Chapter 206
Chapter 214
Summer POV
My dad had sold me once earlier, and I should have run away that time. But that night when I woke up after a terrible nightmare in a strange house, I was scared and shaking. I wondered if I was still in the cult building. The cultist had made me drink something after which he brought me to a large table. I wanted to protest, but the effect of the medicine he gave me was fast. He had said that it would help me, and that I won’t feel the pain when they dissected me. He meant that they would dissect me alive. Petrified, I resisted in whatever way I could, but the medicine had consumed me completely.
After that, I didn’t know what happened, but I sensed that someone picked me up and carried me out safely. I really wanted to wake up, but I couldn’t. If only I knew who saved me, just so I could thank him.
I don’t know for how long I was unconscious, but my sleep was riddled with nightmares. And when I woke up, I was delirious. Often, I would hear people talking in garbled voices. A gentle touch would, a whisper, a soft breeze…
When I finally woke up, my body was shaking. It felt like I would be blown away by a strong gust of wind. Why was I so weak? It was the middle of the night. I got out of bed and scanned the room. It was a cozy, luxurious room, which made me feel comfy. However, my thoughts returned to my father and anger slammed in my chest. How could he sell me for such a heinous crime? I tiptoed out of the room to see if anyone was awake. But the house was shrouded in darkness and quiet. I went down the stairs, clutching my shirt, and my eyes fell on a landline phone. Without thinking much, I dialed the number.
“You sold me!” I hissed at my father.
“Oh, you’re alive?” he deadpanned.
“Did you know that they were going to kill me?” Tears stung in my eyes.
He sighed. “Where are you p>
“Somewhere you can never reach!” I replied. “Don’t ever try to find me, dad.” Saying that I slammed the receiver down. I was shaking so hard that I grabbed the back of a sofa and sat down. It was impossible to stop my tears, and so I sobbed and sobbed. If only mom was alive… Finally, after what seemed like hours, I decided to thank the person who saved me and then leave.
The phone beside me rang, taking me by surprise. Afraid that it would disturb the residents, I picked it up. “Hello p>
“I know where you are, Summer,” father’s irritated voice came. “I won’t come in back, else I will kill the guy inside. And you know it p>
A chill ran down my spine. “You won’t! How did you p>
He scoffed. “You know I will. So be a good girl, and come back p>
“Just leave me,” I cried. “I hate you! You hate me p>
house. But I’m waiting on the first street on the east of it. Come
“Stop being dramatic. Just fucking come. I’m waiting in the truck. If you try to run away from me, I’ll kill that bastard p>
And so I returned to my father. He was a hunter. I knew he carried all sorts of ammunition with him. It would be foolish to not comply with his command. It was obvious that he was going to send me back with the cultist, because he owed him money. But as luck would have it–that cult was raided by the police, and I was saved.
My father sold me again. This time to what looked like a mafia man. His drinking and gambling problem working. I had some life. He stole that life also from me.
were getting worse by the day. But at least I was
As I packed my bags, I looked at my escape routes. What if I jumped out of the window? I pulled the curtain slightly, but froze when I saw that Coretti had come with three more men, and his car was parked right beneath my window. Tears slipped out of my eyes as the weight of it came crashing down. But was determined to escape. If I was going to escape, I needed to bide my time. For that, if I acted weak and obedient, Coretti would lower his guard. Then, when the time was right, I would escape.
1/3
Chapter 214
I picked up my duffel bag, and before leaving took one last look at my bedroom. Though I barely had any good memories about the place because my father chose to beat me in his drunken escapades, it was better than whatever hell was waiting for me next.
“Summer!” Dad bellowed from the living room. My hands clenched I into tight fists as I struggled with an urge to run away. But I knew that I would regret
Theard thunderous footsteps up the stairs. My heart began pounding. What if he starts beating me again? So I headed to the door, my eyes sweeping the room. There was a photo of my mom on the side table. I rushed to pick it up.
“Summer!” another bellow.
I stepped out of the room and found that dad was already about
to
open my door. “What took you so long?” he hissed as if he couldn’t wait to get rid of
I walked past him, wiping my tears. When I arrived in the living room, I found Coretti talking to someone on his phone. “We’ll see,” he said gruffly and turned to me.
“Go,” father ordered.
Coretti jerked his head toward the exit and I walked there on autopilot, wondering what was going to happen to me next. Would he make me his sex slave?
The moment I was on the door, dad sat back on the couch with beer in his hand and a smile on his lips. He picked up the remote of the TV and switched it on. There was not a shred of guilt on his face. Just joy. He was free of his debts.
Coretti stormed toward his car, grabbing my wrist. He shoved me inside the passenger seat. The three men sat behind, all staring at me like I was their next meal.
I shrank in my place, wrapping my arms around the duffel bag like it would save me. The car rolled on the streets for about fifteen minutes before it came on a highway. No one spoke for the next hour, until we arrived at a mansion. My jaw dropped at the beautiful mansion in front of me. Built in the center of acres of land, it had white marble walls. There were beautiful balconies and porches in front of every room. Vibrant vines climbed up in every direction. There were people working around. It seemed like I was in a fairytale.
“Come on,” Coretti growled as other men dispersed, I followed him inside the mansion, wide eyed. He led me to a small library where I came face to face with another older man with a very serious face. “Good evening, Mr. Morelli p>
Morelli gave me a once over. “She will be my daughter’s personal servant from today onward. Take her to Laura,” he said in a heavy, gruff voice.
“Wh–what?” My jaw dropped.
Coretti was on my throat immediately. “You do as told, girl. Else I won’t hesitate in killing you p>
I coughed hard, grabbing his wrist as Morelli scoffed looking at the scene unfolding. Who were these men? “S sorry,” I managed to croak.
Coretti shoved me away. “Come on,” he growled. I followed him out meekl
me?
unable to believe what was happening to me. How could God be so cruel to
We went to the housekeeper who gave me a uniform to wear. As I wore it in the changing room, I heard other girls talking in whispers about the Morelli family’s mafia business. Fuck. I was stranded for my life.
“Remember not to answer back to Laura,” the housekeeper warned as we walked through the corridors.
Laura Morelli was a beautiful blond with curves at the right places, and skin like porcelain. She sighed when she looked at me. “I hope she doesn’t die, she remarked. The housekeeper nodded at her tightly, turned and left like a robot.
Laura circled me as if assessing me. “I don’t know what dad saw in you,” she said in an irritated voice. “Anyway, get my suitcases ready. Tomorrow, we are going to the Mating Ball in the Shadowfang pack. If I’m chosen, I’ll be invited to the Luna Trials.” Pride manifested on her face. “I’ll be the only woman representing the humans there. So it is very important, understand p>