Seventeen

JADE POV.

PAST.

"Where is this place," I asked, my stomach hurting as my mother dragged me Into a house that looked like a fortress. There were huge men all around holding guns and for a moment I wondered if mother was finally going to sell me to the whore house.

"Shut it, Jade. Not another word or I'll carve out your eyes" she yelled at me, her finger digging into my flesh.

I pressed my mouth shut, whimpering in pain at the pressure of her grip. Two men were suddenly beside us as we stepped through the huge door.

Gasping in awe, I stared at my surroundings and the grandeur of it. It was as if I had been transported to another dimension. Everything was beautiful and almost unreal.

My gaze slipped to my tattered clothes and my bare feet that were caked in dirt. I glanced at the floor and saw that I'd stained the rug I stood on. The contrast between my filthiness and the room was jarring and all I wanted to do was crawl Into a hole somewhere and never come out.

"Halt" the man beside us shouted and we jerked to a stop. My heart hammered in my chest. Was this it? Was I going to be sold off? The scent of food wafted up to my nose and my stomach grumbled in protest.

I hated to admit it but I was so hungry that I would gladly accept being sold if it meant that I got to eat.

Footsteps coming down the grand stair halted the thought and I watched as an impeccably dressed man came to stand in front of us.

Mother's grip tightened harder and I winced as my blood supply got cut off.

"Bastard!" She spat, the anger in her wide blue eyes jarring.

The man smirked, his gaze trailing over her as if he was examining a specimen, then he cast his gaze unto me, a flare of interest sparking in his gaze. There was an evil glint in his eyes that made me tremble in fear. He was a terrible man, and I could see it, I could feel it.

"You said you'd never show up in front of me Amore, and yet here you are. I'm wondering if I should spare your life or take it".

"And what right do you have to do that Alvarez. You ruined my life".

He stepped closer, the smile draining off his lips. "You ruined your life, and I'll watch my mouth if I were you. I'm being very merciful because of old times".

Mother's harsh angry breath sounded as if they were thunderclaps in my ears. She suddenly shoved me forward and it was so abrupt that I stumbled to my knees. "There, that's your child. I want nothing to do with her anymore".

My heart gave a wild tumble. Mother had always spoken about him but I'd always thought that he wasn't real, that she just made him up to make me behave since she only ever had evil things to say about him. But right now I was staring straight at him.

I had a father. This man was my real father. I didn't know what to think or feel, but there was one thing I knew, I didn't want to stay with him. He abandoned me for a reason and I doubted if he'd even want me back at this point in life.

The man stepped towards me, took me by the chin, and examined my face. He let go with a grimace and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

"No child of mine is as weak and pathetic as this. Take this bastard to whoever her real father is".

His words were like acid. They burned through my skin and left me feeling worthless about myself.

Mother screamed and attempted to rush at him but the guards held her back. "You fucking monster. You know she is yours. She's a murderer just like you are and that's why I want nothing to do with her. I don't want her anymore".

I clenched my fist, then stole a glance at the man that was now regarding me with interest.

He rubbed at his beard thoughtfully. "She killed someone?".

Mother shook the guards off then matched his stance and stare. "That's only what you're interested in right? You beast. Your daughter is just like you and that's why I want her off my hand. I also need some money, at least I should be compensated for taking care of her all these years".

The man grabbed her by the throat all of a sudden and mother gasped, her fingers clawing at his arms as she struggled to breathe. I sat, eyes wide and paralyzed on the floor.

"Do not disrespect me in my house Amore, and do not give me conditions. You should be happy if I let you leave with your life intact" he got out through gritted teeth, then shoved her hard.

Mother landed on the floor coughing and grabbing her throat.

"I'll keep her here." He declared and mother's eyes widened. "Why are you surprised Amore, you said it yourself that she is mine. But do you know what would be her fate if she isn't my child? I'll send her to the whorehouses and sell her off to the highest bidder".

Mother's gaze landed on mine and I pleaded and begged with all of my wills for her not to let me go. What if I wasn't his daughter? I'd felt as if my life would finally be better, and that with Franco gone, it could finally be me and her against the world. I was wrong and this was worse, way worse than Franco.

Mother faced him, her chin set in determination and I knew what her answer was before she said them.

"I don't care. Do whatever you want with her!".

The man who was my father laughed, then motioned towards a man to step forward.

"Follow him, he'll give you a cheque. Leave and never show your face" he ordered and a genuine smile spread across mother's lip.

It had always been about the money for her. Two children ran down the stairs. They stopped as they saw me.

"Who is she? She's so ugly and dirty, yuck!" the little girl pointed at my feet.

"Are they beggars father, can I shoot them?" the boy asked excitedly.

The man turned to face them. "She's no one, they're both nobodies. Now go to your room and finish whatever it was you were doing".

Both of them gave me one last dirty look and then rushed back up the stairs.

I glanced around to see that mother was gone. It was just me, the bodyguards, and the cruel man.

He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me up before he flung me toward one of the guards.

"Put her under Diablo. Once the DNA results are out then I'll see what to make of you" he said, turned his back, and left.

I was all alone again, in a strange place, with a strange man and as he dragged me out of the mansion, my heart died inside. I knew my life was going to be harder.

******

Remembering the good old days had me huddling in a corner. The chain that bound my ankles rattled as I pulled on it, the weight of it uncomfortable.

It has been a while since I'd gotten chained and locked up so it was taking a bit of getting used to.

Dearil Vaughn. His name made my blood boil. He'd given me an ultimatum and he thought that I was going to break but I wasn't. I wasn't the scared helpless little girl anymore. I was Jade Alvarez, the most feared cold-blooded killer. I wasn't scared of death. I was only scared of not achieving everything I'd set out to do, and it had been so close. just a few more months and I'd have been Don. I'd already won so many people over. Just one stupid mistake. I'd miscalculated just once and this was what it cost me.

Ryland was going to pay when I got out of here, and I knew that I would kill him. I just had to escape first. It was only a matter of time.

But I had to make a plan. I couldn't escape Dearil Vaughn by my human strength alone. His keen sense of smell, sight, and speed was a guarantee that he'd find me if I attempted to run away.

I'd already done it once and that earned me a punishment that had my ass smarting every time I tried to seat. I didn't want to relieve that again because it was humiliating, though liberating in a way.

Was this how Hayden felt every time I punished him? Have I been too harsh on him on some occasions? Did he miss me? Was he looking for me, or did he already take another master? He and I knew that I didn't care about him and that our relationship had been purely contractual, but I still expected him to worry and care for me.

Growling, I got up from the floor. My stomach hurt, and I was starving. He hadn't been joking that I had to earn whatever it was that I wanted. At least he hadn't decided to strip me naked and then make me beg for clothes. I'd have done that to him if the role was reversed, and I would because when I got out of here, I was going to look for ways to get even.