[Adam's POV]
The past few days blur together in a haze of pain and violation. My body isn't mine anymore. It's just something they use whenever they want. I've lost track of how many times they've forced themselves on me. The only constant is Mia, always watching, always reclaiming me afterward like I'm her favorite toy that she reluctantly shares.
I'm lying on the filthy mattress, drifting in and out of consciousness, when unfamiliar voices pull me back to my nightmare reality. My eyes flutter open, vision blurry and unfocused.
Two new figures stand at the foot of the mattress, staring down at me. As my sight clears, I recognize Isabella Moretti, her silver-streaked dark hair perfectly styled despite the warehouse's grime. Beside her stands Tony, his shoulders hunched, eyes downcast, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
Behind them, Luna leans against the wall, that Hawaiian shirt as garish as ever. Mia hovers nearby, her muscular frame tense, dark eyes darting between Isabella and me with barely concealed anxiety.
"When I heard Caterina took on a lover, I was surprised. But he seems so ordinary," Isabella says, her jade-green eyes scanning my naked, battered body with clinical detachment. "Caterina always did have unconventional taste."
I try to curl into myself, to hide from her assessing gaze, but my muscles won't cooperate. My wrists are raw and bloody from the restraints they put on me between sessions sometimes.
Mia steps forward, positioning herself slightly between me and Isabella. Her posture screams possession, like a dog guarding a bone it's not done with.
"We've been keeping him entertained," Luna says with that terrible smile. "Haven't we, Adam?"
I don't respond. Can't respond. My throat is too raw from screaming, and my missing front tooth makes my mouth throb with every heartbeat.
Isabella turns to Luna and Mia, her voice cool and commanding. "Do you mind if we have a minute alone with him?"
Mia's face darkens immediately. Her hands clench into fists at her sides as she glances between Isabella and me.
"I don't think…" she starts, but Luna cuts her off.
"No problem at all," Luna says cheerfully, grabbing Mia's arm. "Come on, Mia. Let's give them some privacy."
Mia hesitates, her dark eyes lingering on me with that possessive intensity that's become terrifyingly familiar. I can read the reluctance in every line of her body.
"He's not going anywhere," Luna adds, her grip tightening on Mia's arm. "And neither is Isabella."
Finally, Mia allows herself to be pulled away, though she keeps looking over her shoulder until the warehouse door slams shut behind them.
The sudden quiet feels almost as oppressive as Luna's constant threats.
Tony approaches slowly, his eyes darting nervously over my exposed body. He winces at the bruises covering my skin, the dried blood around my mouth where my tooth was extracted. His gaze lingers on my damaged hands.
"Mother, this is too far for someone roped into Caterina's life by force," he says quietly, his voice shaking slightly. "He didn't choose this."
Isabella steps closer, bending down to grab my face. Her green eyes bore into mine, searching for something I don't understand
"Yes, this is just sad," she murmurs, her Southern accent thickening with what almost sounds like genuine sympathy.
"Help me," I croak, the words scraping against my raw throat. It's the first time I've spoken in days that wasn't a scream or a sob.
Tony sighs, his frown deepening as he turns to Isabella. "Mother, if Luna so easily did something like this to get revenge on Caterina, think what she could do to me in the future when you're not around to protect me. Even if it's half as bad as this it'd still be a fate worse than death."
Isabella releases my face, straightening up with a thoughtful expression. "I was already thinking about that, Tony. Luna's becoming a liability."
Tony glances at me, then back to his mother. "Maybe we can offer Luna to Caterina."
"Caterina won't play ball," Isabella replies sharply. "And plus, she killed your sister."
Tony speaks, his voice suddenly stronger than before. "Mother, Angelica stepped out of line on her own."
Isabella's jade eyes flash dangerously. "Still, to ship her back to me in pieces was unforgivable."
Tony steps closer to his mother, glancing at me with something almost like compassion. "Mother," he says softly, "don't do it for Caterina. Do it for me."
Isabella stares at her son for a long moment, then shakes her head with a sigh. "Fine. I'll make the call later. But if she doesn't want to give up her operation for his location, it's war."
Tony nods. "Fine."
He turns to me, his thin shoulders no longer quite so hunched. "Hang in there, buddy," he says quietly.
I stare at him in disbelief. "You were nice all along?"
He shrugs, looking uncomfortable. "I didn't ask to be born into the mafia."
Despite everything, curiosity bubbles up through my haze of pain. "Why were you so afraid of Caterina then? When you were married?"
Tony's face contorts in a grimace. "She looks scary."
I scoff and rest my head back down on the filthy mattress. Even now, battered and broken, the absurdity isn't lost on me.
"At least she's scary in the good way." I correct him.
*****
[Claire's POV]
'My head hurts. God, it hurts so much.'
I peel my eyes open, wincing as harsh fluorescent light sends daggers through my skull. The concrete floor beneath me is cold and damp, seeping through my clothes. I try to sit up and immediately regret it as nausea rolls through me in waves.
"Where...?" I mumble, my voice sounding strange to my own ears.
As my vision clears, I realize I'm in some sort of cell. Metal bars surround me on three sides, with a concrete wall at my back. My fingers probe gently at my temple, coming away sticky with blood.
Movement draws my attention to the cell adjacent to mine. I blink in confusion.
Money. Stacks and stacks of cash piled high in neat columns. Must be millions of dollars. The bills are arranged methodically, deep in the cell and tantalizingly unreachable unless someone unlocks the door.
The sound of footsteps echoes through the space. I try to push myself up straighter, ignoring the throbbing in my head.
A tall, muscular woman approaches my cell. Recognition flashes through me. She's the one who hit me with the wrench. Her scarred knuckles flex as she regards me, her expression unreadable.
"Oh good, you're finally awake," she says, her voice carrying an unexpected gentleness. "I was worried I killed you with the wrench."
I don't say anything. Just stare at her as she unlocks my cell door and steps inside. She crouches down to my level, studying me with those dark, intense eyes.
"I'm Mia," she says simply.
I swallow hard, my mouth dry as sandpaper. "Okay, Mia. Why didn't you kill me?"
A small smile plays across her lips. "I found out you're the reason I ended up with Adam, so I felt a little grateful. And the women you got killed were honestly no good anyways."
My head spins, trying to make sense of her words. "I don't understand."
Mia reaches out, tucking a strand of blood-matted hair behind my ear with surprising gentleness. "You sold Adam to Caterina. Then you made a deal with Luna to get Adam back, right? Your information helped us take him from Caterina." She shrugs. "Now I have him."
"Where is he?" I ask, my voice cracking. The memory of Adam's broken body on that filthy mattress flashes through my mind.
"Safe," Mia says, her eyes hardening slightly. "He's mine now."
Mia studies me for a moment, her dark eyes calculating. Her voice drops to a whisper. "Look, once Caterina is dead, I'll let you go, alright? Boss will hate it and if you say shit, you'll end up dead."
I consider my options, which seem nonexistent at this point. My head throbs with each heartbeat, blood still sticky on my temple. Adam is broken beyond recognition. I'm locked in a cell. And this terrifying woman is offering me a lifeline, however slim.
I think to myself how badly I want to live. To walk away from this nightmare and never look back.
"Okay," I whisper, the word feeling like surrender.
Mia nods, a small smile playing at her lips. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other."
She stands, towering over me like a colossus. "Luna's plan is moving forward soon."
"What about Adam?" I ask, my voice small and pathetic, even to my own ears.
Mia's expression darkens. "He stays with me. That wasn't part of our deal."
"He needs medical attention," I protest weakly. "His tooth, his hands..."
"I'll take care of him," she snaps, suddenly defensive. "I've been taking care of him all along."
I bite back a retort about her version of "care" that would likely get me killed. Instead, I nod meekly, eyes downcast.
"Hey, brighten up!" Mia exclaims, slapping my back with such force I nearly topple over. The aggressive friendliness of it makes me flinch. "You get to live another day, right? That's a big deal."
I steady myself against the cell wall, trying not to show how much her friendly pat hurt my already-aching body.
"Anyways," she continues cheerfully, "thanks for bringing me your husband. I really think he's the one for me."
The smile she gives me is warm, genuine, and absolutely terrifying. There's something deeply unsettling about the way her eyes light up when she talks about Adam, like he's a prized possession she's been hunting for years.
She backs out of the cell, closing the door with a metallic clang that echoes through the warehouse. The lock clicks into place with chilling finality.
I sigh, sliding down the wall until I'm sitting on the cold concrete floor. My head throbs where she hit me with the wrench, and hopelessness washes over me in waves.
'What have I done? I've traded Adam from one monster to another, and now we're both trapped.'
"I'm sorry, Adam. I don't think I'll be able to save you."