Sold to Moretti Mafia

Elena

The days pass, and we fall into a new kind of routine. Julian has breakfast and dinner with me every day, he even lets me pick where. Most of the time, I choose the terrace, of course, because the outdoors calls to me.

For lunch, Marie comes and eats with me. Sometimes she stays for over an hour, and we just talk. Julian also lets me pick more books from the library and orders more online from my favorite authors. I have so many that I’m now reading a different romance novel every day. I tried to convince him to let me have an e-reader, but he didn’t go for it.

It’s a nice distraction from the memories that haunt me from the night of the auction. I don’t know what was worse, helplessly watching those girls being sold, seeing my father trying to bargain to buy me back, or having that vile man talk to me and touch me.

I’ve been trying to forget that whole night, hide from those thoughts the same way I hid the key my father gave me under the bathroom sink. I seriously don’t know what to do. I just can’t believe that Julian is trying to kill my father, even more unbelievable is him trying to kill me.

He has been kind to me, gentle even. He’s never lied to me, at least not that I know of. Every time he gave me his word, he stuck to it. It proved to me further what I already knew, that deep down parts of him are still good.

It’s almost lunchtime when I finish the book I started yesterday. Just as I flip to the last page, I hear someone approach the door. A moment later, the lock disengages, and the door opens.

I’m about to greet Marie, but instead, I find Julian stepping into the room. My heart constricts in my chest. He’s wearing nothing but dress slacks and a white button-down, the sleeves rolled up, showing off his forearms. My mouth waters, and I clench my thighs together, remembering the things he did to me with his mouth, wondering what other magic he can do.

As if he knows what I’m thinking, his stormy blues narrow.

“Hi!” I squeak.

“You look surprised to see me.”

“Because I am. Are you not working?”

“I took the rest of the day off. I want to have lunch with you by the pool, maybe go for a swim before?”

“Really?” I jump off the bed, and without waiting for his answer, I run into the closet. “Do I have a bathing suit?” I yell from inside.

“Yes, probably the bottom drawer, that’s where she put my swimming trunks,” Julian explains as he leisurely leans against the door frame.

I pull open the last drawer and find there is indeed, a stack of different bathing suits and bikinis. I pull the one on top out, not bothering to waste precious time, I get undressed as quickly as I can, then pull on the bathing suit.

Julian gets undressed as well, not in quite as much of a hurry as I am. I go to his side of the closet and take out a pair of swimming trunks. When he is completely naked, I hand them to him, trying to not stare at his semi-hard penis hanging between his legs.

“Ready?” He smirks after pulling on his shorts. Clearly, he saw me looking. My cheeks feel like they’re on fire as I nod my head, yes.

Together we leave the bedroom, and Julian lets me walk beside him at my own pace, rather than tugging me along behind him. I smile, enjoying the new freedom, the words from the bathroom and the key I have stashed, hang heavy in my mind.

If I try and escape, all of this will go away. His kindness, my freedom…

“Is everything okay? You’re very quiet,” he questions, giving me a guarded look as we walk down the stairs.

“Yes, just thinking how nice this is. Being able to walk on my own and getting to go outside.” I beam joyfully. “I love swimming, but my father wouldn’t allow it often.”

At the mention of my father, Julian’s eyes darken, and his lips turn into a frown. Not wanting to ruin this day, I quickly change the subject. “Can I ask you something… about the auction?”

“You can, I can’t promise I’ll answer though.”

“The girls that were sold, what happened to them? They didn’t look like they were there out of their own free will.”

“I’m sure they weren’t. Women hardly ever sell themselves willingly, though I have seen it happen. Desperate times and all. As to what happened to them exactly, I can’t tell you. Whoever bought them gets to decide that.”

“Have you ever bought a girl?” I ask but look down, too afraid to see the look on his face.

“You know I have.” He chuckles. “You.”

“Oh, I mean–”

“No, not like that. I only bought you, and I’m not planning on buying someone else if you’re worried about that. Markus has got that handled.”

“Markus?” I remember him and Julian talking at the auction, their exchange was heated when I interrupted them.

“Yes, he bought one of the girls.”

“Wow…” I quickly run every interaction I’ve had with Markus through my head, which is not a lot to go by. I can’t tell if he is the kind of guy who hurts women. “Can I meet her?”

“No. They aren’t here, and even if they were, I’m not sure I would allow the girl on the property. Most of the girls sold are…” He pauses, contemplating his words. “Broken, you could say, and who knows her mental state? I won’t have some crazed girl running around here.”