I should have died that night.
I should have died in that alley.
My whole body wouldn't stop shaking as the gun pressed against my forehead. My heart was beating so fast I thought it would explode out of my chest. It felt like I had been running for my life for hours.
"You're dead meat tonight, Attorney!"
Greg Holland's voice was filled with sick satisfaction, like he had been waiting his whole life for this moment. Like killing me was some kind of reward.
I should have known he would come for me. I had been stupid enough to think I was safe after sending his brother to prison.
I didn't know what to do. I raised my both hands in surrender as if it will somehow save me. "Please. I did my job. That's all I did."
He laughed cruelly.
"You ruined my brother's life!"
Your brother raped and murdered children, I wanted to scream but I'd learned from enough crime shows that the truth didn't matter in moments like this. It won't save me. It will only get me killed.
I knew I had to reason with him somehow. To bargain for my life but I couldn't think. How could I when a gun was pointed at my head?
"P-Please don't kill me"
He pressed the gun harder into my skin. My body started shaking on its own. I was certain I was going to die of a heart attack before he could even pull the trigger.
"This is for Evan," he spat. "In your next life, maybe you'll learn to mind your fucking business."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
This was it. I thought of my brother Kayden.He had been murdered too. How was his final moments? Had he been this scared? Had he prayed? Had anyone heard him?
I would never know. Just how no one will know about me too.
A tear ran down my cheek as I braced for the inevitable but then—
"Step away from her" a calm voice snapped through the chaos.
The gunshot that followed was deafening.
I screamed and dropped to the ground, my hands flying over my body as I waited for the pain to hit.
When I opened my eyes, Greg Holland was on the floor.
Dead.
His blood pooled around my feet. His body laid limp on the cold concrete and both eyes were open void of any life.
I let out a scream, suddenly feeling nauseous.
I scrambled backward like a vampire running away from the sunlight.
"No—no—no…"
My body began shaking.
Heavy footsteps slowly approached.
A man stood over Greg's body, dressed in a black suit like he'd just stepped out of an important meeting. He was Tall and devilishly handsome. The moonlight added a glint to his sharp jawline and dark hair.
His looks could put every male runway model to shame.
I gawked like a fool. Unable to form any words due to the shock.
His steel-gray eyes landed on me, studying me like I wasn't a person but some kind of artifact.
I suddenly felt naked under his gaze even though I was fully covered in a dress that was now stained with blood.
Greg's blood.
I shivered, not just from fear, but because the air around him was… wrong.
His eyes lacked any sort of warmth. He seemed too relaxed, too composed for someone who had just committed murder. If anything, he looked bored like this was just another Saturday evening for him.
He fired again. Once into Greg's head, just to be sure.
I couldn't help but break into a sob.
I knew at that moment, I was next.
"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking. "P-Please don't kill me."
He tilted his head, studying me with curiosity.
"What's your name?" he asked calmly.
It took me some seconds to process his words.
"A-Amalia."
He repeated it slowly, like he was tasting it. "Amalia."
He handed the gun to the man behind him and offered me his hand.
I stared at it like it might bite me. Was this a trap?
"Get up," he said impatiently.
I took it hesitantly.
Was I going to be killed too?
His rough hands pulled me to my feet easily, bringing me close…too close that i could smell his expensive cologne and gunpowder.
"You have enemies," he said. "Big ones."
"I— I didn't ask for this." I stammered.
His lips twisted into what looked like a slight smirk.
"No one ever does."
He leaned down until his mouth was close to my ear.
"I'm late for a party," he said. "And, you, Amalia are coming with me."
"No" The word came out of my lips before I could stop it.
I backed away quickly. My hands started shaking so I wrapped then around myself.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
It was reckless and stupid I know. This man could end me in a heartbeat and maybe go have a glass of wine later like it was nothing.
His face shifted into something darker.
He dug his fingers into my arms dragging me towards the black sleek car. I tried to struggle against his grip but it was pointless.
"Let me go!"
Trying to fight him would be ridiculous. I was way too weak.
He opened the door and shoved me inside.
"You don't have a choice, Amalia"
꧁༺ ❦ ༻꧂
My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
I pressed them into my lap, forcing myself to breathe through my nose.
It's okay. It'll be okay.
I repeated the words over and over in my head like some kind of magic spell. Like if I said them enough times, they might somehow come true.
It didn't feel okay.
Nothing felt okay.
I found it hard to breathe when I was trapped in the middle of two men built like rocks. Their guns rested openly against their thighs, they didn't even bother to hide it.
Like they wanted me to see.
The man who had killed Greg Holland sat in the car ahead of us.
He had forced me into his car.
There hadn't even been a negotiation.
I knew this wasn't some rescue.
It was a kidnap but all I could think was that at least I wasn't dead in that alley. At least I was still breathing.
For now.
The ride was suffocating.
I didn't know where they were taking me, and I didn't dare ask. With every passing second I was reminded that I was surrounded by men who wouldn't hesitate to pull a trigger and dump my body in the nearest river.
Minutes later, the car came to a halt.
The door was yanked open before I could react, a rough hand closed around my wrist and I was pulled out before my feet fully touched the ground. I barely had time to steady myself before I realized where we were.
The building in front of us had glass walls with gold letters glowing above the entrance.
GUCCI
Why were we here?
He didn't let go of my hand as he pulled me inside like he owned the damn place. Heads turned the moment we entered.
A woman at the register froze when she saw him then rushed forward nearly tripping over her heels. Her smile was too fake and practiced.
"Good evening, sir. Welcome back. How may we help you?"
Her eyes flicked to me for a brief second.
He didn't look at her.
"I need a dress," he said flatly. "For her. Red."
A dress? For what?
The woman nodded too quickly. "Of course, sir. The best we have."
She disappeared, shooting me a dissaproving look I didn't miss.
I couldn't care because my mind was spiralling.
Red.
Like blood.
Horrible thoughts flooded my mind all at once. Things I didn't want to think about, but couldn't help it.
Dress me up. Show me off. Get rid of me when he's done.
I shivered.
"Why did you bring me here?" My voice sounded small and weak. Like it didn't belong to me.
He finally turned to look at me.
He checked his wrist watch, then met my gaze again like all of this was normal.
"Hurry up," he said calmly. "We're already late."
Late for what?
Before I could ask, he leaned closer, dropping his voice just enough that only I could hear.
"Don't worry Amalia," he said slowly.
My name sounded different on his lips.
"Tonight, everyone will know you're mine"