[Tatiana's POV] Rough voices and the sounds of screams rouse me from my dreamless sleep and make me go on alert. All around me, guards are rushing in and picking out those of us who will be put up for sale this evening. As I watch them snatch up my cellmates, I try my best to make myself as small as possible so that they won’t see me. But as I cower away, my leg hits a chain, causing it to rattle and drawing one of the guards eyes straight to me. Fear begins to bubble as many different scenarios begin to play in my head. Most were sold off to vicious alphas and leaders who used them as slaves that satiate their desires, while others became servants. However, staying here was much worse as after a year due to the flow of incoming and outgoing, anyone who didn’t bring in some income was disposed of by death. Gasping, I watch in horror as he lets a broad smile spread across his lips before he begins to come for me. "You," he announces, grabbing me by my hair and pulling. "You’ll fet

[Tatiana’s POV]Pain shoots through me as Knight’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. Biting back the sob that wants to escape, I scramble up and quickly pull on my clothes, then head to the door. As I reach, Knight appears behind me, yanking it open and shoving me out into the hall.As I gasp in shock and turn to ask him once again why he was doing this, he slams the door in my face, and I’m left with no answers and a giant hole in my heart.Collecting myself, I turn and begin to move, heading for my room so that I can shower before the madam finds me and smells Knight’s scent on my skin.When I arrive, I rush inside and quickly strip my clothes, then jump under the freezing water and begin to scrub as hard as I can, trying to remove the marks that remain on me, showing that what just happened was real and not a figment of my imagination, but even when my skin is raw and bleeding they remain.Once I’m finished, I stumble out and wrap a towel around my body, then head out into my room

[Massimo’s POV]I sit alone in a small booth at the back of De Amore, one of the best strip clubs that exist in the city, and one of the most secured ones at that. Given my background, this was the only place I could truly go to be alone without worrying about my old man sending his men to stalk me.Sighing, I lean back further in my seat while a waitress with hooded eyes and a seductive look on her face pours some more liquor into my cup."Thanks," I murmur, leaning forward and grabbing it. "You can go now."A look of disappointment flashes across her face as I turn my gaze back to the stage in front of me, where women are dancing around poles, rubbing their bodies along them, and then dropping low while all those seated around throw dollars at them.I didn’t know why I continued to come here when I knew that it wouldn’t do any good to get her off my mind, but I hoped that one day something would change.I lift my drink, take a sip, and snap my fingers so the waitress appears again.

[Knight’s POV]I climb out of my car and stare up at the large mansion in front of me while trying to figure out why I am even here.When I first received the invitation for Tatiana’s welcome home banquet, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t come. I had better things to do than attend such a ridiculous event, but as the days passed, the urge to go grew more and more until finally the day arrived, and here I was.Of course, I came alone since I didn’t want my parents to discover just who it was that they allowed me to sell off. I was sure that if they realized it, they would attempt to buy her back for their own purposes.Sighing, I begin to move toward the line that is standing just outside of the place and wait until it is my turn to show my invitation to the bouncer."Name?" he asks when I arrive."Knight Dilano," I respond, passing over my invite. "I was personally invited by your master."I could only assume this was Giovani’s way of thanking me for helping him find Tatiana, but it

[Massimo’s POV]I stay with Tatiana until she cries herself to sleep and then decide that it is time to take care of business.Slowly, I get up and make my way across the room. After giving her sleeping figure one last time before heading out.Downstairs, the welcome-back banquet is in full swing even if the guest of honor isn’t present, and I can feel the bastards presence.I had to admit, he had some balls to stick around after reducing Tatiana to that, but no matter, this was even better for me.Straightening my suit, I head down and make my way to where he sits alone, drinking."Enjoying the party?" I ask, clamping a hand on his shoulder."What do you want?" He asks, knocking my hand off. "I don’t think we have any business, do we?""But we do," I counter, trying to keep myself from beating the shit out of him right here and now. "So would you mind having a chat with me?"Growing quiet, I wait as he stares at me as if trying to decide exactly what it is that I want, and when he se