Chapter 2 Sold To A Brothel

In a desperate move, I fumbled for my phone on the nearby table.

The world was going dark. The pressure on my throat was immense. My fingers flew across the screen, typing out a single sentence. I shoved it in Eli's face. [I didn't see anything. I won't tell anyone!]

"You're lying. I saw you in the oak tree, little mouse." Eli chuckled, pushing the phone away. The murderous intent in his eyes didn't fade.

It was obvious my words weren't enough.

I took a chance. My fingers typed another message. [I only heard you catch a thief. Then you shot him. The leaves were too thick.]

I held the phone up, my eyes squeezed shut. My heart hammered against my ribs. I wanted to live. I wanted to go to college. I didn't want to die here.

An eternity seemed to pass. Then, the pressure on my neck loosened. Was he letting me go?

The moment I opened my eyes, Eli pressed his body against mine. The cold gun moved from my forehead, sliding slowly down my cheek.

"You've been here long enough. You know our family has brothels in Africa, right?" His cruel gaze roamed my face. "The men there love women with bodies like yours."

He used the muzzle of the gun to trace a line down my face, over my chest. The icy touch made me flinch. Tears welled in my eyes.

Eli's shirt was still open. His chest muscles were right in front of me.

"They'll tear at your breasts. Knead them into different shapes."

I swallowed hard. His smile turned nastier. The gun slid shamelessly down to my hip, then my thigh.

No one had ever touched me there. It felt wrong. I tried to squirm away. Eli suddenly grabbed both my wrists with his free hand, pinning them high above my head.

Tears streamed down my face as I looked at him. He didn't care. His voice dropped, becoming more intimate. "And your legs… your ass…"

His tone made my stomach clench with fear. I wanted to get away.

But his hot body was pressed against me. He moved the cold gun until it rested against my private parts. He pushed, not hard, but enough.

The raw male dominance was suffocating. A small, choked sound escaped my lips.

My reaction clearly pleased him. He leaned close to my ear and bit it gently. "If you don't want to end up broken for their pleasure, you'll keep what happened tonight buried deep inside. Understand?"

I trembled and nodded over and over, trying to create some space between us.

Eli grunted softly. He slowly straightened up to meet my eyes. "Why can't you even make a sound, little mute? So boring."

Just give me the gun. I'll make you scream.

I cursed him endlessly in my head. On the outside, I kept my expression timid and scared. I just wanted this psycho out of my room.

He seemed to read my mind. He didn't move. A crooked smile played on his lips. "You're cursing me in your head, aren't you?"

Of course I was.

The curses got fouler in my mind. My face showed only panic. I shook my head helplessly.

"Little liar." Eli leaned closer, his eyes boring into mine, as if he could see right through them.

"What are you two doing!"

A shriek came from the doorway. I instinctively looked over. It was Delilah, Eli's fiancée.

She pointed at us, her face contorted with rage. She looked like she wanted to tear me to pieces.

Only then did I realize how intimate Eli and I must look. I started pushing at him in a panic.

Eli clicked his tongue in annoyance. He slowly straightened up and glanced at Delilah. "What are you doing here?"

Right in front of her, he moved the gun away from my private area.

I swear he did it on purpose.

I quickly waved my hands at Delilah, trying to signal that it wasn't what she thought.

But she was already consumed by fury. Why would she believe me? She charged in like a lioness and slapped me hard across the face.

My head snapped to the side. A fiery sting spread across my cheek.

"I knew you were no good! You'd even seduce your own uncle. You're just like your shameless whore of a mother!" Delilah shrieked.

My expression turned cold.

I never cared when they insulted me. But she would not insult my mother.

If my mother hadn't shielded me with her own body from the knives meant for me, I would have died in that attack. She died saving me.

My chest heaved. I stared at Delilah, my eyes burning with hatred.

My glare only made her sneer. She grabbed my chin. "Just as I thought. The daughter of a bitch. Trash."

Slap!

I couldn't hold back. I slapped Delilah across the face with all my strength.

Eli, who had been yawning with boredom, suddenly sat up straight. He looked interested now that I was fighting back.

Delilah was stunned that I dared to hit her. She let out a scream and lunged, ready to tear at me.

I pressed my lips together and stood my ground, my hands clenched into tight fists.

I knew I could fight her. I could probably win against this pampered girl who had never worked a day in her life.

But an image flashed in my mind. My mother, lying in a pool of blood, begging me to run. Her pleading face never left me.

I couldn't do it.

I just wanted to live a quiet life.

I closed my eyes, calmly waiting for Delilah's revenge.

"Enough." Eli suddenly stepped between us, his face grim as he blocked Delilah.

Delilah's attack was stopped. She stared at Eli in disbelief. "You're stopping me for this little bitch?!"

Eli scoffed, his brow furrowed as he stared her down. "What gave you the delusion that you can control me?"

"You…" Delilah didn't dare argue with him. She just shot me a venomous glare. "It must be you. You seduced Eli. That's why he's treating me like this!"

What does this have to do with me?

I looked at Delilah, baffled. Tonight was the first time I'd ever really spoken to Eli. How was this my fault?

Seeing my surprised expression, Eli couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

His laugh pushed Delilah over the edge. She shrieked and pulled out her phone. "You're just an illegitimate brat! How dare you seduce my fiancé! I'm going to have my father and my brother tell Jordan! He'll throw you out!"

I looked at Eli in desperation. He started all of this. Why was I the one paying the price?

I was so close to getting into college. I couldn't get thrown out now.

"What do you think you're doing?" Eli grabbed Delilah's wrist, his brow furrowed.

Delilah snorted. "My husband is not allowed to have a mistress. I'm going to make this woman disappear for good!"

With that, she moved her thumb to press the call button.