The second I locked the bedroom door, my body wanted to, no it needed to feel his hands, his warmth again. Shaking my head as violently as my body shook at the fear he instilled in me. Without a thought I stripped the tightening by second clothes and jumped into a cold stream of the shower. Instantly my mind stopped wondering. The breath held up in my chest let go easing into a deep breathing rhythm studying as I accustomed to the cold stream.

Setting a new goal for the night, possibly the last night of the semi freedom I ever had in this house. Slowly I step out of the perfectly polished white bath and drying myself from the remaining water I chose the most slutty outfit my wardrobe possessed.

I slithered out of the bedroom praying for an empty halfway. Looking around my prayers must have been heard by some being down there for it being deserted. Slowly while clutching the heels in one hand and the small satchel bag hung tightly across my body I tiptoed towards the workers entrance connected to the hallway off the downstairs lounge. A risky move but one that will pay as Father never kept men stationed at that entrance. Only other option was jumping off the balcony from the first floor into the evergreens thriving at the other end of the house. Not to mention the guards that patrolled that side could get tipped off by the thud of a falling body.

I peak my head around a corner from the stairs waiting for the workers to clear before slipping by into the hall. Spotting the sweet glisten of my youngest brother's keys on the side table, a smile pulls my lips upwards. A pre-victory dance in my head as I slip out towards the long driveway lined with cars snatching the keys on the way. As I'm about to sit on the driver's seat a click of a gun stills me mid motion. The black leather seat dull in the night light and the smell of his aftershave that one day will wake the dead. Letting my head sag downwards I turn around preparing the best puppy eyed face yet.

"If I don't take you back they might have me strung by the balls." He smirks, saying it as he puts the safety back on his gun and effortlessly sliding it into the leather holster at his side. Brushing his fingers through those tousled crow black hair ever so handsome. I crook my head to the side looking up at him through my lashes with a slight pout.

"I'll do twice as much harm and you know it little Lewi." With the sweetest voice I smile saying it now standing straight as he eyes my outfit choice. The black corset see through at the bodice hugging in all the right places. The high waist mom jeans cinched with a black leather belt adorned with a golden clasp. The shoes still in my hand and my feet being too aware of the tiny stones digging into the soles.

"So what will it be?"

"I guess I'm taken hostage." He pulls his hands up in fake defeat and pushes past me sitting in the driver's seat with a hand outstretched expecting the keys. I hand it to him and walk around to the passenger side. "If that's the case I choose the destination." After a second of thought I add. " ... and the music." Even before the car door shuts I take his phone out of his front dress pants pocket playing Keep on smiling by Wet Willie. Nothing like some uplifting motivational music on your way to hell. 

In what feels like minutes we reach one of the most lavish night clubs in the area thanks to the devil behind the wheel as we both grin at the high speed of the wheels granted us. The body guards, an everyday occurrence in this world, let us pass right by as the heels click on perfectly polished floors. As we make our way inside the music is toxic. The overpowering smell of alcohol and glistening bodies dancing against each other.

The atmosphere poisoning all the lambs entering the treshould. Including us. I could feel Lewis' cool hand beginning to brush at my back. Moving lower then backing up slightly and repeating until he reached my lower back where his hand halted its motions. A slight smile seductively spread at his lips. We never felt that way about each other. Out of all the men in that cursed house he was the most like brother to me. Also as we were the closest in age we bickered and fought about the stupidest things. His eyes flicker from my body glancing behind.

He was using me as bait. I shake my head when a chuckle escapes me as he snached me closer to him. I swung my hips to the music and placed a palm on his chest. My fingers resting on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around my waist and looked back into my eyes. We danced and grinded with the rhythm of our bodies. His hand was never inappropriate. The fingers only trail around the safe spots of upper to lower back, arms and an occasional hair tug. We turn around dancing and I get a glance at the person who has my big brother so flushed.

I could straight away tell who it was. Only one person in the distance looked angry, fuming but yet hasn't made a move. The blond short hair trimmed to perfection. The shirt open enough to show off the chest. The sculpted legs cladded in black. "Oh you gotta share that cookie." I whisper into Lewis's ear as close to his lips as I could let myself without touching. I grinded more with a loud enough moan for anyone surrounding us to hear as they slightly moved away. I lean back taking Lewis' palms, placing one on my bum the other at my chest commanding him to look only at me. To my surprise he hasn't opposed it. After all, women are best at seduction.

As expected, that made the man move from his spot, his chest heaving up and down. I swear a bit of fumes just escaped his ears. "Here comes your trouble.." I laugh out before turning and walking off just as the cookie comes close enough to spot my insignia moulded onto the forearm as I intentionally exposed it for him to see. Giving the final sly smile shaking my head and leaving the two alone, surrounded by other drunks and prostitutes to their destruction.

Men, how easily they are tricked with a bit of flirting and a pretty body.

As Lewi is occupied with the new toy of the week, I make my way to the ladies toilets as nature calls. Washing my hands after I stare at the insignia. On a normal day I would not acknowledge its existence. The serpent burned into my arm just like my brothers, fathers, uncles and their kids of age and test. Only the family blood. I was the only exception. The first outside blood to be marked with the monstrosity. Suddenly the music stopped and the only sound was the running tap and the screaming women snapping me out of whatever trans I entered.

Moving to one of the cubicles I take the heels off leaving them on the cold dirty ground as I unfasten the knives from my shin and take the gun out of the bag, dropping the bag down deeming it an unnecessary garnish.

The skills accumulated over the years of training serve well in situations like this. I sneak into the office at the end of the hall. Pulling down the blinds on the door and dimming the lights. My phone buzzes as I go behind the owner's desk. I answer "Leave, Now." He disconnects the call and I hide the phone in my jeans. Lewi has the strength to fight to survive torture, we all did but he was the only one I'd consider leaving for. Knowing my safety meant more than his own to only him. Although I was branded on every corner of this life I have been a second class family member. Treated like the rogue blood I was.

Not spending another valuable second to thingI turned to leave. But as I was stepping around the desk a small picture frame caught my attention. On the right side of the desk set in mahogany hand carved wood stood a smiling Father. The only thing is he wasn't alone. Marcus was there. Holding onto each other in a brotherly way both smiling. In his hand was a piece of paper with a red stamp. My stamp. My family's crest.

Marcus was one of the men that was guarded by father. One of the men who dabbled their fat fingers into the murder of my entire bloodline. One of the men I couldn't interrogate and was still breathing and apparently best buddies with father. The cogs in my head turned as I smashed the frame making too much noise. Taking the picture out I folded it stashing into the corset cups.

As I exit the room more screams resonate throughout the deserted halls. No couples smooching in the corners or grinding their highs off of eachother plastered onto the walls. Nothing. The shots of a machine gun blasted and the whole building turned grave silent.

An old aged voice echoed "Mariana come out." He took a pause. "We can do this peacefully." He said as a knocking sound followed, his heeled shoes. I made my way to the edge of the hallway from where I could glance at the numbers of men. 7 I counted. Two holding my brother one at all 3 exits and two managing the crowd. All armed with guns.

"Let's play" I whisper standing up holding the knives on the inside of my arm. Perhaps in the dim lighting they won't be spotted as fast.

I walked out from the darkness of the corridor and all eyes followed my silent steps until every guard was alarmed by my presence. I swung my hips stopping in the middle of the room four passes away from the old man. His face is professional but boredom leaks through with a yawn.

"You've made it." 

One of the guards moves closer to me trying to get a hold of me but before he gets close I throw the blade embedding it into his neck. The man staggers backwards clutching his bleeding neck as he falls back choking and bleeding out his companions feet. I step around the room backing toward a more facetious area and away from the innocent lives.

The old man brings his arm up signalling for his men to stay back as they all took steps away. "Such beauty." He almost whispers. "Such grace." He says louder looking at his men. They nod in agreement. "Such a temper." He sighs. I wondered if the toy he wanted for his son is now seeming too much of a hassle to tame.

"He really does pick them well." Him, Father. My brows furrowed, he didn't choose me. He found me details irrelevant right now. "Make this easier for yourself. My son will have you as a wife sooner or later." I stare at him analysing the chances of survival in case of a fight. In my peripheral area all the guards pointed the weapons at me in wait.

Coming up with a minus figure I drop the other knife down. It clatters in the silence of the room. The companion steps over the mess and coming closer threw the cuffs at me. I follow the silent order and cuff my own hands at the back leaving slack in hope of not being discovered. But the man's palms tightened them, almost cutting off my circulation. A grimace on my lips.

"If he really wanted that lap dance, he should have just asked nicely." I smile an innocent smile as I am pushed closer to the old man. He is standing in front of my brother with a knife emerging from the bottom of his cane and embedding in Lewis's side. He tried to muffle his pained growls not for the sake of me but his cookie amongst the crowd. If this man knew he had a weak spot there's not a chance that soft on the inside cookie is walking out alive.

I throw my head back, jumping up colliding with the guard's nose at which his grip loosened, giving me enough time to turn and kick him in the groin and slide on my knees to Lewi. Fast as lightning I step over my own arms and pull out Lewis' shirt from his trousers looking over the cut. It wasn't deep, I hoped. Another set of hands pulls me up and over his shoulder as I begin to kick the tower of muscle. He growls at every hit that connects to his body. I bare my teeth like an animal and bite his shoulder hearing a string of curses as he throws me on the ice cold floor. A shot freezes my body to the ground further.

A dead body falls to the ground swinging around. I stare at Lewi still propped by the two meatheads at either side. No, not Lewi, some random.

"Anyone else needs to die because of your behaviour, little lady?" The man asks, staring at me through those glasses as his gun in the gloved hand gripped tightly. I shake my head slowly. He nods straightening up and hiding the gun back into the holster and walks on through the main doors as I am once again swung on a man's shoulder not daring to so much as twitch.

As soon as we entered the car a canvas bag was tied over our heads. Why was the boss of the Italian Mafia here? At a nightclub, looking for me. Nothing in this added up. Sending his only son to bid a deal with the enemy but chasing a girl in person. Not a single coherent reason came to mind. I shifted in my seat feeling Lewi grunt beside me. My hands were now  re-cuffed at the back cutting off the blood to my palms.

I grunt out once. Not having a reply I try to shove the bag off of my head knowing well the action being pointless. "He'll be fine." The old man's voice reaches my ears from the front seat.

The drive was at least a couple of hours long. I guess one couldn't really get a secluded private mansion in the town nowadays to torture little girls at their leisurely paste. As we stopped on the gravel my feet hurt with every step. But soon the ground changed to a smooth cool surface as I hit my toes on a wall, a step. I grunt out 'Asshole' As the man pushes me faster knowing very well it was meant for him to hear.

He pushes me and the atmosphere around us gets warmer with the floors changing to carpets. "Welcome home, Maestro." A lady's voice beamed. "Where would you like me to look after your guest?" For torture? That voice sounded way too sweet to be able to inflict any sort of pain.

"Downstairs." He says as we begin moving again onto another set of stairs leading down. The smell of steriliser hits my nose full force. Medical room. Not torture unless they are clean freaks who keep it blemishless.

The bag is torn off my face and my eyes blink a couple times getting used to the harsh white light bouncing off of all shining surfaces. I turn around looking for Lewi who was already thrown onto the white covered medical table. His shirt being removed and the bleeding wound exposed at his side. My face scrunches as the lady pours disinfectant over the wound without warning or sedatives. Lewi hissing at her but his hands are tied to the bed with leather straps and so are the legs. I am pushed onto the chair unbound.

The medic preps a needle with a seamless thread still without an anaesthetic shot. She begins to sow him up. At every groan and yelp my muscles grow tighter but the gun at  the back of my head pressed tightly stops any movement as my heart aches at the sight of Lewis' pain. 

"What do you want?" I say finally as the man stands at the side of my chair.

"You." He simply says. "Willingly marrying my son." At that he has my full attention. Scepticism shining through my eyes and a sarcastic laugh fills me and the room.

I move my head to the side, seeing his guards form in the corner of my eye standing right behind the chair. The old man's eyes on me. "Why me."

"Why no?" He replies without giving an answer.

"You were raised in our world. You know..." He begins as I interrupt.

"Women have no say." I look at my brother almost passed out from the pain. "They do as told with no exception. Which begs the question, why are you asking."

"There's something in you.." He trails off walking around me. "If you agree he can go home." Sick bastard is all I come up with as a bile rises at the back of my throat. There's only two things he might ever want with a woman, to have her as his own or to see her broken and pliable.

"If not?"

"If not. You both end up hurt." Hurt not dead. Maybe there's a way out. Father would pay for him. I could make a deal with the devil or his son after. "I know what you're thinking, little lady." He waves a palm and two men enter the room unshackling my brother from the table and dropping him onto the floor.

I fly to his side giving it no thought. In my peripheral vision I see the man nod ever so slightly. Prepared for the worst as it comes. A hand pulls my hair as another hits Lewi square in the face Knocking him out with one blow. His limbs at odd angles motionless laying on the ground. Unharmed Lewi is much better of a fighter. But the wound sustained in the club and the doctor sowing him up with no anaesthetic wore his body to the point of passing at a single blow.

"Figglio di putana!" I exclaim as the assaulter turns to me with a grin playing on his lips. I freeze.

The medic comes around to Lewi with sniffing salt which jolts him awake. She cuffs his hand to the steel table legs. Not like he could move anyways but that indicates something bad is about to happen. Most likely to me and as the thought leaves the man holding my hair pulls me back out of reach to Lewi. Pushing me down and letting go of my hair I fall face flat as a kick to my stomach knocks the air out of my lungs. Another blow with the steel toe boots land on the small of my back. Straight after a fist connects with my face busting my lip. I can feel the warm liquid trickling down my chin as I try to get up. Ending up on all fours I stare at the old man now lounging on the single seat I used to occupy. He nodded at me and the knuckles blind me. As it hit my cheekbone and eye I knew in a matter of minutes there would be an unrecognisable amount of damage displayed all over my body. He can't break me with a little bit of beating.

Another kick to my ribs and I spit blood many teeth coloured with a red tint as I keep coughing it out onto the splattered floors. Faintly I could hear Lewis asking them what he wanted and clanging off his cuffs but no hope of help.

Another guy walks in and all stills as I heave on the floor trying to get some air into the burning lungs. "Hello, brother." He booms. "That is a very smart move." He says patronisingly. "The usual." He nods as the phone is placed at my ear "A strong neck can tun the head." is all Father said as he disconnected. "I guess your father is a smarter man than I expected." At that Lewi and I are dragged back the way we came. No hood being placed on my head. I let the men drag me off into the same vehicle driving back to what I can imagine a meeting place.

The usual. They've done this before. Maybe once, maybe more. Enemies sometimes work together. Fathers words echo. A strong neck can turn the head. He's got a plan and somehow I'm a bigger part of it than ever imagined.

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Enjoy the tune of the week!

Any song recommendations please comment! Any genre, any mood. I'm all ears. ;) ;)