Chapter 15
MILENE’S P POV
The next morning, the pizza still made my stomach full. I thought about eating another slice for breakfast. I needed all the strength I could get. If I wanted to win against Nicolas, I had to be ready. He wouldn’t set up a video call with my family unless he had something planned to hurt them.
I hadn’t slept much. Nicolas didn’t lock my door when he left, but I didn’t try to go out. I was scared it might be a trick. I wasn’t calm enough to come up with a good escape plan yet
I pulled the satin nightgown over my head, even though I hated it. I didn’t want Nicolas to feel like he won, but I had to save my energy for bigger fights if I wanted to survive.
I heard footsteps outside my door and froze. I stood up from the bed, wanting to face Nicolas on my feet. But when the door opened, it wasn’t him. Luca Russo stood there instead, looking me over with his brown eyes 1 pulled my arms more around me as soon as I realized he was staring at me. He signaled for me to follow him out the door and added, “Let’s go.” I began to walk toward him, but I smacked his hands away and yelled at him when he tried to touch me.
He looked at me with a funny expression and smirked. “You’ve got guts. But here’s some advice, don’t you ever talk to Nicolas like that unless you’ll regret it.
I glared at him but followed him through the house. I tried to remember the layout, but it was big and confusing, like a maze. Luca kept looking at me now and then. He didn’t seem creepy, just curious, but I was still nervous. He was tall, strong, and too confident. Finally, we came to a steep staircase that led down to a basement.
“Of course the Russos have their own dungeon,” I whispered. The basement smelled old, like as if no one had been there for years. At least it didn’t smell like blood or worse. Luca didn’t respond. He just motioned for me to go into a room on the right. Nicolas was already inside.
“Here she is. I’m off to meet a couple friends. Let me know how it goes,” Luca said with a grin as he walked away.
“You’ll see the recording” Nicolas said, not looking at him. His dark eyes were on me. “Stand there,” he ordered, pointing to the middle of the room which was empty. There was no bed, no chair, just a table with a camera pointed at me.
Nicolas walked around me slowly, his eyes on my nightgown. The silver fabric clung to me, and the cold air made my nipples harden. His eyes noticed, and I shivered.
Then Damien came in, and my fear grew stronger. He adjusted the camera and set up a big screen on the table in the corner. He turned it so we could both see it. “It’s ready,” Damien said.
My nails dug into my palms as I balled my fists. All of a sudden, my parents, brother Michael, and Daniel were on the television.
Michael looked broken, his face full of pain. My father had dark circles under his eyes, and even Dante and Daniel, who were usually calm, looked sense and worried.
“Tim glad you could all join us,” Nicolas said, his voice fake and polite, like he was trying to sound fancy. It didn’t fit someone as cruel as him.
الله.
He turned back to me, a cold smile on his face. His voice dropped back to its usual low, threatening tone. “Milene, in Las Vegas, women are always given a choice“.
“Don’t you dare!” Michael shouted, lunging toward the camera like he could reach Nicolas through the screen. Dante grabbed his arm, stopping him, though my uncle looked barely in control himself.
Nicolas didn’t even flinch. His lips twitched as he slowly pulled out a knife, the same one he had used on Simon, He held it up for me to see. “They can pay for their crimes in pain or in pleasure,” he said.
A shiver ran through me. “You have no right to judge anyone’s sins,” I hissed, my voice trembling but I managed to sound confident. Nicolas stepped behind me, too close, his breath hot against my neck. My gaze flicked to the screen, locking onto Michael’s desperate eyes. He looked like he was about to break. I couldn’t let him. I had to be strong for him, for Dad, for Dante, and even for Daniel. For the Outfit
“What will it be, Milene?” Nicolas asked, his voice cold and mocking. Torture or surrendering your body!”
I refused to look away from Michael’s eyes. My pride was the only thing I had left, and I wouldn’t let them take it. Women are built to endure pain. If they could handle it, so could 1.
Nicolas stepped back into view, his gaze filled with dark certainty. He thought he knew me, believed I’d break because I was a woman. “If you don’t decide, I’ll choose for you,” he warned, his voice dripping with confidence.
I lifted my chin, forcing a cold, defiant smile. “I take the blade over the touch of your filthy hands any day, Nicolas Russo”
1:14 PM c ch
Chapter 15
Something flickered in his dark eyes. It was shock, maybe even respect and something worse excitement. “I’ll enjoy hearing you scream,” he
murmured.
“Enough!” Dante shouted but Nicolas ignored him, His voice was low and deadly as he said, “We’re just getting started” He grabbed me and twisted me around, pushing me firmly against him before I could respond. His arm was firmly around me, my back against his chest. With a hand behind my chin, he pushed my head upward, forcing me to look directly into his eyes. He wanted me to look at him so that his ruthless eyes could reflect my terror. I twisted my gut in disgust, looking back at him with all the hatred I could muster. He placed the knife so close to my face that I could see the sharp edge, and he asked, “Where should I cut first? His grip tightened, and his words contained a challenge. Or have you changed your mind! Are you ready to pay with your body instead?”
I couldn’t speak. I was so scared but I refused to show it. My trembling hands reached up, grabbing his wrist. I guided the knife to my forearm. letting the blade rest on the soft skin near my veins.
For a moment, something unreadable flickered in Nicolas’s eyes, and I felt a jolt of triumph. Whatever it was, this spot bothered him. held on to it even though I didn’t know why. I flinched at the sting of the knife as he put it against my arm, but he paused. His hand was steady, but he didn’t push hard enough to cut. It wasn’t mercy. This man was far too cruel for that. It was something else, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on
I pressed harder on his hand, forcing the blade into my skin. Pain flared, sharp and bright, as the knife broke through. But Nicolas resisted, almost as if he didn’t want to do it.
Finally, he pushed the knife deeper, slicing through my skin. Pain ripped through me, and I shook, but I didn’t let go of his wrist. My hand stayed on his, holding it steady,
Nicolas’s arm tightened around my waist as I trembled, but 1 didn’t look away. I challenged him to see how hurt I was by fixing my eyes on him. I
my lip to hold my screams as blood filled my mouth. It spilled over the satin gown, already wet with blood from my arm, and trickled down my chin. He stepped back, slowly releasing his grip. My legs failed me, and I fell hard on my knees on the floor. I could hardly feel the ache as Nicolas’s shoulders strained while he looked at me.
I held my arm and stared at the blood on my gown. The cut wasn’t as deep as 1 expected, but it was enough. Nicolas reached over and turned the camera off, leaving the screen dark.
Damien leaned against the wall, his sharp eyes fixed on my bleeding arm. He had an unreadable expression on his face.
Nicolas stood with his back to me, facing his brother, his breathing rough and uneven. I forced myself to stand, though my legs trembled. I held my bleeding arm in front of me, refusing to hide it.
Damien’s gaze shifted to Nicolas, something unspoken passing between them. Nicolas turned, his eyes on mine. For once, his expression wasn’t cruel or smug. It wasn’t even angry. He looked almost confused, though the darkness in his gaze remained
I made a promise to myself then and there that I would break Nicolas Russo someday, no matter what. He would be brought to his knees and fall madly in love with me.
