Love of a lifetime

Fayre

When you are willing to shine a light upon your darkness and make it submissive to the light, you are reborn a hero. But I was no hero.

I lived in the darkness. I was born and bred in the darkness. This is the darkness that robs you of your best sense and replaces it with a paralysing fear. Where hope is destroyed. All that surrounded me was a never ending darkness. Yet my mother named me Fayre. It was unique indeed for a tainted soul like mine.

My mother belonged to Antonio Vargas. I belonged to Antonio Vargas. All her life she fought to keep me safe but she lost her battle eventually. It was a matter of time before he sold me to another devil for the sake of cold hard cash.

Antonio Vargas was my father. A father who wouldn't think twice before throwing his own daughter to a pack of wolves. After all he was the king pin of The Texas Mafia, a branch of La eMe or the Mexican Mafia as they called it here in the states.

The Vargas men were ruthless bound by a blood oath of "blood in, blood out"--they must kill to join and will be killed if they want out. All they ever knew was to kill and conquer.

My Grandfather handed over his reign in Mexico to his eldest son, My Uncle Joaquín Vargas and my father headed here in the states after they successfully conquered Texas. Both of them poles apart in character yet they shared the same thirst for blood. But nothing was going to stop them there. They had the thirst to conquer the states completely.

"Random bloodshed is bad for business." My grandfather used to say.

The Mexican Mafia was pushing to impose order, using its muscle to put a chill on turf-oriented rivalries and refocus that energy on the more profit-minded world of illegal drugs. But that was all a show. Everyone knew about how they were kings of the organ trade.

And in their world women were just a trophy to impose their masculinity. My father was famous for his whore houses. Young virgins were sacrificed each and everyday as their pain became his pleasure. He made billions every year for the flesh trade selling other people's daughters while he couldn't care less if someday he has to sell his own daughters. And when they were rendered useless their organs made him profit.

But they thought the beast was concurred the day her married my mother. But nothing could do so. He was made to dominate. My mother, Ava was seventeen when she married my father fifteen years her senior. He apparently was so smitten by her beauty that he brutally murdered her parents right in front of her eyes just to make her surrender. But it wasn't for the sake of love , it was pure lust. The pure need to make her his captive.

She had me when she was Eighteen. My sister Elena was three years younger than me and my brother Dante was ten years younger than me. Dante was two when our mother passed away.

A hard slap hit me on my cheek as the sound echoed through my father's study. I pushed Dante behind me. The day my mother passed away I swore on her dead body that I would keep Elena and Dante safe. I would die for them if needed.

I could taste the metallic tang of my blood in my mouth. I didn't get time to register everything as another hard slap hit me slitting my lip as I felt my warm blood trickle down my chin. This wasn't anything new. I was used to my father's wrath.

"Fayre! I expected you to behave. But You had to spoil everything like a little putana (prositute)." Father barked at me.

Even though it wasn't the first time this was happening but it still hurt like a fresh wound, like a knife stabbing my heart over and over. A father was supposed to protect his child not berate them. But that wasn't the case with Antonio Vargas. I bear the evidence of his anger on my body.

I could feel Dante shiver behind me but my hand held him tightly. I would do everything in my power to keep my baby brother from the the devil but I had no idea for how long would I be able to do so. After all he was his heir, the future Jefe (boss). Soon he would be trained to be a skilled assassin as ruthless as our very own father. Sooner or later he would be forced to turn into a monster. He would have blood on his hands.

"You dare to defy Fayre ! Even after knowing that you are the Jefe's daughter you dared to defy my order. You dared to help Lana run away."

Lana was my childhood friend and first cousin. Her mother Asha and my mother were sisters. She was orphaned at a young age so all she had in the name of family was us. But my dad didn't hesitate once before giving her to an fifty year old underboss who had set his eyes on her.

Family that was supposed to protect her. But little did she know Family was no less than a hollow word in our world. Especially for women. We were worthless from the time we are born until we reach a certain age where we are supposed to warm someone's bed. To become someone's possessions, someone's whore.

"Speak up! Where she is and I may spare you ! But if you don't" His eyes were dark looming with coldness which established him as the merciless Jefe "I will make sure, Shiela teaches you a lesson."

SHEILA! My father's whore as everyone called her. But she was much more than that. She was walking death. She knew endless roads to torture that could break even the best of Soldados (Soldiers). I was a weakling that she could destroy with one go.

I could feel the numbness creeping into my of body. I had helped Lana escape further brutality and now if I gave up then it would all be wasteful. I had to hold on to my courage. It was all that I was left with. Sheila can't break me more than my father had already.

"Sheila! Make sure Dante takes five and Elena ten from that new whip of yours. But first make sure that my eldest daughter gets her fare share. Twenty no less! You can increase it if you want!" He ordered his whore. I could feel tears threatening my eyes but I had to stay strong. In no way was I going to let my siblings suffer.

"Father! Give forty to me." I managed to speak.

His gaze pierced my skin. "If only you showed this much courage in a positive way than being a little bitch and defying your own father then things would be easier." He turned around and walked towards the door.

"Shiela! Make it the worse. I really don't care if that putana dies."

........................

I shivered under my sisters touch as she pressed the washcloth against my sliced skin. It had taken her a while wiping away all that blood that ran down my back soaking my bed sheet.

But pain was a foreign feeling now. I was numb, I was broken. I was defeated. It was a matter of time before I would be summoned back into Shiela's chamber for another round of monstrosity.

No matter how hard I fought, they would eventually trap Lana. It was a wasteful attempt from the beginning. But I had to risk it anyway. I didn't want her to end up with the same fate as my mother. A cursed life.

The floor covered In my mother's blood as her lifeless body lay still on the cold hard ground. For Every single day of my life in the past six years the memories have haunted me. I guess I could never make peace with it.

I flinched as Elena applied antiseptic on it. "What do We do about the wound inside ? Will the antiseptic help?"

Elena sighed. "Shiela isn't done with you. She won't stop until she breaks you and I cannot stand seeing you like this." Her voice was breaking. I was not only hurting myself but I was hurting Elena as well.

Dante cried silently as he sat beside me. My dad had made them witness every whip that I received in hopes they would spill. But they hardly had any idea about where Lana was ! I wouldn't ever involve them in this mess.

"It's okay Dante. I am not hurt. Don't cry."

"I hate you." Elena took Dante in her arms as her eyes looked empty. "I hate you, Fay for doing this to yourself. You don't have to take it all alone."

I was hurting my siblings but this emotional hurt was better than the physical pain they would have to endure. They were innocent after all. I made a promise to my dying mother and I would keep it at any cost.

"Elena." I flinched as a sharp pain shot through me once again. "I had to do this. I would endure this over and over again if it meant your and Dante's safety."

"Then we should let Father kill us." The rage was evident in Elena's eyes. She was fifteen but way mature for her age. That's exactly what happens when you grow up in hell itself With Hades as your father.

"Don't ever say that." I took both of them in my arms. I would never let anything happen to them. Never. Even it took the last drop of life in me to protect them I would. If that's all it took to protect them from the mortal agony.

We held on to each other and cried. Cried for as long as we could. All we longed for our mother's comforting arms which we could never have. All we longed for a single word of love from our father which wasn't even real in a parallel universe. We cried holding on to each other as each other were all we had.

..................

I woke up on a familiar cold hard ground. I ran my eyes across the room and realised where I was. Sheila!

The door opened and she walked in. Her long black hair going up to her thighs and her tall figure clad In a black top and leather pants with white black boots. Her predatory black eyes fixed on me, her helpless prey.

I tried to push my self up but my hand slipped on some sort of liquid on the floor and I fell on my back twisting in pain. It was unbearable. The second round of torture fresh in my mind. I looked around me and discovered blood on the floor, a part of it dried up and part of it still wet were I slipped. It was my own blood. Why didn't I die then ?

"I had to keep you alive. No matter what Jefe doesn't want his daughter dead." She squatted taking a good look at me.

"You are a fine beautiful creature, Fayre. No matter how much pain in the ass you are for him, you will fetch him a good price when it's time." Of course there it was. All I was an object for my father. His most prized possession when it came to my body. Yet he didn't hold back when it came to almost mutilating it.

"Doesn't matter. People don't buy damaged goods. Father will be disappointed yet again." I couldn't care less about my father. He was my lord and I a mere prisoner for him.

"I see! You still have the nerve." She smirked.

"I hope to see you how much courage you can hold when Lana is presented to Devon and you are presented to Julio."

I stood there defeated. All I could do was stand as Decon grabbed Lana and all she could do was cower in fear. It's been a week since Shiela almost tortured me to death and even after not breaking my resolve they succeeded in finding Lana. Somewhere in my mind I knew they would happen but I did have a little flicker of hope in my heart which died the day Shiela grabbed Lana by her hair and dragged her inside the mansion.

"Please! Let me go." Lana begged.

"I am gonna have your sorry ass tonight. I hope you are still tight in both your holes." Decon sneered at Lana. "You will beg for mercy but I will give you none when I fuck you , you whore."

His words made me nauseous. Dad sat On his chair sipping his whiskey unfazed by whatever was happening around me. He had demanded my presence so that I could witness his cruelty.

"Jefe! If you don't mind. I would like to leave with my possession." Decon gave him a smirk.

"Not yet. I want Lana around for something else." He eyed me and then drank the remaining whiskey.

What more did he want now ? Lana had been caught and now Decon was going to do god knows what. Wasn't he satisfied? Didn't he know I was suffering ?

Julio Hernandez walked in that very moment. His thick features devoid of any emotions. At six feet tall he had a lean muscular frame. His exposed arms covered in tattoos. He was in his late thirties. He was the leader of the Latin Gang in Chicago as much as I knew. But what was he doing here?

"You are presented to Julio." Sheila's words echoed in my mind. I could feel the panic creeping in slowly as a hint of what my father was about to do crept into my mind.

My father walked in my direction . He came and stood beside me. "Julio. This is my daughter Fayre. Your to be fiancé."

"Fiancé." I mumbled as the realisation hit me.

I looked up at my father. "Dad! Please."

The next moment Julio took hold of my hand. I was too numb to feel anything. Tears clouded my vision as everything fell apart for me.

"No!" Lana screamed "Please don't punish her for me. Please Uncle I beg you." But she was silenced when Decon slapped her. Lana's body crashed on the floor yet that didn't stop her.

"It wasn't Fay's fault. I asked her to help me. I will take all the punishment. Don't do this to her." She was taking my blame.

Decon picked her up and threw her over his arms. "May I take a leave now boss."

My father nodded and Decon walked out of the room. Lana's tear filled eyes and breaking voice disappeared in a matter of seconds.

The feel of a metal against my left ring finger brought me back to my senses. A blue sapphire surrounded by twenty small white diamonds. It was my death sentence.

I looked up at Julio who was busy ogling me from head to toe.

"Dad." I held on to his arms. "Please don't do this. Please! I am your daughter."

His gaze was transfixed on the wall in front of him. My pleadings fell on deaf ears. "Dad! I love you please. I am begging you." But no response.

Tears betrayed me as they ran down my cheeks. I could feel Julio'a grip on my hand tightening as fear and anxiety took there turn in messing up with my mind.

"D...dad."

"Stop this nonsense at once, Fayre." Dad's cold voice echoed through the room.

"Be glad I didn't sell you to some whore house."

.....................

I tried to open my eyes and failed before realizing they were open. Most night skies were the darkest of greys, but this one was pure black. It was like someone shut off the stars and moon. The darkness felt heavy, oppressive, almost supernatural.

With every passing night I inched closer to my execution and tomorrow Julio would take me to Chicago with him where we would wed the day after.

"Be glad I didn't sell you to some whore house."

My fathers word kept echoing in my mind. I was his own flesh and blood yet I had zero importance in his life. I was a liability he was waiting to get rid off.

I closed my eyes and my mom's beautiful face flashed in front of my eyes. Forever young. How bad I wanted you Mom? If only you were alive today you would have protected us? Only if you hadn't given up Mom!

I let my tears slip as I stared at my ceiling. "Don't think so hard, Fay!" Elena turned towards me.

"You haven't slept?" It was half a question.

"How can I sleep knowing tomorrow my sister won't be around! You are all that I and Dante are have." Her voice was breaking.

I couldn't hold it anymore. I hugged her tight in my arms as we both let our tears flow. The sole thought of leaving my babies behind was breaking my heart.

"Stay away from Dad. As far as you can. Until you create any problem he won't do anything. He won't anyways touch Dante. He is his heir. For you Elena. Just lay low." She Sobbed hysterically.

"Yo...you h..ave been a mo..ther to me, Fay. Not just a sister." She managed to speak between her sobs. "How do I and Dante live without you ?"

I closed my eyes breathing as if it was my last night alive. "Don't worry. I will ask Julio to let you visit." I lied.

" You sure Anna. You will?" She stopped crying.

How guilty I felt lying to my sister but I had no other choice. My future was uncertain and the last thing I wanted was for her to feel as tortured as I felt.

"Yes, I will."

...............

In the beginning, it's been said, that the Earth was without form and void, and a darkness lay upon it. And since, such a darkness had never been seen by mortal man. Until now.

I stood on the porch silently as the servants carried my belongings out. Dante and Elena held on to me as they cried their hearts out. I stood their holding them one last time. They were my heart and soul and separating from them was shattering me inside.

Dad yanked Dante away from me. "Men don't fucking cry. Stop at this instance." He gave Dante a death glare. Somehow I thought maybe my father loved Dante but all he saw was a future Jefe and a Jefe had no place for weaknesses.

"Elena! do I have to yank you now ?" His stren gaze transfixed on Elena.

Elena quivered as she let me go. She went and stood beside Dante. Julio grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the car. The last image of my siblings crying silent tears etched in my mind.

Julio's mother showed me to my room which I was to stay in for the night. I would be bound to share a room with him after our wedding tomorrow. Only the thought of it sent shivers down my spine.

The next moment Julio entered my room, his eyes the exact replica of the devil's itself. Before I could register what was happening he yanked me forward his lips crashing on mine, the smell of alcohol and cigar filling my nostrils.

Sickness washed over me and I stood frozen then and there. "You are so beautiful." He spoke his voice laced with lust. "I am gonna fuck you tonight and then again tomorrow. I would have fucked you the day I met you itself."

Bike rose up to my throat. I couldn't move, as if I was paralysed. He gripped my arms as his mouth pressed against mine and he thrust his tongue past my lips. I tried really hard to shove him off me but he tightened his arms around my waist pulling me even more closer crashing me against his chest.

God! Save me. I kept praying desperately hopping for a miracle. I didn't want this at all. His touch was nasty, like a slithering snake all over my body. I gathered all my power and pushed him away grasping for air.

"Please! Let me go." I took a step back. I needed to get away, out of this room , out of this house. I needed to get away from this devil who was ready To pounce at me any moment.

Julio's features hardened. His face was filled with hunger and lust. He grabbed my hand and I winced in pain. "I am going to fuck you like the way I want. I will fucking plunge my cock inside your tight little virgin pussy. I don't care if you fucking don't want it."

Julio pushed me backward and I fell on the bed. I tried to escaped but I failed. Julio trapped me on the bed. He tried to kiss me but I turned my face and his lips met my cheek. He forced me to look at him, my jaw hurting under his grip. His eyes narrowed into slits and I braced myself for what was coming.

Julio dragged me into his room, all beaten, bruised and bloodied. A lethal smile flashed on his face as her dragged me by my hair.

My last flicker of hope for a Miracle was gone as I kept falling into a dark abyss.

He threw me on his bed and yanked my hair again so that he could see my face. "You are a fucking whore. I paid your father so much money so that I could make you mine. You are a beauty but indeed a stubborn one. But don't worry! I will break you enough."

My fate was sealed forever. A new feeling of utmost fear renewed inside my mind. His rough hand squeezed my inner thigh. I tried to get away from him but I felt another metal against my ankle. Julio had already chained my ankle trapping me.

"I don't have the whole fucking night." He gritted in frustration and grabbed one of my breasts. I screamed in pain as tears stung my eyes blurring my vision. He pinched my nipple and then bit it real hard. I screamed again.

He rose on his knees and slapped me with all his force. "I will put that mouth of yours in a good use. You fucking get this blowjob right."

Julio fisted my hair dragging me in a kneeling Position. He thrusted his cock inside my mouth and I had the severe urge to throw up.

When he was satisfied he pushed me back on the bed. Oh god ! He was going to rape me. He didn't care at all. It was my fate.

His hand traveled up to my knee, then up to my thigh and then the edge of my panties. I pushed him off with all my strength and somehow he fell down.

"Puta." He cursed. I leaped of the bed ready to run for the door only to fall on my face. I was chained.

He straightened me up and positioned me on all fours as his erection dug into my butt. He ripped off my top and skirt. His hands kneaded my breast harder and I winced in pain. Tears burned my eyes.

He tore off the remnant of my underwear. "Oh look at you. So beautiful." I had faced some of the unspeakable tortures and yet her I was on the verge of being raped when all of these tortured paled in comparison to it. I was dying inside.

The door burst open as Julio jerked away and I took advantage of the situation and pushed myself back towards the bed resting my head against it.

A formidable figure walked inside and Julio shrank back in fear. The sound of a gunshot pierced my ear and I held both my palms on them in the hopes to stop the panic attack.

"Monster."

Another gunshot. I tried hard to not make any sound but a little squeak escaped my mouth. I clasped my mouth with my hand. My body was shaking. I could my self falling into a Never ending pit.

All I could feel was panic. All I could remember was my father's 1911 Commander handgun in a pool of blood. My mother's cold skin. All her warmth gone. The life sucked out of her by the handgun.

Another Gunshot and everything fell silent. I looked at Julio whose lifeless body was on the floor. I could feel a sense of relief flooding my mind. But then the blood started to ooze out. My head was reeling. Even though Julio was dead I would soon land in the hands of another monster. Soon I started to loose my consciousness. The last thing I remember is anothe gunshot. Maybe this is how I was supposed to die.

Adrian

The little squeak caught my attention. Near the bed. Her body was shaking. She was with Julio then why wasn't she used to this. The shinning metal around her ankle caught my attention and then as my eyes went up I realised she was naked. In another scenario I would be turned on but seeing the cuts and bruises on her body I felt remorse.

Cielo shot Julio right in his head. Bastard! He deserved it. He had dared to betray me and death was all he deserved. No hearing just death served to him as his sentence. That's how things worked for us. Anything but betrayal.

That girl! My mind raced back to her. She had passed out. All of this must have scared her to death. Cielo emptied another bullet into Julio's head and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. I grabbed the key on the bedside table and fortunately it unlocked the metal bindings. I picked her up in my arms and that's when i got a closer look at her face. Angelic! Her porcelain skin was covered with bruises while her beautiful pink lips were Swollen with small cuts on them. She had suffered a lot.

"Where are you taking here?" Cielo asked confused.

I ignored his look. I don't know why I said what I said but that's all that made sense to me at that moment. "She needs me"

From the moment I saw her crouched in the corner with fear I just knew I couldn't leave her behind. I laid her down on my bed and and dressed her in a spare shirt of mine.

I pushed a couple of strands of her soft black hair Covering her face. Her porcelain skin showed a hint of her pink undertone and her cheeks were stained with tears. Even in such a stated she was a beauty to behold. It sent something stirring inside of me. I got out of the bed. She was asleep now.

"Beautiful."

...............

Fayre

I had a splitting headache forming when i woke up. But to my surprise it wasn't the cold hard ground I was expecting but a soft mattress. I jerked up from the bed and found my self covered in a loose yet perfectly tailored white shirt.

I looked around. I was in a huge bedroom. The walls were all a shade of black and white, completely monotonous. The curtains were pushed aside revealing huge windows which also had door in the middle leading to a huge balcony beyond them.

Two black leather seats were placed with a small centre table. The bed I was currently sitting on was a huge king size one with a black cushiony leather covered headboard. On the other side was door that lead to maybe the bathroom and the walk-in closet was just beside that. But who the hell brought me here ?

Memories of what happened the night before flashed in my head. Julio's lifeless body on the floor. But the men that barged in that night may have killed Julio for good but they were no less than monsters. They were just like every one around me. Fighting for flesh and blood.

A shiver ran down my spine. Now was under another monster, one I knew nothing about and I was clearly unsure what waited for me in the future. I pulled my knees closer to my chest as the anticipation started building. I could feel my body shiver as panic settled in my heart.

My life was never mine for the beginning. I was born and raised in the mafia where women were nothing but objects. Being the leaders daughter did no good for me.

"Mother." I shook her lifeless body as my body trembled.

"Please! Ma. Wake up."

Tears ran down my cheeks as dread settled in my heart. The body that gave me warmth was stone cold now. I could feel her blood soaking my dress. I shook her hand desperately hoping the warmth would return but it didn't.

"Ma. Do..not leave me." I mumbled as my vision got clouded.

"Ma."

The warmth I felt on my cheek. It wasn't familiar but I had been longing it for a quiet a while now. I closed my eyes absorbing it all in. I might lose it any second now.

"Are you okay !?" A deep masculine voice nudged into my head.

I opened my eyes. A pair of hazel orbs stared back at me. It belonged to the man holding me captive, a monster. But yet they held a certain amount of care that was foreign to me. I couldn't stop staring at them.

His hand caressed my cheek as he stared down into my eyes and I was scared he would see my soul and realise how wounded I was. I scurried back against the bed away from his touch. I was cold again but I had to get away.

"Don't be scared. I won't hurt you." He promised.

His jet black hair was messed up, corse stubble grazing his jaw. All his features were Sharp and perfect as if designed by the gods themselves. Yet I was utterly attracted to his eyes. They defied his Exterior.

"I am not gonna hurt you." He assured me.

I didn't want to believe him but his eyes held his sincerity. Yet I did. I believed him. I gave him a nod.

"What's your name?"

"Fayre."

"Fayre" He repeated pronouncing it with care. Care I wasn't familiar with. Everything about him was foreign to me yet I believed it.

"How did you end up with Julio ?" He took my hand in his examining the bruise on my wrist. I took a deep breath. He gently ran his thumb against the border of my bruise. A faint speck of pain ran its course but it was nothing compared to all I had endured.

"My Father. He promised me to Julio. It was his way of Punishing me." He kept tracing my bruise repeatedly as I spoke.

"Your father?" He gave me a questioning look.

Little did I know the name would change his demeanour. "Antonio Vargas."

His grip on my wrist tightened as a new found Panic rose in my heart. His gaze fixated on me and now anger flared up in those orbs. I could feel my heart beat fasten as the pain in my wrist increased.

"Pl..ease! Y...ou are hurting me." I managed to mumble as tears threatened my eyes.

The moment his hand dropped my wrist I pushed my self back as far as possible unfortunately colliding with the headboard soon. I pulled my knees closer to my chest in a futile attempt to protect myself From him. He stared down at me the anger never leaving his eyes.

I was wrong. Wrong to believe that he wouldn't hurt me. After all he was just another monster. A monster that could kill without mercy. I was just a weakling and he wouldn't hesitate in breaking my neck.

He ran his hand through his hair and turned around and strode out of the room. At least I was safe for the time being. But that wasn't going to last any longer. If I wanted to live I had to escape. I had to do it this time.

Adrian

Antonio Vargas. I could never forget that name. The man I was waiting to capture and torture. He was the reason I lost everything.

He dared to attack me when I was the weakest . He took the one person I cared so deeply for. I loved beyond hope. My Father. I lost a part of me the day he lay in my arms bleeding and I was helpless. I failed as a Padrone that day.

Two years searching for that man and now when I had the lead in front me I was failing again. Ten seconds. All it would take was ten seconds to extract the information from her. But i couldn't bring myself to think about it.

She was just a victim. I could never inflict more pain on her. "God" I swear I could rip off the hair from my head at that moment. She was just an innocent soul. I could never bring myself to do anything to her just for the sake of revenge.

I slammed my fist hard against the wall. But it did nothing to settle the storm raising inside of me. I was so close yet so far from that one thing I desperately wanted. To have Antonio's neck in my grip and see the raw fear in his eyes. Even death would be a luxury for him when I do so.

Fayre.

My thoughts ran to her. All I could think of were her wide innocent blue eyes and the fear evident in them. One moment I gave her my word against hurting her and the next moment I went back on it.

FUCK! I slammed my fist yet again in the wall. Her beautiful face was pale with terror flooding her mind. I was familiar with it. I would beam with pride if it was different situation. But all I could do was curse myself for causing her agony.

I needed her to trust me. I needed to get a hold on my anger. I would protect her no matter what.