Chapter 16

Z A R A

He's jacking off Marcus while shoving his tongue down Amelia's throat. I squeeze my eyes shut at the horrendously intimate event taking place right before me. Their moans are somehow louder than the music blaring around the room. I need them to stop, I desperately need them to stop.

"I asked you to watch, didn't I?" Alejandro's voice cuts through my thoughts.

I squeeze my eyes shut even tighter.

"Either you will open your eyes or I'll have to find a suitable punishment for you," he warns.

"Do whatever the hell you want to me but I'm not opening my eyes!" I yell over the music.

"Is that so?" That dangerous playful tone is back in his tone. "I guess this means I have to pick someone from your life to punish in your stead then. Would you prefer your mother? Maybe your father? Yasmeen, perhaps?"

My eyes shoot open at the mention of my parents and Yasmeen.

"No! Don't you dare even glance in their direction!" The cuffs around my wrists dig deeper into my skin as I pull on the chains.

"Or what?" He raises a brow.

He's right, or what? What can I even do?

"Now, be a good girl and watch daddy fuck his whores," he smiles darkly. "If you're a good girl for the rest of the night, who knows? I may even reward you."3

Reward me with what? More pain? More agony? More reasons to self-destruct?

My soul slowly feels like it's drifting away from my body, and my vision blurs–not from tears–but the intensity of my emotions. I try to focus on the words that are leaving Alejandro's lips, I squint trying to read his lips but my body's shutting out everything.

I want to go home, I miss the warmth and comfort of home. My eyes wander to the exotic dancers, letting themselves loose against the poles. Something about their bodies moving to the beat of the music distracts me, even if it is only for a mere couple of seconds.

I'm jealous of how they're laughing and giggling, not a single worry on their faces. They're enjoying their night while I'm sitting right beside them, feeling miserable to my core.

"Eyes on me, my love," Alejandro's words finally reach my ears. I slowly turn my head back to face Alejandro. My bruised wrists stopped fighting against the cuffs a while ago. Marcus now has his tongue shoved down Amelia's throat while she has now positioned herself on Alejandro's—oh.

Get me out of here. Get me out of here. Get me out of here. Get me out of here.

All three were grunting and moaning loud enough for me to want to drop dead. When they finally finished, I notice Amelia staring at me.

"When can we have her join us?" Amelia says with a lustful glint in her eyes.

"Why would you want her to join us?" Marcus is not fond of me.

Exactly, why would you want me to join?

"Soon, if she's good," Alejandro answers. "Besides, you get no say in this, Marcus," his tone was stern.

"Sorry, Boss," Marcus mumbles.

A man peaks through the door and calls out to Alejandro, "Boss, he's here."

A look of annoyance flashed across his face as he sighs, "Send him in,"

Amelia and Marcus stand up and quickly grabs their clothes off the floor.

"C-Could someone... Uh..." I hold up my wrists to motion for someone to unlock it.

"I'll do it!" Amelia says but quickly stops herself to look at Alejandro. "Only if I have your permission."

He nods and she quickly unfastens the cuffs. I grab my aching wrists, massaging them to get my blood circulating again.

"Can I please get sent back to the apartment? I promise I'll be good, please," I'm desperate to leave, I'm desperate to lock myself in my room for days again.

Before Alejandro can answer, a tall man, dressed in all black, walks into the room and suddenly, the whole room falls silent. The dancers and guests slowly leave the room, as if they knew their cue. Even Marcus and Amelia slip out of the room. The dim lights are brightened, stinging my eyes slightly.

"Alejandro," the man greets Alejandro.

"Elijah," Alejandro nods back.

"I see you still fool around with Marcus and Amelia," Elijah smirks.

"That's none of your business, now is it?" Alejandro bites back.

"No, you're right. It's none of my business that you're the epitome of a whore," Elijah chuckles. My jaw drops, how did this man diss Alejandro and still be able to stand there, alive?

Alejandro clenches his jaw hard, I can feel the tension in the room from the mere silence. Elijah finally turns around to see me, once our eyes meet, I'm instantly drawn to his gorgeous orbs. I've never seen eyes so beautiful... it's a glimmering hazel with gold specs surrounding the outer layer of the pupil while the outer rim of the iris is outlined with a light green. It reminds me of forest fairies, adding such mystical and magical elements. This reminds me of how only one other person was able to mesmerize me with their eyes like this was

Alej—never mind that.

At first, he looked slightly confused, probably because I look completely out of place. But then, he grins, "who is this fine lady?"

I didn't realize Elijah was talking to me so instinctively, I turn my head to find this 'fine lady'.

"My fiancée," Alejandro answers flatly.

"Ah, fiancée," I swear, I swear I saw a small bit of pity in his eyes for me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Elijah," he extends his hand to shake mine but I don't extend mine.

"I'm Zara, nice to meet you as well," my voice is softer.

He retracts his hand after receiving glares from Alejandro.

"What brings you here?" Alejandro asks as he takes a sip of his drink.

"You know for what," Elijah's playful expression is now somber. "You're acting recklessly. There are bodies of your own men appearing left and right. And we all know very damn well that it's your fault. You're going to get us in loads of trouble that could've been avoidable." He sighs, "You haven't gotten ahold of your temper in all these years?"

Alejandro chuckles, "Those men did not complete their tasks successfully. They were of no use to me."

"Loyal men who will work for us do not grow on trees, Alejandro,"

"I-I'm sorry," I interrupt as I start to stand up. "This seems like a private conversation, I'll find my way out—"

"Stay," Alejandro instructs.

"But—"

"I said, stay, didn't I?" his tone is sharper.

I plop back down on the seat with a deep sigh but not before seeing that same expression on Elijah's face again... pity.

God, am I that screwed?

"Whether they grow on trees or they don't, it doesn't matter to me. I am not the type to give second chances, neither am I a patient man, Elijah," Alejandro says in a dark tone.

"Your behavior is raising concerns amongst the elders!" Elijah raises his voice.

Alejandro slams his hands on the table, making me jump back in my seat. "Tell those old, retired men to stay the fuck out of my business. I know how to manage our family. In fact, if I remember correctly, I'm the one who saved this family from turning into ashes."

I stare at Elijah, his pretty amber eyes filled with clear frustration. He walked into the room with a bright facade but now it's dark, Alejandro is getting on his nerves. Suddenly, Elijah pulls out something from his side and points it at Alejandro... a gun, he pulled out a gun.

Alejandro competes unfazed. He didn't even blink.

"One stain on our family name, and you know where you'll end up," Elijah warns.

Alejandro raises his brow with a smirk on his face, "Not before you end up there." The tension in the room is broken by one of Alejandro's men, who asked him to come to the door.

After giving me some kind of look I couldn't decipher, Alejandro walks towards the door,

"I'll be right back."

I'm sure I stopped breathing because I could only hear the soft humming of the air conditioner.

"Maybe we should've let you leave the room for a bit, huh Ms. Zara?" Elijah turns to look at me. "You look petrified."

When our eyes meet, his expression is back to the bright and playful look he had on earlier when he first walked in. I give him a weak smile and nod.

"If things don't go well, you can always become my wife," he smirks.

I accidentally snort. Yeah, like I'd go from one criminal to another. I quickly cover my mouth as the embarrassment from the sound settles in, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to."

He bursts into laughter. God, his laugh is so full of life.

"No, it's okay. Who would want to marry me after seeing my cousin," he pretends to be sad.

I start giggling, "I'm sure you'll find someone." Hopefully, someone who can withstand the pressure of your interesting world.

"Can I say something?" I ask.

"May I comment on something?" Elijah asks at the same time as me. Another small burst of chuckles fills the room.

"Please, you go first," I say.

"No, no, ladies first," he insists with a smile.

"It's nothing, I was going to say that you have beautiful eyes. I'm jealous," a soft smile appears on my face. This is the most normal conversation I've had in a while, besides my small talk with Charlotte—who seems to talk to me more out of fear than actual conversation. His eyes widen, and his expression is unreadable.

"I'm sorry! Should I have not said that?" I quickly apologize.

"Of course not. That was such an... innocent comment," he says.

"Innocent comment?" I raise a brow in confusion.

"Most women who approach me are very...how do I say this... bold? They approach me with the intent of sex so all the comments are about—excuse my language—my dick,"

I purse my lips and try to hold in my laughter, "I'd say tragic but isn't that what fuels a man's confidence? I'm sure those comments don't bother someone like you."

"Touché," he chuckles. "It's nice to hear something so simple. It reassures me that I have other appealing features other than my monster dick."

I cover my mouth, trying not to let my obnoxious laughter out, that's been collectively gathering at the back of my throat.

"Women also tend to lie to spare men's feelings, but I guess in this situation, it might cost them their lives," I tease.

"My, my, you're not sparing someone you just met," he says.

"I'm sorry!" I quickly apologize again, realizing I might be indulging myself a bit too much. I couldn't help it, I haven't had a fun, laidback talk in so long. "I didn't mean to, it's just that—"

"Ms. Zara, you can relax, I'm not Alejandro. I can take a joke," he says softly, taking the edge off of me.

"Who said I was joking?" my words bite back playfully.

"Well, you seem to want proof of my monster dick. Shall I?" He looks down at his pants.

"N-No, thank y-you!" I cover my eyes with my hands instinctively.

"Zara," a sharp voice cuts through our temporary joy. My head shoots up to meet Alejandro's raging eyes, "Y-Yes?"

"I'm sending you back to the apartment. Follow him," he points at a man waiting at the door. I stare at him as an unsettling feeling harbors over my heart.

"Now!" He says louder.

I jump out of my seat and quickly walk towards the door.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you often, Ms. Zara! Take care," Elijah says.

"You too," my reply came out quieter as I followed the man out the door. Shit, he must've listened to the conversation.

********

Elijah seems fun! 🗿

Next chapter will be updated soon.