CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Days Earlier

Franky's PVO

I slowly open my eyes but shut them the second I feel a shooting pain at the back of my head. I gently lift my hand to touch it, and I feel a wound there with some dried blood. I open my eyes and try to remember how I got the injury and where I am. My eyes widen as terror fills me once I take in my environment. I am in a cell. Oh my God! What am I doing here? How did I get here? I rank my brain, trying to remember anything that can explain why I am here. More fear grips me as I start to recall the last events that happened to me. I can't believe I got kidnapped again. Melina must be worried about me. I wonder if she knows and has started looking for me, most likely.

I whip my head to the door of my cell once I hear it open. My heart rate increase as the person walks closer to me. I wrap my shaking hands around my body and wait for my kidnapper to reach me by the end of the wall. My breath gets caught in my throat the second I stop hearing his footsteps and get a sniff of his cologne. His cologne is intoxicating but nice.

"Hello there," the man says in a thick Spanish accent, bending down to me on the floor. My body trembles more against the wall as his breath, mixed with smoke and alcohol, lands on my face. "Don't hide from me; show me yourself."

I am at the edge of the wall, away from the light. You can't see me, but I can see you. I look at the man who stands a few feet away from me. I don't recognize his face. I remember every single man who harmed me the last time James kidnapped Melina and me. I look closer at his face and am awed by the man's features. His hair is dark as a night sky without any stars. His brows are perfectly shaped, and the way they look tells me they are natural. My fingers itch to stroke them; I can bet they will be soft against my fingertips. His long eyelashes fan his face as he blinks. His beautiful green eyes search for me by the edge of the wall. His nose is straight and a little pointed. I cast my eyes to his lips, and I find myself wetting mine. They are pink and just the perfect size. I come back to my senses once I watch him decorate his lips with a cigarette. He takes a drag and blows the smoke on my face.

"I advise you to step out on your own accord before I fucking drag you out myself" his words send shivers down my spine. He stands back up and takes a step away from me.

If there is anything I have learned from the last time I was here is that you always obey men like him. If you do what they ask, they will go easy on you when torturing you. With my bones aching as I move, I slowly lift myself off the ground. I place my palm on the wall and gather my strength to walk toward him. I take a deep breath before pushing myself out into the light.

A gasp escapes his lips once he sees me. His eyes roam my body, making sure to take in every inch of me. His eyes filled with amazement suddenly change within seconds, and anger takes hold of them. I blink and find myself backed up against the wall. My dress does little to prevent my skin from getting injured as the man snarls in my face.

"Who the fuck are you?" he breathes down on me as anger courses through him in high waves.

I look at him, confused as he asks me this question. If anyone should wonder about the other's identity, I believe it should be me.

"I fucking asked you a question?" he growls at me.

"Franky," I lock eyes with him and stare into his eyes that are blazing with anger in their beautiful green orbs. It's sad to see such beautiful eyes filled with rage.

"Why the fuck are you here instead of Melina?" my eyes widen, realizing they weren't supposed to kidnap me. Thank God they got me instead of her. Melina has suffered enough already. It's good that they made a mistake and took me in place of her.

It seems he is waiting for me to answer his question, and as I don't, he lashes out by punching the wall just a ferment away from my head. My eyes seal shut as he cracks the wall open and shouts 'fuck' into the room. I slowly open my eyes once I don't scent his cologne around me. He stands a few feet away. He throws his cigarette to the ground and puts it out with his feet. He stares at me for a good minute before walking towards the door.

"Please don't harm my sister," I say as he approaches the door. He halts at the sound of my voice but continues walking.

"Please, I beg you, please don't harm her."

"Why the fuck should I listen to you?" he stops walking and turns.

"I will give you anything you want."

"Anything I want," he laughs drily. "What can you fucking offer me?" he begins to walk towards me.

"A lot of things" I speak with confidence even though I don't think there is anything I could genuinely offer him.

"Your head on a silver plate won't offer me what your sisters would. What the heck can you offer?"

"I know that, but I have a lot I can offer you."

"I am listening" he fetches out a cigarette from his pocket and lights it. He takes a long drag before fixing his attention back on me.

I bite my lips as I think of something I can offer him that I know he would deem worthy. My mind suggests something, and as much as it pains my heart to offer him that. It's the only thing I know a man like him would accept in place of my sister's life. It's a small price to pay for my sister to live. I will do anything in my power to make sure of that.

"My body" my heart beats hard against my chest as I wait for his response.

"Your body" his eyes begin to roam every single inch of my body.

"Yes," I am scared he might not accept it. I hope he is a lust-driven man and accepts. It's the only way I can save Melina.

"Strip"

"You want me to take off my clothes" I know that's what he asked, but I am praying he will change his mind if he sees how unwilling I am. I hoped for him to agree, but I was not ready yet.

"I don't think I need to explain to you what the word 'Strip' means."

"No, you don't."

With my heart maintaining its fast rate, I lift my shaking hands to my shoulders and slowly begin to pull my dress down. I force my hands beside my body and draw them into a tight fist.

"Take off your underwear and bra."

I do as he says and feel the most ashamed I have ever felt. Tears fill my eyes as I feel his heated gaze on my body.

"Turn around" the tears run free from my eyes as I slowly turn around. I can't believe this is what my life has become. Offering myself like this to save my sister. I release the breath I am holding once he finally speaks.

"I will think about it" he turns away and walks out again.

I know he didn't fully agree, but it's something. I will make sure to convince him. I have to do everything I can to save my sister's life, even at the cost of my suffering. I pick up my underwear, bra, and dress from the floor. I put them back on. I walk back to the edge of the wall and drop to the floor.

I begin to think about how I will give my body to a gender I fear more than anything in the world touching me. I haven't been with any man since I woke up from the coma, but I don't think I can ever be with a man again. Anytime I think about sleeping with a man, I can only think about the pain those horrible men inflicted on me. I wasn't a virgin when they raped me, but right now, I don't even know what's it like to crave a man's touch, and I just offered my body to one. I don't know how I will do it, but I will figure out how for Melina.