Chapter 4: You're mine

Never in her life had Callie felt so small as she did in the presence of the mafia boss. Vincent Baros radiated an aura that told her to run away. He was exactly like the stories; tall and proud, with eyes slightly slanted, giving him a menacing countenance.

He smelled nice, of cedar and rosewood, effectively cleansing Callie’s nose from the heavy scents of cigarettes and sweat that reeked around the club. The club halted all operations once Vin entered the scene. The music was turned down to a dull pump, and the people had started to back away from the commotion.

The mafia boss looked down on Callie, frozen in his hold. He watched as her eyes dilate from what he assumed was fear. Callie’s legs shook as Vin took most of her weight, keeping her from falling.

Without letting the woman go, Vin directed his attention at the three men he caught touching her, zeroing in on the man with a half-hard cock hanging out of his pants. He must be high out of his mind.

“Attempted rape in my club?” the mafia boss said, surprising Callie with how deep and rich it was. But more than that, Callie was surprised at the fact that she’d heard the voice before. From the man who bumped into her earlier. Callie knew he was someone of importance, but she couldn’t begin to imagine that he was the head of the great crime family. Vin exuded power and authority, making Callie’s already weak legs feel like jelly.

Callie bravely turned her head to spare a glance at her assailants. Instantly, the repulsion climbed back up Callie’s system, settling poorly in her stomach. Her hands find their way to wrap around each of her forearms, her fingernails digging deep. A reminder that she’s alive, and she survived their attempt.

Mullet guy seemed to gain a bit of his composure and managed to tuck his sorry excuse of a dick back into his pants. All three of them still held that smug expression, but there was a hint of submission in their eyes as they stand in the presence of their leader.

Callie couldn’t blame them for going silent. Though she was saved from these horrid men, being so close to Vin didn’t lessen her fear. If anything, her fear, and anxiety grew worse. Call it survival instincts, but every bone in her little body is telling her that the man holding her was ten times more powerful and deadly than these three men combined. She would be an idiot to lower her guard.

For a moment, tension crackled in the air between them. Nobody dared to move without Vin’s permission.

“What do you have to say for yourselves?” Vin prompted when no one spoke.

Nervous chuckles erupted from her assailants. Callie knew they would play it off as a joke. A disgusting joke that they would repeat over and over to different women as long as they roam free.

Vin, however, didn’t think it was funny. In the blink of an eye, he let go of Callie’s arm to cock a pistol and aimed it straight at the three assailants. “I won’t ask again.”

The man with a mullet took a step back with his arms raised in surrender. “H-Hey, take it easy, boss,” he tried. “We were just having a little fun.” As he spoke, the man dared to look at Callie with pleading eyes to take their side.

Without taking his eyes off of his targets, Vin squeezed Callie’s arm with the one hand he used to hold her up. The action was so soft and delicate, that Callie had to look at Vin to make sure he was addressing her.

When Callie turned back to look at Vin, she had to swallow a whimper that rose to her lips. The intensity in the mafia leader’s eyes pierced through her soul. An intensity that shook her to her core. Callie knew at that moment that she would do whatever Vin asked of her— because of fear, or because of awe, she didn’t know.

“Is that what happened?” Vin asked, his voice a tad softer, but still carrying the same deadly edge. “Be honest. Were you having fun?”

Callie knew that Vin emphasized the last two words on purpose. She wouldn’t be able to explain why, but Callie felt like the mafia boss loathed disrespect towards women.

“No,” Callie replied smoothly. “They were going to rape me.”

Hisses of anger rose from the three men behind her, but before Callie could turn around and face them, there was a hand pressed against the back of her head.

It wasn’t until Callie felt her cheek bump against Vin’s solid chest that she realized he was holding her against him.

“Don’t look,” she heard Vin say.

For a split second, nothing happened. It was as if the world had stopped spinning. Then three loud gunshots ring in the air and it was over.

Vin shot the leader first, and there wasn’t even time for the other two to tuck tail and run. It was over as soon as it began.

There was a collective gasp from the club goers, but none of them would dare speak out of turn. One wrong move could land them in the same position as those dead bodies bleeding across the floor.

“Clean that up,” Soren muttered after being silent the whole time. His voice sounded serious, so unlike his usual eccentric demeanor.

Callie’s mind ran a mile a minute after what happened. Did she think Vin would shoot his men after she told him they wanted to rape her? Of course not!

Before she could stop it, a wild scream tore from Callie’s lips, harsh and painful. The sound surprised everyone, despite being muffled against Vin’s chest.

The mafia boss felt the woman shaking like a leaf in his hold. He tried his best to peel her away from his body to have a look at the frightened girl.

Callie felt warm fingers slide under her chin and gently titled her head up. Blue eyes pierced through her reddened ones.

“What is your name?”

“C-Callie Moore.”

Vin nodded. “Okay, Callie. I just saved your life. From today onward, you are mine… to use as I deem fit, until the day Jimmy buys you back. Do you have any objections?”

For a moment, Vin’s words didn’t register. Still in shock, Callie shook her head no.

She never wanted to be a part of this. She just wanted to go home and pretend this was all a bad dream. Shutting her eyes closed, Callie willed the nightmare to disappear. But no matter how hard she wished, the stench of blood didn’t leave her nostrils.

Callie felt big warm hands close around her face, cupping her cheeks, followed by the deep, rich voice she was slowly growing accustomed to.

“Open your eyes,” the voice commanded, and Callie followed. “You’re not dreaming, little bird. You’re mine now, and I don’t intend on letting you go.”