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Pain. That was all Athena felt at that moment – who wouldn't when his pointy fingers were being forced into the fleshy part of her cheeks?
She was certain his fingers had successfully been driven into her cheeks, and now balls of blood were streaming down her cheeks. Though that wasn't what was occurring, yet she felt it would if he doesn't stop any moment from now.
"Ah!" her cries were laced with utmost pain, yet he didn't seem to care. No, all that clouded Liam' head was his pendant; the ruby pendant gifted to him by someone who meant the world to him.
That pendant was something he was ready to risk his life for, then again it got missing due to a silly mistake by someone.
Due to his countless subordinates scattered all over the streets of NY, he got to know a random red hair picked it up. Now that he has her, why wouldn't she provide his goddamn pendant?
His patience was definitely running out at a fast rate, as he snarled nastily at Athena.
"Woman, speak! Where is it?" he growled aggressively at her while rough handling her cheeks. "You're… You're hurting me" Athena could no longer withstand the pains as her tears rolled seamlessly down her eyes.
At the sight of her tears, Liam gritted then tossed her face roughly to a corner as he retracted. He glared menacingly at Athena, who incessantly whimpered in sheer pains.
He went mute as he slowly dipped his hand into his pocket, and watched her noiselessly. No one could comprehend the amount of desperation that was eating him up – he wasn't angry. Angry at himself for losing the pendant, but badly wanted it back.
Why wouldn't she speak or rather give it to him already? His entire body steadily trembled due to the immeasurable amount of desperation which flowed through him.
"You want to damage her or what? Do you have any idea how much trouble I went to get her?" the sultry tone of Luke spoke from behind, yet Liam didn't bother to gaze at him.
He knew he'd come closer and truthfully, he did so. Unlike his brother, Luke was an addict when it came to smoking – always, a stick of cigarette would be stuck between those thin pinkish yet slightly dark lips of his.
"She's a beauty, ain't she?" Luke grinned while he placed an arm on Liam' shoulder, yet he sharply slapped his arm off. "Don't touch me" he hardly spoke without even glancing at him.
All his attention was fixed on the hurting lady in front of him – Liam waited until she was stable before he'd ask her any questions.
Ultimately, Athena stopped the flow of tears, but her cheeks retained their redness and the constant smoke which invaded her nostrils got her coughing violently.
Luke smirked dangerously as he went closer. Since she sat on a chair, he had to squat just to lock eyes with her.
"Remember me, red hair?" Luke' smirk was synonymous with cunning as he retained an unshakable gaze with Athena.
His set of dashing gray eyes were something she'd never forget – while narrating her encounter to Caleb, she made sure to exclude how otherworldly he was. Luke Steele could melt any lady with a mere smile – any lady, but not Athena Stanford.
Her lips twisted into a deep frown as her eyes glared resentfully at him.
"You!" she roared meanly at him, yet he smirked more. "Oh? You remember me. I'm so glad, red hair" he briefly took out the stick of cigarette in between his lips to let out smoke which engulfed Athena's face.
Again she coughed, but he didn't seem to mind. "You're intolerable to smoke, it seems. Better get used to it, red hair" his gaze fell on her lips.
Oh, those same lips which attracted him like a magnet and pulled him to this beauty at The Elite Restaurant. He recalled perfectly how she rebuked and disgraced him at the restaurant – not like it was her fault; he was persistent.
Luke gently leaned in for a kiss, but instead got a mouthful of saliva on his face – she literally spat disgustingly at him.
Liam persisted with his cold expression despite how satisfying that scene was – his brother was a certified asshole. Luke gritted as he straightened up afterward and brought a handkerchief which he used to wipe the liquid off his face.
He gazed back at Athena, only to find her glaring murderously at him – he couldn't comprehend how much she hated perverts.
Yet, he didn't mind her glare – she'd be his. He'd make sure of that. "Hate me all you want, red hair, you'll eventually be mine" Luke winked before he left luxuriously.
Athena was soon left all alone with… Liam. He took a step forward before staring blankly at her.
"Look up" instantaneously, she carried out the instruction, but oh God…!
Once her eyes met with those emerald green eyes of hers, Athena nearly drooled at them – how could a man appear this enchanting?
He had this usual pale skin, yet his whitish colored hair complimented it amazingly. Asides from that, his outfit, although simple, made him more surreal. A simple t-shirt but with the sleeves rolled up, and a few buttons opened, his well chiseled chest was in view.
Athena was certain this individual was more than six feet and with this type of appearance, it made her wonder why he wasn't drowned in the pool of women.
But should she be really thinking about something like that in this situation?
Silently, he leaned closer to Athena, only to make her palpate suddenly. She assumed he wanted to take advantage of her body like Luke, but unexpectedly, Athena had a handful of her hair gripped.
Liam' fingers clenched the fluffy curls of her red hair, with his face mere inches from hers – she could practically feel his minty breath.
"The pendant, you have until the end of this evening to provide it. Okay?" Liam hushed and she nodded her head shakily.
He straightened up then turned to leave. "A guard will be assigned to you. If you're not back before 7pm, I'll track you down again, and once you're caught without my pendant, you're my property".
His utterance sent countless shivers down Athena's spine, yet she couldn't speak as he walked out.
Once he left, her jaw dropped in amazement. What had she gotten herself into?
Soon, the cab driver came in to untie her. Afterward, he led Athena into a posh limousine.
*
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Despite how much she dissented, her newly assigned bodyguard refused to wait for her in the limo. Perhaps he assumed that she would run off, so he trailed after Athena to Caleb ward.
Yes, the sole person she could think of running to for help was Caleb – he technically was the only person she had in the entire world.
Again, the money generated from selling the pendant did go into his operation. Athena assumed they'd both figure something out, unless it would spell her complete slavery to the Graveyard leader.
The thought of being a slave to Luke made her tremble in disgust – no doubt he would turn her into a sex slave. Athena would rather die than give her virginity to a man like Luke - never!
That wasn't the only thing that frightened her; to say Liam didn't make her skin crawl was a big fat lie.
She did admire his beautiful appearance, yet she feared him. She needed Caleb to pour her heart to, so increased her pace to his ward.
Once she arrived, Athena glared coldly at the guard. "There's not a chance in hell you're going in here with me. Just wait here, it won't kill you, trust me" she rolled her eyes nastily at him.
Athena grabbed hold of the doorknob, twisted it then pulled it just to behold the most heartbreaking and shocking scene of her entire life.
Her jaw dropped swiftly and so did her heart shatter too. Her eyes, now enlarged, kept gawking at Caleb who's been riding enthusiastically by… Sandra – the fucking doctor!
They were absolutely engrossed in their sensual love making since her moans dominated the entire room.
"N-no!" Athena's legs gave way as her butt kissed the floor, hardly yet she maintained her gaze on them. By now, her entire body shivered uncontrollably like that of a drenched cat.
Caleb and Sandra, on the other hand, were in the middle of their hot workout. His hands were gripping her naked backside possessively while she bounced, twisted and twerked crazily on him.
The sounds of her moans weren't controlled, since she kept moaning like a bear in heat. Athena's pains and tears couldn't be controlled as they poured out in multiples.
The guard Flynn noticed how dumbfounded she seemed and when he snuck a peek into the ward, he shook his head at the sight. Her boyfriend was something.
He gazed at her, then pulled out his gun.
"You need a gun?" he questioned causally, and Athena stood up shakily from the ground.
Sharply she took it from him, then without thinking stepped into the ward. Her eyes were bloodshot red as she aimed at Sandra's thigh.
Once she pulled the trigger and the bullet pierced Sandra, they noticed her presence.
"Christ!" Sandra screamed in excruciating pains as she rolled off Caleb, who became fearful. His eyes dimmed shockingly at the sight of Athena with a gun.
"A-Athena? Li… Listen!" he tried to explain, but she shut him up by shooting three consecutive bullets into his right leg. He shouted in agony, but Athena couldn't care less.
To think, she trusted and got herself into such a mess with some mafias because of this piece of shit!
It hurt – it hurt to the extent she couldn't even scream at him.
"I… I… fuck you, Caleb! Screw you" her voice came as a mutter before she left them wailing in pain.
In the limo, she bowed her head and whimpered while Flynn began driving. Athena didn't mind the presence of Flynn as she poured her heart out, and he glanced at her through the rearview mirror. He sighed gently before speaking:
"A bar. That's what you need".