Inaya's POV

Why did I just tell him that? What will that get me?

Nothing. Nothing but humiliation.

"You're a virgin?" A smirk appears on his face.

I nod, gulping hard.

"I prefer my women with more experience but breaking into you sounds... fun." He says too casually.

The blood drains from my face, and my heart goes still.

But he lets me go. "But not today. I'm in a better mood today, I'll let you off."

Just as he was about to leave, he turns around one last time. "You're not going anywhere with Nicholas unless I say so. You're my little whore, amore mìo. Don't let that slip from your mind or else there will be consequences."

I drop to the floor with a loud thud, as every part of my body feels as if it's been used up to bits.

I know why I'm still alive. I know why he kept me alive all this time. I should've known what his plan was all along.

His plan wasn't a swift kill; his plan is to chuck out small bits of my soul one by one.

I gave him one sleepless night. One night where he thought I would destroy everything he built. And now... and now he wants to give me a thousand sleepless nights. Just like he said he would.

I should've known.

But I'm too naive.

I don't know what to do.

I don't know how to handle anything without being too helpful, without giving away too much, without being too nice.

I was raised in a hostile environment yet I didn't grow up to be anything like him, like my father.

When things get tough, I know I might willingly hand over my soul to Dominic because I won't be able to take it; because I'll think that's the best option.

Why?

Because that's who I am. I'd rather suffer than watch others suffer. I'd rather make things easier for others than myself.

That's my character flaw. That's my doom. That's my downfall. And that's what will lead to my death; not of my body but of my soul.

I don't think living is an option for me anymore, but I do want to survive. I want to survive and gain my freedom.

I want to survive. I want to reach my goals. I want to fall in love. I want to get married. I want to have children. I want to be loved.

But the only way I can do that is use my flaw: I'll give Dominic Belcastro all the love and care I have left in my broken soul. I'll give him everything until he either takes my life or let's me go.

Because that's the only way I know how. I'm not strong, neither ruthless. My only hope is that my ability to still love will either save me or destroy me.

• • •

I shouldn't be getting ready to meet Nicholas but I am.

Why am I being so suicidal? I don't know!

Actually, I do know. After that encounter with Dominic, I've felt dirty. I felt like I did something wrong when I did nothing.

I showered way too many times a day, thinking that maybe I could wash away the grim feeling but it never went away.

Maybe that's why I'm on the edge. Every encounter with Dominic Belcastro puts me closer to the edge of death and I don't know what to do.

So, I decided, I might as well enjoy a day out with Nick.

Angela had brought me a casual white-ish grey dress with a chocolate brown scarf yesterday so I could wear it for my day with Nick. She even brought me some makeup, that was so sweet of her!

I put on my clothes and applied a bit of makeup. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I can barely recognize myself. I look so... put together. I haven't looked like this in so long... I almost cry from the feeling of how I haven't seen myself look decent in a while.

I don't think of myself as the most beautiful girl in the world, but I can't seem to see myself as decent either. My self-esteem was something I was trying to work on but now... I don't think I could ever be able to work on myself. Not until I escape this Hell; if I ever escape.

I sit there, patiently waiting for Nick. He said he'd be here around 2:00 PM.

It's 2:20 PM.

Maybe it was a joke. Maybe he didn't actually mean it.

I didn't take it to heart thought it slightly hurt, but that's inescapable. He's a Belcastro after all.

"What am I going to do looking like this?" I sigh to myself.

Just as I was planning on changing out, my door swings open with it being no one other than Dominic.

"You clean up well." He says as he gazes at me while leaning on the door frame.

"I... I was changing out." I almost say in defeat. It was a way of saying, he won, Nick didn't show up.

"Don't." He says.

"Don't what?" I ask.

"Don't change out." He states.

I raise my brow in confusion.

He sighs and rolls his eyes as he walks towards me. This is when notice that he's in some dressy casual attire.

Hes wearing a grey-ish turtleneck sweater, paired with blue jeans and timberlands on his feet.

His hair is styled, his beard trimmed. And to top off his look, he's wearing glasses. I can't even tell if they're real or just for the outfit.

He looks like he's the most simple man on earth; he looks... not murderous.

This whole look is making my heart flutter. He looks good. Like he can have my heart and soul type of good.

Why am I so easily flustered by attractive people?

He grabs my hand and intertwines his fingers through mine and pulls me behind him.

"W-where are you taking me?" I'm in shock.

"Shut up and don't argue." He says.

I try pulling away my hand but his grasp only becomes firmer.

He pulls me into his chest and leans down to my ear. "I'll show you a good time, amore mìo."

My body reacts to him in a way where it feels like I'm afraid yet intrigued. This is sickening.

But I don't argue. I don't want to ruin his mood. Maybe this will be a step closer to my freedom.

He opens the passenger door for me to one of his luxury vehicles and I take a seat.

"Since Nicholas couldn't make it," there's a dark smile that appears on his face, "I thought I'd take you out instead."

Oh... this can't be good.

This cannot be good at all.

- - -

A/N: sorry about updating so late! I was stuck for a bit and I didn't know how to write anything. Annnnd, I became really busy with work + school! But I'm back! Hopefully it's for good! 😂

The outfits I imagined them in:

Next Update: Tuesday, October 8th, 2019.