Isabella’s POV
Flashback (trigger warning)
I let out a sigh looking around the darkroom, my panic rising hearing footsteps approaching me, ‘NO! PLEASE! STOP!’ I scream trying to scoot away, the chains wrapped around my wrists and ankles making it hard to do anything. Tugging and pulling at my skin leaving a burning sensation the more I struggle against them. ‘Hello gorgeous’ he whispers, I look up at his silhouette the only source of light was from the dangling light bulb that he would turn on when he came down.
‘Please stop’ I softly cried pleading for him to leave me alone my body physically and mentally drained unable to put up any sort of fight I can’t do this I’m not strong enough to handle the torture today, or ever again.
He bowed down sitting next to me, placing his arms around me and pulling me in. I mentally gagged, immediately cringing burying my head in my shoulder. Upon contact, my body immediately trying to get away from him squirming and struggling against his hold.
The more I struggled the harder and tighter he held onto me like he was scared I’d win and escape. My body throbbed and my soul began begging for its end so it can finally rest. I looked at him dead in the eye and felt my body go limb giving up.
‘it’s funny’ he laughed softly; I looked up at him confused ‘what?’ I mummer my voice barely heard from the lack of will. ‘ Your plea to stop … that’s exactly how your parents said before I shot them’ He laughed harder, the sudden wave of energy washed over me rage and anger were more powerful than anyone thinks.
I head-butted his nose ‘Puta’ I spat watching him bend down, holding his bleeding nose in his hands, taking advantage of his state I lay flat on my back bring my knees to my chest and push out with as much force as I could master kicking him in his head with the heels of my feet.
He falls down groaning in pain he quickly gets up whipping away the blood that began pouring from his nose, ‘Oh, you’re going to regret that’ he threatened, “drop dead” I hissed trying to scoot away as the chains around my hands and legs left a deep bloody scar. ‘Until then my love I’ll make you wish you were dead’ he smiled looking down at me my heart starting to beat rapidly knowing what was to come. ‘Don’t you dare’ I warned closing my legs shut.
He grabbed them forcing them open and forcing my panties off. ‘NO!’ I yelled feeling powerless, I screamed and yelled but nothing no one came to save me. No. One. ‘PAPA! MAMA’ I yelled praying they were looking down on me, I look up at the roof and beg for help.
I let out a gasp feeling it, I cried out ‘Get off of me!’ I begged. Taking control over me he forcefully pins me down I let out a whimper looking back up at the roof one last time I whisper ‘Look away’
End of flashback
I jolted out of bed screaming, my chest rising and falling rapidly I put my hand on my chest trying to calm myself down.
I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed still breathing heavily. Even in my dreams he won’t go away, even seas away from him I couldn’t escape him or the nightmares he put me through. I closed my eyes and ran my fingers through my hair desperately trying to calm down.
I should’ve killed him when I had the chance. I snap my head towards the door when I hear Maria screaming from the hallway, I quickly jolted out of bed and ran outside seeing her on the floor covering her head with her arms.
I pushed him off her and quickly got her up to her feet, ‘GO!’ I yelled, she looked at me hesitantly before she dashed off to our room and closed the door, locking it in the process.
He quickly grabbed a fist of my hair dragging me to the bathroom filling the bathtub with water, he dunked my head underneath. Struggling to breath I try pulling myself out, after a moment or two he quickly takes me out. Panting I elbowed him in the stomach and ran out of the bathroom, not far behind he catches up and kicks me to the floor.
‘Fuck you’ I hissed, as I stared the man who adopted me and Maria down. Our eyes locked in an intense face-off. My body internally shut down with every punch and kick but my mind regenerating reminding me of the promise I made forcing me to fight. ‘Worthless’ he spits at me, I looked up at him, my eyes meeting his cold drunken stare. ‘Go fuck yourself!’ the second those words left my mouth, his foot collided with my stomach again and again until he started losing balance from his obvious drunken state.
I clutched my stomach holding it tight suppressing a groan. I looked up at him again ‘do it!’ daring him to finish the job he knelt and grabbed a fistful of my hair lifting my head up from the ground. I grunted and tried to move back, his lips near my ear ‘I’m not done with you yet’ He smirked
Slamming my head back on the ground. I let out a groan pulling myself back up slowly, I searched the room for him again, but he was gone. Lifting my limp body up slowly I listened hearing him scream out Maria’s name.
My heart was pounding, sending my body into fight mode the adrenaline surged through my blood, I chased after him trying to shield Maria from any pain.
‘MARIA CIERA LA PUERTA!’ I yelled for her to close the door. ‘OPEN THE DOOR!’ He banged on the door and the old door frame began slowly caving in, seeing the cracks getting bigger I panicked.
He looked over at me his features darkening as his scowl became demonic but like a baby devil, he was nothing compared to what I’ve dealt with. “I’ll take it” I spoke up my voice cracking feeling my entire body begin throbbing, “oh you will?” he mocked looking me up and down “he was right about you” he whispered so low I barely heard him. Who was he talking about?
‘Your death is closer than you think’ he lowly mummers.
‘Genuine question who told you I was scared of death? For a guy who’s been threatening to kill me for years, you would think you’d do it by now’ I gestured to myself still being very much alive. ‘I’m starting to doubt your commitment’ I smiled tilting my head watching his anger levels rise higher and higher. He smashed his beer bottle on the floor picking a piece of glass and lunging for me.
I didn’t move or give him any satisfaction; he stopped right in front of me ‘You’re not scared’ He looked me up and down waiting for a single sign to show him that he had the upper hand. Not breaking eye contact I calmly responded ‘No.’ He pressed the piece of glass behind my ear. I hissed shutting my eyes my jaw tensing trying to supress the scream that was dying to come out.
‘I’m going to kill you’ He whispered harshly in my ear. I smiled ‘If your aim is to seem threatening don’t go straight for death’ I spoke out giving him some pointers from experience.
‘Describe how you’ll torture me. The way you’ll destroy all that I stand for.’ I grabbed his wrist moving him away from me, twisting it behind his back I stood up taking my position behind him holding his wrist in place forcing his torso up against the wall.
Leaning down towards his ear “I’m going to use this piece of glass’ I dragged my finger over the glass he had in his hand and looked back up at him ‘I’m going to show you how many inventive ways I can torture you, I’ll have you screaming and begging me to end it! Every cell in your body will scream at you to die your soul will try to escape’ I pushed him up against a wall twisting his arm higher up.
‘But I won’t let your soul leave … not until I say so, and I’ll make sure my face is the last thing you ever see’ I hissed tightening my grip. His body stiffened, his colour draining from his body. Not daring to look at me he remains still.
‘See describing what you’ll do is much more intimidating, it gets the imagination running’ from the corner of my eyes I saw Maria watching me I bit back the urge to kill him for her sake and pushed him to the floor dashing for our bedroom before he could get back up.
Quickly shutting the door behind me I’m greeted by a scared tear-stained Maria. She jumped hugging me as if she was scared this might be the last time, she will ever see me. Or she was scared I was going backwards.
‘Shh,’ I cooed, ‘I’m okay, we’re okay’ I whispered into her neck in hopes to calm her down. She sobbed uncontrollably into my shoulder, and I tightened my embrace on her. After a few minutes, she calmed down but never realised her grip on me.
‘I was so scared, I thought he was going to kill you’ she cried, I cupped her cheeks and made her look directly at me. ‘Maria we are in this forever, your breathing? I’m breathing. You’re smiling? I’m smiling. Your alive? I’m alive.’ I reassured her in all aspects she eyed me, studying my facial expressions trying to decipher if I was telling the truth. After she concluded that I was okay she wiped the tears off her face.
I don’t know how much longer I can handle this, the constant worrying, the constant beatings I need an escape. We both need to escape, to start over in a city no one knows who we are. ‘We need to figure a way out. Our grandparents didn’t send us away from one psychopath just to be trapped with another one’ I sighed bowing my head. I walk towards Maria and stand in front of her, ‘We managed to escape one sociopath … You managed to get us out.’ Maria breathes in a deep breath recalling the events of that night.
‘How do you want to escape?’ Maria whispered I shrug ‘I don’t know how … yet but we will figure something out’ We lay on the bed and try discussing a way out. That was until we both started getting sleepy, our eyelids becoming heavier and heavier before we both eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
x
The sound of two loud bangs made my body jolt awake and I quickly scanned the room for Maria, seeing her on the floor I shake her awake as we ready ourselves for God knows what’s about to happen once that door gives out.
‘OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!’ He shouted banging on the door repeatedly not backing down, we both watched the door waiting for him to barge in the silence suddenly grew louder and louder with each passing moment. We stayed still before we heard a door slam shut, I roll my eyes ‘ he’s gone’ Maria sighs out, I look over to her and nod my head.
Looking at each other we both knew what the other was thinking, my body throbbing from the number of hits it took. I had a higher tolerance than Maria, growing up in an environment where violence is expected just heightened my tolerance along with the kidnapping.
I sighed shaking my head wanting to forget everything.
Even though Maria and I are twins in a way we lived very different lives. Taking in a deep breath. I slowly open the door. ‘You ready for another day at work?’ I smile sarcastically, she rolls her eyes and gives me a thumbs up with a forced smile. I let out a small laugh and shake my head ‘come on’ I laugh out, we walk out of the house and see his car pulling up. We start running trying to get out of sight.
Once we were far enough from the house, we slowed down a little. Living in Minnesota was not fun, I hated it here and not because of the people or the place but because of him. In a way, I always thought it was just me, that no matter what I do or where I go, I was bound to abusive men. Someone who just wanted to use me for many things, they would play with my mind and make me think it was my fault.
Our real parents were beautiful, graceful, but far from normal my dad was a drug lord who had a lot of power and he loved showing it. It was the biggest drug cartel in Spain, El polvo del diablo (the devil’s dust). They were smart about their business, growing up being fathers only children he took us under his wing showing the ins and outs of the business hoping one day we would take over.
Maria was a more flowers and rainbows kind of a girl, she didn’t hate the family business, but she didn’t want a part in it she was just like Mama, optimistic and wanting the peaceful side of life. I on the other hand was a daddy’s girl, wanting to be just like him in every way possible.
I always loved the adrenaline of it all even the business side to it, I use to sneak in on his meetings, follow shipments even got invited to some Big Italian mafia families’ business meetings.
I was so invested and interested in it all I even helped him figure out ways to discreetly import and export drugs. After my reputation started becoming well known I was being asked to join meetings by dad’s clients.
Aside from being the most feared family in Spain, we were normal your average family. Every Sunday Papa would take a day off spending time with mama, me and Maria. Once me and Maria puppy-eyed him for him to get his feet and nails done with us.
That day mama couldn’t stop laughing, watching him getting a pedicure. I smiled sadly at the distant memory I swear I could still hear her laughing.
Then one day poof they were gone. He took them from us he took their lives right in front of me. I scoffed recalling the reasons he justified killing them to take over the business. Seeing them die in front of me is a scar I’ll never be able to heal. A scar that will haunt me till the day I die. A scar that shaped me into being who I am, hateful and full of revenge.
After mourning our parent’s death, we were shipped to Minnesota. Our grandparents felt it was best to get me away from the toxic lifestyle I was in, I was spiralling out of control and got involved with a dangerous man … the man who killed my parents. I became the biggest threat in Spain.
My name on the streets became like a scary legend, when someone whispered the tale of ‘Dragon’ it left everyone fearful, many truly thought I was a myth a scary bedtime story. I don’t blame them for being fearful they should’ve been they had every right to. I’m not ashamed of what I did because I needed to do it, the world I live in is a bitch.
For survival, we do a lot. But to live in denial we do a lot more than we think we are capable of.
My grandparents prayed by sending my twin sister Maria and I away that it would keep us safe and would get me to forget about my revenge, my hatred, and the anger I had brewing in me. They prayed it was a fresh start away from all the violence and dangers I surrounded myself with and inevitably brought Maria into. That we were still so young and could clean up and get my future on track.
Rolling my eyes, I thought of the irony.
We got into the system and got adopted. At times it seemed he didn’t want to adopt that he was somehow forced. Like he was ordered to take us in, now to make any sort of income, Maria and I became strippers. Nothing wrong with it but we always hoped we would be something else. It paid the bills and got us food, so we were thankful. Maria grabbed my arm snapping me out of my head. ‘Earth to Bella,’ she said in an astronaut’s voice.
Bursting out laughing ‘what the hell was that?’ I laughed looking at her confused. Giggling she slaps my arm ‘I was trying something new, sue me’ she raised her eyebrows shrugging her shoulders with the slyest smile. I rolled my eyes smiling, it was rare but we promised each other that no matter what life puts us through we need to find the silver lining, to one not fade away and two in a weird way to honour our mum who taught us that life is only bad if we keep looking for the bad, that it was okay through all the chaos to look for the positive to laugh and smile even when it feels like there’s nothing to smile or laugh about she’d say so make something.
‘Back to what I was saying before I realised, I was talking to myself’ rolling her eyes she continues ‘How are we going to get out of this shit-hole we call a life?’
‘Let’s move to New York’ I state.
‘Why don’t we just go back home?’ I froze in my tracks trying to comprehend if she understood what she had just said. Her mouth formed an ‘oh’ ‘I forgot he’s there sorry’ I smiled a small pity smile nodding my head. ‘We can book a flight and move to New York … start fresh?’ I suggested again.
‘Okay well how about we buy a plane ticket right now with the money we don’t have, and we’ll go in the car we do not own, and we’ll live in an apartment we oh yea do not own. Isabella, I don’t know how you come up with such brilliant ideas I swear you have a gift’ She sarcastically chimed up, I turned my head to face her followed by an instinctive eye roll.
‘First of all, your sarcasm is not appreciated and second of all we have rich clients coming in today, we can stay later do a few extra dances, and private sessions and with the rest of the money we hid in our lockers at work we have enough money to buy tickets and rent any small apartment. Also, clients on Saturdays pay big.’ I reminded her how big our high rollers tip.
Turing my head to meet her gaze, she’s deep in thought I can tell. Her vein in the middle of her forehead is poking out damn she’s deep in thought. ‘Let’s do it’
‘Let’s do it’ I confirmed our plan at a fresh start.
We moved here after our parents died in Spain and … a lot of other stuff happened, let’s just say my past is anything but happy. I never talk about it, even to myself the second I think of the events that occur I feel myself reliving it I start spiralling but that doesn’t stop the flashbacks that occur when something triggers them.
x
Finally, we arrived at the club.
Walking through the crowd’s hand in hand Maria and I make our way to the back changing rooms. Huffing I take off my jacket and throw it in my locker, looking through the outfits on the rack I grab a black latex one piece.
After two minutes of rubbing lube for it to slip on ‘You could have picked an easier outfit’ Maria snapped. ‘Shut. Up. I like this one now help me zip it up’ rolling her eyes she zips me in.
We both move on to hair and makeup and once we are satisfied, we exchange that ‘here we go again look.’ The place was swarming with sweaty men, the majority either between the age of 30-40 the rest looked like they should be home with their grandkids, but hey there were the ones with the most money.
I got done with serving the high rollers drinks, flirting, and giving them a little lap dance. Teasing them so they can book a private dance and I can get paid. The high rollers gave out thousands like it was nothing, their tips could cover both aeroplane tickets, a private dance might even be able to cover an apartment’s monthly rent.
Looking at the clock I sighed my shift is over, my turn on the pole. Handing another barmaid her tray I walked over backstage. ‘Stella!’ I turn around ‘yes boss’ I wasn’t going to give him my real name. ‘You’re on for a full performance we have big people in today. Most high rollers we had in months pull out all stocks doll’ I cringed at his choice of a pet name.
I watched him walk away near the DJ probably telling him to play buttons by the pussy cat dolls, he knew that was my favourite song and my choreography was top tier.
The familiar beat began to play. Booming through the speakers filling the whole club with Nicole’s angelic voice. I closed my eyes letting myself empty my mind and allowing myself to simply get lost in the song.
Opening my eyes, I strut to the pole. My long legs extend in front of me with every step, as the beat drops so do I, slowly bringing my ass back up making sure to keep eye contact with everyone in the room. I hold the pole and swing, arching my back to the pole wrapping one leg around and extending the other out. Lifting myself up a bit high I flipped myself upside down, using my hands to trace my curves along with my breasts. Hearing the men whistle and howl I smirked. Slowly lowering myself down. I motioned for the rest of the girls on stage to come to me.
Leaning on one another we all bend down extending our asses in the air, as we seductively look at the men in front. Grabbing the zipper on my one-piece toying with it, swaying my hips and going down on all floors. Propping myself on my knees I seductively lean forward to the men who are throwing hundreds on the dance floor.
I smirk at a particular gentleman; he looked thirty not a disgusting age his teeth are still intact. slowly getting off the stage I take long strides toward him showing off my legs. I stood in front of the gentleman leaning down so my face is directly in front of his while my ass is perked out.
I slowly lower my zipper exposing the centre of my cleavage, ‘I bet my boobs aren’t the only things that are big’ I whisper in his ear, hearing him suck in a breath made me smirk victorious. I nibble at his ear a little bit before turning around and walking back up on stage and to the back.
‘Stella, you have ten private lap dances and two private sessions with high rollers’ the boss yelled from the DJ area. Throwing him a thumbs up I make my way to the private rooms, discuss the price, and begin the private dance.
This is all worth it, just a few more days until you can escape you got this.
After what felt like hours it was my final lap dance, you’re almost done Bella you got this come on. I waited for my next client to walk in. Hearing a cough, I looked up, a tall man stood at the door, nicely dressed, clean shaved, had a tattoo a pattern with a small crown on it, he wasn’t fully built but wasn’t skinny either. He looked young I’d say mid-20s.
‘You ready baby?’ he asked. Cringing I bit back my sarcastic remark and just smiled gesturing for him to sit down. ‘Do I get a little head?’ raising my eyebrow ‘That’s extra’ I state not completely ruling it out only because I was desperate for money right now.
‘How much more?’ the stranger asked ‘extra thousand’ he looked like he was debating it before he furiously stood up and grabbed me by my arms and was face to face with me. ‘You trying to fucking steal from me puta, I got head yesterday and it only an extra hundred’ he spat.
To anger him even more I laughed at him, ‘you thought you were scary?’ I laughed harder clutching my stomach. ‘Stop fucking laughing’.
I looked up at him and slightly tilted my head. ‘Do you really think your act is intimidating? You’re nothing but a Kitten, you can hiss and show your claws, but one punch and you’ll bow down’ I mocked him.
Freeing myself from his grip, I walked closer to him pushing him with my finger, ‘I’m extra because my reputation around here is higher than the rest of the girls, I’m extra because I’m the best, I’m extra because all my clients are high rollers … wanna guess why?’ I purred pressing my finger in his chest.
‘You’re the best?’ the man muttered out. Smirking ‘yes’ I replied, ‘Now either pay up the extra or you can get a free blowjob by righty over there’ I smiled motioning to his right hand. ‘All you’re getting right now is a lap dance since you paid, but if you want my lips around your cock, then ‘baby’ you got to pay big for my tongue,’ I say putting air quotes around the word baby.
I press play on the iPad and the song Candy shop played. Pushing the man back onto the couch I start dancing a little far from him. Swaying my hips to the beat, dropping down the crawling toward him as I spread his legs. Honestly, it was only an extra couple of hundred, but I needed the money for a ticket to New York.
I purr, as my hand travels his legs and up to his chest. Turning around I grind my ass on his now visible arousal. Arching my back, I smirk as he goes to grab my waist. I slap his hand off and whisper ‘you want me? You got to pay to get me’ and continue with the dance.
The song came to an end and this man looked like if he didn’t fuck something soon, he was going to die from blue balls. ‘You better start sucking bitch’ he threatened. I rolled my eyes sick of men thinking they hold such power.
‘Give me the thousand,’ I said ignoring the fact that he just called me a bitch before I bitch slap him. Growing frustrated he grabs me by my arms again and pins me against the wall. ‘You don’t know who you’re messing with’ I stared at him with a blank expression, ‘ask me if I care.’ I calmly responded.
He looked taken back by my sudden cool demeanour, ‘ I don’t care who you are or who you work for. I’ve been to hell and back when I was merely a child. So, I fear no hell from you’ He stared at me as if he knew me, or like I resembled someone he knew.
Rolling my eyes, I go to walk out of the room, but before I exit, I look back smiling ‘I know you’re in some sort of mafia by the way. Your Italian accent tipped me off, not to stereotype but that tattoo on your hand represents a very powerful mafia. But by your threat, I can guarantee you’re not the boss. You don’t have that element of control or power to anything you say. You threaten but if I was to hold a knife to your throat you’d fold. I’d say you’re merely a soldier.’ I frown at his status and smile quickly nodding my head goodbye.
‘Tell righty not to be shy I’ll give you two some privacy’ I winked closing the door behind me.
I made my way to the changing room and seeing Maria changing her clothes. ‘How much did you make?’ Maria shuffled through her belongings ‘ten thousand. You?’ she asked ’12 thousand.’ I laughed looking back up at her. I toss around the wallet I stole off that man in my hand.
‘Whose is that?’ Maria asked pointing at the wallet, I hummed looking up at Maria ‘Some idiot who threatened me in the private room’ I paused for a second and looked up at her with a straight face ‘no one threatens me.’ I smiled slowly, she looked worried for a second and I winked at her. I stood up changing back into my clothes before we heard a loud scream over the roaring music and crowd of people.
‘SNEAKY FUCKING BITCH’ The man yells, I looked up at Maria with wide eyes. Laughing I can’t believe he noticed so quickly. ‘Time to go’ I laugh out we both hurry to leave the building and haul a taxi. ‘Isabella?’ My eyes slowly dozing off, it’s been so long since I had slept without fearing he was going to find me, then kill me for what I did … or worse kill Maria in front of me. I shook my head and looked at Maria who was waiting for me to reply to her “Yes amore’ I smiled exhausted.
‘Do you want to leave tonight? like now?’ She bit her bottom lip waiting for an answer.
I looked at her excited and extremely nervous like this leap was going to be one hell of an experience and getting to New York was just the beginning.
