Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Katsura.

I was a fucking idiot. What was I even thinking when I accepted to dance for a client for five million dollars?

Even Maya, the best stripper the club had ever hired wasn’t paid that much.

The scent hit me before I fully turned. His breath… hot and strong with smoke and power.

My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

I didn’t need to see his face to know who stood behind me.

It was him… Alessio.

I twisted my wrist hard, trying to pull away, but his grip tightened instantly. Strong and unbreakable, this meant trouble and he might kill me before they discovered I was the omega they were hunting for.

“Let me go!” I cried.

He didn’t answer, he only tightened his grip harder.

Before I could scream again, he bent slightly and lifted me off the ground, throwing me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.

My breath knocked out of me, the tears blurred my vision and it was safe to say that I was partially blind.

“Help!” I screamed, kicking and hitting his back. “Please… someone help me!”

The room spun, making me dizzy and sick. I tried to dig my teeth into his skin, but I couldn’t find the strength for that.

People around gasped when they saw him carry me out of the room, he threw the chairs and tables with expensive drinks that stood in his way.

No one dared stop him… they only watched.

I kept fighting, and I went ahead to use my heels to hit his spine. My fists pounded his back.

He didn’t flinch, it only made him balanced.

“Put me down!” I sobbed. “Alessio, please!”

He walked out of the room like I was silent and wasn’t begging for him to spare me.

Outside, his guards were already waiting. Their faces were cold as they glared at me. They were definitely enraged by how much trouble I had caused them by always running away.

“I’ll drive alone,” Alessio said calmly. “No one follows.”

“Yes, Don,” they answered in unison.

The car door opened. He tossed me into the back seat and slammed the door shut. Moments later, he got in and started the engine.

The car pulled away from the parking lot and hit the road. The ride back to the mansion wasn’t as I envisioned it to be.

He had the music playing loudly, maybe he feared that I might scream, but Alessio ruled the whole town. Why would he fear?

Alessio feared nothing and no one.

I curled into myself, my knees pressed to my chest. Tears streamed down my face, soaking my dress. My body shook so badly I couldn’t stop it.

I didn’t know what hurt more… my fear, or the way he didn’t even look at me.

His eyes stayed on the road, he didn’t even spare me a look through the rearview mirror. One hand gripped the steering wheel like he was holding himself back.

I cried softly at first, hoping to soften his heart to at least spare me a glance… then I went harder, but he said nothing.

The mansion gates opened slowly, like the mouth of a beast welcoming us home.

When the car stopped, Alessio got out and opened my door.

“Out,” he said.

I didn’t move, not that I didn’t want to buy my legs felt stiff and heavy.

Alessio didn’t repeat himself… well, he never does.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me out. I stumbled but he kept me upright, dragging me through the house. Past the guards and long halls. Down a staircase I had never seen before, more like it was underground.

The air as we descended grew colder and darker. I didn’t know where he was taking me, but I knew it wasn’t a good place.

We stopped in front of a heavy metal door, the chains and locks were coated with dust and cobwebs.

A cold shiver went down my spine, I hated spiders and dust made me sick.

“No,” I whispered. “Please…”

He opened it, not minding how the cobwebs circled his hands and arms.

The room was underground with no windows… just stone walls and cold, except for a dim light from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling.

Fear wrapped around me like the rusty chains of the iron doors.

He pushed me inside with one arm.

“You will stay here,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, “until I decide how to punish you.”

I shook my head violently. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You defied me,” he replied. “You ran.”

“I was scared!”

“No one defies me and walks free,” he said coldly.

The door slammed shut, and the lock clicked. That was when I knew I had no one to save me or anywhere to run to. I sank to the floor.

Time passed slowly. I didn’t know how long I sat there, hugging myself, crying until my throat burned.

My mind replayed everything, from the day Alessio was brought to the club to the time I was kidnapped and forced to be by his side.

And now… I bore a mark on my wrist that clearly indicated I was his mate.

How everything was playing out so fast was one thing I couldn’t understand.

An hour later, the door opened. Light from the halls filtered into the room.

I managed to scramble to my feet, not minding how many times I fell.

“Please,” I whispered. “I’ll do anything.”

“Katsura?”

I lifted my head to the feminine voice.

And it was Janiece standing by the door.

I crawled toward her and dropped to my knees. “I’m sorry,” I cried. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to escape under your watch. Please don’t be angry.”

She rushed forward and knelt in front of me, pulling me into her arms.

“Hey,” she murmured. “Look at me.”

Her touch was gentle and warm, unlike her brother’s.

“I’m a woman,” she said quietly. “I understand why you ran.”

My tears soaked her expensive clothes.

“Come,” she said, helping me to my feet. “I’ll take you to him.”

My fear returned instantly, this wasn’t what I needed now.

My body stiffened. “Will he hurt me?”

Janiece paused. Then she pulled me into her chest again, hugging me tightly.

“Don’t be scared,” she whispered. “Just breathe.”

We walked in silence through the halls and my legs felt numb. My heart beat so loudly I thought it would give me away.

She stopped in front of a door.

“This is his private chamber,” she said.

She opened it gently.

The room was dimly lit and cold, heavy with his scent.

Alessio sat in an armchair, he wasn’t wearing his suit like a mafia don always does.

Just loose pants hanging low on his hips. His chest bare, muscles hard and relaxed at the same time.

He lifted his eyes to me… slow and slightly affectionate, he tried to hide it but I could see it.

That didn’t make me relaxed, it only made me curious and scared. Was he going to kill me now?

Janiece squeezed my hand gently, then stepped back and closed the door behind her.

The sound of the door being shut echoed in my ears, I didn’t want to be alone with him.

I stood there, trembling like a lone leaf in winter.

He didn’t move, nor did he speak.

Then his voice filled the room, making me lose my balance and fall on the cold floor.

“Strip.” He commanded, glaring down at me.