Catherine:

My eyes were burning as I struggled to open them, my hands both covering my face as I felt someone jumping out of the bed.

I gulped nervously as soon as the strong scent of cigarettes mixed with manly cologne tickled my nose. My eyes were suddenly wide open. At first it was his shadow that I saw, a tall muscular guy. But then my eyes landed on the huge tattoo of a serpent curled around a burning skull, it was taking up a large space on his bare back. My heart started racing in my chest, it sent terror through me.

There was only one question in my mind, and I needed to know the answer to it. I was going out of my mind.

My brows furrowed. He was only in his briefs! The scene wasn’t so bad from my corner, but why was he in  my room?

I finally looked around, it was when I realized that  wasn’t my room. Since my room walls weren’t red. I blinked, my hands reaching for my eyes to wipe them. 

Suddenly, a horrible knot tightened in my stomach once I noticed him grabbing the clothes they were lying on the ground, right next to a very familiar blue blouse…

I narrowed my eyes. The realization hit me hard when I realized the blue blouse was mine…

I gasped, my eyes drifting down my body. I froze, my hands tightening over the blanket that’s covering my naked body.

My cheeks were heating up, as I suddenly started to realize what had happened last night…and where I was…

“What…happened?” I managed to say, my eyes couldn’t even stare at him, but looking blankly toward the white blanket that’s wrapped around me.

“You don’t remember?” His sharp, cold voice made me look into his eyes for the first time.

I only nodded, avoiding his gaze. “That’s odd…I usually leave a nice impression” His Italian accent was like music to my  ears. 

Oh my god, what the hell have I done? I shook my head  silently.

“I have to admit, I thought you’d win the bet…” He added a smirk playing on his lips as he started to wear his black leather shoes.

“What?” I’m confused, and my head was still spinning, probably from last night or from the shock…

“I made a bet with a friend…That you’ll come back for the money” He explained further.

My lips parted, my head snapped toward him in shock, but he only continued to stare at me for a few moments, before looking away, clearing his throat nervously.

“I never lose a bet” The confidence in his voice made me even angrier, and crashed!

“So, that's what happened…You used me to win a stupid bet” I gritted my teeth, my hands holding the blanket tighter, as if somehow I was angry with it, not him. But all of a sudden, he started to walk toward my side of the bed, annoyance and anger was pretty clear on his face.

“You really don’t remember, huh?” He seemed a bit offended. All that he cared about was his  stupid  ego. I don’t even bother to answer him, my eyes staring blankly toward the wall in front of me.

“You asked for a price. Although it was a high price I gotta admit” His surprised face was telling me I might’ve lost it real bad last night, even worse than that time I got drunk and burnt my father’s precious car.

“I think it was worth it…Especially when I found out later that you’re a virgin” His words made me look away from him. I held my tears back.

“I mean, you were a virgin, not after last night of course!” His smirk made the tears struggling to fall down my cheeks, but I couldn’t let him win and see how broken I was. He had already taken everything away from me.

“What the hell are you doing in a place like this?” He whispered,  his hand pushing my chin up to meet his gaze. He seemed really curious and suspicious.

I swallowed, but didn’t even dare to answer his question.

“You weren’t what I expected at all, but I guess it was worth every penny” He dared me to say something. How could I? He literally ruined me! I was saving myself for the right person. My virginity was gone, all because of the pervert bastard!

He stood right in front of me, leaning in, his scent made me want to vomit as I started to remember images from last night.

The way I knocked on his door, the way I threw my body against his, and the way I kept kissing him even though he tried to stop me…

Oh my god! It wasn’t just him, it was me!

My heart dropped as I remembered every little detail…I wanted him last night just as much he wanted me!

It was me! All along! I started it, but he didn’t stop it either!

I gulped, staring right into his black eyes. “Something to remember me with, Catrina” He called out my name, and I suddenly remembered him moaning my name like that last night…

It was wrong, but him calling me that way made all my anger fade. All of a sudden it was so dangerous to stay close to him

I knew it wasn’t  the right time to admit it, but was it fair to say that him being so close wasn’t just dangerous but also was turning me on? I closed my eyes, then opened them only after a few moments to see the wide smirk back to his lips.

“It’s good to know you’ll remember me as your first,” He said before leaning closer to me. I flinched. My sudden move made him pause before he looked deep into my eyes. 

“I don’t know what brought you to this place,” His words made me feel so terrible, it’s the same my mother would say if she knew about this…It was heartbreaking!

“But girls like you don’t usually belong here” His words sank deep in my heart, it was as if he knew me too well to spit them out.

The guy suddenly grabbed a pile of money  from his coat. then threw it on my side of the bed.

“I hope this will make you stay away from this place…” He said with a serious tone.

I frowned, still confused. “You don’t understand…” I didn’t know why I felt the urge to explain what I did last night, but I just continued to stare blankly at him, frozen and tongue tied as he made his way out of the room.

So, after he took advantage of me and used me,  he was trying to be a gentleman? That was the weirdest thing I had ever witnessed!

I looked down at the pile of money on the bed. I couldn’t believe that was actually happening…I couldn’t believe I’d become that person! I sold myself to a stranger for money!

Tears were too heavy inside my eyes, struggling to fall, but I couldn’t even cry.

My head was still spinning as I jumped out of the bed, my knees were trembling and I didn't even dare to look behind me, still denying the fact someone already took my virginity on this bed, terrified to even see the mark of my virginity between those white sheets.

My eyes started to scan the room, searching for my clothes, since I wasn’t wearing any…

I squinted once I spotted my black jeans lying not so far from the bed, reaching out for them, my eyes caught something else, a flash drive.

I reached for it, and grabbed it from the floor. I was sure it belonged to him. If someone as rich as him was carrying such an item in his coat, then it meant it was very important to him! Whatever this flash drive held, it must be important…important enough to keep on him at all times…

Catherine:

It took me another half hour before I finally stepped out of the room, my knees barely holding me, and I couldn’t even take one steady step downstairs.

“My favorite new girl!” The old lady said. She was standing at the reception, her makeup was different from last night, and the smile that was covering her face made me realize she got a nice payment because of me, or else why would she call me her favorite new girl?

“If you need a shower, new clothes...” She started, but I shot her one deadly glare, making her smile vanishing.

“Someone is grumpy” She stopped chewing gum then started walking toward me all of a sudden.

“Why didn’t you stop it? You knew I was drunk!” I said, on the verge of tears. She opened her mouth to say something, but I only walked past her, not giving her the slightest chance to defend herself.

I could hear her cursing under her breath, but all I did was pointing my middle finger toward her without turning around to look at her face.

I just couldn’t believe there’s actually horrible women who are willing to sacrifice other women!

My feet dragged me outside the dirty place, the place where I lost my virginity at, and the place where it cost me everything!

I tightened my grip around my little purse, as if the money inside it would fly away. I wondered if that amount would save my mother, and pay the huge bills waiting for me.

I reached for my phone to call the hospital and ask about my mother, but I was shocked to see that my phone died. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets as if that could be the end of the world. What if they called me again and couldn’t reach for me? What if something bad happened to my mother? My chest tightened at the thought.

I froze, my eyes scanning the empty, calm street for any cab, but it was too early to even find any cab.

After ten minutes of running, I finally managed to catch a cab and head straight to the hospital, praying and hoping I wasn't late, that my mother was awake from her surgery, and that she survived.

As soon as the cab stopped in front of the hospital's grand entrance, I opened the door and jumped out, not even thinking I had time to pay the driver. “Can you please wait here?” I pleaded, and he simply nodded in understanding.

My feet carried me inside the hospital, heading straight to the lady at the reception, grabbing the money from my purse, I didn't hesitate for a moment to throw them on the counter.

“Miss…please…” She started to calm me, but I didn't even listen to her.

“It’s Catherine Moretti, my mother is a patient here, and they told me she needs an urgent surgery” I explained to her. I gave her the information and watched her as she started typing on the computer.

“It says here you still didn’t pay…” She said, but I glanced toward the money on the counter, making her realize I was already ready to pay.

“Here” I pointed to the money on the counter, “We owe you three thousand…but after last night's surgery, the total will be nine thousand” She said, her eyes still fixed on the computer screen..

I counted the money to realize it wasn't only enough for paying the bills, but to cover all our debts…Seriously, who was that guy? I was starting to think I might've slept with the president’s son.

My eyes were staring at the void for a few moments before realizing that the receptionist was still waiting for me to pay.

After I paid, the receptionist provided me with more information, such as where I could possibly find my mother and what floor her surgery was on.

I sat on the bench outside and started to wait impatiently, worry was eating me alive as I kept replaying last night. I cover my face and I suddenly remember his black features, his dark eyes staring down at me.

I gulped nervously, what the fuck was happening to me? Why couldn’t I just let it go? It’s just a one night thing, he probably lived in Italy and he was just a tourist, I was a bit relieved when I thought our paths would never cross again.

Then why was I still thinking about it? I ran my fingers through my hair, shaking the stupid memories away.

It wasn’t a big deal…I continued to convince myself, but it still didn't feel right. That’s why last night was going to be my secret, a secret no one would ever find out about.

My eye suddenly spotted a strange guy from afar, wearing black and holding his phone. That was not even the weirdest part, because he was staring at me, and once my eyes caught him looking, he all of a sudden turned his head to the opposite direction, avoiding looking at me.

I frowned, and I suddenly started to stand from the bench, my feet driving me toward him. “Are you following me?” I shot before I even got closer to him.

The guy froze for a few seconds before he handed me the phone. “It’s for you…” He said, a serious look on his face. I hesitated for a moment before reaching out for the phone.

I placed the phone on my ear, but once I did, my heart throbbed, and my eyes widened. I froze at my spot. “My sweet daughter…” His voice sent terror in me as I started to breathe heavily.

“What do you want?” I freaked out, but I kept my voice cold and sharp.

“You’re my daughter, what could I possibly want?” His voice was all of a sudden soft, but I didn't buy it, he definitely wanted something.

“Stop stalking me, I’m no longer your daughter…” I reminded him.

“Running away doesn’t change the fact I’m your father, accept that!” He yelled over the phone, but I took a deep breath, calming myself.

“We don’t need you, not anymore!” I said, but he laughed once he heard my words.

“We’ll see about that” His threatening tone made me even angrier, which made me throw the phone hard to the ground and watch it shatter into pieces.

As soon as I looked around me, I was surprised to see the guy who just gave me the phone had already disappeared, leaving me by myself.

Just as I was about to sit back on the bench, I watched the doctor stepping out of the surgery room, his pale face already telling me the bad news.

“Doctor, how was the surgery?” I ran to him, but he shook head silently, making my frown deepen.

“I’m sorry, we did our best, but we couldn't save her” The doctor said the words, leaving me frozen on the same spot, still couldn’t process his words. What does he mean?

My knees couldn’t hold me anymore, my whole body was all of a sudden sliding on the floor, a few tears falling down as I was still denying the ugly truth. The fact that my mother left, she couldn’t make it, she didn’t survive! The only person that’s left for me, she's gone…

Nico:

“What do you mean you can’t find her?” I gritted my teeth, my useless, my stupid men told me they couldn’t find her anywhere!

“We don’t even know if that’s her real name, we don’t even know what she looks like…” Vox said, but I shot him one deadly glare, making him wish he hadn't opened his mouth.

“I don’t give a fuck, you will find her and bring her to me!” I took a few steps toward Vox, “You know I don’t like to repeat myself” I growled, placing my hand on his shoulder, I tightened my grip, watching him wince in pain, but can’t even protest or dare to move my hand away.

“Now leave!” I roared, massaging my temples as I watched them rushing back toward the van. I clenched my jaw, blaming myself for the thousandth time. I've been looking for her for like a month, but it was as if she just disappeared, gone, or never existed.

I walked toward the house I was raised in all my life, lighting a cigarette and drawing in a deep breath of a smoke. I was wondering why he called me. Our last meeting didn’t end well. I inhaled deeply, as a lot of thoughts kept wrestling in my head.

I couldn’t get her from my head. Not normal...Virgin, wrong place,wrong time!

Someone sent her for sure.

I threw away the cigarette as I saw him “Son” . He greeted me, then started to walk toward me. There was a wide smirk up his face.

“Yeah, yeah…You missed me, I missed you. Can we just skip to the part where you tell me what's making you so happy?”

“Right after you tell me what’s taking all your attention.” He was starting to get serious, but I placed my hands inside my coat pockets. Shrugging my shoulders “Nothing” I replied with a bored tone.

“You know what was so hard about raising you?” My father asked, but I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed by the upcoming lecture he was about to give me.

“No one could tell when you were lying or telling the truth” He answered his own question, a serious look on his face as his eyes scanned me from head to toe.

I hated that look, he was suspecting something. Not that I cared anyway, but he’d only make my work harder, I didn’t love to share news with him anyway.

“Even me, your father,” He added, his eyes still fixed on me.

“What I do is my business. Let’s just keep it that way” I said while I made a few steps toward the small table by the pool, pouring out some of the pink drink in the bottle, not sure what it was, but I had hoped it was strong.

“I need to know, I might consider giving you some help” My father was more curious, but I rolled my eyes before taking a sip of the cold drink. The burning feeling that left in my throat made me ignore his sentence. Not for too long though.

“Well?” He couldn’t just leave my ass alone.

“You won’t have to worry about it. If I ever asked for your help, please cut my throat!” He saw that coming, because I could see him shake his head.

“I have great news,” My father said, capturing my attention. I put the glass back on the table.

“The butcher” I raised an eyebrow the moment he pronounced our enemy’s name.

“He’s chasing after something, something very important” My father started to explain.

“What are you talking about?” I narrowed my eyes.

“You remember when I told you his wife was dead?” My father reminded me, and I nodded my head, I nearly smirked when I remembered how shocked I was knowing that someone like The Butcher was married. Who would want to share a bed with that maniac?

“Yeah?” I took a closer step toward him.

“Apearently he has a daughter” I shrugged, “Yeah, I know” I interrupted him. After I heard about The Butcher’s wife, I did my homework, but because our enemy’s identity was a big mystery to us, I couldn’t get more information.

“Good, that’s what The Butcher is haunting” I narrowed my eyes, tilting my head, “Why would he haunt her? She’s his daughter”

“A little birdie told me why The Butcher’s wife and daughter were hiding in our territory,” I listened intently as he started to explain.

“Aparently, they dumped his ass right after they discovered his real work” I nodded, “Why don’t you just kill the guy already, and stop wasting our time?” I began to walk, and just as I was walking past him, his words stopped me.

“Because he had done a huge damage to our territory for the past five years.” My father was right, The Butcher had done terrible things…I sighed and nodded in agreement.

“What do you want?” I questioned. There were times I couldn't tell what was running inside his head.

“I already made him feel the pain once,” He smirked devilishly. I looked at him suspiciously.

My eyes widened at the realization. “Father, please don’t tell me you killed his wife!” I saw the smirk on his face growing wider.

Fuck!

The old man went crazy! He knew by doing such a move, he wasn't only breaking our truce with The Butcher, but also angering his friends, and there were too many of them to count on fingers.

“He’s asking for a meeting. I assume he wants to ask for permission to stay longer” My father stopped, realizing he revealed too much information.

“What? He didn’t leave after his wife’s funeral?” I clenched my fist and shot him a deadly glare.

“He did, but was back a few days ago” His answer made me even angrier.

“Last time I met him I warned him that if I saw his face one more time, I’d let his body rot down my basement!” I reminded my father of our last meeting, they both shook hands on that silly truce, while I called it bullshit!

“We needed this truce, so did he!” I shook my head, “You think he wouldn’t find out about that? About you killing his wife? It wouldn’t take so long before he finds out! Our heads would definitely make a nice collection on his walls!” I spat.

We’ve heard a few stories about his so-called art, including how much he enjoyed collecting heads.

My father sighed, he knew I was right, but too fucking stubborn to admit it.

“Even if he finds out, he won’t be able to do anything” I raised my eyebrow toward him. I’d hoped he wasn’t referring to the flash drive Catherine stole from me. If that was her real name.

“You look so sure” I shot him a questioning look.

“Why do you think I called you? I need you to kidnap his daughter.” He ordered, but I only smirked.

“You keep forgetting that I don’t take orders from you anymore” I reminded him. Though it didn’t take me long to nod my head. Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea after all. He was our enemy, and after what my father did to his wife, The Butcher wouldn’t stop until we paid…Although there was one small problem; where the fuck was I supposed to find her?