Chapter 2
Francesca's POV.
"You shouldn't have done this!!"
"Do you how bad you've fucked yourself up!!"
"Was this really worth it?!"
These were the thoughts that fueled my fear and kept me running all the way back to the house without looking back.
I was scared shitless, fearing that Patricia would catch up with me if I stopped, not bothering to know if she'd even noticed the missing money.
I forced myself to slow down when my tiny apartment came into view, and the blood that rushed up my head threatened to make me unconscious.
There was so much adrenaline coursing through my veins, but my legs were numb and aching badly at the same time.
I thought of running to the hospital straight, but my father needed to know that his wife was dying, even though I knew that he wouldn't care less.
I began walking up with a little strength in my legs, but I noticed some black Lincolns that occupied the whole compound.
When did my father begin receiving visitors in his drunk state?
I walked to the doorstep and made for the door to see what was going on, but a loud crash made my hand stop on the door knob.
"Do you think we're joking with you?!! Where is my money?!!", I heard a rough voice question loudly.
Confused, I peeped through the hole on the cracked window and my eyes widened in horror when I saw twelve men all dressed in black surrounding my father who was tied with ropes, his eyes swollen and his lips burst and bleeding.
What the hell was going on?!!
"I've told you...", My father spat blood from his mouth. "I didn't steal your money, Chris-"
Before he could finish, his face was met with another slap that caused him to groan in pain.
"Lie to me one more time. I dare you!"
"Okay, fine", my father surrendered. "I cheated in the casino and took your fifteen thousand dollars", he confessed.
Fifteen?!!
"And where is it?"
"I... I used the money to buy some drinks", he murmured.
The man scoffed. "Your family must be very proud of you." He turned to his men. "Treat his fuck up."
All at once, they pounced on him, beating him until he began shedding painful tears.
I wanted to yell and cry, but I couldn't save him from this. Not with the money in my hand to pay for mother's bills.
They finally stopped and the man faced my father. "I'll either take my money tonight, or I'll leave your dead body. Choose one."
"Please, don't... Please don't kill me. I beg you! I don't want to die... You can take anything in this house, but not my life, please!", He begged miserably.
"Look around you, dumbass. What can possibly be worth fifteen thousand dollars in this ditch hole?! Huh?!"
"I... I have a daughter..."
Wh... What?
Did I hear him well?
"I have a daughter who you might like. She's very pretty, and she knows how to satisfy men. You can have her. Do whatever you want to do with her. You can use her as your personal doll, or you can use her to make money in your casino. You can take her... But spare me, please!!", He cried desperately.
Was my own father trying to sell me for fifteen thousand dollars?!!
What the actual fuck?!!
I knew this selfish man hated me and my mother, but never in my life would I have thought that he would try to sell me off!
"And where's she?", the man asked greedily.
"Well, she's... Not there-"
"You still think I'm joking?!", He raised his hand high and gave my father a raw sucker punch.
The speed and bluntness shocked me so much, I gasped loudly.
Immediately, all eyes turned to the direction of the window, including my father.
I froze immediately.
"Who's that?!!"
"That's my daughter!! You can take her!! Take her with you!!!"
Fuck!!
"Get her for me", he ordered his boys.
I pivoted immediately and ran to the streets as fast as my legs could carry me.
Fortunately, a cab was just turning round the corner.
"I'll pay you whatever you want, just drive as fast as you can!!", I begged immediately as I rushed in.
By the time the men came out to get me, the cab had already sped off.
****
Mother sighed when I told her all that just happened to me.
"Sometimes I wish I didn't marry your father. I mean, I love him to death, but you don't deserve to have that man as your burden", my mother weakly lamented and shook her head, a small tear falling down her left eye.
She was paler than when I last saw her and I hated it. I was scared I was going to lose the only person that genuinely loved me.
"I wish I never got pregnant for him. You deserve a better father , and I couldn't get that for you-"
"Stop punishing yourself, mum." I cleaned her tears before mine would start falling. "You have me, and that's all that matters-"
I was interrupted by a buzz on my phone.
I had a message, and the name of the sender sent shock waves down my spine.
"YOU HAVE GUTS, FRANCESCA. SO I SENT YOU TO KEEP MY MONEY, AND YOU DECIDE TO STEAL IT?. I HOPE THE DEVIL THAT ADVISED YOU TO DO SO HAS GOTTEN YOU A SPOT IN HELL, BECAUSE IT SWEAR THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING WHEN I CATCH YOU."
"What's wrong?"
Mother must have seen the worry on my face.
I couldn't keep it from her.
"I have the money for your surgery, but... I stole it from my boss. And she's going to kill me when she catches me."
My mother was silent for a while, and I didn't like it.
"You're going to get the surgery done, but just in case you don't see me, know that I love you-"
"You're not paying for any surgery."
I stared at her in confusion.
"What do you want me to do?"
"You're going to use that money to board a flight to the United States."
What was this woman saying?
"She can only kill you if she finds you right?, and I will not let you die because of me. So you're going to board the next plane to America right now."
I couldn't believe she was saying this. "Mum! The doctor said…"
"Fuck the doctor, Francesca. I'll be fine. I need you to be safe, and that's not a negotiation. You're going to the U.S right now. Do you understand me?"