"Of who…of who" continuously reverberated in my head.
" What do you mean ?" I asked trying to calm myself, nothing bad can happen, right?
"It means if your dad does not fulfill his end of the bargain, we will get ownership of one of his daughters"
"That's not legal!!"
"I don't have the time to banter with a child, do yourself a favor and find your dad," the leader said.
They slammed the door as they took their leave.
"What's the meaning of all this ?" I asked Susan as they stood up, my dad tells her almost everything so she probably knew what the contract was about.
"None of your business " she puffed then went to her room taking Devi with her.
"You are happy right?" Arianna came into my space angrily.
"About what?" I folded my hand waiting for her to say something stupid.
"Watching them harass us!"
"Yes, I was happy, so?" that seemed to fuel her anger.
"You little witch!" She screamed dragging my hair.
"Arianna let go of my hair" I screamed back, hissing at the pain that came with the furious dragging.
"Why don't you just die already, die you slut" she continued dragging, I couldn't bare the pain anymore. I pushed her with the little strength I had which made her take just a few steps back then I went back to my room trying to avoid any unnecessary confrontations. 'I've had enough'
————
As the deadline given by the men approached, I couldn't help but keep an eye on the clock. Despite our efforts, we were unable to reach my dad, and it felt like he had vanished without a trace.
Moments later, the door opened and the same group of men walked in, dressed in black. " Lovely morning we're having isn't it?" The leader of the gang said he pulled a gun out of his jacket. His hands are covered with black gloves. "Don't you agree?" He smiled at me and I began shivering, knowing they meant business this time.
"We- we couldn't find him," I said, trying to keep my voice even.
The man smiled, taking a seat in front of me. He brought his hands together and relaxed his head against them "Interesting" He laughed. " The second contract won't be bad either, except you want a third," he said, tapping his leg rhythmically on the ground.
"The third, we want the third" Arianna shouted from the corner not bothering to ask what the third contract was.
"Really? If that's what you want that's fine by me, kill them"
Before I could even blink different guns were pointed at us "Wait, no!!! No not the third" I screamed while Susan and Arianna had started crying.
"The smart one, for you, I can do that" He signaled to them, and they all dropped their guns. One of the men handed him a paper which he threw to the center. "You" he pointed at Arianna "read it".
She dragged herself to the center and picked it up, reading out the highlighted sentences "Should the loan not be repaid, according to contract two, Party B is obligated to provide compensation. This compensation may involve the selection of one of Party B's daughters."
"As you can see, it was boldly signed by your father, Rowan"
Immediately, Arianna pointed at me, "Take her, she's a perfect choice, Jade is my dad's favorite child"
I scoffed internally at her cheap trick.
"I'm afraid that decision is up to me if you don't mind, darling.. come here," he said.
As I opened my eyes, which I had shut in prayer, Arianna was the one who was called, and I couldn't help but let out a quick sigh of relief.
"Please let her go" Susan pleaded as she hugged Devi who was quietly watching.
"Shut up" the man warned.
"It's okay darling" his eyes fixed on her as she took a couple of steps toward him. " A little closer" he grinned. She stopped a few inches towards him.
"I would have picked you at first, but unfortunately you are not intelligent " he whispered enough for everyone present to hear.
I could have laughed but realization dawned on me too quickly 'No no no'
He grinned widely at me "You married smart mouth?" he asked.
"Why?"
"There's have a wedding rings on your ringers"
I looked at my left hand realizing the ring was still there, I had grown so used to wearing it that it became a part of me.
"So shameless, he clearly doesn't want you anymore yet you still wear his ring like a bitch" Arianna added herself to the conversation, probably triggered by his previous insult.
"Shut up," he glanced at Arianna," good to know you're not married, now let's go "He stood up ready to leave the house.
" Wrap it up boys" the man clapped.
"I'm not going with you!!" I screamed and the man pointed his gun at me.
"I've got three bullets spaced out equally in this revolver. Care to help me find which chamber has a bullet?"
"Take her" he ordered.
As I was being led away with my eyes covered by one of the men, I could hear the sound of Susan and Arianna's gleeful laughter. "Finally, we're getting rid of this bitch," Arianna exclaimed with satisfaction.
"Now let's find your father so we can celebrate" Susan's voice also filled with joy.
I was thrown into the cramped space of what seemed to be the trunk of a car. I coiled up, tears streaming down my face wetting the blindfold, repeating to myself, "Nothing ever goes right for me," feeling completely shattered.
———
After we arrived at the place, they brought me into a room where they untied my eyes.
"Get settled you will be needed in the evening" Mario, one of the goons told me, I overheard his name during a discussion with his colleague that led me to this room.
"For what?"
"You'll find out when you get there" With that they left.
I tossed and turned in the bed for hours, unable to sleep, consumed by uncertainty about what the future holds for me, but I was determined not to cry anymore, no matter what happens.
Knock knock knock
The person opened even without receiving an invitation, At least they had the decency to knock even if the door lacked a proper lock.
Mario stood at the head of my bed," He's waiting for you" he held out his hand pointing towards the door.
I got up from the bed, following his lead, and immediately I stepped out of the room the usual surroundings welcomed me, it screamed of sex and drugs, half-naked girls were moving all over the place, and sounds of moans were heard from each closed doors we passed some didn't bother closing their door, security men stationed everywhere. This wasn't just a motel it looked too expensive for that, it was a place where influential people came to fulfill their sinful desires without being on the headlines the next day.
Mario led me through an underground staircase, I could hear my heart beating loudly against my chest at each step I took. We stopped at a black door which he knocked twice before opening. We entered the dimly lit room, I searched around the place but there was no one, why did he knock then? I thought about the oddity.
"Wait here," Mario said before turning around to leave.
I waited for some minutes before a man suddenly came in, not from the door I and Mario used, but from an inner door that I had not noticed either because of its hidden position or due to the dimly lit room.
The leader of the gang, came into view the sight of him igniting the previous flame I tried to quench.
"Good to see you again smart mouth" he took his seat in one of the two chairs in the room," Please sit" he acted like a normal man receiving a guest in his office.
I took my seat watchfully.
" First of all, I'd like to introduce myself properly as we didn't have much time to bond earlier" he grinned, stretching his hands forward for a shake which I had no other choice than to comply "Hmm soft" he rubbed his index finger on my palm, I quickly retracted my hands, "I'm Lucas, my friends call me Luc, so you can call me that also"
"Are you sure you know the meaning of friends?" I couldn't keep myself from asking.
Lucas laughed," That's my girl"
I shifted uncomfortably on my chair by his sentence.
"Now let's get down to business"
Hearing the word 'business' I begged furiously," Please don't make me a prostitute, I've never done it in my life!! I don't even know how to please a man!! Please sir"
He kept on looking at me in amusement giving me the feeling that I'd done or said something wrong," what?" I asked carefully.
"You know, I didn't think of that before, but thanks for the suggestion " he smiled, " what I have installed for you is more important than opening your legs, though it might involve that too"
His last sentence made my intestines twist. "Do I have to?"
"Yes," he said sternly for the first time since we'd met, switching his tone almost immediately like a crazy person he said "It won't be hard for you smart mouth, I trust you"
"I can clean and wash very well sir" I tried suggesting other jobs.
"Very funny" he threw a file on the small center table between us "Read it up when you get back to your room, you will need it later" he relaxed his back on the sofa.
"What is it?" I asked picking up the file.
"Now listen carefully" he adjusted himself, looking serious as he spoke.