Falling for the Villain

I was naive.

A young woman.

A child in their eyes.

Though let’s be honest—I’d practically breathed mafia life since the day I was born, but those weren’t the reasons that really got to me.

“She’s too pretty.”

Like they were concerned some psychopath was going to carve out his name in my cheek, leaving me marked forever.

Tainted.

Broken.

Were they right?

I struggled again against the ropes.

Romeo must be so worried.

Behind the blindfold, I squeezed my eyes shut. I wouldn’t cry. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction. I’d just save up all those tears for later once I was rescued because I would be rescued; half of Seattle’s most powerful men were more than likely already out looking for me.

Which begged the next plaguing question: who would have the balls to take me?

Tears streamed down my face.

More silence.

It was driving me crazy, the fucking quiet.

Maybe that was their point.

I’d either been taken by someone who saw an opportunity and went for it or by someone more devious. That thought alone sent shivers coursing down my spine and to the pit of my stomach.

Until I finally heard a deep voice order, “Play for me, Juliet.”

How did he know I could play?

Hearing his voice did something to me, and I instantly started to fight against everything, especially the voice that was a few feet away from me. I must have been quite the pitiful sight, and I wasn’t going to get loose unless he untied me; however, that wasn’t going to stop me from trying.

“If you keep squirming like that, you’ll only make yourself bleed, and I’m already not happy that my men split your temple. It would be in your best interest to not hurt yourself. I already killed two people today because they didn’t follow my orders.”

I fought the urge to hurl.

My stomach sank further when I realized how hopeless I truly was.

“I’m going to remove your blindfold and the tape over your mouth, but I need you to stay very still. I don’t want to hurt you yet, but don’t for one second think that I won’t.”

Yet?

The blindfold was pulled loose, and for a brief instant, I would have rather not known the man behind the crippling voice.

The room’s dim lighting made it harder to see, and I wondered if he did that for me. Before I could continue with my mindless thoughts, the tape was crudely stripped from my mouth, and I screamed out in agony. All the illusions of this possibly being a dream became a nightmare within seconds.

“What do you say?” he rasped as I desperately tried to focus on the voice in front of me and not the stinging across my mouth.

How long have I been here that my eyes can’t adjust that quickly?

“I didn’t ask for questions, Juliet.”

Did I say that out loud?

“Now, what do you say?”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to see the man hidden in the shadows. I couldn’t see his face even though he was only standing a few feet away from me, but I knew even if I did get free, I wouldn’t make it past him.

Running on pure adrenaline alone, I asked, “Who are you?”

The last word barely left my mouth when he tightly gripped my face and squeezed so hard I instantly whimpered out in pain.

“What. Do. You. Say?”

A muffled “Thank you” escaped from the dryness in my mouth.

“Good girl,” he praised, instantly letting me go and allowing the blood to rush back to my cheeks. “I know you’re scared,” he added softly, his tone effortlessly altering to a calm voice. “All you have to do is be obedient, and no harm will ever come to you. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll be forced to punish you. The choice is yours. It’s really quite simple, Juliet. Is that understood?”

My mind was working a million miles a minute.

“I really don’t like waiting. I’m not a patient man, and you’re testing my limits already.”

“Yes…” I breathed out, my lips trembling. “I understand.”

“You’re such a good girl,” he praised again with an annoyingly calm and patronizing tone that made me want to lunge at him.

The black dots around my eyes finally subsided, and I started to see things clearer, beginning with his cold, dark, seedy eyes staring back at me. It was the only emotion he wore.

Evil.

“I’m going to remove the binds on your hands. You won’t fight me. If you do, you’re going to learn very quickly that your actions have consequences, and I’m going to have to teach you your first lesson. Understood?”

My eyes filled with tears.

“Crying won’t help you, and it won’t save you either. I’m untouchable, Juliet. No one will find you, not even your mafia family and their ties.”

Tears streamed down my face, one right after the other. When the back of his hand came toward my cheek, I instinctively jerked back, thinking he was going to hit me. He didn’t. Ever so lightly, he wiped away my tears before slowly and casually licking them off his fingers.