Chapter 1 Chapter One

♕—Delilah Looking at myself in the mirror, I clutched the sides of my dress. The nervousness crept up, and a shiver ghosted underneath my skin. My nipples were visible through the thin, silky fabric; my eyes dropped down and anyone could easily see every single dent and curve of my body through this dress. Rita—my chambermaid—slapped at my hands. "Stop it! You will ruin the dress, come on, let's take you to your father's wing" She placed a hand on the small of my back as she led me out of my chambers. I clasped my clammy hands together in front of me and walked with her. We entered our father's wing and a loud clatter followed by the howling laughter of men fell on my ears. "Does papá have guests over?" I asked "I suppose..." she answered vaguely. I frowned, papa never has guests over this late at night. We stopped outside papa's door and Rita nodded at the king's guard. The guard looked me up and down, I noticed how he swallowed and diverted his gaze. I felt naked, completely bare. This was humiliating, I wanted to cry, I wanted to run away from here, I wanted to crawl underneath a rock but instead, I kept standing with my head held high. My father has asked to dress me in such a manner and he had strictly ordered Rita not to let me wear any undergarments. My father is the King Octavius Stark Gutenberg of the Kingdom of Onteros and whatever he says becomes the law. The door opened once more and the guard appeared in my view again. I peeked inside as the guard was stepping out and saw the room filled with men I have never seen before. "You may enter now, princess" I nodded and held Rita's hand but the guard put forward his arm between me and the door. I gave him a skeptical look not understanding what he wanted. "Only the princess is allowed inside" My lips parted with surprise as Rita pulled her hand out of my grip. I took two small steps backward. A feeling of dread crept up from my stomach as Rita turned and walked the other way leaving me alone outside the chamber doors. I could no longer control my hands; they were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm. The guard gestured for me to enter and I heaved a sigh before I took a step forward and the guard pushed the door open. The loud chatter died down immediately, I kept looking at the floor but I could feel eyes on me, multiple burning gazes turned my way. I could feel that they all were undressing me with their eyes. "There she is, my beautiful daughter Delilah, and Delilah meet your husband-to-be, hopefully," The floor shook beneath my feet as my head shot up. My eyes met with two wicked eyes belonging to the cruelest man I have ever read about. King Alexander. His face was hard and cold, with no trace of mercy in them. His eyes drank me up; he stood up taking a few steps in my direction. I glanced at my father, my eyes wounded. Papa had a wicked grin plastered over his face, his chamber was filled with almost thirty men not a single woman in sight. They all were big, bulky, savage warriors. They were King Alexander's warriors, his army. My eyes cut back to the man who was standing too close for comfort, my nostrils filled with his scent—he reeked of whiskey and cigarettes. Papa stood up from his chair, approaching us. He placed a hand over my head, stroking my hair. "My oldest, Princess Delilah Regina Gutenberg, she just turned twenty-three last month, a virgin and magnificently beautiful as you can see" A virgin? Does he have to mention that? "Hm," King Alexander made a deep humming sound that rumbled through his chest. Alexander was forty-two-year-old, I know because we had been invited to his birthday a few months back. He had been married three times before and surprisingly all of his wives had died under unknown circumstances. His reputation was worse than my papa but his wealth was his strong suit, his immense wealth was the reason he was still standing. He raised his hand and I flinched, taking an involuntary step back. He smiled at that and took another step my way before he walked around me in circles. He was pleased by the fact that I was afraid of him but I knew what men like him liked to see. My eyes went back to my father for a mere second, all anyone could see was the smile but only I could see the burning fury in his eyes that was directed towards me. A warning to do as King Alexander pleases, to let him do anything he pleases in this room full of men. My honor meant nothing to my father. He stopped right behind me, I could feel his warm breath on the nape of my neck. He slightly tugged at the strings, my eyes shot to my father in alarm but he was busy staring at Alexander. "You are free to inspect her as you like, Alexander" Inspect me? With a harsh tug, the dress got released from its strings and fell to the ground, pooling around my feet. A strangled cry escaped me as I covered my bare breast from the view of hungry, wolfish eyes present in the room. Tears stung my eyes, my gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I squeezed my thighs, my hand covering my breasts. Two large calloused hands came from behind me and he pulled my hands away from my body. "Keep them to your sides, princess, let me see how beautiful my wife is," his rough voice resounded in my ears. His words made me go still, I felt as though something has walked through me and left me numb and shaking. I hoped he'd reject me. He circled back to my front. His hands slightly caressed the sides of my breasts before trailing down to my stomach and dropping to the side of my hips. "Have you been touched before?" he asked I gave my head a slight shake. "No..." Except, I had been... many, many times consensually. He grazed my cheek with the back of his hand. "It's okay, you can tell me. Perhaps by a king's guard or by one of the servants" I again shook my head. "No..." I wasn't stupid. "Hmm..." he nodded before turning away from me. "I accept your daughter's hand, Octavius. I shall marry her by the end of this week" Papa laughed with exhilaration. "Alexander, I'm glad you deem her worthy to make your wife" Was he not going to ask me if I deem him worthy? Was he not going to ask me if I wanted to inspect him? "Yes, but I will pay you after she bleeds on our wedding night, no blood, no money," he said it so casually like he had done this kind of thing a thousand times before, and given his record of dead wives I won't be surprised. Bleed on our wedding night? I bit my lower lip to stop it from quivering because I didn't even bleed when I had my first time. The thought that if I failed to get out of this marriage—which is highly possible—then he will find out about it and it's gonna not going to end well for me. I wanted to drop to my knees and wail until the walls of this palace shook with force but I stood upright. My eyes glared at nothing in particular. "Oh, she will, my daughter is as pure as the day she was born" Oh, but I'm not, papa... Alexander nodded at his men and they all stood up, "I will be back by the end of this week to take her""And she will be ready, right, Delilah?" My neck tensed as I bowed my head. "Yes, my king" Alexander smiled before he walked past me and his men followed behind. They all stepped out of the room including my father and the second they went out, I grabbed the dress from the floor and covered myself. "Delilah..." My father's voice made me stiffen my muscles. I thought he left... I faced him in hopes that for a mere second he will remember that I am his daughter and realize how ridiculous and cruel all this is but instead all I could see on his face was indifference and coldness. "Papa, please... I do not want this" He lifted a shoulder. "Doesn't matter what you want, Delilah. It's done""Papa, I will die...""I'm neck deep in debt, Delilah, you think I care if I lost a daughter to get my kingdom back on its feet? I'll kill thousands of Delilahs to get my power back, do you understand me?""But you have power—" He cut me off. "WHAT POWER?! Our gold mines ran dry years ago, WE HAVE NOTHING! This is my only chance to get my power back and I will not let you ruin that for me or my kingdom!" I tried again, one last pathetic attempt. "He is cruel, papa, he is a savage—""It's all hearsay, King Alexander is a noble and honorable King, and you should feel lucky to be his wife, his queen""Papa...""Get out before I give you a good lashing, Delilah!" I shook my head unbelievably, my heart beating so loud in my ears that I couldn't hear anything else. "Guards!" he shouted and two of the guards entered immediately. "Take the princess back to her chambers" The guard came toward me but I raised my hand and glared at my father. "I can escort myself out." Holding the dress up on my body, I ran out of his wing and down the stairs. I stepped out of the palace's doors and glanced at the guards who came to me in alarm. "I need to be alone right now!" I ordered. They stilled, stepping back in their positions. I sniffled as I walked to where I wanted to go. The stables. I burst open the door and closed them behind me, locking the padlock. The stables were the only place in the palace that feels like home; it was smelly but I didn't mind the smell because he was there. King Alexander asked if I had been touched by a servant or a king's guard but he forgot to ask about the stable boy. "Delilah?" he came out from behind, shock written all over his face as he noticed my tears. "Jack..." I breathed out and ran into his arms. "What happened, what's wrong?" I nuzzled my face into his neck, losing myself in his comforting touch. I pulled away from him, looking deeply into his eyes. Without another thought, I pressed our lips together. My dress fell to the ground once more but this time I didn't feel humiliated. Jack took me to his bed and laid me down. I spread my legs for him, wide open as I have done many times before. He settled between my thighs and he took me with love and tenderness. I had been in love with Jack since I was sixteen years old and he was seventeen. I gave myself to him when I was twenty and he was twenty-one. We had been each other's comfort for the last two years and I won't let anyone take this away from us. As he reached his high, he pulled himself out of me and spilled it on the floor next to me before he slumped his body over me and inhaled deeply to catch his breath. "Jake..." I whispered. "Hm?""King Alexander had accepted papa's proposal" He placed his palms on either side of my head and pulled himself up, frowning. "About about?""For my hand in marriage..." I whispered ever so slightly, my chest heavy with overwhelming emotions. "What?""I am supposed to get married to him this Saturday," I told him, emotionlessly. "But I'm not going to..." He got off me and pulled his trousers up. He ran a hand through his hair and asked. "What are you going to do?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "What am I going to do? Jack, we are going to do this together. We'll run away, we still have three days, we can devise a plan and run away together—""Are you crazy, Delilah? You think we stand a chance in front of your father and King Alexander?!" The sudden shock from his word made me go still, it took me a minute to understand what he had just said. The sudden change in his demeanor made me rubbed me off the wrong way. What did he mean by that? Did our love mean nothing to him? "We'll run away, we'll run out of this country—""You're being an idiot!" he snapped. "If we get caught your father won't let anything happen to you but he will give me the most gruesome death that this kingdom has ever seen!" Anger whooshed through my body, I got up and picked up that flimsy dress from the floor and put it on. "I'm such a fool, such a pathetic little fool, who thought that you loved me!""Delilah!" Jack grabbed me from behind and hugged me, his arms wrapping around my body. "I love you, I do, alright but this is a big step," he heaved a sigh and kissed the side of my head. "Give me some time, I'll figure something out" Tears stung my eyes once more as I melted in his arms, he was my only way out of this. "Promise?" He nodded. "I promise"

Chapter 2 Chapter Two

♞—Lorenzo "I'm in a good mood today," I told him, "I'm gonna let you choose. Waterboarding or I could drill a hole in your head" His eyes widened as he tried to shake his head frantically. He bit on the gag in his mouth, his veins popped out everywhere and a layer of sweat covered his body. I had been torturing him for three months now, I had a rule. I always torture them for ninety-two days. And today was his ninety-second day. It was over for him. I picked up the drill. "I think we should go with the drill" He made animalistic sounds through the gag. I think he was trying to say something, trying to get his last words. I wasn't so ruthless. I was going to grant him his last words. I stopped before him and pulled the gag out of his mouth. "FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, YOU PIECE OF—" I calmly put the gag back. "That was a waste of breath," I said as I walked around him and stopped behind his back. I dipped my head and got closer to his ear. "I'm going to enjoy your pain very much. You see, pain is the only language I understand, and when people scream in agony, it's like the most beautiful harmony in the world for me, so, I want you to scream all you like, I want you to show me how much it hurts. It's going to be so much fun for me but unfortunately not for you. Goodbye, Rico" I straightened back to my full height. His head was in place and his hair was shaved off completely. I chose the spot it would hurt the most; I turned the drill on. The whirring sound resounded in the cell. It was soundproof, he could scream all he likes, as much as he wants. I placed it in the middle and watched as the drill worked to dig a hole into his skull. The blood was instant, it sprayed around, over my face, my clothes, all around me. The smell, the color, the screams of agony—it was magnificent. I breathed it in. I lost myself in it. Drilling hole after hole, I didn't know when the screaming stopped, I don't know when his attempts to break free halted, I was too far gone into madness to see what had become of the man I had been torturing for the last three months. But then he stopped bleeding... He almost ran dry of blood, it was all spilled. I finally looked around me, the cell was filled with the color red. I dropped the drill to the ground and stepped out of the cell, aware of the blood-filled shoe prints that followed me. I wiped my face and stepped up the staircase, leading to the garden shed of Don Niko's Mansion. Getting out, I looked up at the sky; it was still morning when I went inside and now the sky looked almost black. I wiped my face and continued to get to the main gates. "Lorenzo!" a soft voice called me and I stilled. I looked at her from over my shoulder. Mrs. Evangeline Costello—seven months pregnant with Don Niko's child. We don't say no to anything she wants, it was an unspoken rule. "Come on, join us for dinner" she gave me one of her warm smiles. She invited me in. I can never understand her. I was covered in blood from head to toe, she knows what I am, and what I am capable of, she is completely unfazed by the scars on my face but she doesn't get scared of me. She doesn't call me a monster. Everyone knows I'm a monster but she doesn't think so. So, I don't understand her, I never have but I know that if anyone would even think of hurting her, I'd skin them alive without a second thought. I shook my head. "I'm not dressed for dinner" She placed a hand on her waist and lifted a shoulder. "It's just a little blood" I swallowed, not wanting to say no to her but I also don't want to ruin her dinner. All this blood and my face could ruin her appetite. She was vulnerable, she was pregnant, and she didn't need the likes of me around her. "I think I should go home and take a shower first" She blew out a breath like children do. "Fine!" she turned on her heels and went back inside where she is safe. Good. I walked out of the mansion and went straight to my car. I brought the engine to life and drove all the way to Brooklyn. I parked the car before a salon and watched the woman working on another woman's hair. This salon was in the lowest neighborhood of Brooklyn, it wasn't a very safe or secured area. Lecherous and perverted men hung around every corner because the salons were just a cover for the brothels. I watched as she finished up on her hair and showed her what it looked like by holding a mirror behind her head. The woman who worked in that salon was Lola, she was a prostitute; she ran from her village in Mexico when she was twenty-one and she came here. She said she liked doing what she did, she said no one forced her into this. This was her choice. It was the only reason I come to her. The woman stepped out of the salon and Lola was left alone inside. I got out of the car and went to her. The bell above the door made a sound as I walked in which caught Lola's attention. "Lorenzo..." she whispered, her eyes wide, taking in the blood on my clothes. I walked past her, grabbing her arm along the way. I walked into the backdoor that led to the private rooms. "Which one's free?" I asked. She entered the second door to the left and I followed behind. I took off my jacket and the bloodied white shirt along with my trousers. "Am I allowed to ask whose blood that is?" she asked. "No." She giggled. "How do you want it, my big bad man?""On your knees." She smiled and got down on her knees. She was good to me. Did everything I asked without asking questions. Didn't pry into my life. Didn't like to make small talk. This was nice. She got on her knees and did what she did best. She pleasured me with her mouth. I could be as ruthless in sex as I am in real life and she didn't mind. She let me take control of her body. Maybe, it was only because I was paying her but this works for me. She doesn't touch me anywhere else. She feels warm and soft in my hands, something I'm not used to. "Get up," I ordered and she did. "turn around and raise your skirt" She did as she was told, she bent over the table, spreading her legs, offering her cunt to me. I pushed my cock hard into her; she screamed, grabbing whatever she could to keep her balance. I fucked her ruthlessly. I fucked her savagely. I fucked her till I was fucking satisfied. Then I pulled out and spilled all over her ass. I pulled up my pants and tossed her two thousand dollars. I know how much she needed the money. I put on the jacket and grabbed the bloodied shirt before I went to the door. "Did I ever tell you that you are my favorite customer?" she grinned. "No, you have not" She laughed and grabbed the money before hugging it. "I could kiss you right now!""I do not kiss." She rolled her eyes. "I know, I was just sayin'—""Never say that again.""Okay..." I pulled the door open and went out, going back to my car. I drove to my home, I never thought I'd have a place I could call home. For a kid who had spent his life on the streets, this still felt made-up. I turned a few lights on and went to take a shower. I watched the rest of the blood washing away from my body. I dried my body off, changed into my boxer shorts, and sat on my bed, pulling out a box of cigars—they were a gift from Don Niko. I lit one up and lodged it between my lips. My phone vibrated over the nightstand, I grabbed it and saw Scott's name flash across the scene. "Scott?""Where are you?" I took a long drag. "Home.""Get your ass to the warehouse!" I blew out the smoke. "Why?""Are you forgetting that we have got a Royal fucking wedding to crash in the morning?!""Shit!" I forgot about that.

Chapter 3 Chapter Three

♕—Delilah "He is going to kill me, mama" I whispered, staring at myself in the mirror. This beautiful white gown felt like a death sentence. "...that's what he did to all his wives" Mama stroked my curled hair and she adjusted the veil in place. "No, he won't, my Delilah is stronger than that. If anyone can change that man, it's going to be you" My heart felt so heavy, tears burned in my eyes and I shook my head in negative. "He won't change, mama! This isn't a fairytale. He isn't a prince. People like him... they don't change. I'm going to die," I whispered the last part to myself. Everything was in order, Jack and I were supposed to flee last night but I'm not sure how some of the guards got wind of it. The gates were sealed shut, I didn't even get to see him last night, he was taken away before that. From what I have heard from Rita, Jack tried his best to save me, he took the blame and told everyone that he was the one who filled my head with such ideas. He did it all for my love and now he was going to pay the price for it. He was captured. He is going to pay the price of touching me, he is going to pay the price of loving me, he is going to pay the of ever laying eyes on me. I did this to him. I sentenced my Jack to death. The guilt overwhelmed me. Papa had thrown him into a dungeon, he is going to torment him. Papa threatened me that he was going to torture him long and hard... all because of me. They said if I did anything wrong if I tried to run or do anything that puts the future of this kingdom in danger, they will serve me Jack's severed head for dinner. Jack warned me that running away like this was stupid, he told me that it won't work; that my father will know one way or another and he did. Papa was one step ahead of us and now here I was in a white gown for a man I could never love. The door slammed open and papa walked in. Mama and I and everyone in the room bowed down on one knee. "Rise, Delilah." I did and faced my father. He raised his hand to cup my cheek but I cringed away from his touch. He was no father, a father would never do this to their child. Papa formed a fist and pulled it back to his side. "Be out in ten minutes" He walked out followed by his guards. The servants that were tasked to get me ready did some finishing touches to my make-up and dress. I wore the four inches stiletto heels and little brother, my cute little future king, Anthony handed me the bouquet that he made all by himself with the flower he personally plucked from our gardens. The doors opened expecting me to walk down to my hell. I inhaled a deep breath and entangled an arm with my mama as we walked out of the room to get into the church. Grand music started to play, it was the same doomed song that played at my parent's wedding and my grandparent's wedding. It was our family's song. The sound of it made my skin crawl. I raised my eyes and saw the monster standing at the altar. My chin trembled and I sniffled; keeping my tears in. I will not let this weaken me, I will come out of this marriage one way or another and I will save Jack from the hands of my father. CRASH! A loud shattering sound that chilled me to my bone. The whole church got startled even all the King's guards as the large glass windows crashed violently sending shards of glass everywhere. I winced as it cut the bare skin of both of my arms. My mind suddenly went numb, I had no idea what was going on as all the guards pulled their guns out. The men dressed in all-black ran into the church from everywhere, through the windows, through the door I just entered from, and they just kept coming and coming. The guests hid under their seats, screaming for their lives, every single sound, every single scream just echoed in my mind. "DELILAH!" I looked to my side to see my hysterical mama. "RUN!" Run... I looked to the altar to see Alexander hiding behind a pillar loading his gun, I glanced at papa hiding behind his guards with a look of sheer terror on his face, and then I looked back at mama. "Go, I'll be fine, this is your chance, Delilah, GO!" My senses suddenly came back, I sprinted towards the door and once I was outside, I kicked off my heels and picked up the long tail of my dress, and ran as fast as I could. "LORENZO, MARCO, GET THE FUCKING BRIDE!" I heard a deep voice call out, his commanding voice sent a chill down my spine but I didn't stop running or looked back. I ran out of the church and saw all the soldiers running inside to get to their Kings—Alexander and Octavius. Whenever a tragedy or war strikes, they are ordered to protect the King first, then the Heir to the throne, then the Queen Consort, and lastly the Princesses. And I have never been happier about that law! Without looking here and there, I ran straight towards the woods in front of the church. I don't know where they led but I didn't care at the moment. Keeping my breathing steady, I pushed harder and went faster. I felt my whole body working; my leg muscles running warm, fresh air entered my lungs and blood flowed into all of my limbs. My pulse pounded in my ears, my breath coming out short. I heard footsteps behind me, I tried to run faster but my dress was incredibly heavy, it was slowing me down. I didn't have the time to stop and rip the fabric off. The woods led to a road and there was just more forest on the other side of the road, I glanced back over my shoulder and sprinted deeper into the woods. Must get away! Must not get caught! My foot nearly slipped from beneath me as something sharp prickled into my heel making me let out a little shriek, I covered my mouth with both of my hands and kept on running. The sharp object had clung to my skin, every step I took, it went deeper and deeper, and tears trailed down my cheeks but I didn't stop. I found a big rock and I hid behind it, for a moment to catch my breath and to get rid of the thing in my heel. I looked behind me and found no one, I heaved a sigh and dropped to my butt on the ground, I pulled my foot up and saw a sharp piece of wood lodged into my heel. I gripped it and closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, I pulled the wood out and watched as the blood dripped out and soaked my white, dirt-filled dress. I ripped my dress from the bottom, it was a mermaid dress with a little slit. I wrapped a piece of clothes that I had ripped on my feet, so my feet won't hurt again. Then I heard a sound. Crunching of leaves under boots, multiple boots. "She went this way!" My heartbeat accelerated, I think heart might burst out of my chest. I slowly crawled behind another large rock before getting to my feet and sprinting out of there. "Over there!" From their accents, they sounded Americans. I have met a few Americans in my lifetime and they were all politicians, who have come to meet papa. I halted in my steps when a man stepped before me, he had a malicious smirk on his face. I have no idea where he came from. "You have been a very bad little princess" I turned on my heels and saw another man, my breath got caught in my throat as my eyes met with his. Sweat poured down my body but I stayed as still as possible. My teeth chattered in fear. The man before me had black eyes and black hair, and there was a scar on his face, a long cut on his right cheek. The hollowness of his eyes sent a surge of terror throughout my body making my limbs shiver in response. I turned to my side and tried to run but they were too close, one of them grabbed me by my arm and the other grabbed the back of my dress, my ankle twisted and I fell to the ground, I let out a scream but the one with the scar sat over my lower body and covered my mouth. I fought him as hard as I could, I landed punches on his stomach, on his thighs, on his arms but he seemed unaffected by all of it. He extended his hand to his partner and he handed him something, he grabbed my forearm and I lost it, I started to thrash around wildly, his partner kneeled on the ground and held me down while he stabbed my arm with something. I let out a muffled scream but it was of no use. Tears streamed down my face as I felt my body going limp under him. He got off me and threw my limp body over his shoulder. My eyes started to close of their own accord. No, please, no, Delilah, you can not give up, please! My body lost all its power and there was nothing I could do to save myself.

Chapter 4 Chapter Four

♕—Delilah I felt so thirsty. My head hurt. My eyelids felt heavy, it was all so dark. I was in a moving car, that much I could sense. My whole body was curled in an odd position. I tried to pull my hand to my face to get rid of the cloth covering it but couldn't, they were stuck behind my back, tied together with something rough. Then it hit me. Jack. My wedding with Alexander. Those men. I ran. They caught me. I was drugged. I was kidnapped. Panic shot through my veins; fear overpowered my body as I started to thrash around. I tried to scream but the gag in my mouth made it impossible for me to utter a word. "Ah, the woman of the hour is awake" I heard a faintly familiar voice say. It was the man who was chasing me in the forest, the one without the scar. I stilled; fear turned my veins to ice. Shivers crept through my body. "Get her up" I heard another deep voice that I didn't recognize. Someone grabbed my elbow and pulled me up into a sitting position, they ripped off the thick cloth from over my head and daylight hit my eyes, making me squeeze them shut. I squeezed open my eyes with difficulty and tried to adjust to the lighting. The first thing I saw was the two men sitting in front of me. I had no idea what kind of car it was because two of them were sitting in front of me and I looked to my side, the scarred face guy was sitting right next to me. I scrambled away from him, pressing my body into the door behind me. I looked out the window and saw people going by their day, I tried to scream and hit the windows with my shoulder but all I got in return was laughter from the men sitting in front of me. "Lorenzo, pull out the princess's gag," the man with black hair, blue eyes, and a brawn tattooed body said, from the way he was ordering around all of them, I think he was in charge. The scarred face guy—his name's Lorenzo savagely pulled the gag out of my mouth. My stomach churned over and I felt sick for this brief moment. My head throbbed with pain, I licked my lips. These men looked too polished. Their black suits were perfectly crisp and ironed, their hair perfectly combed and tousled, and I could see their gold chains and watches peeking through from under their dark clothes. They can't be some lowlife kidnappers who want money in return, no, they must want something else. "Who are you?" The man with blue eyes leaned back on his seat, a malicious smirk playing over his lips. "Nikolai Costello""A-are y-you—" I swallowed, I didn't want to ask them about the money. "Marco, give her some water" Nikolai Costello ordered the other guy that was chasing me down in the woods. His name was Marco. Marco threw a water bottle toward the scarred face guy, what was his name again?! He roughly unscrewed the bottle and shoved the bottle into my mouth forcing a lot of water into it. He pulled it out and I took a breath before he shoved it into my mouth again. He again pulled the bottle away and I shook my head, it was less drinking and more torture. I'd rather stay dehydrated. I faced their leader once more. "Are you the guy my father owes money to? If you are then you won't get your money back. My father would rather let me die—""Yes," his deep commanding voice shut me up in an instant. "your father does owe me a lot of money but I didn't do this for money." he let out a dark chuckle. "Do I look like a man who needs your father's dirty money?" I looked around me and noticed that they all were watching me, their dark gaze unnerved me. "Then why am I here?" He poured himself a glass of liquor and smiled into the glass. "What's your name?" I remained silent, I don't know if I should tell my kidnapper anything about myself. "Rita..." I lied. "I already know everything about you, Princess Delilah, don't try to play smart with me" saying that, he gave me a revolted glare that sent a chill down my spine. I glared right into his eyes, I won't let him k ow that he had unnerved me, I won't let them know my fear or make them think that they have the strength to break me. They will get no tears, no begging, or pleading. All of them can go to hell. The car stopped moving and the door to the SUV slid open. They stepped out first and then the door opened from my side and Lorenzo gripped my elbow and pulled me out like I wasn't even a living breathing human. My bare feet hit the concrete and I winced, rubbing one foot over the other to soothe the pain. Before me, stood a modern estate, it didn't look like a place where one would take his captives. I tried to pull my arms but the knot behind my back only tightened more. "Take her to the basement" Nikolai Costello ordered. The scarred face Lorenzo started to drag me to god knows where when I heard a soft, happy voice. "You're home!" My head snapped back and I saw a very pregnant girl kissing Nikolai Costello, I don't know if it was his wife or girlfriend but he smiled at her after the kiss; he caressed her face and then the baby bump. I suddenly wanted to talk to that woman, maybe, she will help me out of there. "Stay the fuck away from her" The voice was low, deep, and husky with a hint of a warning. I glanced to my side and saw Lorenzo's face a little too close to mine, my whole body shivered. He looked monstrous and menacing but I shoved that fear deep down inside of me. He kept on dragging me until I lost sight of the pregnant girl, he opened a door to a little shed and forced me inside. He then hauled me down the stairs making me twist my ankle, it was harsh but still, a pang of pain shot through my leg. "Can you walk a little slower" He didn't say anything, he simply walked faster and slammed me into a wall. I groaned and glared at him, I watched him as he unlocked a door. My eyes darted everywhere, looking for an escape or something to hit him with. Opening the door, he gripped my elbow once more and tossed me inside making me land on my side. He heard him lock the door behind him. Terror sucked the very breath from my mouth as I looked around the room to see a dirty, disgusting toilet seat right next to me. Revolted by it, I skated back on my hips and my back hit the dirty sink. There was a dirty sheet in the corner and that was just it. There were no windows, only a bulb hanging from the ceiling. I dry-heaved, I wanted to throw up but there was nothing in my stomach to be hurled out. I turned back and saw Lorenzo, he was sharpening his knife. My life flashed before my eyes. I didn't have the best life out there but my mama and my little brother loved me; Jack loved me. Papa had always given me a comfortable, luxurious life and now that I looked around me, I wanted to bawl my eyes out. I had no idea who they were and what they wanted from me. He took a step in my direction and I immediately shuffled away from him. "Don't hurt me, please, don't hurt me" I promised myself that I wouldn't beg but the words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them. "Please, don't..." He dropped to his haunches right in front of me and turned me. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the pain but it never came instead the knot around my wrists loosened before it fell off altogether. I instantly brought my hands to my chest, rubbing my wrists. Lorenzo grabbed the wire that had been tied with and stuffed it in his pocket. He began to walk towards the door. "Are you just going to leave me down here?!" I stopped and glanced at him from over his shoulder before she continued walking and slammed the door shut. I heard the clinking of keys as he locked it. I sat there on the dirty floor and then finally a single tear slid down my cheek. I wiped it off. I won't cry.

Chapter 5 Chapter Five

♕—Delilah I pressed my back against the stone wall, my hands wrapped around my stomach as an urge to urinate doubled. I slammed my head back into the wall a few times, frustrated by my helplessness; hopelessness. I had no idea what they wanted from me or why I was here. I needed to use the toilet so badly but I refuse to do it because of the camera in the corner of the room. They were watching me, they were watching my every move. This was inhuman and humiliating. I couldn't even use the dirty toilet, I gritted my teeth. Shaking my head, I thought about something else, I tried to distract myself. Think about mama, think about Anthony, what they must be doing right now? Will papa look for me? Will he hurt mama for telling me to run? My heart drowned in my chest as I thought about Jack. It seemed so long ago since I last touched him, I remembered how I spent our last night together, I was crying my eyes out while he whispered sweet nothings into my ears, kissed my tears away, and took me with gentle strokes. A loud pounding on the door startled me out of my thoughts, I looked towards it as it slowly opened and a guy named Lorenzo entered with a tray of food. I didn't want to eat, I wanted to defy him. I wanted to let him know that I won't be their puppet in this play but the smell of food made my stomach growl. I tightened my encircled arms around it. He dropped the tray to the floor and turned to leave. It didn't look like prisoner's food, there was everything on that tray, even dessert. If I wanted to keep my focus and strength, I had to eat it, and also because I was so hungry. I hadn't eaten in so long. My mama and Rita begged me to eat something before the ceremony but I rudely shut them down. I shouldn't have done that. "Wait..." my voice came out rough, weak. He stopped and looked at me from over his shoulder. "I need to use the toilet..." I uneasily trailed off. He faced me with a deep frown, his eyes went to the dirty, disgusting toilet, and then back at me. He watched me like I was an idiot for not seeing that the toilet seat was in the same room with me. "I won't use it!" I declared. He raised an eyebrow, his expression was as if he was challenging me. "Not when people are watching me. I'm a princess, I will not tolerate people like you playing with my pride or honor!" He scowled, his eyes narrowed from the edges. "Remove the camera! It's not like I can run or anything. At least give me a little privacy to use the toilet" Then he spoke, his voice deep, rough. "You are not a princess here. This is what you get" saying that, he turned and left, slamming the door on his way out. I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream. This can't be happening to me. What did I do to deserve such a fate? Giving up, I walked to the disgustingly vile toilet seat, my hands trembled as I slid down my white lace underwear—the one that was sent by Alexander. He wanted to stain them with my blood. I covered my legs with my wedding dress and peed, a bastion of warm comfort settled in my lower belly as I had been holding it for like three to four hours now. These people were animals and I don't know which was worse; not being able to bleed on Alexander's bed or this, being a prisoner to some twisted people about whom I have no idea what they wanted to do with me. I ripped off the toilet paper and cleaned myself before throwing them into the toilet seat and flushing it. I walked to the sink and washed my hand with the used, dusty soap. I splashed some water over my face and let it drip down my chin. I grabbed the tray of food and walked to the sheets, in the corner. My eyes watered but I shook my head, blinking them away. I silently ate the food, feeling the strength return to my body, my aching limb felt a little better as I ate. I ate everything, I was so hungry, I didn't care. I needed the strength to fight them. I needed the strength if I wanted to get out of here alive. ┈┈┈┈․° ☣︎ °․┈┈┈┈ Five days... It had been five days. I haven't seen the sky or had a clock in here to know that it had been five days but they gave me food, three times a day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's how I knew that it had been five days. I was still in my wedding dress, it smelled bad and I wanted nothing more than to take it off, my body ached because of sleeping on the concrete floor. The cameras didn't bother me anymore nor did the dirty toilet. Sometimes it gets really hot in here as if they had turned the heaters on and sometimes it gets so cold that I feel like I might freeze to death. Sometimes they cut off the water supply for hours or sometimes they'd flood the cell and no matter how hard I tried the water just wouldn't stop. They were not torturing me. They were making me lose my mind. They are going to kill me when they realize that I have no value to my father or Alexander. When they realize that I have no use for them. They are going to kill me. I hadn't seen the scarred-face guy again. Every day there is a different guard that throws food my way. Today won't be any different until I heard the soft voice again. The pregnant lady... There was a small window in the door from where guards watched me as they patrol as if watching me from the cameras wasn't enough. I scrambled to my feet and ran to the door, I kicked it numerous times violently. "HELP! HELP! HELP! PLEASE! HELP ME! PLEASE!""Who is that?" I heard her soft voice again. "No one, baby girl""HEY! PLEASE, THE PREGNANT GIRL! PLEASE, HELP ME OUT! YOUR BOYFRIEND IS A PSYCHOPATH! PLEASE, HELP ME, PLEASE!""The pregnant girl? Is she referring to me?" she asked, her voice resounding in the narrow corridor. "YES! PLEASE! YES! I'M REFERRING TO YOU, PLEASE HELP ME, PLEASE!""Baby girl, let's go—" She cut him off. "Nikolai, I want to see her""No, she is a lunatic, she will hurt you""NO! HE IS LYING, PLEASE, TRUST ME, I WON'T HURT YOU, I PROMISE. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME, I'LL DIE IN HERE!" Then I heard the sound of multiple footsteps and she finally came into my view. She narrowed her eyes as she tried to watch me through the small window. "Please, help me!" I begged, I felt pathetic. I had never begged anyone in my life before. "Who is she?""No one" I heard the deep voice of her boyfriend. "Please, please, they kidnapped me and brought me here. Please, help me""Kidnapped? Why don't I know anything about it?""Because she isn't important, Evangeline" her boyfriend told her. Evangeline, the pregnant lady's name was Evangeline. "Evangeline, please, help me, please." I pleaded, calling her by her name. "Lorenzo, open the door" she ordered "Evangeline—""Lorenzo, I gave you an order" I heard the clicking of the lock and then the door swung open. I stepped back, taming my wild hair, and wiping my hands over my dirty wedding gown. She stepped in, caressing her bump, and behind her entered the same four men that had brought me here. Lorenzo, Nikolai, Marco, and the driver—I don't know his name. And they all glared at me like they wanted to murder me.

Chapter 6 Chapter Six

♕—Delilah Evangeline looked me up and down. "Is she wearing her wedding gown?" then some kind of realization dawned on her face. "Is she the princess from the royal wedding that I specifically told you not to kidnap?!" she turned to her boyfriend. I nodded hysterically. "I am, I am the princess. They drugged me and brought me here and they had been torturing me ever since""TORTURING YOU?!" the driver shouted, taking a threatening step my way. "Scott!" Evangeline snapped at him and then again faced her boyfriend. "Evangeline, I never promised you that I won't kidnap her" She frustratedly threw her arms in the air. "Nikolai, you can not kidnap an innocent just because you hate her father and fiancé. Kidnap the father, torture him not her""We hadn't been torturing her, Evangeline," Lorenzo spoke and my eyes widened at how soft his voice was, how gently he talked to her, and how he looked at her like she was the only person in the room. Is he in love with his boss's pregnant wife? I noticed how they all were acting differently with her. They cared for her and I could use that. I could use that care to my advantage. "He is lying! They tried to freeze me to death and then roast me alive, they had flooded this cell more than four times now. There was water up to my nose, I couldn't breathe!" Nikolai's eyes turned feral, he glared at his pregnant girlfriend as she glared right back. "I'm keeping her till her father and her fiancé remember who they messed with" She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine, keep her but not like this. Let's take her up in our home" I know the men around us looked like they had no intention to let me go, heck, I knew it wasn't going to be this easy but at least if I'm up there in the house with them maybe, I can escape. He laughed darkly, dry amusement clear on his face. "If you think that I'd allow this creature in my home while my wife is seven months pregnant, then you're fucking wrong, Evangeline. I don't bring strangers into my home" Wife? Then I noticed the wedding rings in their hands. She lifted a shoulder. "You brought me to your home without even knowing me.""Because it was you," he said as a matter of factly. "You didn't know me back then" she shot back mimicking his tone. "You were innocent," he pointed his finger at me. "She is anything but innocent. What if she tries to hurt you?""I won't..." I shook my head immediately but regretted it as four pairs of dark, murderous eyes glared at me. "I. Don't. Trust. Her.""Fine, then she will live with one of your men where she can breathe and not get tortured because I know what goes on down here!""I don't trust anyone enough to—" She cut him off. "Except for these three, Marco, Lorenzo, and Scott""Hand her to me, I will keep her like the princess that she is" the guy named Scott smiled at me maliciously. "Or me, we can have fun, right little princess" Marco uttered mirroring the same evil smile that was on Scott's face. Evangeline frowned at both of them and then faced me. "You choose..." And suddenly I was rendered speechless. I didn't want to choose either of them, I wanted to choose her, so I did. "I want to live with you" Before Evangeline could speak, her husband cut in. "She's not an option" The threatening hint in his voice made a shudder from my feet travel to my head. I glanced back at the three men that looked like the most dangerous man in the entire world as my options. Two of them were smirking, looking me up and down as if I was a piece of meat but Lorenzo wasn't. He kept looking at his boss's wife. Out of the three of them, I interacted the most with Lorenzo, although he doesn't really speak. He glanced at me and our eyes met; I shivered, but it wasn’t from the cold, it was because of the intensity of his stare. He slightly shook his head, telling me not to pick him. I don't know if it was a warning or a threat or anything else. My eyes went back to the other two, the guy named Scott shamelessly eye-raped me, and the other guy, Marco, pulled at his crotch. No, no, no... I raised a trembling finger and pointed at Lorenzo. Evangeline's eyes followed where I was pointing and she smiled. "I would have chosen him too" she whispered to me and turned to Lorenzo, I refused to look at him again. "Lorenzo, is it alright with you?""Do you want me to keep her?" he asked her, still with a gentle voice and I kept my eyes on my dirty, swollen feet. "Yes...""Then I will keep her in my house. Don Niko, she won't be able to escape." Don Niko? Don Niko? Then I remembered where I had heard his name. Alexander's birthday party, four months ago. Alexander was talking about Don Niko to papa. I have seen papa shiver from his name. My papa, King Octavius, a tyrant, and ruthless King is afraid of Don Niko. I suddenly felt like they indeed have not tortured me. I have heard stories about the mafia, gruesome and gory stories that made me realize, I had it easy. "Come on, let's go upstairs""But—""No, buts, she will stay with Lorenzo until we decided what to do with her. You will come with me upstairs and rest" He stepped out of the cell along with his wife, leaving me alone with three wolf-like men. I swallowed, stepping back as Scott encircled me like a hungry predator. "You didn't choose me, princess, instead you chose a monster. I could have taken care of you, you know..." he stopped right behind me and breathed down my neck. My insides trembled with fear but I stood my ground, refusing to cower away in their presence. "I could have shown you a really good time but you chose him. He is a fucking monster and he will rip you apart" he chuckled. "And I'm not just talking about your little pussy" Marco leaped closer to me, standing in front of me. I stepped back and my body slammed into Scott's hard one. He grabbed my waist from behind and Marco grabbed my arms, they both held me, restricting my movement and restraining me. They were so strong. I couldn't get out. "You know, nothing is stopping us from ripping those dirty rags off your body and taking you right here on this floor. You snitched on us, princess, we don't like snitches" I won't cry. I won't beg. I won't cower away. I won't. I won't. I won't. Marco's hand went to my breast and before he could touch it, I spat on his face. That's all I could do, that's all I could do to defend myself, my honor. He cringed, stepping away. Scott also threw me forward over the dirty sheets on the floor. My knees hit the concrete and I still didn't make a sound. Marco wiped his face multiple times and then faced me once more. "You filthy, disgusting—""Marco." Lorenzo's voice stopped them, both of them. "Evangeline made her my responsibility. Don't!" I glared at him, now he decided to speak up. What about when they both were groping me?! That's all, that's all he said before they both stepped back, glaring at me like I was the most disgusting human being they had ever encountered. "Teach this bitch a lesson for me, will ya?" Marco said to him. "I will..." Two words, just two words, and I realized... I won't get out of here alive.