Chapter Six
Nina's POV
The words hung in the air like smoke drifting in through the cracked window on the night breeze.
"Poor innocent girl her father sold her to the den of vipers the wolves he will pay dearly desperate to trust the Mafia politicians are the dumbest ever"
My blood ran cold. I bolted upright in bed sheets tangling around my legs, heart slamming against my ribs like it wanted out. Who was talking? One of them? Enzo? Or the others?
The voices were low muffled by the wind and waves but the venom in them sliced through me. Sold? Mafia? My father, what had he done? The fear hit like a wave crashing over the lingering heat in my body drowning it for a split second.
But only for a second.
Because even as terror clawed at my throat that ache between my legs throbbed back to life, insistently betraying me.
My skin prickled hyperaware of the cool air slipping in from the window brushing against my bare thighs where the T-shirt had ridden up.
I should close it.
I should scream. Run. Demand answers. But my body was traitorous and alive in ways it had not been since Mom died pinned me in place.
The voices faded footsteps crunching on gravel outside leaving me alone with the dark and my pounding pulse. I sank back against the pillow's breath ragged one hand clutching the sheet hard.
I squeezed my eyes shut but the images from downstairs flooded in uninvited raw and vivid mixing with the fear like poison in wine.
The woman curvy unashamedly, her full breasts bouncing with every thrust. The way they had surrounded her three men like gods carved from sin. Enzo shirtless and smirking his abs flexing as he moved.
The older one maybe the leader with tattoos snaking up his arms holding her throat in that grip firm possessive but not cruel. Gentle in its dominance. And the third darker haired his hands everywhere kneading her flesh making her arch and beg.
Yes Daddy she had moaned voice cracking body shuddering. The sound echoed in my head low and throaty pulling at something deep inside me.
My fingers slipped lower under the hem of my panties brushing the soft curls there. I gasped the touch electric sending sparks up my spine. Wrong. So wrong. My father had thrown me to wolves Mafia wolves and here I was wet and aching imagining their hands on me instead.
But I could not stop. The fear twisted into fuel heightening everything. What if they knew? What if cameras caught this too? The thought should horrify me. Instead it made me slicker my fingers sliding easily over my folds finding that swollen nub that begged for attention.
I circled it slowly at first teasing my hips lifting off the bed involuntarily. In my mind it was not my hand it was Enzo's callused and sure his blue eyes locked on mine as he whispered Kitten you are starving.
His bare chest pressing against me sweat slicked the trail of hair leading down to where his jeans hung open. I imagined him unbuttoning them fully, freeing himself thick and hard just for me.
A whimper escaped my lips. I bit down on my pillow to muffle it but the pressure built anyway coiling tight in my core.
The scene downstairs replayed the woman on her knees, mouth full, while one man took her from behind, slamming in a rhythm that made her breasts sway hypnotically. The slap of skin on skin grunts the wet sounds. God the way she had looked lost in ecstasy owned but free.
My fingers moved faster dipping inside now one then two curling to hit that spot that made stars burst behind my eyelids. I soaked the fabric of my panties damp against my wrist.
Heat flooded my cheeks, my neck and my chest. Fuck I whispered echoing my earlier thought but this time it was a plea.
The fear lingered sharp and thrilling. What if they burst in now? Saw me like these legs spread hands buried between my thighs? Would they laugh? Punishment? Join?
The older ones face flashed stern inked his hand around her throat. I imagined it on mine squeezing just enough to make my breath hitch his voice growling. Be careful where you wander little one.
The third his dark hair falling over his eyes as he licked and sucked, devouring her like she was his last meal.
My free hand fisted the sheets knuckles white as I rubbed harder chasing the edge. The ache was everywhere now breasts heavy and sensitive under the T-shirt nipples peaking against the fabric. I pinched one roughly gasping at the jolt picturing teeth instead Enzo's nipping soothing with his tongue.
The waves outside crashed louder mirroring the storm inside me. Faster deeper my fingers plunged, thumb flicking my clit in frantic circles.
The womans moans blended with mine in my head. Yes harder Daddy Sweat beaded on my skin trickling between my breasts. I was close so my body arching, toes curling.
What if they were the vipers? Wolves in the den and I was the prey they would devour. The thought pushed me over raw passionate forbidden.
Pleasure exploded white hot ripping through me in waves.
I cried out muffled against the pillow thighs clamping around my hand as I rode it out pulsing shuddering every muscle taut then melting.
I collapsed panting hand slick and trembling as I withdrew it. The room spun the window still open letting in the cool air that kissed my fevered skin. Guilt crashed in next mingling with the afterglow. Mom. Dad. Mafia. Sold.
But beneath it all a dangerous spark lingered. If this was doom it felt too good to fear.
I woke to sunlight slicing through the curtains.
For a few seconds, I didn't remember where I was. Then it all came rushing back.
Mom. The funeral. This house. Enzo's dangerous smile.
"He sold her to us."
I sat up fast, heart hammering.
The words from last night echoed in my skull. I'd heard them through the window ,voices drifting up from below. Male. Cold. Matter of fact.
"Poor innocent girl, she doesn't know her father sold her to the den of vipers."
Sold.
My father hadn't hired bodyguards. He'd sold me to the mafia.
A cold, clear feeling settled over me, pushing through the grief and fear. It felt like ice water in my veins.
I couldn't fall apart. Couldn't keep being the scared girl who hid in her room.
If I wanted to survive this to get outI needed to think.
I threw off the covers and stood. First things first: I needed a phone. Internet access. Something to connect me to the outside world.
My own phone had been taken…"for your safety," they'd said. The sick joke it was.
But this house was massive. There had to be phones. Laptops. These men weren't living like monks.
I crossed to the window and pulled the curtain back slightly. The view was deceivingly beautiful endless ocean, white sand, clear sky. Paradise. Prison.
I turned back to my room, studying it with new eyes.
One door. A bathroom with a window too small to escape through. The lock meant nothing when they had keys.
I pressed my ear to the door. Silence.
I eased it open and peered into the hallway. Empty.
The house felt subdued. Distant sounds ,water running, dishes clattering. Someone in the kitchen.
I stepped into the hall, heart pounding. To the right, the landing opened onto stairs leading down.
Where I'd seen them last night.
Heat crept up my neck. I shoved the memory away.
Focus.
I padded toward the stairs, keeping close to the wall. My oversized T shirt hung to mid thigh. No bra. No real clothes.
The prickling certainty that someone, somewhere, was watching.
Let them watch.
Voices drifted up from below. Male. Relaxed.
"…shipment comes on Tuesday…"
"…contact in Miami says the container is ready for shipment…"
Business talk. Mafia talk I assumed.
I crept down the stairs. The living area looked different in daylight cleaner, normal, except for the tactical gear and guns on the side table.
My mouth went dry.
Two men were in the kitchen. The older one with silver at his temples and a scar along his jaw. The broader one was covered in tattoos, the one I'd seen with his hand on that woman's throat.
"Is she awake yet?" Tattoo Guy asked.
"Cameras show movement," the older man said.
Cameras.
I searched for them. There black domes in the corners.
How many were there?
"Think she heard us last night?"
"Probably. Girl's smarter than she look."
"Dangerous."
"Or useful. Depends on how we play it."
I started retreating when a door opened to my right.
Enzo emerged. Fully dressed this time dark jeans, fitted black T shirt clinging to his chest. Damp hair.
He saw me immediately.
Our eyes locked.
His mouth curved into that slow smile. "Morning, kitten."
Shit.
The kitchen conversation stopped.
I straightened, chin up. "I was just…"
"Snooping?" Enzo supplied, walking toward me.
"Looking for coffee," I shot back.
"Uh-huh." His gaze swept over my bare legs, back to my face. "You always wander around strange houses in your pajamas?"
"You always break into girls' rooms half-naked?"
His grin widened. "Touché."
The older man appeared in the archway, arms crossed. "Nina. I'm Dante. This is Nikolai." He nodded toward Tattoo Guy. "You've met Enzo."
"Lucky me," I muttered.
"You want coffee, help yourself," Dante said. His tone hardened. "But you don't leave this house. You don't make calls. You don't try anything stupid. Clear?"
I met his stare. "Crystal."
He walked back into the kitchen. Nikolai followed, leaving me with Enzo.
Who was still smiling.
"So," he said, leaning against the bannister. "What are you really doing down here?"
"I told you. Coffee."
"Right." He didn't believe me. "And last night? Pacing at two a.m.?"
My cheeks burned. "Couldn't sleep."
"Mm. I bet."
Did he know I'd been downstairs? That I'd seen whatever forbidden sin that was going on?
"Can I get my coffee now?" I asked, brushing past him.
His hand caught my wrist. Not hard, but firm.
I froze.
He leaned close, breath warm against my ear. "Careful, kitten. We're supposed to keep you safe. But if you keep testing us…" His thumb stroked across my pulse. "…someone might test you back."
He let go and stepped away.
My heart raced.
I yanked my arm back and hurried into the kitchen.
Dante and Nikolai were at the table, talking in low voices. They barely glanced at me as I grabbed a mug and poured coffee with shaking hands.
I took a sip. Strong. Bitter. Perfect.
Okay. Plan.
I needed a phone. A computer. Something.
My eyes scanned the kitchen. No laptops. No charging cables. No tablets.
Damn.
I'd have to search the house. Quietly. Carefully. Figure out their routine when they were distracted, when I'd have the best chance.
I could do this.
I had to.
Because staying here, being whatever they'd bought me for, wasn't an option.
I took another sip and glanced toward the window.
Somewhere beyond this beach was freedom.
I just had to be smart enough to reach and I will start that by stealing a phone and a gun besides my father has questions to answer.