Chapter 2 No Choice

Lucy sat on the bed, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process what had happened. Less than an hour ago, she'd been dragged away by armed men, men who had beaten her brother bloody right before her eyes. Now, she was stuck in this unfamiliar room, unsure of what came next.

She remembered the man from earlier, their boss, clearly, the one who had barked the order:

"Keep her here until I come. And don't touch her. Not one hair on her head."  His voice had been cold, firm, and impossible to disobey.

That man... he wasn't like anyone Lucy had ever met. His presence had filled the entire warehouse like a storm cloud, dangerous, powerful, impossible to ignore. She didn't know what he wanted from her, but the memory of his sharp eyes and the cruel smirk on his face made her stomach turn.

Now here she was, locked in a room with no answers. On the bed lay a set of black lace lingerie. It wasn't hard to guess what they expected her to wear.

Lucy stood and checked the room, the closet, under the bed, even behind the curtains, hoping to find something else to wear. Nothing. Just the lingerie. Her own nightgown was grimy and torn from the rough handling earlier.

With no other choice, she grabbed the lace set and muttered bitterly, "Guess this is it."

After a quick shower, she changed into the revealing outfit. The flimsy fabric clung to her skin, and the cold air of the room made her shiver. She hated this, feeling vulnerable, like she was being put on display.

The door burst open without warning. Lucy jumped to her feet.

It was him... the man from before. Barry Cooper. He stepped inside, still dressed in his expensive suit, and shut the door behind him. His eyes roamed over her, and she crossed her arms, hugging herself tightly.

"Beautiful," Barry said, his voice low and rough. He took a step forward, and Lucy instinctively stepped back.

He paused, smiling faintly as if her fear amused him. "I believe we haven't been properly introduced," he said. "I'm Barry Cooper. And you... are Lucy."

She didn't answer.

"You know," Barry went on, "your brother's a real pain. Owes me a fair bit of money. Tried to steal from me too." He shook his head, feigning disappointment. "That's something I can't ignore."

Lucy's heart pounded. "What does that have to do with me?"

Barry's smile widened. "I hear you said you'd do anything to save him."

She swallowed hard, her breath catching. "What do you mean?"

"I'll keep it simple," Barry said, stepping closer, too close now. His fingers reached out, brushing the lace strap on her shoulder. She flinched, and to her surprise, he pulled his hand back.

"You're going to work for me," he said flatly. "I own a club, a nice one, and you'll dance there. Not just as a stripper," he added with a grin. "You'll be a performer, one people will pay good money to see. You've got the skills, don't you?"

Lucy bit her lip, forcing herself not to react.

"And when you're not working," Barry continued, "You'll stay with me. As my woman. You'll live under my roof, go where I say, and do what I tell you. That's the deal."

"You're out of your mind," Lucy said, her voice shaking.

"You want to keep your brother alive?" Barry countered, voice turning cold. "Then you'll say yes. Because if you don't..." He let the silence hang.

Lucy clenched her fists. She hated this man. Hated his smug face, his cruel smile. But she knew what would happen if she refused.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll do it."

"Smart girl," Barry said, his smile widening. "You'll learn I always get what I want."

Lucy had no choice. The situation was clear, Carrick had messed with the wrong man, and now she was the only thing standing between him and certain death.

She hated him for it. Hated that, despite every time he'd let her down, despite all the selfish choices he'd made, she still felt obligated to save him.

"I... I want my brother safe," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want him to leave here alive and untouched. And I want your men to stay away from him, forever."

Barry leaned back in his chair, watching her with a slow, knowing smile. "In exchange, you'll accept my terms."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Lucy forced herself to nod.

"Consider it done," he said smoothly.

Her shoulders sagged in relief, until she felt his fingers against her arm. The touch was warm, possessive, as he ran them up to her shoulder, pausing just at the curve of her neck. His gaze never wavered, trapping her under its weight.

Then, as suddenly as he touched her, he pulled away and walked out of the room.

Lucy didn't move for a long moment. Then her knees weakened, and she sank onto the bed, pressing her hand to where his fingers had been. Even in his absence, she could still feel him there.

TWO DAYS LATER

Carrick was leaving. Finally.

From the small balcony attached to her room, Lucy stood watching as Barry's men escorted him toward a waiting taxi. She bit her lip, gripping the railing. Two days locked in this place, and she still didn't fully understand the kind of power Barry Cooper wielded. But she knew one thing, he wasn't just some criminal. He was a leader, a man whose very presence demanded obedience.

Her eyes locked onto the car door as Carrick stepped out. He looked exhausted, his face bruised, his movements sluggish. But he was alive.

Relief washed over her, until she saw it.

A stark white bandage wrapped around his hand. His left hand.

Something inside her twisted sharply. She couldn't see how much was missing, but she knew. A piece of him was gone.

Her stomach lurched.

She turned to Barry, who stood beside her, watching the scene with detached amusement. He hadn't even looked at her yet, and that made her even angrier.

"What did you do to him?" she asked, voice low but shaking.

Barry finally glanced her way, lips curling. "Hmm?"

She clenched her fists. "What did you do?"

His smirk widened. "Oh, come on now. I only took a finger. Maybe two." He shrugged lazily. "It's just his left hand. Not like he was using it much anyway."

Her blood boiled.

"He's missing a finger" she shouted, stepping toward him. "You lied to me!"

Barry chuckled, shaking his head as if she were being ridiculous. "Don't call me a liar, darling. I keep my deals." He adjusted his cuff, revealing a flash of gold at his wrist. "I promised to let him live and to set him free. And look, he's still breathing." His voice dropped into something almost playful. "If I wanted, I could've taken a whole lot more. You wouldn't believe how much a man can lose before he actually dies."

Lucy's stomach turned.

Rage took over. She stormed toward him, heels clicking furiously against the tiled floor. "You bastard"

She barely got the word out before her wrist was caught in a crushing grip. Before she could react, Barry yanked her forward, spinning her and slamming her back against the wall.

The impact knocked the breath from her lungs.

She gasped, but before she could struggle, his hand was on her throat, not choking, but holding, controlling.

"You," she managed, voice hoarse.

Barry didn't even look angry. He was calm, composed, his voice light as he murmured, "I don't appreciate temper tantrums, Lucy. I try to be patient. I try to be nice." He smirked down at her. "But you seem determined to test my limits."

She clawed at his wrist, her breath coming in short, frantic bursts.

"L-Let me go..."

His grip tightened for a second. Just enough to make her panic. Then, just as suddenly, he released her.

Lucy stumbled, barely catching herself against the wall, gasping for air.

Barry watched her with an unreadable expression before he reached out again. This time, his fingers brushed under her chin, tilting her face up so she was forced to look at him.

"You need to learn obedience, darling," he murmured. "And I'm happy to teach you."

She swallowed hard, refusing to speak.

He let her go, stepping back with an amused chuckle. "For now, I'll let this bad attitude slide. But next time..." His smile was sharp, dangerous. "Let's not make it a habit, hmm?"

Then he turned and strode out, shutting the door behind him with a decisive slam.

Lucy stood frozen, her heart pounding.

What the hell had she just gotten herself into?