Aliyah's p.o.v

Attending this dinner is a last minute decision I hope not to regret. When I told Eva about the invite,she was elated, heck her eyes lightened up like she had just gotten a candy. When I expressed my indecision to go, she scolded me and forced me into this knee length dinner gown, with a slit and a love shaped cut at the back.

She made me up so well, I looked like a doll. “You must look the part. Remember you are Aliyah Santiago.” She chanted as she sent me off.

At the party, I felt intimidated, standing at the entrance and not seeing my inviter. I had felt out of place, well not until I locked eyes with Ottavio whose stare ignited heat in me, his eyes didn't stray down my body like the men in here have and his jaw ticked when my eyes drifted off him. Almost like he felt the attraction.

When he passed me. I had avoided eye contact with him. Heat clawing at my cheek as I remembered how I had thought he was the masked man from the early hours of this morning.

Brown was practically dry humping a girl before he saw me and the girls left immediately. Typical.

“Ohh Miss Santiago, you came,” He quipped, leaning in on his chair. Irritation took the better part of me. He couldn't even stand up to welcome me.

“I was invited, wasn't I?” I faked a smile as he pointed at the space beside him and I sat down, leaving enough distance between us. He smiled like he had noticed what I did but he didn't say anything.

A bartender brought drinks to our table and I nodded in appreciation, feeling the burn of a stare from the far corner of the hall. It was intense, steady… watchful. I didn’t have to look twice to know whose it was.

Ottavio,the one who thinks I’m here for Brown’s money. His gaze was cutting through me, cold and condemning. My chest tightened under it, a mix of embarrassment and something rattling crawling up my spine.

Brown leaned closer, breaking my thoughts. “I didn’t think you’d honor my invitation,” he said, voice low, almost guilty. “And I don’t want you thinking I was disrespecting your body by sending Ottavio with you that night. I just have to be careful. You understand, right?”

I took a sip of my drink, the bitterness coating my tongue. I nodded curtly, pretending to understand when all I wanted was to throw the glass in his smug face.

He shifted closer…close enough that his body heat seeped through the thin fabric of my dress, unsettling me. The air between us grew heavy, suffocating.

“I think you’ll like what I have planned out tonight,” he whispered near my ear, his breath brushing against my skin. I stiffened, forcing myself to keep a neutral expression even as discomfort rippled through me.

Just then, the officiator’s voice cut through the noise, echoing across the room. “We’d like to appreciate everyone for coming tonight,” she began, her tone all sugary warmth. “And most especially, we want to recognize our host Brown Marino for his celebration of life. Happy birthday sir.”

The room erupted into claps and cheers. Brown stood up, waving proudly before sinking back into his seat, grinning like a man who owned the world.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the rest of the Marinos seated together, Othello, and the others. Their aura screamed power and entitlement, dominating the room. My jaw clenched.

The same family that destroys lives and still sits like kings among men.

And I’m sitting right in the middle of their den.

“And for the entertainment of this great gathering, Mr Brown Marino have organized a relaxation for everyone.” The officiator continued. “A life porn,”

The room erupted with cheers as I stiffened. What the hell, what the fuck does that mean? Brown was smiling proudly as everyone began hailing him.

A board at the center of the room automatically shifted and the room stopped in silence. Anticipation. A transparent elevator ran up with a naked girl in it. Behind her stood a macho man who was equally naked.

Cheers erupted once again as they both stepped out of the elevator and the board closes along with the empty elevator. They in the middle of the room. Staring blankly at the audience they have. Unbothered by their unclothed body. The girl's black hair shielded a part of her face and the scar on the man's face was so large and hard to hide.

“Begin,” Brown ordered. I picked up my drink and downed it in one gulp.

Is this even legal.

Who am I shitting even if it isn't legal, The Marinos run half of this city, I'm sure the law wouldn't mind.

“I assume you will love this, you seem like a naughty cock tease,” Brown leaned in once again. His whiskey filled breath fanning my face. I resisted the urge to cringe or put distance between us.

Eva's words echoed in my head: Don't mess this up.

I can't shake the feeling that these people are not doing this willingly.

My eyes drifted to Ottavio's corner, he was staring at the scene unfolding before him with something close to disgust or is that his look of entertainment.

Who knows, these men are so unpredictable and vile. I hate them. His eyes locked on mine in return but I glared at him and fixed my gaze on what was happening before me.

The guy gropes the girl's breast, fondling roughly before his head drops to her neck as he begins to suck . Then he stalked around her like she was a piece of meat. Then his fingers moved down,over the slope of her arse to brush between her thighs. Her breathing hitch, the softest moan escaping her lips.

A warmth spread through my chest, memories of the masked man’s hand between my thighs. I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts. I poured gin in my glass and swallowed it immediately.

“It's getting to you huh? Your cheek is flushed.” Brown observed and I turned and flashed a fake smile at him. Then I looked back at the scene zoning him out.

The girl's throat bop as she swallowed as his fingers reached the center, groping her slick cunt. “Hmm,” the man groaned, no pleasure, just plain.

The man's touch was rough, hurried, almost like he wanted this to end fast. His hand pressed against her clit hard enough she let out a scream. A deep chuckle rumbled beside me. Brown was enjoying the show.

The Scarfaced man's eyes narrowed, a cruel edge tipping his lips. He grabbed her and pressed her against the floor with one hand then with the other free hand pinched her nipples as she let out a pained gasp. He raised his hand and slapped the back of her thigh. He slapped her again, this time between her thighs. She moaned.

“You are a slut. Say it,” Scarface rasped out. She didn't repeat it and he spanked her again so hard the sound resonated in the room. She screamed out in pain.

I recoiled, this isn't pleasure…

“I said, say it,” he ordered and he slapped her on her cheek this time. I shifted uncomfortably. Scarface looked like he was in pain doing that to her. Then why is he doing it in the first place?

“I told him I like it rough,” Brown said, his hand landed on my lap, smooching lightly. I stiffened, irritated by his clamy hands on my body.

Aha. All this is Brown's order.

This time, I didn't bother to hide as I ignored him.

Scarface sucked his fingers in his mouth and his fingers landed between her swollen folds only giving her a second, he trusted two fingers inside her. Her back ached, her face twisted in pain.

“Are you sure she's not in pain?” I expressed my concern to him and his brow furrowed.

“Princess, their pain isn't our concern.” He smirked. Gosh I hate this man. Scarface was thrusting so hard I fear she would collapse from the pressure. It got worse when he pulled his hand out and replaced it with his cock. Driving in with full force…

No, I can't watch this.

I looked down and froze Brown’s hand on my lap, his thick fingers tracing lazy circles over the fabric of my dress as if he owned me. My stomach churned.

Then my eyes darted to his other hand, and bile rose to my throat. He was palming his clothed cock under the table.

Disgust ripped through me so sharply I almost gagged.

When he noticed me staring, he leaned closer, his whiskey-tainted breath grazing my ear.

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“Yes,” I lied quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. Anything to make him stop talking.

My gaze flicked around the room, desperate for a distraction. Most of the guests were cheering, faces flushed with sick excitement as the live act continued. A few men were openly touching themselves, grinning like animals.

My throat tightened. I wanted to scream.

Then my eyes found Ottavio in the far corner, half-lit by the light from the chandelier. I don’t even know why I looked for him. Maybe because I wanted to see if he was like the rest of them… if he was enjoying this too.

But he wasn’t.

His jaw was tight, eyes burning with anger, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles had gone white. For a fleeting moment, our gazes locked and in that second, I saw it clearly. He hated what was happening as much as I did.

Before I could look away, Brown’s hand slid higher up my thigh. My breath hitched.

“Don’t be shy, princess,” he murmured. “You’re trembling.”

I snapped. “Stop.”

He chuckled, low and amused, clearly mistaking my revulsion for shyness. His hand cupped my cheek, the roughness of his thumb scraping against my skin. “You smell like heaven,” he whispered, burying his face in my hair and sniffing.

That was it. My blood roared in my ears.

If I stayed here a second longer, I’d kill him.

“I have to go,” I blurted out, standing so abruptly that my chair nearly toppled. Heads turned, but I didn’t care. “My friend, she's in trouble. I need to go to her.”

Brown’s brow arched in mock concern. “Leaving so soon? The night’s just getting interesting.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, voice trembling. “But I can’t stay.”

He studied me for a long moment, then smirked, the kind that made my skin crawl. “Fine,” he said smoothly. “But only on one condition you’ll let someone drop you off in my car. For your safety, of course.”

I wanted to refuse, to scream that I didn’t need his damn car or his permission. But I knew better. These people didn’t like being told no. So I forced a nod, every muscle in my body screaming in protest.

“Good girl,” he said, signaling to one of his men.

I turned away before he could touch me again, my heart pounding. “Ottavio,” he called out and my heart stilled. “Take her home.”

God why him of all the guards he owns.

I hear footsteps approaching. “Her friend's in trouble. Solve it before you get back,” Oh God. “We will meet again. Miss Santiago.” He said, his eyes trained on my ass as I nodded in response, flashed a fake smile his way and walked off.

The looming cloud follows closely behind me.