Vanessa
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck!
He's wearing a black tuxedo, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he watches me with dark, angry eyes. My mouth waters at the mere sight of him, casting a haze over my mind, before I quickly shake it off and realize I should be running for my life, not standing here gawking at him like an idiot.
"There you are, Mama. If you were looking for punishment before the ceremony, you could have just asked," he drawls.
His voice sends a shiver down my spine, and I let out a sharp shriek as I bolt in the opposite direction. The dim lights create a disorienting play of shadows, and the hallway seems to twist and turn in on itself. I pray that there's an alternate route to the chorus room. Navigating the labyrinth of shadows, my footsteps echo with a sense of impending doom. I glance back to see Diego sauntering after me, his movements slow and predatory, as if he knows my resistance is futile.
"Hmm, what should I do this time? I'm thinking our honeymoon will be spent with you tied up while I edge you all night until you're crying, begging me to let you come. Would you enjoy that, my defiant Mascota?"
No. I definitely wouldn't!
"Stay away from me!" I scream, compelling my legs to move faster, even though the stupidly gorgeous dress keeps getting in the way. My heart pounds relentlessly in my ribcage, a surge of adrenaline and fear coursing through me.
His dark laughter follows me down the hallway. This is something out of a nightmare, except when the monster catches up with me, I won't be waking up.
I burst through the door. The room is dark and undeniably creepy. I quickly scan for a hiding place, my eyes settling on a ladder. Uncertain of its destination, I just hope it leads to somewhere I can hide.
At the top of the ladder, I discover a hidden attic space above. The attic is dimly lit by a small, dusty window, revealing old storage boxes, forgotten furniture, and discarded church artifacts. It's a cramped and eerie space, filled with the musty scent of neglect.
I quickly find a small opening in the floor that allows me to peer down into the choir room below. I nestle into the shadows, my heart performing a rapid dance. Forcing my breathing to calm to a steady rhythm, I silence my fear as much as possible.
After only a few moments, Diego enters the room, not even attempting to look for me. Perhaps, he already knows where I am. Perhaps, he even thinks I'll get tired of this cat-and-mouse game and reveal my hiding spot willingly.
"Mama, you can't hide forever. I'll find you." His taunting words ignite a fierce rage, coursing through my veins like molten lava.
Unable to control myself, I retort, "Go fuck yourself. I'll never marry you!" From the shadows where I'm concealed, I glare down at him with daggers in my eyes. "Marriage is sacred-an act of love, and I'll never love a monster like you!"
His head lifts, and his blue eyes seem to pierce right through the floor in my direction, even though I know he can't see me. "In my world, marriage is often a business deal between families. Here, the circumstances are different. If I don't marry you, Viktor will stake his claim. Is that what you want? To be owned by another man?" he asks fiercely.
My stomach twists into knots. "W-What are you talking about?"
"I recently discovered that your father, if you can even call him that now, used you as collateral in a deal with the Russian mob. The five million dollars he stole from me to pay Viktor never made its way there, so technically, you belong to him, and this is the only way to stop him."
"You're lying," I hiss, disbelief seeping in my voice as I struggle to contain the shock.
No matter how much debt Dad was in, he wouldn't have done that to his own daughter. Not after losing my mom. And what about Alicia? Why wasn't she included?
"I'm not. It turns out you weren't confined in that house for your protection, it was so he could keep his precious collateral untainted." He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "Although, Viktor doesn't seem to mind if I've fucked you or not. So, he'll most likely pass you amongst his men and let them rape you until you run out of use."
I shake my head in disbelief. No, this can't be true, or that means my entire life has been a lie. He's probably saying anything just to get me to agree to fulfill his fucked-up fantasy. Although, I'm still confused as to why he's interested in marrying someone like me.
"That's why we are getting married today," he concludes. "It's the only way to protect you now. After that, I won't force anything else of you. You are free to do what you please...as my wife."
I can't dwell on the way it makes me feel when he refers to me as his wife because my heart is currently being torn out.
"How long have you known that this was happening, Diego?" I bite out.
"A week." His eyes remain fixed in my direction, a brief pause hanging between us. "Why is that important?"
I swallow hard, a lump forming in my throat, and feel the sting of involuntary tears welling in my eyes. "Did you spend all that time with me, thinking you could convince me to do this?" The pain in my voice reveals the raw emotion beneath the surface.
"No. You don't have a choice, and it wasn't me who took it away," he answers immediately.
Fuck that. I do have a choice and I'll be taking it right now!
Silence stretches between us as I cautiously lower to the ground and inch my way across the floor on my hands and knees. The aged wooden floor creaks beneath me, and I hold my breath, praying he doesn't discover the ladder leading to my hidden perch.
Diego adjusts the lapels of his immaculate tuxedo, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. His eyes glint with sinister amusement as he muses, "You know, I hate to admit it, but I missed this". He paces slowly, his polished shoes echoing in the room. "I was beginning to think I had tamed my feisty mama, but today she has come out to play. Now, I have a reason to indulge in that punishment I've been itching for." My breath catches in my throat as I freeze. Despite my concealed position, it feels like he's following my every move with his intense gaze, a chilling awareness that sends shivers down my spine.
My hand suddenly brushes against something on the floor-an old trapdoor! I slowly ease the door open before descending into the cramped crawl space, closing it quietly. The space is dimly lit with dust particles floating in the air. I hold my breath to keep from coughing or sneezing, crawling silently on hands and knees through the confined passage.
The crawl space eventually leads to a concealed door opening into a narrow corridor adjacent to the choir room. Through a gap, I can see that Diego is standing in the same spot, seemingly waiting for something. I silently slip through the hidden door, carefully closing it behind her. I tiptoe down the corridor, doing my best to blend into the shadows. Still holding my breath, I reach the end of the hallway and spot a small door leading to the exterior of the church.
I slip outside, surrounded by rows of low shrubs and flowers, enclosed by a white picket fence. Relief floods over me as I realize Diego's men are not in sight; they must be inside or waiting at the entrance. This is my chance-I can jump the fence and escape from this nightmare!
I sprint across the garden, hoisting myself over the fence. Pain sears through my leg as the wood digs into it, but I keep going. I'm getting the fuck away from Diego, even if I have to hop on one leg.
Breathing in the fresh air, a genuine smile tugs at my lips. This is the most freedom I've felt in the last seven years. As I run down the alleyway behind the church, the end of the alley in sight, a sudden, powerful hand seizes my arm.