e

to the man who’d just bough

s not young. His eyes were

inger down my cheek and along my jaw, pressing under my

aid, my voice a straine

patting my cheek with his warm, clammy hand. He was my f

n? Was I kidnapped and sold so he could use me up and then kill me, ret

as he slid his thumb into my mouth and over my

like he was inspecting my mouth, my teeth. I wanted to vomit. I needed to, especiall

ened and my teeth began to

r and rose to his full height. He loomed over me, basking in the power imbalance. I didn’t dare look up and mee

my body to where the chemise was bunched up

just fine,” he s

ght there on the cold, hard ground had a man not shouted t

n’t leave my thigh for

I did survive. He’d take me fully, wholly, stealing my virginity against my will. He’d force me, plain a

rs. Men with guns wove between the vehicles. Soldiers, I decided. I knew how this went. While the Dons and Caporegimes drank and smoked and fucked their

kin as Gabriele pushed me tow

hard tears welled in my eyes as I was forced to look up at him. His free hand groped my ass, finger

o the car as I c

imbed into the back seat, his hand pre

print but the door closed. I could have sworn that

ing. His words were cut off by Gabriele’s guard climbing into the front passenger seat and shutting the door in Mattia’s face.

uck yourself!” before the car peeled out of the driveway and drove off in

ndow to confirm it had been Mattia. Oh God, if it had

of the confines of the mafia—that I wouldn’t be safe. He’d been so angry with me. I’d disappointed him. Betrayed him and

e for me des

to talk a

is way up my thigh. I closed my eyes, trying to clear

oss?” the dr

my head and secured it tightly around my neck. His hand curled around the column of my throat, fin

rted to twitch. Then I felt myself slip i