Love In Mafia Revenge

"One billion."

"Two billion."

Hearing each number they shouted made me tremble in fear. My body began to sweat as the bidding climbed higher and higher. My worth was being shattered here—they treated me like nothing but a whore.

My mother had just died, a day after my twenty-fifth birthday. I thought her passing was already the deepest grief I could endure. But then I learned about the mountain of debt she had left behind. At that moment, I felt as though God Himself had turned cruel toward me.

I could not repay the debt, and so misfortune kept chasing me. I was abducted and sold by the men who came to collect from my mother. Even now, my body still aches from the abuse they inflicted on me.

Tears slid down my face. My life had collapsed into ruin. I wanted to escape this horrifying place, but they threatened to kill me if I tried. And I could not run anyway, for both my hands and feet were bound tightly.

The stench of alcohol filled the air around me. Men kissed and fondled women openly, shamelessly. The dim lights and pounding music made my head throb.

"Is that all you dare to offer? This woman is still pure—look at her body! Isn’t she sexy? Imagine how much money you could make if you put her to work!"

A tall, dark-skinned man stoked their hunger with his words.

I remembered him clearly—he was the one who first tortured me when I arrived here. My head was lowered, ashamed of the yellowing bruises and half-healed wounds on my skin. I tried to cover them with my clothes so as not to draw his attention again.

As the bidding rose higher, hope drained from me. A woman who once shared a cell with me had whispered that many of these men were notorious pimps or wealthy perverts, eager to waste their fortunes just to satisfy their lusts.

"Fifty billion!"

"Grace Natalie Colecristin, fifty billion has been offered by Mr. Maverick. Anyone willing to bid higher?"

My eyes widened as I looked at the man called Maverick. He smiled at me, and my fear deepened when he climbed onto the stage.

"Hello, beautiful. You will be mine. Every night I’ll make you feel the shivers." He caressed my cheek with his hand.

I recoiled, shaking my head, then spat in his face.

His face turned red with rage. He slapped me hard, pain exploding across my cheek.

"Filthy whore! Just wait until you’re in my hands. I will break you." He yanked my hair brutally.

"Hey… that whore belongs to me."

A deep voice cut through the crowd. I turned, startled. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped forward, his presence commanding.

"This woman is mine. Do you know who I am, Maverick?" His voice was calm but dangerous.

Maverick hesitated, then smirked. "Very well, I’ll let you have her."

Relief washed over me when I saw the man’s face. His features were striking: fair skin, warm brown eyes, and dressed impeccably in a suit and tie. For a moment, I thought perhaps he was different. Perhaps he was kind.

"Write whatever number you want. Release the woman." He handed Maverick a check.

"As you wish, boss. The woman is yours!" Maverick stepped back.

I exhaled, trembling with fragile hope. But then I heard the whispers around us—words that turned my blood cold.

"Look, isn’t that Alexander Lemos Gragah? That ruthless mafia lord. That woman is doomed now—she’s been bought by Alex himself."

Alexander Lemos Gragah. I had heard his name before, splashed across the news. A feared mafia king. A man even the most powerful dared not cross.

I froze as he untied the ropes from my wrists and ankles.

I tried to run, but the crowd blocked my path. My legs locked stiff when Alex himself walked toward me.

"You can’t escape, Grace. You belong to me." His hand clamped around my wrist, pulling me into his chest.

I struggled, but his grip only tightened, making me wince in pain. I didn’t know what awaited me now. I was already caught in Alex’s dark world.

He dragged me outside and shoved me into his car. I cried silently as he tormented me through the journey.

At last, the car stopped before a vast mansion.

"Get out, Grace!" he barked, yanking my arm.

I obeyed. If I resisted, I knew he would only hurt me again. The house was eerie: red walls stretched across empty halls, silence pressing down like a weight. Finally, we stopped before a pitch-dark room.

"Do you like your new home, Grace?" Alex whispered, stroking my cheek.

I shook my head, terrified. His hand struck my face so hard my vision blurred.

He grabbed my hair, wrenching me to the floor. Tears streamed down as his blows split my lip. Blood dripped, but his eyes showed no mercy—only burning rage.

"Do you know who I am, Grace?" His gaze pierced into me.

"Yes… you are Mr. Alex. The feared mafia lord. I beg you, forgive me. Thank you for saving me. I’ll do anything in return." My voice trembled.

"Will you sleep with me?" He pulled my face close to his. My heart pounded wildly.

I had promised to do anything—but not that.

"Why not? Are you afraid of me, Grace? Anyway, who would even want to sleep with filth like you?"

He shoved me backward. I crashed against a table, staggering. Alex advanced, and panic rose like fire inside me. My skin grew clammy as sweat dripped down. My breath caught when he drew a knife.

"What are you going to do, Mr. Alex?"

"Mark you. So you’ll never forget you’re mine." His smile was cruel.

He lunged, grabbing my leg, cutting into my skin. I screamed in agony as blood spilled.

"Stop crying, Grace. Your tears mean nothing to me. Look at your blood. Look at the name I carved."

I gasped as I saw the letters etched onto my flesh.

"Do you remember that name?"

I froze. The name burned into my skin was Simon—the name of my dead lover.

"Simon was my brother. He died because of you."

My body went rigid with shock. Simon… my beloved who had killed himself. He was Alex’s brother. No wonder Alex had paid so much for me.

But why did he blame me?

"I didn’t kill him! He took his own life!" I cried.

"He left this world because of you, Grace. Now you will suffer the same." Alex’s eyes flared with fury as his hands closed around my throat.

Air drained from my lungs. Darkness edged into my vision. Perhaps this was the end of me.