around my throat.

I started to shake my head roughly. I had actually thought my swiftness could outshine the mafia. Now I could really die.

My lips quivered until he stepped into the light.

“What the fuck is going on?”

That chilly voice that sent goosebumps up my spine.

Rai Mikailov.

“I have men to teach lessons. I don't have time to waste,” he said, walking slowly toward me. His jaw was tight. He looked frightening. That was when I noticed a scar running from the side of his neck down to wherever it ended beneath his clothes.

One of the guards took off his mask, revealing a scar across his cheek.

What was going on with scars today? I cried in my mind.

“She tried to end herself, Boss,” he said, averting his eyes in respect as he let go of my throat, making me stand alone, shivering.

My heart thundered as Rai stepped in front of me.

“You’re one of the stupid ones, aren't you? Did you really think you could get away with whatever dumb plans you had in your little head? Huh?” he half-yelled, his baritone voice echoing in my head.

“Don’t try anything stupid, pipsqueak, or I’ll end you myself. I’m sure you know what that means.”

Of course I knew.

I knew what ending me meant. It could mean slicing my body bit by bit and feeding it to sharks.

I swallowed, visibly trembling.

He noticed.

Mistake number one.

He crept closer, bending down to my level. My 5’4 self.

“When I say something, I expect you to respond,” he said in a dangerously low tone.

How do I tell him? He could kill me right now.

I looked at him with tears in my eyes, trying to nod.

“Do. You. Hear. Me?” he asked coldly, pausing at each word.

Yes, sir.

I tried to nod as I screamed in my head, but all I did was cry. I tried to move my throat, the discomfort tripling.

His brow furrowed in confusion as he noticed my struggle. His eyes moved to my throat as it strained, then to my mouth that couldn’t make a sound as I tried to speak.

My eyes stayed fixed on him, brows furrowed as I kept trying, more tears spilling.

Something flashed in his eyes.

Realization.

My heart sank.

He stood up, back to his full height, then turned and left. I could swear I heard an “interesting” from him, but his cold back was already moving away.

More tears rushed down my face as I sniffed.

I couldn’t speak.

I was mute.

The one thing that mattered most to me was what I was rid of, and unfortunately, it looked like Rai Mikailov just realized that.

I couldn’t speak.