CHAPTER ONE
Hello guys,
Thank you for choosing to read this book. Before you begin, I want to give a big warning. This book is dark; it’s messed up and explicit. Don’t say I didn’t warn you because I am doing it now.
This Story Contains
- Physical and Sexual Abuse
- Violence
- Mature Themes
- Sexual Content
- Strong Language
please leave if you are uncomfortable with any of the mentioned. I will repeat if you are not comfortable with the explicit contents I have mentioned. Leave. Thank you to those who decide to continue.
Enjoy reading the book
Melina adjusts her bag on her shoulder and pulls open the restaurant’s back door. She walks inside to the workers’ changing room. The place is painted grey with blue lockers. Putting in the code for hers, she pulls it open, takes out her apron, and ties it around her waist over her waitress uniform. She is wearing a white button-up shirt and a black skirt. Pulling her beautiful blonde hair into a tight ponytail, she walks out of the room to the kitchen. A sigh escapes her lips as she remembers when she would be clocking out that night.
The sweet aroma of Italian food hits her as she enters the kitchen. She says hi to her co-workers as she approaches the door inside the restaurant. Someone beats her to open the door and steps into the kitchen.
“Hi Melina,” Jane says, smiling. She is a lovely twenty-one-year-old lady with brunette hair and brown eyes. She is the same age as Melina, and they work together.
“How are you doing today, Jane?” Melina smiles back at her.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“Get any sleep last night?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“There are bags under your eyes.”
“Really?” Melina puts her hand in her apron and fetches out a hand mirror. She was positive the bags under her eyes weren’t visible when she left home. She checks the mirror to see if that’s still the case. Her face didn’t look bad, but she could see them closely.
“Had a nightmare last night?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t go back to sleep after.”
Melina and Jane had grown close, working together for the six months since Melina moved to Portland from LA.
“Sorry to hear that; how long have you been up?”
“Since 3 a.m.” It’s 5 p.m.
“Wow, you must be exhausted.”
“I’m used to it,” Melina says. She hardly gets any sleep because of her reoccurring nightmares. It had been six months, but she still dreamt about the horrible accident every night.
“I heard talking about it helps,” Jane prompts. She has tried to get Melina to speak to her about her nightmares since the first day she found out.
“I know, and hopefully, one day, I will be open enough to speak to you about it.” Melina feels too ashamed to tell Jane what happened. Melina also avoids talking about it because it will bring back a lot of pain she has managed to heal from these past months.
“I hope so, and if you feel too ashamed to speak to me, there are professionals who can help.”
“I know.” Melina smiles softly at Jane, feeling grateful to have a friend like Jane who cares about her.
“That’s good, and I wanted to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“My mom is flying in today and needs me to pick her up from the airport. Would you be kind enough to cover for me at the bar and lock up afterward?”
“Sure.”
“I knew you would agree, thank you.” She pecks Melina’s cheeks.
“You’re welcome.” Melina smiles.
Melina rests her chin in her palm while waiting for the last customer to finish his drink. She leans across the bar counter in the restaurant. Looking at the man, she wonders what troubles him. He drinks a whole bottle of Jack Daniels and cries silently in the chair. She is curious if he is heartbroken. She can sympathize with him as she is still healing from hers.
A breath of relief leaves her lips as the man stands up. Melina pushes off the counter, smiling, as she finally can go home. She waits for him to walk out before heading to the locker room to get her bag and phone. She can’t wait to go home and call it a night.
Melina walks back into the restaurant to find all the lights switched off. Her brows pull together as she doesn’t remember switching them off. She shrugs her shoulders, thinking maybe she forgot she did, and walks to the door to be on her way. She freezes as she is about to turn the doorknob when she hears a voice. The lights in the room come on.
“It’s not time to go home, principessa.” Her eyes widen as her brain instantly recognizes the voice. “I am thirsty; get me something to drink.”
Melina’s heart rate increases as she begins to tremble. She looks down at her hands, which are shaking and unable to hold the doorknob anymore.
“There is no need to be scared, principessa. I am just here to get back what’s mine.” Even with her back facing the man, she could still picture the smirk on his face right now.
“Tho-m-m-as,” she stutters. Tears fill her eyes as an ache settles in her heart from saying his name.
“Turn around,” he commands.
“I can’t.”
“You can, and you will. Turn around and look at me!” he says, practically yelling.
“I’m sorry,” she says; it comes out barely above a whisper as the tears escape her eyes. She apologizes for what she did six months ago.
“I said fucking turn around, Melina,” Thomas bangs his fist on a table.
Melina jumps in her spot as more tears flow down her face. She slowly does, fearing that worse will happen to her if she doesn’t turn. Her heart sinks as her knees weaken, and she falls to the floor, staring at him as he sits on one of the restaurant chairs with his legs crossed. Two scary-looking men stand beside him. She recognizes one of them as Thomas’s bodyguard, Leo.
She locks eyes with him, and a knot forms in her stomach. His beautiful ocean blue eyes that only ever held love for her are burning with rage.
“Come closer.” He puts his hand into his breast pocket and takes out a cigarette. His associate helps him light it. He takes a drag and waits for Melina to move closer to him.
She shakes her head, causing Thomas to raise his brows at her. He throws his cigarette to the ground and stamps his feet to put it out.
“I don’t know if I made you think you fucking have a choice. Fucking get here now,” he growls.
“I’m sorry, I swear I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t have a choice. James forced me.”
“Really? You didn’t fucking have a choice?” he says sarcastically.
“Yes, I swear.”
“That’s odd considering you are his fucking wife. Get your damn ass here now.”
Melina does the opposite and tries to get away from him. Standing up from the floor, she turns to open the door behind her. Unexpectedly the door is locked. Melina shakes the door, trying to open it as she hears footsteps approaching. Turning, she sees Leo walking toward her. She can’t believe they locked the door. A scream leaves her lips as someone takes hold of her hair. He drags her away from the door and throws her in front of Thomas.
“Did that kill you?” he asks. “You still look the same way you did the first day I met you.” He lifts his hands and traces his fingers down her beautiful face. He touches her pointed nose and high cheekbones. His hands linger on her lips as it trembles and gets stained with her tears. He stares into her green eyes and pulls his finger away.
She shuts her eyes and waits for him to smack her, but he doesn’t. Fluttering them open, she finds him staring at her.
“Where is my money?”
“I don’t have it.”
“Do I look like I have time to waste, Melina? Tell me where my money is, and I’d make your death less painful.”
“I swear I don’t have it. James took everything.”
“It seems we have to do this the hard way then.”
“What do you mean?” Melina asks, eyes widening.
“Leo, grab her, and once we are in the car, get Kimberly on the phone. Tell her I have a gift for her,” Thomas smirks as he stands. He buttons his suit and moves to the back of the restaurant. Melina starts crawling away towards the front door, forgetting it’s locked. Leo picks her off the ground before she even reaches it, screaming and kicking as he throws her over his shoulders. He walks them into the kitchen.
“Shut the fuck up,” Thomas shouts in Melina’s face.
“Please let me go, I swear to you, Thomas. I don’t know where the money is; James has it. Please believe me.”
He doesn’t say anything and walks out of the back door. They step outside, and two vehicles pull up beside them. Thomas gets into a car while Leo puts her into a van. Melina opens her mouth to scream for help, but her words get choked as she feels something pierce into her skin. Her eyes feel heavy. She sees a syringe in Leo’s hand. Her head starts to spin before she can comprehend what’s happening. Her body gives out on her, pulling her into altering darkness.