Paid In Full (Vitale Brothers Book 2)

Chapter 15

Fuck you.

The words sat on my tongue, tasting bitter like burnt toast. My stomach twisted as I slipped into the passenger seat. Where else would I go? I had nothing else to do, and the thought of going to the brothel made me physically ill.

Having sex with Giancarlo was fine. I could do that. I even enjoyed it. Having sex with a bunch of random people, being passed around constantly? It was the nightmare my father had promised me over and over again. I shuddered and squeezed my arms tighter around myself.

Time ticked by, and old habits came rearing their ugly heads. I dropped my arms and faced the front as the car slowed at a light.

“I’m sorry for how I behaved.”

“Are you?” Giancarlo asked.

No. “Yes, it won’t happen again.”

“Kid, look at me.”

My upbringing demanded I obey him, but the small taste of freedom kept me facing forward.

“Ash.”

My head snapped to the side, and I was met with deep brown eyes that, for some weird reason, grounded me. Giancarlo squinted at me. “Change of plans.”

He jerked the wheel to the right. My hands flew up, trying to find purchase as he took a right into oncoming traffic. The scream lodged in the back of my throat worked itself free as I saw my meager life flash before my eyes.

“What the fuck!” My fist collided with Giancarlo’s shoulder before any of my actions registered in my head. My blood was thundering in my ears so loudly it made Giancarlo’s laugh sound distant.

“Fuck, you should have seen your face.” Giancarlo slapped the wheel and made a fear-stricken face before laughing more.

“Motherfucker.”

“I mean, I have fucked a mother or four. Their pussies are top tier.” He lifted a hand and placed the other over his chest.

“Shit.” I reached over and straightened the wheel. Fear laced through every inch of my body but had no time to grip me with adrenaline burning under the surface.

“I, Giancarlo, swear as the god of great ass and dick—”

“Giancarlo!” My eyes widened as a car swerved past us, honking and flipping us off.

Giancarlo rolled the window down and hung his head out. “You fuck your mother with that finger?”

Fuck, this can’t be happening. I jerked the wheel and straightened it just as fast. Giancarlo righted himself. The moment his hands were on the wheel, I sank back against the seat.

“What the hel—”

“You’re not a bad driver, kid. A bit shaky, but hey, not everyone is as great as me.”

I had fucking whiplash. The compliment hit some deep part of my soul, and warmth spread throughout my body. I caught myself smiling in my reflection and shook my head. “I’ve never driven before, and I wouldn’t count that.”

Giancarlo gawked at me, and I pointed to the road. He winked before staring ahead. This man is going to kill me.

“Guess I’ll have to take another one of your firsts.”

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t figure out if Giancarlo was crazy or if I was crazy for feeling so comfortable around him.

“Don’t say it like that.”

“Why? It’s true.”

Yeah, I know. I never cared who had my firsts as long as I got to pick. Giancarlo was making it sound like a trophy he’d won.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“Now that you’re not trying to give me bullshit, we’re going to the brothel.”

My back stiffened. Now that I’d settled down a bit, fear had no issues striking through me. My lungs felt frozen. Barely taking in air, spots danced in my vision.

I don’t want to go. Please don’t make me go.

“Breathe,” Giancarlo ordered.

I obeyed with a shaky breath. I looked up at Giancarlo, my pleads ready and my mind scrambling for anything and everything I could do for him.

“Calm down. I’m not going to leave you. I just remembered I had some business there.”

I nodded with my stomach firmly in the middle of my chest. I didn’t question him further, no matter how much I wanted to.

He pulled to a stop in a parking garage, and we took another elevator up to the fourth floor. A keypad appeared, and he typed in numbers so fast I was unable to track them. The door opened up, and we were spat out into a lounge. Couches were arranged in the middle of the floor, facing a television. It was like one big ass living room.

I followed behind Giancarlo as he moved further inside.

“Hey, Gin, you coming to play with us?” a woman with bright blue eyes, big breasts, and curly blonde hair asked. Three others waved at Giancarlo from behind her.

“Not right now, girls.” He winked at them, and my stomach tightened even further.

I cleared my throat, and Giancarlo looked down at me. I didn’t know what I expected, but a wink from him wasn’t it. There was an undeniable desire to slap him in the face or, better yet, fuck him into the floor. I bet none of them could do that.

“Mr. Vitale, we weren’t expecting you, but, of course, we always have room for you,” a woman called.

Giancarlo smirked. “I’m not here to play. We need to talk.”

The older woman nodded and stepped back. “Office it is.” Her gaze dropped to me.

I stood up straighter. The way she looked at me was the same way they had at the auction house. As if she was seeing just how much I was worth.

“Don’t be rude, Ash. Say hello to Gran Myah.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” I said.

The older woman smiled brightly. “You find some of the best treasure, Gin. Don’t tell me he will be joining us. A bit innocent looking for your normal taste.”

Giancarlo laughed. “He’s no longer innocent, and no, he’s not staying here.”

She nodded and turned away from me. A rush of air flooded out of my lungs as relief had every muscle in my body relaxing at once.

“Ash, go sit down.”

Following him into the office and demanding to stay with him had backfired before. I decided to sit this one out. “Yes, sir.”

Giancarlo and Gran Myah disappeared behind a door. I was once again left alone. Half-dressed people walked around lounging about. I made my way to the couch closest to the office door and sat down.

I wasn’t left alone for long.

“It’s been killing me. Who are you?” a guy asked.

He had freckles decorating the bridge of his nose and couldn’t have been any more than a year or two older than me. His curls hung loosely over his forehead as he scooted closer.

“I’m Ash.”

“I don’t really care about your name,” he said, waving a hand. “I want to know how you scored one of the bosses.”

“Wayne, leave the kid alone.” A taller guy hopped over the couch and shoved Wayne.

“I’m not a kid. Don’t call me that,” I muttered. Giancarlo saying it was one thing. A complete stranger was another.

“We aren’t supposed to use our real names,” Wayne hissed.

The other guy laughed. “Who cares? He isn’t some big wig. He’s just a plaything.”

“Says the guy spreading his legs for every two dollars that shows up.” I slapped a hand over my mouth and groaned. I didn’t just say that. My inner thoughts had won.

Fuck Giancarlo! This is all your fault.

“I’m so—”

“He ain’t wrong. Fuck off, you two. Customers are down below. Go do your job,” one of the women from earlier said. She had a hand on her hip and glared at the other two guys before they left.

“Soon, he’s going to get tired of innocent ass and come running back to what feels good,” one of them mumbled entirely too loudly.

A laugh threatened to break free, but I swallowed it down. If only they knew the truth. Giancarlo didn’t touch my ass, at least not in the way they were thinking.

“Don’t take what they say to heart, sugar.” The woman’s southern accent was heavy as she tucked a brown curl behind her ear. “Jess,” she shoved out a hand. “Or you can call me Sweetie here. They’re just jealous.” She jerked her head at the others that had scrambled away.

“Why?”

“Giancarlo is here at least once or twice a week. We haven’t seen him in ages, though. Not unusual for most, but the boss can plow through a few of us before getting his fill. It kind of leaves an impression.”

Anger was something I understood and knew. I’d grown used to shoving it down and making it disappear, but with Giancarlo, things were different. My emotions were free to be, and it was taking everything in me not to storm into that office and shout at him.

What will I say? Why in the hell am I even angry?I was no better than the people in the brothel. The only exception was I’d bargained to be Giancarlo’s whore and no one else’s.

“Hey, you okay?” Jess asked.

I nodded, swallowing back the hurt and anger. “Never better.” I placed a smile on my face, and she stared at me the same way Giancarlo did. As if she, too, could see through my fa?ade.

“Okay, hun, if you say so.” She glanced over her shoulder as a few people called for her. She turned and bit her lip. “Want to come down with us?”

“I should stay here.” I glanced at the door, but it hadn’t moved.

“They’re going to be in there for a while. Gran Myah is thorough with her job.”

Was Giancarlo having sex with her? I shot up. Jess placed both hands on my shoulders before she moved in front of me, blocking the door.

“Calm down, hun. Nothing like that is happening. Gran Myah retired a long time ago, and she looks after us now. The boss comes in here for information sometimes. No need to go storming in there.” She chuckled.

I couldn’t help but feel like an idiot. “Oh.”

She shook her head and headed toward the door. “It’s going to be boring up here, but you’re free to just relax.”

Giancarlo had told me to stay there. However, he was always telling me to do and say what I wanted as well.

“Wait for me, Jess.” I hopped up, jogging after her.

Some of the other girls giggled.

“Call me Sweetie when we hit the floor.”

“Should I have a name?”

“Oh, I can totally see you as Angel or Azriel,” one of the guys suggested.

A few others agreed as we headed down the stairs. The double doors opened, and we stepped into a grand room with marbled designs etched on the walls. The lights dimmed, and sheer fabric hung all over the place.

“Wow.”

“You know what they say, no one does it like New York. Even the brothels are grand.” Jess bumped shoulders with me.

I relaxed even further and followed behind her as we walked. Booths were set up around the room. Men and women talked over the low music that filled the space. There were multiple doors, and groups of people were ushered to them.

“What’s happening over there?”

“Oh, parties. We have individuals who are just here for services out here. They order what they want and go up to the second floor. Those rooms are for parties or business meetings.”

“What if you don’t want to join in?” I asked.

Jess shrugged, and the others parted away from us, going to speak to the people walking in. “Then you don’t. Everyone is here by choice.” She placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled. “Don’t go believing everything you see on television. Most of us love what we do.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

She waved her perfectly manicured hand. “Don’t worry. It helps for sure to get a customer who swears they’re going to save you from this lifestyle. The money is always worth it.”

“Sweetie.” A man waved her over.

Jess looked at him and then back at me.

“Uh, one second, darling.”

I nodded as she rushed over to him. His hands dropped around her waist instantly and pulled her in for a kiss. I looked away, my cheeks warming. It didn’t matter where I looked. Everyone was flirting unashamedly.

My mind wandered to Giancarlo. If he were down here, he’d be boisterous, drawing everyone to him. I muffled a laugh picturing Giancarlo being his usual insane self.

“Hey, cutie.”

I turned around, not expecting anyone to be talking to me. A man a few inches taller than me with an angular face and thick-rimmed glasses stood behind me. He sounded nice as he smiled at me. Straight white teeth and the kind of smile I’d expect from a salesman.

“What’s your name?”

My stomach twisted in knots as I looked into dark blue eyes that I’d be able to point out in a lineup. Years had passed since I’d seen them, but it hadn’t made the lasting impression they left on me any fainter. He was older-looking now. Crow’s feet rested in the corner of his eyes, and gray dusted his temples. It wasn’t enough change. I never wanted to see him again.

“Can you not talk?” he asked.

I stepped back and shook my head. What was he doing here? The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I looked around the room, squinting, trying to find the one man I didn’t want to see ever again. It was too dark, and there were too many people for me to pick my father out of the group. However, if this piece of shit was here, then he had to be as well.

Elegant fingers touched my wrist. I yanked back as if he’d burned me. I wiped my wrists off on my shirt, but it wasn’t enough. The urge to scratch my skin off buzzed around my head till my nails bit into the flesh.

“What the hell? You’re a whore. Too good to do your job?” He reached for me again, and I scrambled back. “Fucking tease.” His eyes lit up. “Or are you one of those who likes to play hard to get? A no means yes situation?”

Bile burned the back of my throat the more bullshit that came out of his mouth.

“Hey, darling, I hope you don’t mind, but my friend here isn’t on the menu tonight,” Jess said.

I wanted to shout at her to get away from him, but one look from those blue eyes made me snap my mouth shut. My hands shook at my sides as they spoke. My heart thrashed against my ribcage, threatening to break free. I couldn’t focus on what they were saying as panicked fear twisted my insides. He finally walked away, and Jess stepped in front of me.

“Hey, you okay, hun?”

No. I smiled and nodded. I’m okay. Everything is fine. Smile, and everything will work out. Smile. Fucking smile! “Yes.”

Worry was etched over her face as she stared at me. “Maybe I should take you back upstairs.”

“Yes, please.”

“Sweetie, come here right quick.”

She huffed but smiled over her shoulder. “One more second, and then I’ll take you back up. Stay right here.” She gave me one more worried glance. “Don’t talk to anyone either.”

The moment she left me, my feet were moving. Memories came flooding to the forefront of my mind, ones I didn’t want to remember. I’d cut off my dick to forget them. I backpedaled, needing an out and needing it now. I turned and ran, pushing people out of my way.

I squeezed into a dark corner behind a few of the sheer curtains. I wasn’t huge, but I wasn’t exactly a little kid anymore, either. I pressed my back against the wall and slid down as my world threatened to fall apart around me.

Echoes of memories replaced the soft music playing in the room. The warmth was replaced with the chill of fear. It was all I’d known back then. The sheer fabric in front of me disappeared and was replaced by the dank stone walls of the basement.

“Shut the fuck up before you’re next,” Dad growled, each word accented with a kick to the door.

I covered my mouth with my small, shaking fingers. Tears wouldn’t stop rolling down my cheeks.

“Make him come out here. He needs to learn what a real man is.”

“No, please, no,” I whispered.

Smack.

Fire erupted on the right side of my face. I blinked past the tears just in time to see my father’s booted foot come down. Pain engulfed me. There was nowhere to escape. I curled in on myself, trying to protect my head. More tears fell as I cried for him to stop, but none of my words got through to him.

Fingers dragged me up and sat me down in front of the girl I’d played with in the past. Samantha’s once sparkling green eyes were dull. Tears streaked her face. Blood caked her cheeks. Her lips were cracked as she continued to whisper stop.

Dad grabbed my head and punched me in the stomach. All the air was knocked out of my lungs as I doubled over. I was yanked right back up, gasping for air.

“Watch, I won’t have a son who doesn’t listen. She wanted to be a little whore and not listen to her parents.”

One of the other men laughed. “She’s worth every penny we paid. You coming, Roger?”

Dad hit me in the chest again when I glanced off. “Don’t you blink or turn away, boy.”

I shook in the chair, frozen in place. I wanted to be anywhere but here. His hand whipped across my face.

“Stop fucking crying! It’s annoying.”

I forced the tears away and straightened up in the chair. My lips pulled up in a smile, and I nodded. “Yes, Father.” I’d be good. I had to be good.

A face appeared before me. As my fear increased, my smile grew. Dark blue eyes looked me up and down very much the same way they all looked at Samantha. The corners of my mouth felt like they were tearing.

“You got a cute kid, Roger. Sell him to me.”

“Not yet. He’s not perfect. I have to make sure I get every fucking dime out of him I can. It’s the least he can do. I’ve been forced to take care of him since his bitch of a mother ran out.” He grunted as the sounds of flesh slapping together built.

Bile burned the back of my throat, and I swallowed it down. “Please, stop. Please, please, stop.” My nails scraped over my scalp. No matter how much air I sucked in, it wasn’t enough. “Please.”

Someone save me.