Sarah’s POVThe burning spotlight and the threatening faces glaring at her only added to her unease as she stands at the centre of her preys. The luminescence only helps to make her nakedness more obvious, with her head drooped. She can't look up. Timid. Scared. Or broken. She can't place those emotions encircling her.She has been warned to keep up her best self. The only way to escape this is to win the highest bid and hope that whoever buys her is less of a beast compared to the rest of the mafia lords she's encountered. Shit! If only her father were still alive, she’s certain her life can't be as bad as its turning out to be. She could have ignored all their differences and requested help from him. But now, she’s all alone. The prices are called. Skyrocketing. It’s going just as planned. The speaker blares as the announcer exclaims at every raise. “a thousand dollar,” a thick voice booms. Sarah is tempted to look up. For the first time, she's hearing such a voice that begs to b
Sarah's POV "We couldn't wait any longer, Don. He was too stubborn," the biggest among the three men that welcomes her presence speaks.Her new captor holds dearly on to her but Sarah's gaze is fixed at the morbid body lying at their feet as she's dragged along."Discard the mess and clean your tracks," he booms as they walk into the lobby of a large mansion. Her breathing is tense. If only she could scream or run. Fuck it's pointless. Their hurried footsteps echo loudly. "What about Shanghai?" one of his guards call out from behind. He doesn't seem to stop walking fast as though there is something so important and they're late for it."Shanghai? What about him? Didn't he stop by?" the Don questions as they approach one of the flight of stairs that converge at the top, leading to the first floor. In front of her sprawls a large mansion, its railings gleaming like molten gold, and floors so immaculate they seem to echo her steps. The cream-colored walls play a harmonious backdrop t
Marco's POV "The damned money was supposed to be here before noon," Marco's voice slices through the salty sea breeze, his hair dancing restlessly across his brow. He commands the top deck of the yacht that belongs to Andrey, anger etching deeper lines onto his face."I've been occupied, " Andrey retorts casually. "Yeah, right. Occupying yourself with those skinny things. I really thought you had good taste," Marco sneers, his gaze a venomous arrow aimed at the bikini-clad girls lazing all over his brother. Andrey, ever the charming host, presses his lips to the cheeks of the women flanking him. "Ladies, care to continue our party inside?" he coos. Marco's fury now focuses on his brother, a desperate attempt to rein in his anger. It's only the second day, a mere forty-eight hours, and still no word about Sarah. And it's all Andrey's fault. "Oh, little brother, you're back sooner than expected. Couldn't manage on your own, eh?""You've forgotten your promise, Andrey. Or should I s
Sarah's POV The past forty-eight hours have been pure torment for Sarah. From a plaything, bought to satiate every dark whim of her captor, to a guinea pig, subjected to test the potency of various hard drugs. Potent enough to render her senseless within minutes. She doesn't need confirmation; she's an addict, perpetually yearning for the next experiment. But for some reasons, no one has come for her. She lies wasted on her oversized mattress. Naked. To quote the Don's cruel words, "Clothes are but an impediment."She sniffs hard, a hysterical cry rising within. She craves more of that substance, that tiny stash she managed to smuggle from the testing room now depleted. Madness feels like an understatement.Yet, there's one crucial thing the drug does: it fuels her craving, making her long for it even more. It grants her temporary reprieve from this unbearable reality. With every inhalation, she escapes to a glorious paradise. She surges from the bed, pounding her fists on the door.
Marco's POV Over thirteen guests has ordered him for a refill and Betty hasn't gotten back to him. It seems the waiters aren't allowed anywhere close to where the main events unfolds. His instincts must be right. Don Joe sure knows how to clear his tracks. He's thought about involving the cops, but that could implicate both Sarah and himself. Now that Sarah's true identity is oblivious to him.He drops the serving tray, seeking for every way possible to break the fortress blocking him for his one treasure —Sarah. There are lots of guards around and their countenance is nothing close to friendly. He could tell they're armed and would stop at nothing to kill an intruder on sight. Walking cautiously into the main hall, he attempts a wild move, strolling along to the guards. The music blares and the people have converged into the heart of the event, making the hallways scanty, save the guards. “i have a direct order from the Don,” Marco steps towards one of them.“The Don requested you
Marco's POV It's not the most elegant of hospitals but that was the nearest place away from danger and Sarah needs urgent medical attention. “We really should be finding our way out of this place before they trace us down here,” Betty insists frantically, while Marco awaits, at least, a word from one of these nurses parading the lobby. “We are not having this conversation again. I already told. We leave only when she is fine. Like i said, you don't have to stay. Hit the road already,” Marco replies, his attention more on the ward door, wanting them so desperately to swing open with a glimmer of good news.“Wait what? You really think I came this far only to just let her go? And to who? To some random stranger who nearly got us killed back there. I mean what were you even thinking jumping out of the car like that—”The doctor walks out of the ward. Marco rushes towards him, leaving Betty behind.“Which one of you is related to Ms. Mayhill?” the doctor questions.“i am–”“I am–”They
Marco’s POVStill on the run, he dials Betty’s number. After all, she’s the only familiar person in town that could pass for a partner in a strange land. Just when he thinks he has lost the cops chasing after him, two emerge abruptly from behind, as he continues down the busy road. He has to be careful, a fragile package lays somewhere behind. One whose life hinges on him for both an escape and a survival. He shouldn’t be the one to add to her complications by being reckless.“Hang in there, Sarah” he whispers to himself, finding the courage to dial Betty’s number even as they proceed the wild chase. There’s just one cop car whirling behind him, matching the annoying siren above his head. Never would he have imagined controlling an ambulance with an actual patient. A patient he is so madly in love with.“Where the fuck are you!” Betty is the first to yell over the phone as soon as the call is answered.“In a moving ambulance.”“oh great, you’re the new patient now? I hope the bullet g
Marco’s POV “Depends on what you mean by that, Marco. You never asked, remember?” Betty replies as Marco rushes to meet Sarah, who, for one, has a vague expression on, staring weakly at them both.“Get away from her,” Betty threatens, rushing into the dumped clothes by the sofa chair and leading Sarah out.“You know how worried I was that I lost her and yet you took advantage of the situation by forcing me to have—”“You think I was just going to stand back and watch your plan ruin everything I worked for? Please snap out of that and be thankful. I had to take her out of the hospital while you busied yourself with disguising as a doctor for an escape. So pathetic.”Marco falls silent as he watches Betty tuck Sarah back into bed. He doesn’t know how to feel. He really believed he lost her. But there’s something about this new Sarah. She doesn’t seem to recognize anyone. Especially him.“We’re taking you home, Maria. You’ll get enough rest now,” Betty tries to calm her down but Sarah s