Chapter 6

• Astrid
• My mind is in shambles as I try convincing myself that it's not possible. It's not. There's no way it can be him, right?
• "Remove the bag," the deep voice instructs, and I hear rustling sounds as the plastic bag is removed from my head. I squint my eyes, the light hitting hard.
• "Why is she hurt?" the deep voice asks, and I try looking up to catch a glimpse of his face. It's quite hard since I'm seated on the floor. I blink, trying to catch the face of the tattooed man in front of me. It's him; the tattoos are familiar.
• "Er, boss..." my father begins nervously, struggling to find his words. "It was quite hard trying to get her to-"
• His words are suddenly cut off, and he grunts. My eyes widen at the sight of blood droplets on the ground. My father groans, holding onto his bleeding, broken nose.
• "And you hurt her?" The voice bellows, making me flinch back in fear. I'm so scared that I can't even lift my head to look again.
• "I'm...I'm..."
• "Fuck off," the deep, cold voice interrupts yet again. "She no longer exists to you and your family." He adds, and my heart sinks. Tears stream down my face; I'm going to get passed around among men, and my father sold me to be a sex slave.
• "Okay, boss," he stammers, and then I hear footsteps. He leaves. My father leaves me.
• More tears stream down my face, and I cry uncontrollably.
• "Lift her," the same cold voice orders, and two men suddenly grab me, lifting me off the ground. I feel weak; I'm going to pass out. I just want to die.
• "We meet again," the person hums, and I sniffle. I know it's him; everything feels familiar. The man from that night, the man I unwillingly slept with. My father sold me to him.
• "Lift your face; look at me," he says.
• I stiffen, feeling his fingers on my face as he wipes away a tear with his thumb. I don't look at him still, instead staring at the ground.
• "I. Said. Look. At. Me."
• I tremble and slowly lift my head to see the most mesmerizing blue eyes ever. It's really him. He looks just as handsome and ruthless as I remembered.
• I don't know, but I feel a sense of calmness knowing he's the one I was indirectly sold to. But still, I don't know what he wants to do to me.
• "This is your new home, Astrid," he says, my name rolling off his tongue easily, sounding sexy.
• But no, I shake my head in disbelief. It can't be my home; there's no way.
• "No, no," I shake my head, helpless tears streaming down my face. "Please don't."
• I proceed to beg him, but the look in his eyes says it all: he's not going to budge.
• "You still have a lot to learn," he hums, shaking his head meaningfully. "Come with me."
• He turns to leave; I can feel the other men who carried me in growling at me since I didn't move an inch, and the stranger keeps walking.
• "Rule no 1, Astrid: you don't defy me."
• Blue eyes deadpan, his cold voice scaring the living shit out of me, and I move in fear. I wince, pain shooting through my body. I sniffle, tears and snot flowing down my face. I'm doomed.
• "Just kill me already," I cry in a shaky, low voice, but I know he hears me.
• He pauses and turns to face me with an amused look on his face.
• "Why kill you when the fun is just getting started?"
• He smirks, and I feel bile rush up my throat.
• “I don’t want to be passed among men,” I cry, shaking my head repeatedly. “I’m sorry if I have offended you, but please just let me go. Please.” I beg, almost going down on my knees, but I stop as he suddenly appears in front of me.
• “And why will I pass you around?” He asks no one in particular, his jaw working.
• “That’s how it is around here. That’s what you guys do,” I say, my lower lip trembling.
• “I won’t pass you around, Doll. You’re mine to use. I bought you, and I’ll use you. When I’m done with you, I can send you back to your worthless father,” he says, a wicked smirk curving up his lips as he begins to walk away.
• I freeze, watching as his inked shoulders flex when he goes up the stairs. The house is huge, and I don’t want to lose him, so I force myself to move and begin to walk after him.
• Use me? When he’s done with me? I’m doomed. Whether he passes me around or not, it doesn’t change the fact. He’s going to use me. Men only use women as their sex toys. That’s what I am. How did I even find myself with him? I don’t even who he is or his name or anything.
• I freeze on my tracks, and a strong wave of bile pushes up my throat. Why now? I try to push it back down, but just can’t. I begin to look around for the nearest bathroom, but I don’t even know my way around. I look around in alarm when my eyes catch a bedroom. I don’t even think twice before running in there.
• I push the bathroom door open and bend over the toilet, emptying all the contents of my stomach. I frown after I’m done and flush the toilet. I hardly get sick, and there’s no way I can be pregnant.
• I weakly stand up on my feet, dragging my feet to the sink where I rinse my mouth. Where is he? Did he even notice me coming in?
• I finish rinsing my mouth and am about to leave when I suddenly gasp at the sight of a pair of blue metallic eyes staring right at me.