Chapter 2
One lookat my father’s devastated face and I knew it wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough. The man who’d just bought me for more money than I’d seen my entire life stood before me.
I gave a single nod because what else was I going to do? My father had sold me off to pay his debts. In the end, this was always going to be my outcome. The fact he’d waited until I was twenty-two was a miracle.
“Ash!”
On instinct, I turned to my father. My jaw burned in pain, my stomach clenched, and my shoulders burned. Everything hurt, and still, I had to face my father. Who knew what the hell would happen to me?
“Don’t come any closer,” my new owner told Father.
My back stiffened as fear crawled up my spine. I had no idea what kind of man he was. However, by his commanding voice alone, my future looked bleak. I’d rather go back home with my father. At least then, I knew the monster that stood before me. It was better than the unknown.
“He’s my son. I should be allowed to say my last few words to him.”
The man behind me let out an obnoxious laugh. “You fucking sold your son. Fuck off, Roger, before I tack on an inconvenience fee to your growing debt.”
My father bristled, his face reddening as his fists balled up. On instinct, I tried to smile around the gag in my mouth. My lips stretched even further, burning as they cracked. Ignoring the pain, I tried to appease my father the best I could.
He met my gaze and settled down. “You be good, you hear?” He glanced over at the man who owned me. “Mr. Vitale is bound to get bored with you soon, and then you can come back home.”
Back home.My stomach pitched down to the pits of hell where my future lay. I nodded and kept my smile even as something wet dripped down my chin.
“What’s keeping me from killing him?” Mr. Vitale asked. He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder and pulled me taut against his side. “I own him now. Far as I’m concerned, you will never see him again.”
I didn’t know if I was devastated or elated by that statement. Emotions warred inside of me, and I decided to ignore them. Neither would help me. Happiness was nothing but an illusion, and sadness did nothing but burrow deep and claw at my soul.
“Don’t have me hunt you down again, Roger.”
One foot hooked over the other as I was abruptly turned around. My arms were still cuffed behind me, and the floor was fast approaching my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable.
Seconds ticked by, and I forced an eye open to see what the hell the holdup was. I was lifted back up and placed on my feet.
“Can’t you walk?”
I nodded. I could, just hadn’t expected him to move so quickly. For him to be so big, he moved a lot faster than I would have predicted.
“Ugh, this ain’t going to work.” He snatched the cloth out of my mouth.
My tongue felt raw, and it was hard to open and close my mouth. The corners burned. Swallowing was a bitch, but there was nothing but relief at having the gag removed. I cleared my throat, and it felt like I’d swallowed a cup of nails. A metallic tang graced my tastebuds. I held back, frowning from the taste of my blood.
Mr. Vitale tsked, grabbed my chin and turned my face from side to side. His lips dipped in a frown as his brows furrowed.
Fear trickled through my veins and slowed my brain down. There were too many unknowns; I didn’t know how to behave.
“Something wrong, sir?” a woman asked.
I remembered her from when my father first brought me in. She helped run the auction house. She twisted and pulled her fingers. There was a light tremble to her voice. Her eyes continued to dart to the left every few seconds.
She’s afraid.
I tried to think of who the man was. My father called him Mr. Vitale, and I was certain I’d heard the name somewhere. My brain was nothing more than a fog of chaos.
“Is this any way to take care of products?”
“No, sir. I’m so sorry I wi—”
“Get these cuffs off him now.”
The woman turned, and Mr. Vitale called her back.
“If I have to continue to tell you how to do your job, you will be out of one.”
“Sorry, sir.” She rushed away and came back with a key just as quickly.
Mr. Vitale took the key and uncuffed me. “You okay?”
I froze on the spot. Was he talking to me? Couldn’t be. My heart hammered in my ribcage as I dragged my gaze up his body. He had to be easily a few inches over six feet. He dwarfed my five-six stature.
“Huh?”
“You deaf?”
I shook my head. I just hadn’t been sure. “I’m okay.” I forced a smile.
He stared at me for a long while, and I was certain he could see past the facade. “Come on. I’m done with work here.”
Mr. Vitale headed toward the exit, and I was only a few steps behind him. People moved out of his way without prompt. No one questioned him or even stopped him to talk. I didn’t blame them; the man exuded death and danger.
“That’s Giancarlo Vitale,” someone whispered.
I kept my head down as we moved through the auction house.
“What the hell is one of the heads of the Vitale family doing here?”
It hit me like a bag of bricks. Vitale was one of the leading crime families in New York, and I wasn’t just bought by a lower rank member but one of the important ones. My stomach twisted as my legs shook, threatening to cave from under me.
Shit, shit, shit.
Cold air slapped me in the face and left me gasping as we stepped outside. Giancarlo glanced back for only a moment, but I forced another smile on my face.
Crap, my mouth hurts like a bitch.
He turned and led us over to a car but not just any car. It was a gorgeous 1978 Monte Carlo, all black, and it looked to have all its original parts. Desperation clawed at me to ask for him to pop the hood. I forced it down and rounded the car.
The moment my ass rested against the cushioned seat, I sank in. It was like sitting on butter. Giancarlo started it up. Instantly, I was transported to heaven. Vibrations from the engine traveled up my body. I’d kill to see what exactly was done to the car.
“For someone who was just sold, you sure do look excited.”
I was dragged from the momentary cloud and slammed back into reality. Right, I wasn’t in some nice car for fun. “Sorry.”
Giancarlo pulled out of the parking spot and wove himself into the streets. “No need to apologize, just curious what made you so happy.”
Had I been smiling? I would have known. I’d perfected the smile early on in my life, and I knew never to show it when I liked something. It was a guarantee my father would take it away.
Why did I let it show around him?
“You’re really twenty-two?”
I cleared my throat and smiled. “Yes.”
“And a virgin?”
What was everyone’s obsession with me being a virgin? So what? It couldn’t be that big of a deal. Again, I kept the fake smile plastered on my face. “Yes, I was checked over by five people.”
The man rubbed his jaw and tapped on the steering wheel. We slowed at a stop light, and Giancarlo stared at me with clear disbelief in his dark brown eyes. My smile never faltered; it was better to smile than to cry. I learned a long time ago that tears did nothing but invoke anger in some and pity in others. Nothing that would ever help me.
“And you’re happy about being sold?”
Happy?I pulled my thumb in and pressed the nail into the meaty part of my palm. The little bite of pain was enough to keep my smile bright and on my face.
“Do you want me to be happy or sad?”
“What kind of fucking question is that?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m nothing more than an item. I want to make sure you get your money’s worth.”
His eyebrows went up, nearly kissing his hairline. “All one point five million dollars?” A boisterous laugh left him. “Kid, you’re going to have to do a lot more than give me some Kmart knockoff smile for me to believe the bullshit you’re saying.”
I could feel the corners of my mouth turn down, and I fought it with everything I had. “Then what would you like for me to do?”
The man stopped laughing and stared. His gaze was heavy as it bore into me. I stayed stone still, not even breathing in more air than I needed.
Giancarlo turned back around just as the light turned green. “I’m not sure yet.”
My stomach knotted further. Uncertainty was far worse than knowing what was expected of me. I knew my father. He’d commanded, and I followed like a good boy until I walked onto that stage and stood there with my heart in my lungs and fear too great to mask.
I faced the road and stared as New York passed me in a blur. What would happen to me? Did I even want to know at this point? Surviving was the key. One day at a time.
The car crept to a crawl before he parked it.
“Finally home,” Giancarlo said.
Home for him is a new prison cell for me. I took in a deep breath before following him out of the car. He didn’t even glance back at me to ensure I was there as he took the three steps into his home.
“Lock the door behind you,” Giancarlo said.
I did as I was told and stopped at the door. Was I supposed to take my shoes off? Did I strip now that we were at his house? The auction house did a flash course on what was expected of any human being sold there, but I was unsure what my next step should be.
Giancarlo turned back to me. “Why the hell are you just standing there?”
“I don’t know what to do.”
He dragged a hand down his face. “Do you even know how to wipe your own ass?”
“Yes,” I said. What a stupid question to ask.
“Then use your common sense. Shit, why the hell do you have a brain if you’re not going to use it?” He walked deeper into the house. The further away he got, the less I could understand him.
I glanced at the door, removed my shoes, and placed them aside before following the sounds to a kitchen. Stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and black gold fixings made my eyes widen as I took it all in.
“Hungry?” Giancarlo asked.
My stomach clenched on air. I tried to think about the last time I had more than the bare minimum of food. I came up blank.
“Yes, please.”
Giancarlo nodded and removed his suit jacket. His white button-up hugged his muscular frame showcasing all the muscles there. He moved around the kitchen, and I was left there, standing like an idiot. I glanced around and grabbed the stool at the island.
I sat down, resting my hands in my lap. The appeal of the kitchen dimmed a little. Instead, I found myself watching Giancarlo as he moved like a seasoned chef. He turned the radio up as some fast-paced song came on. He rapped every word, dancing around as he cooked.
What kind of strange monster is he?
There was no doubt in my mind about what kind of person Giancarlo was. No one bought another human being and smiled the way he did. Yet when he was cooking, he looked and felt different. Fear wasn’t rolling in my stomach, threatening to turn it over. I was confused.
The most tantalizing aroma filled the kitchen, and my mouth watered. My stomach took the perfect time to growl just as the song came to an end, and the kitchen was plunged into momentary silence.
Giancarlo chuckled. “It’s coming. Can’t rush a masterpiece.”
My arm was already on the counter. My sleeve pushed up, waiting for the sting of pain that would surely come from me showing any kind of need. It was what always happened if I pissed off my father. When nothing happened, I slowly pulled my arm back.
Isn’t he angry?
Giancarlo moved toward me. My back went stiff as the smile crept back on my face.
“Open your mouth.”
I obeyed without question, and he popped something hot into my mouth.
“Close your mouth,” Giancarlo ordered.
I snapped it shut and, on instinct, started to chew. A groan slipped free before I even knew it.
“Right, I know what the hell I’m doing.” Giancarlo made his way back to the stove.
I licked my lips greedily while tasting the food. I wanted more. I couldn’t fathom what else he needed to do to the dish.
It wasn’t long before Giancarlo plated the food and headed toward the table. I scrambled out of my seat and moved closer, panting at the chance to eat more. He took a seat, and I stayed standing.
With a fork hovering near his mouth full of pasta, Giancarlo froze. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting on you to eat.”
Giancarlo groaned. “Will you eat already?”
I grabbed my fork and shoveled food into my mouth without hesitation.
Another groan slipped out, and I caught a smile on the man’s face.
“Where did you learn to cook?” I asked, trying to break up the tension.
Giancarlo shrugged as he shoveled some pasta into his mouth. I stopped waiting and did the same. The creamy sauce was to die for. It was rich in flavor and was even better than it smelled.
So good.
My tastebuds were in heaven, and I couldn’t get enough. I could easily eat five, no ten plates and never get tired of the flavors bursting over my tongue.
“Slow down before you choke,” Giancarlo said. He took a swig of wine. “My brothers and I were left to our own devices most nights. Our nona taught us how to cook.” He shrugged. “Sometimes my mother too.”
I swallowed the mouthful I had and cleared my throat. “Why are you feeding me this good food?”
“Kid, you got a lot of questions. Shut up and eat.”
I clamped my mouth shut and did just that. The last thing I wanted was for him to take away my plate. We ate the rest of our food in silence, but I kept my eyes on him. Any second, there could be a flip. Until I learned his habits, I would be on edge.
I ate until I couldn’t possibly swallow another bite and then still tried to eat more.
“Don’t force yourself. If you throw up my good food, I will break my foot off in your ass.”
I wouldn’t dream of puking any of the food up. It was too delicious, but I doubted it would be any good coming back up.
“I won’t.”
Giancarlo grunted and got up. He left his plate in the sink, and I stared at it for a long while. I still wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be doing. Asking him seemed like the best decision, but he might just say he didn’t know again.
I cleaned up our plates and put them away. I wandered around the place until I found Giancarlo in a living room painted with burnt orange colors and green furnishings. It was straight out of a home magazine or a Pinterest board.
“Why not run?” Giancarlo asked.
I stopped in my tracks and looked away from the art piece in the living room to Giancarlo. “Run where?” I shook my head and took the empty chair to the left of the couch. “No reason for me to run. This was for the best.”
I had no friends and no family. All I had was my dad, and in his time of need, it was the only way. He promised he’d get me back.
Giancarlo rubbed his chin, staring at me. I couldn’t help but fidget under his weighted gaze. It was like a tiger watching its prey; any wrong move and I’d be eaten alive.
I shoved down my fear and focused. “What am I supposed to do here?”
“Good question.” Giancarlo laid down on an emerald green couch and stretched out further.
He was so long with a broad chest. His hair was dark and looked oddly soft. A strong jawline and a straight nose complemented his face. Giancarlo was attractive. I doubted he needed a slave to get what he wanted.
“Why not earn your freedom?” Giancarlo asked.
I blinked a few times, not sure I’d heard him right. “Buy myself back?” Would I be allowed to get a job? My father never even allowed me to walk our neighbor’s dog for money.
“Eh, sure.”
How sat heavily on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it back down. What in the hell did I have of worth? My mind went in circles until I came to a realization.
“How much would my virginity take off the amount?”
Giancarlo’s eyebrows nearly kissed his hairline. “Are you even into men?”
“Does it matter?” Shit, the moment the slick remark was out, I covered my mouth. “Sorry.” I cleared my throat, ready to devise some plead for him not to become angry, but Giancarlo was already laughing.
What a strange man.
“Well, figured you need to be into a man in order to spread your legs,” Giancarlo said. “But if your conviction is that strong, then I guess it wouldn’t matter, huh?”
“What about you?”
“As long as it feels good, I’m okay with whatever parts,” Giancarlo shrugged.
“I prefer men.”
Giancarlo didn’t look surprised by my answer. He draped an arm over his eyes and let out a sigh.
“And you’re a virgin? Not even a good old handy?”
What the heck is a handy?I shook my head. “No, nothing.”
Giancarlo sat up and placed his elbows on his knees. He stared at me as he asked his next question. “You ever masturbated?”
My face heated up at the memory. “Once.”
“You have got to be shitting me.”
I shook my head and glanced to the side. I never wanted to remember that embarrassing day ever again.
“Your virginity isn’t worth that much to me,” Giancarlo said.
“What?” He bought me because I’m a virgin, right?
“I prefer a more experienced partner.”
I couldn’t lose this chance. “I can learn,” I said quickly, trying to think of what else I could offer to seal the deal. “I’m a fast learner. I swear. The first time can be free. It will only take me once to get it.”
Sex couldn’t be any different than schoolwork, right? I could pick up anything after trying it once. I was certain sex had to be the same.
“That’s bold,” Giancarlo said. “It’s your first time. Shouldn’t you do it with someone you love?”
A dry laugh left me before I could catch it. “I don’t care about that. How much will you pay me?”
If I rid myself of this curse of virginity, then my father wouldn’t be able to sell me anymore, or at least not as quickly. I’d buy my freedom, and then…
I’d figured the rest when the time came.