CHAPTER 1
Seven years later.
Demetria.
The sound of my air force skidding against the concrete echoed in my ears as I juggled a bag of groceries in one hand and the other bunch of cleaning supplies.
The once-crisp autumn air now carried the weight of impending winter, its chill biting at my fingertips. I picked up pace, eager to find refuge in the warmth of my apartment.
I made my way across the front lawn towards the front door which was slightly ajar.
I gulped a handful of air to keep myself from panicking because I was sure I locked the door this morning.
I scanned the street, a black car with tinted windows came to my view.
At this point, I could feel my entire body trembling as I placed my bags on the floor.
I placed my hand on the space between the door, edging it a little further so I could fit through it.
I hoped it was my asshole brother and he had come back looking for more money to steal from me and not some stranger, possibly someone he screwed over.
I could practically hear my heart beating frantically as I stood at the porch.
I knew deep inside me that it was a bad idea to allow him stay in the apartment, but when he had turned up on my doorstep in the blistering cold with no coat, I felt pity for him.
He was my brother after all and I knew how to handle him if he did anything funny. I had been doing that since I was fourteen. It was nice having him around and my apartment actually felt homely during his stay but I wasn't shocked at all when I woke up one morning to find him gone, taking all the money which I had in my purse.
If they had come looking for Liam then they are definitely in the wrong place.
I pushed open the door, and stepped into the house. The sound of voices could be heard from the kitchen. I reached for the mopstick which was under the staircase and grip it tightly as I made my way to the kitchen door.
Two bulky men are sitting on my kitchen table. Dressed in black tailored suits that probably cost more than everything I had ever owned. Dark ink covers their hands.
They both looked up simultaneously, their presence alone sucks the oxygen out from the room.
" Demetria right?" One of the men asks, his voice alone made warning bells start ringing in my head.
They stared at me while I found myself paralyzed by fear and I could feel myself shaking as I remembered an event that bathed me in this type of fear.
No I can't go there right now I need to snap out of it.
My body moved on Instinct, launching the Mopstick in their direction, using that as a distraction while I made a run for it.
My heart pounds as I race to my bedroom. The sound of my chairs clattering makes me run faster. Instead of running through the front door which was open, I head for my room where there's pepper spray and a bolt on the door.
My bedroom is my safe space, I stumble inside as footsteps resonate after me. I tried closing the door but I was not fast enough and it flew open ripping off the edges.
One of the men had already found his way inside, he walked closer glaring at me.
" Get out of my house" I shrieked as I got hold of the pepper spray which was lying on the table. I know this wasn't going to do much but it was better than feeling helpless .
I pointed it at him as he got closer and his lips twitched. The scoundrel smiles at me " I wouldn't do that if I were you" he drawls and his voice is just as terrifying as the other guy.
" Try me" my heart is racing fast and my hand is trembling. He steps closer and I press on the spray head of the pepper spray and nothing comes out.
" Oops, we found that" he snorts, as though it was funny. I darted around past him and slammed straight into the other man.
" You are a troublesome little mouse," he sneers. I lash out trying to escape his grip but he holds my hands in his large ones and squeezes it until I felt pain in my forearms.
" Sit down," he snaps, pushing me forward.
" What do you want from me ?" I asked refusing to sit down .
" I said sit your ass down," he said, pushing me onto the chair. I decided to sit down not like I had a choice to begin with.
" Who are you?"
" We are in charge here so we will be asking the questions" the one who told me to sit down says. Something about the way he talks and carries himself tells me he is in charge. They both are terrifying, but this one has an aura of confidence and control.
" Where is Liam?"
I had a feeling this was about him.
" I don't know"
" If you want to keep that pretty hazel eyes of yours I suggest you say the truth"
" I do not know where he is, he just disappears and reappears whenever he is in need of money"
" This is not a joke, your brother owes my boss money, and we won't be leaving until we get some kind of payment " he hisses and my blood runs cold, " so where is he?"
I was about to tell him I didn't again that I didn't know where Liam was
" Choose your words wisely, because you are just covering up for a low life asshole"
I sneered at him, he didn't have the right to insult Liam like that, he may have put me in trouble constantly but he was still my big brother.
" Asshole" I spat at him
" Fucking hell" he mutters closing his eyes
" Santino, let me handle this" the other man who looked like the boss said.
" Okay boss" santino replies, then he smirks at me " now you are in trouble"
I visibly gulped as the boss stands and takes a step until he is towering over me .
" Demetria" he says as he takes another chair and places it directly in front of me. He takes a seat and we are so close that I could smell his cologne.
" My name is Alejandro Mariano"
Holy fucking hell. The FUCKING MAFIA.
" Your brother Liam owes my family a lot of money and I have come to collect it"
" I keep saying this, I don't know where he is" I whisper
" Then I have to take someone or something of importance to him"
" He doesn't have anything that I know is that important to him, I'm sorry I can't help you"
" Yes you can, we will just take you"
" Me?"
" I believe I didn't stutter"
"W..e could set up some kind of payment plan "
Suddenly, santino howls with laughter.
" Demetria, I doubt you could pay it with your current job, your brother owes me half a million dollars "
I open my mouth and close it again like a fish out of water. That's not possible, Liam couldn't owe that amount of money. It's absurd.
" Pray I do not find your brother because if I do and he can't pay the money, you know what I would do?"
I gulped shaking my head
" I would kill him, I would do it so slowly that when he is on the verge of death, I will heal him then continue " he says so matter-of-fact
The sound of my heart is thundering in my ears, I still do not know how I'm involved in this payment
" But I haven't found you brother", he goes on " so I will just take you"
" So you are going to kill me"
Alejandro leans into his chair as he eyes rakes over my body " we can come up with some kind of arrangements"
I stare at the monster sitting in front of me " what type of arrangements"
Santino looks with a frown like he was confused this was happening.
" I'm sure I can find a use for you at my house, while working off your brothers debt"
His house?
" You can't do that, you can't walk in here and expect me to follow you"
He stands and looks at santino" start packing her things into a bag"
" I'm not going anywhere with you" I shout
" Do not touch any of my things " I yell already running after santino but Alejandro catches me
" Behave little mouse " he warns " you won't like me when I'm mad"
I shout in his face " I hate you. You arrogant monster."
" You can't do this, I have people who would look fo
r me and miss me"
" No, you don't " he replies with a calm tone that drips with arrogance.
I could feel my insides wilting as I realize how right he was.