Alissa
Romeo’s thugs locked me in a cell in the same abandoned warehouse that Kenny had once ruled from. Rumors had abounded that the Spartans had vacated the warehouse after Kenny’s death, but now it appeared Romeo had returned and taken over the building. I had avoided these cells in the past when my brother was the Spartan leader, not knowing who was kept prisoner here or why, and preferring not to know the how’s or why’s of any of the Spartans’ activities. The Spartans were known for their brutal underground fighting. The octagon in the center of the warehouse with its many bloodstains was a testament of that. I had never witnessed any of the fights that had occurred here, and preferred not to ever witness such violence. Being associated with the Spartans in any way was wrong—I knew that—but I’d owed Kenny. He’d taken care of me, protected me, so I had done whatever he said without question. Even if it was wrong.
Until Hazel. That was the first time I’d ever defied my brother. I would never regret saving that sweet little girl. Saving her had been the first brave thing I’d done in years. Thinking of Hazel now gave me strength. She had helped me out of the depressed state I’d been in for three years, ever since the brutal attack that had changed me overnight.
Ever since I’d been given the opportunity to keep that child safe, a part of the old Alissa had been forcing her way forward in an attempt to come back. And slowly, day by day, I was becoming a stronger, better person. Rediscovering who I was inside. Thanks to Hazel. Thanks to a special five-year-old girl whom I had had the privilege of getting to know, if only briefly. Wherever she was now, I hoped she was happy and doing well.
Now Kenny was dead. And Romeo was the Spartan king. I was his prisoner until he sold me to Enrique. How long before he came for me?
As the two thugs closed the cell door and walked away, their voices disappeared down the corridor along with their footsteps.
With a sigh, I settled back into a corner of my cell and tried to get comfortable on the hard concrete floor. Sadly, I couldn’t change the past. All I could do was try to survive another day. There was no telling how long I might be here or what might happen to me while I was here. But that didn’t frighten me as much as Enrique Vasquez, the Flesh King.
Though I had never met the Flesh King, I had heard horror stories about Enrique and what he did to women. He’d taken over Paine College after the gang wars had erupted in the city several months ago, and had been ruling from there ever since. It was rumored that the dregs had snuck in and freed most of his women prisoners a month or so ago, but I didn’t know if that was just a rumor, or if it was true. The story was that Enrique had captured more women and had even conducted several illegal “flesh” auctions. It had been rumored that Enrique and his men often “sampled” the merchandise prior to selling the women. I shivered in revulsion at the thought of being “sampled” by Enrique and his men. This whole idea of being sold into the sex trade to the highest bidder sickened me. What kind of person would purchase a woman for sex? What was wrong with this world?
Time dragged on. And on. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours. I had no idea how much time actually passed. But my mind filled with all kinds of horrible things that might happen to me. I wanted to cower and hide, to disappear. But I couldn’t. I had to be brave. I had to face whatever came my way. I knew all too well that the world was not kind. And that if I was going to survive, then I had to be strong. I had to endure. I couldn’t let these bastards break me.
I dozed off sometime later, leaning back against the concrete wall. And dreamed of the past, of the flirtatious, carefree girl I’d once been. Before the attack. That girl was long gone, though I desperately wanted to find her again. Be her again. But I could never go back to being who I once was.
Voices jolted me awake. A clang echoed across the cell as the guards swung open the door. My reprieve had come to an end.
“Romeo wants to see you.”
I leapt to my feet, and they ushered me out of the cell and down the long, dark corridor, passing other prisoners behind bars. The stench of fear and unwashed bodies reached my nostrils as we passed. Pushing my own terror back, I held my head high.
At last, we reached the main room with the large octagon where the fights took place, then they urged me up the stairs to Kenny’s old office where Romeo now reigned.
I now knew how it felt to be a prisoner. I shuddered as I thought of what Romeo might have planned for me while I was here.
The thugs shoved me into the office. Romeo was sitting behind the desk, fiddling with a cell phone. He motioned me into the room without looking up. The guards went out and closed the door behind them. I’d been in this room many times in the past when my brother ruled. But I’d always been safe under Kenny’s protection. I’d always felt safe. Now, for the first time, I entered this room with fear. As a prisoner.
I paused in front of Romeo’s desk and tried not to tremble in terror.
He glanced up, his black gaze boring into me. “I’ve been looking at your phone. You sent a text to some guy named Hunky Nate right when we showed up at your apartment. You asked him to help you. Who’s Hunky Nate?”
Heat washed into my face. I should have deleted that text as soon as I sent it, but I hadn’t had time, since the Spartans had barged into my room just as I’d hit the “send” button.
I shrugged, trying to act like Nate wasn’t anyone special. “He’s just some guy I met once.”
“Really.” Romeo cocked a black brow. “Just some guy you met. Why would some guy you barely knew want to rescue you? Most people are scared of the gangs. Why would he risk his life for you? So, I’m going to ask you again, who’s Nate?”
I didn’t know how to answer that, because I really didn’t know anything about Nate.
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t know who he is.”
Romeo glowered at me. “You don’t know who he is, yet you have his number in your phone?” He bolted to his feet, his chair screeching across the floor. “Don’t lie to me, Alissa.” He stalked toward me.
I cringed back, but there was nowhere to hide. Romeo snagged a handful of my hair and yanked my head back. I gasped at the pain, but his tight grip on my hair made it impossible to get away.
“Who. Is. He?”
“I don’t know,” I repeated. “I don’t know. I don’t know. All I know is his name is Nate. That’s all I know. Honest!”
Romeo thrust me aside.
I stumbled back, slamming into the wall behind me, smacking my elbow and letting out another soft gasp of pain.
“He’s just one of your fuck buddies? Is that what you’re saying? You had sex with him once, so all you know is his name?”
I cringed and stared down at the floor. That wasn’t me. Not anymore. Though I couldn’t deny I’d once been that way. Shame washed over me. I was not proud of who I’d once been. I had not been particular about who I’d slept with in the past. There had been a time when I’d hooked up with just about every good-looking guy who wanted me. Though I was not that girl anymore—not even close—I decided it was best to let Romeo think I was still that girl. I didn’t want him to know how broken I was inside. So, I nodded.
He made a sound of disgust and strode back to his desk, plopping back into the chair. “You know that what happened to you three years ago was your own fault, right? If you dress and act like a hooker, then that’s what men are going to think you are.” He snorted, his gaze narrowing. “You probably wouldn’t have been attacked that night if you hadn’t looked like a whore.”
What? I whipped my head up. All the blood drained from my face. His words left me cold inside. So cold. How could he possibly know about that? Had Kenny told him?
“H-how did you know?”
He smirked, eyeing me from behind the desk. “I saw what happened to you that night. I watched it all go down.”
I gasped, my entire body turning to ice. “You watched? How could you? Why didn’t you help me?”
His gaze turned hard. “I seem to recall asking you out numerous times. But you always turned me down. Thought you were too good for me, yet you fucked just about everyone else who wanted you. You had it coming, if you ask me. Flaunting yourself in those short skirts and low cut tops. You know, maybe if you’d given me the time of day, I might have saved you. But no, you thought you were too good for me.” He waved his arm at me. “Look at you now. You hide in baggy clothes. You try to downplay your looks. You hardly come out in public. Just a scared, broken girl. Looks like you learned your lesson. No more short skirts and cleavage-revealing tops for you.” He snickered. “But it’s a day late and a dollar short for hiding, don’t you think? Everyone’s already seen that smoking hot body you’re trying to hide. I’ve still got that Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition with you on the front cover. I used to jerk off to that picture all the time, imagine I was fucking you. But I don’t want you anymore. You disgust me now. I’ve got a new love interest. Claudia. Remember her?”
Romeo’s hatred lashed into me like sharp spikes, ripping and tearing me into shreds. Did he really despise me that much? Just because I’d refused to go out with him?
My face burned. I had once been a highly-paid fashion model and had even been on the cover of Sports Illustrated about five years ago, along with several fashion magazines. Back then, I’d lapped up all the attention and loved driving men wild. But not anymore. Hell, no. Not anymore.
Yes, I remembered Claudia. My archrival. How could I forget her? She’d once been my biggest competition, before I’d quit. Now she was the reigning queen of fashion. She could have all the glory for all I cared. I didn’t want it anymore. By “love interest” I imagined Romeo meant he now masturbated to pictures of Claudia instead of me. The wicked part of me laughed inside, mocking Romeo. Claudia was a self-centered bitch. I doubt she would ever give Romeo the time of day, let alone sleep with him. He was dreaming if he thought she’d ever go out with him.
“I’m curious about this Nate,” Romeo went on. “He never responded to your text, so I’m guessing he either doesn’t give a fuck about you, or he doesn’t remember who you are. You must not have been a very good lay.”
I lowered my gaze. Nate and I had never been intimate. I hardly knew the man.
I hadn’t had sex with any man since the brutal attack three years ago. The attack that had left me a mere shell of the girl I’d once been. The attack that apparently Romeo had stood aside and watched.
My stomach roiled. How could anyone just stand back and watch a woman being beaten and raped? Romeo was pure evil. Hatred seethed in my gut. I had been dead inside for three long years. Now I was suddenly experiencing real emotions again. Fear. Hatred. Disgust.
Romeo stared at the phone for a long moment. “It’s been over an hour since you sent that text. I’m going to text him again and see if he replies. I want to meet this Nate.”
Maybe texting Nate had been a foolish thing to do. If more than an hour had passed and he hadn’t shown up, then he likely wasn’t coming for me.
Romeo typed a message in the phone, then glanced up at me. He smirked.
“What did you say to him?”
His smile widened. “Come see.” He held my phone out to me.
I hesitated, then stepped up to read the text he’d sent.
Never mind. False alarm. Wanna hook up? Tell me where to meet you, and I’ll be there.
I blanched. No. Nate would think I was promiscuous. Oh God. I never should have texted him. I didn’t want him to think I was a slut.
I was torn. A part of me still wanted Nate to come to my rescue, while the other part of me wanted him to ignore the text and never come.
Regardless of what he does, he’ll think you’re a slut now.
Romeo chuckled. “I’ll let you know if he responds. By the way, Enrique’s on his way over for you. He said he’d be here in an hour. The guards will take you to get cleaned up. I want you to be presentable when Enrique arrives. Don’t do anything to fuck up this deal for me, or I’ll kill you. Understand?”
“Yes.” I shivered involuntarily. Enrique was on his way over.
Which meant I was about to be passed over to The Flesh King. Who would then sell me into the sex trade. The very idea made my stomach heave.
If I could somehow screw up Romeo’s deal, then I would. But what could I possible do? I wanted to screw it up so badly.
Because I would rather die than go through anything like what I’d had to endure three years ago.