Chapter 7 

I signed my name on it because I had no choice 

The pen felt heavier than it should have, my hand trembling as I scrawled my signature across the bottom of the page Every stroke of the ink felt like carving a piece of my soul away 

Sometimes I wish I was bitter, Crueler I wished I didn’t care for my parents. 

I wish I didn’t care about them and just love my life for me. 

Would I have felt more fulfilled? More happy? 

When I was done, I set the pen down, my chest tight as I slid the contract across the table 

Dominic took it without a word, his dark eyes scanning the page. He nodded once, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips as he folded the paper and slipped it back into the envelope. 

“Welcome to my world,” he said, his voice smooth and low, sending an unbidden shiver down my spine. 

I couldn’t look at him, my gaze fixed on the table. My hands clenched into fists in my lap, trying to steady the nausea rolling through me. 

“You’ll be given a room” he continued, his tone calm but commanding. “It’s yours for the duration of the contract. You’ll have what you need. Clothes. Food Protection.” 

“Protection,” I repeated bitterly, finally lifting my gaze to meet his. “That’s what this is about, right? Protecting my family?” Dominic leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “You made the choice, Aria. Remember that.” 

I flinched at his words, biting my lips. 

He better not go against his word. 

“Alessio will show you to your room, Dominic said, leaning back again. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.” 

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Instead, I stood silently as the door opened behind me and Alessio stepped in. 

“This way,” Alessio said shortly, his tone curt as he gestured for me to follow. 

I glanced at Dominic one last time, his piercing gaze following me as I walked out of the room. 

The room Alessio brought me to was luxurious in a way that felt obscene. The bed was massive, draped in soft silk sheets, the walls adorned with expensive art. A plush rug covered the hardwood floor, and a chandelier hung overhead, its crystals catching the dim light. 

“This is where you’ll stay,” Alessio said, his voice devoid of warmth. He glanced at me, his sharp eyes narrowing “Don’t leave until you’re called for” 

I didn’t respond, and he didn’t wait for one. He shut the door behind him, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence. 

I sat on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands as the events of the night replayed in my mind. Signing the contract Dominic’s smirk. The weight of his words 

My chest tightened, a sharp pain radiating through me, 

It was all too much. 

At some point, exhaustion overtook me, dragging me into a restless sleep. 

When I woke, my body was drenched in sweat, my heart pounding as fragments of a nightmare clung to my mind Shadows danced on the walls, twisting and morphing into the faces of the men from the club, their laughter echoing in my ears. Dominic’s cold gaze loomed over me, his voice commanding, inescapable. 

I sat up abruptly, gasping for breath, my chest heaving. 

It took me a moment to realize I wasn’t alone. 

Three women stood in the room, rifling through the bag I’d brought with me. My clothes, my personal things, everything was being tossed aside without care 

“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice hoarse. 

They didn’t answer, their focus unwavering as they continued their task. 

“Hey I shouted, louder this time, swinging my legs off the bed. 

One of them glanced at me briefly, her expression blank. She held up something–a piece of lingerie, barely there, sheer and 

Chapter 2 

black 

“What-“I started, but she cut me off 

“Shower. Now.” 

Her tone left no room for argument 

I stared at her, confusion and anger swirling in my chest, but before I could say anything else, she pointed toward the adjoining bathroom. 

“Now,” she repeated. 

My body moved before my mind could catch up. I stumbled into the bathroom, the cold tile under my feet grounding me slightly. I turned on the water, the spray steaming as it hit the glass walls of the shower 

What the hell was happening? 

I scrubbed myself quickly, my mind spinning. My muscles ached, my head throbbed, and my limbs felt heavier than they should. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. I’d slept too long–more than a day, maybe more 

The cancer. 

Lignored the thought, shoving it to the back of my mind as I stepped out of the shower and dried off. When I returned to the room, the women were gone. 

In their place was the lingerie, laid out neatly on the bed. 

I stared at it, dread curling in my stomach. 

The black fabric was sheet, leaving almost nothing to the imagination. The matching stockings and garter belt didn’t help matters, and the heels beside it were impossibly high 

There was a note next to it, written in neat, elegant script. 

“Put it on You’re dancing tonight.” 

I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I reached for the note. My eyes darted to the clock on the wall. It was dark outside again. Night had fallen 

I’d slept for more than twenty–four hours. 

“Holy hell,” I whispered, the realization hitting me like a freight train. 

My fingers brushed against the delicate fabric, my chest tightening. This was it. The contract had officially begun. 

An hour later, I stood in front of a massive minor, my reflection barely recognizable. 

The lingerie clung to my body, the sheer material leaving little to the imagination. 

A robe resting on my body 

My hair was styled, my makeup dark and dramatic. I felt exposed, vulnerable, like I was standing naked in front of a crowd. 

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. 

“Time to go,” a voice called from the other side. 

gulped, tying the robe. 

I opened the door to find one of Dominic’s men waiting. He didn’t speak, simply gestured for me to follow 

My legs felt like jelly as I walked, my heart pounding with every step. The halls of the mansion seemed darker the air brave, as if the budding itself knew what was about to happen 

We stopped outside a set of doors, the low hum of voices audible on the other side. The man opened the door, stepping atide to let me in 

The room was filled with people–men in suits, their laughter and conversation filling the air. The smell of cigars and whiskey was strong, mingling with the low hum of music playing in the background 

At the center of it all was Dominic 

He sat in a high backed chair, his dark shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the tattoos that climbed up his chest. His guze found me immediately, a slow smirk spreading across his lips as he leaned back, his posture relaxed but commanding “Welcome,” he said, his voice carrying over the nose. 

I felt every eye in the room tum toward me, their gazes hemy scrutinizing 

The air seerned to thicken 

It was like a night in De stone 

Being watched by horny men 

Men who wanted to touch but couldn’t 

Men who didn’t have value for their money. 

“Let’s get started,” he said, he raised a glass at me, I closed my eyes and let the robe drop down 

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