Sold For Cruel Mafia's Obsession

GRACIEL'S POV.

BRAK!

"Hey, come on, we're having fun tonight!"

This was a nightmare.

My body was pushed and dropped in front of the high-class men watching me from the sofa of this VVIP room. They were giggling, brandishing glasses of alcohol, and the sound of clinking glasses could be heard.

Behind me, Mr. Ken-the damn man who had suddenly kidnapped me, forcibly lifted one of my arms. He forced my body to stand up as if he didn't care if I groaned in pain.

"Look I brought a very beautiful girl to perform tonight!" said Mr. Ken, showing me off like a trophy.

I looked at them sharply and disgustedly. My hair was already a mess after my rebellion moments ago. My body was limp.

I really hated the men watching me now. The upper-class men, who I recognized as having big businesses and great wealth, didn't care about my suffering.

"Let go of my hand," I said in a firm voice to Mr. Ken.

I shifted my gaze to Mr. Ken, and I saw that he was beginning to give me a furious look.

"What?" asked Mr. Ken, smiling sarcastically. "Your father owes me money, and he told me to take you for my business."

"You have no right to use me as a comfort woman in this club!" I raised my voice.

SLAP!

Mr. Ken slapped me into silence in the VVIP karaoke room.

They stopped laughing, but they did nothing to help me.

I held my hot cheeks. My heartbeat was pumping fast as emotions choked my chest. For a split second my body couldn't move.

"Hey, do you realize who you are? You have no right to fight back!" Mr. Ken snapped right next to my ear.

I flinched slightly in surprise, and I ventured to stare at Mr. Ken.

This man was like a wild animal ready to pounce on me at any moment. He was looking down on me, I was well aware of that. As if I was a worthless girl.

"You're just the daughter of a mafia lackey. Why do you act like you can boss me around?"

The next second Mr. Ken grabbed the back of my hair, making my head snap up automatically. I was forced to turn my gaze toward the sickening VVIP men.

"Why are you treating me like this?" I asked while enduring the pain in my head.

Mr. Ken laughed sarcastically. "Of course it's because you were sold to us by your father."

After Mr. Ken said that, my body was forcibly pulled towards the sofa. The VIP men then cheered along with the accompanying karaoke ladies.

"This woman is so tempting!" One of the VIP men teased me.

I looked disgustedly at the VIP guy who said that. However, I just didn't move. My energy felt pretty depleted after trying to protect myself.

"Hey, is this the torture chamber?"

A baritone voice distracted me and stopped the cheering. A man with two bodyguards emerged from the door of the VIP Suite karaoke room. Although it was dim, I could see that his sharp black eyes exuded a murderous aura.

"Oh my. I wanted to enjoy the entertainment here, but instead I witnessed this kind of torture," he said.

My body stiffened for a moment.

I watched the man as he stepped inside. During the walk, the man's eyes didn't take their intense gaze off me. For no apparent reason, I felt that the man knew me-this was something strange, I had never even met him.

"Mr. Carlos, look at the woman I brought!" Mr. Ken said vigorously, then he pulled my body forcefully.

My body walked over to the man named Carlos, then Mr. Ken grabbed my chin from behind.

"Look at her beautiful face! She'll be performing as an entertainer tonight," Mr. Ken continued, his tone whispering at the end of the sentence.

Carlos didn't say anything. He kept his eyes on me-and at this close range, my heart was pounding as I realized his intimidating aura. My blood rushed, it was a strange foreign feeling.

I didn't move at all, but I deliberately begged for help from him through my gaze.

"What are you going to do to her?" asked Carlos.

"Of course... sell it," Mr. Ken said with a grinning smile.

I grimaced in panic, then shook my head. "No, please let me go. I shouldn't be here!"

Mr. Ken hissed in exasperation as he spontaneously covered my mouth.

"Shut up, bitch! Stop whining! That sucks!"

I tried to make Carlos yield to my plea. As I was talking behind Mr. Ken's hand that was covering my mouth, Carlos pushed Mr. Ken's hand away.

One of Carlos' hands grabbed my chin, he leaned closer, watching some spots on my face intensely.

"Why did you make her pretty face so battered?" Carlos asked, then gave Mr. Ken a sharp look.

"It's because she won't stop fighting me," Mr. Ken replied awkwardly.

Carlos gave Mr. Ken a threatening look. I didn't understand why Carlos looked furious.

"I didn't tell you to torture him, Mr. Ken. Do you want me to treat you like this?" Carlos asked.

I noticed Mr. Ken became more nervous after Carlos said that. The next second, I felt Mr. Ken's grip loosen.

Who was this man named Carlos to make Mr. Ken flinch?

"Please let me go," I said to Carlos, pleading.

Carlos ignored my words. Indifferently, he walked away after taking his hand away from my face and turned around to leave the room.

Before Carlos walked out the door, he said, "I can't enjoy anything in this room. Give me a good show later."

Suddenly I glared. Even though my mouth was closed and my voice muffled, I forced myself to scream. My body was writhing to get away from Mr. Ken.

I should get a chance to be free from here. I can't be imprisoned here!

"SHUT UP, BITCH!"

***

"I'll give you $5,000,000!"

"I can pay $20,000,000 for that woman!"

"Get rid of them all. I can pay the high price of $35,000,000 to take her!"

I fell to my knees clutching the bars of the cage that confined me. In front of all these VIPs and club-goers, I held the tightness in my chest.

An hour passed. I was beginning to lose my hope of ever getting free from this place.

There was no one who could save me, nor was I expecting my father to come cancel the agreement with Mr. Ken.

More and more, my body was becoming sluggish. I hadn't been given a chance to drink or eat since earlier. I looked down knowing my fate would be at the end of a stretcher if someone among the bastard VIP men bought me.

All I could do was beg someone to take me away from this cursed place. I don't want to live with them, I know my life will be even worse if I'm with them.

'Someone get me out of this place.'

"I'll pay $5,000,000,000!"

From among the VIPs and club-goers, a familiar baritone voice rang out. My heart briefly stopped beating. When I looked up, I realized Carlos-the man who met me in the VIP room a few hours ago-was walking towards the stage where I was.

"CARLOS! WOW, ARE YOU GOING TO BUY THIS WOMAN?!"

I was dumbfounded as the man stepped closer to me. Our gazes met, and I felt my life find hope of release.

After arriving next to the large cage that confined me, Carlos squatted down, holding the bars and bringing his face close to the bars.

That's when I immediately dragged my body closer to the bars. I knew this man was my only hope to be free from the VIP bastards.

"Please, I beg you, let me go," I said in a trembling voice. My throat was tight with the fear that was choking me.

Carlos was silent. His eyes were cold, showing no empathy or sign that he was melting for me.

"Please..." I said again, more softly, in a whisper. Like someone who no longer had any hope. "I don't want them to take me away. They're all bastard men. My life will be so messed up-"

"Then what makes you sure I'm not as much of an asshole as they are?" Carlos cut me off.

My heart sank a little after hearing Carlos' answer. I became more nervous and a sudden feeling of doubt came over me, but I had no other choice.

"At least I'm free from this place, I want to run away from all of them," I replied.

Carlos grinned faintly.

A grin that made me feel a bad omen.

"You're Graciel, right?" Carlos asked.

I was taken aback. How did he know my name?

"Who are you? How did you know my name?" I asked him urgently.

As if ignoring my question, Carlos then said again, "I was going to release you."

After that, Carlos stood up and I watched as he walked over to Mr. Ken. Carlos faced everyone, took the microphone from Mr. Ken's hand, and he said something.

"No one can take this woman away-I will take her with me."

GRACIEL'S POV.

"Since I have freed you, you must sign an agreement to marry me."

Thinking that my life had been saved from death was wrong.

After releasing me, in the car, Carlos thrust a paper onto my lap. I glanced at the paper and read the title that made me grimace.

[MARRIAGE CONTRACT AGREEMENT]

"Wait. What do you mean you're giving me a marriage contract?" I asked with a fierce look.

Carlos casually leaned back, without looking at me, and replied, "You won't be able to go home, Graciel. Your father sold you to me."

My eyebrows furrowed even more. My heartbeat seemed to stop beating for a few seconds. I was dumbfounded, feeling that Carlos' words were unbelievable.

"No, that's highly unlikely. Who are you? Do you know my father?" I asked.

Carlos turned his gaze to me, flinched for a moment, and slowly brought his lips together in a lopsided smile. He laughed a little-it sounded dismissive to me.

"You think I'm going to set you free without anything in return? Of course I know your father," Carlos replied haughtily.

My frown automatically deepened as I watched Carlos in disbelief. I shook my head, then laughed sarcastically awkwardly.

"How could you know my father? After all, my father doesn't make deals with men like you," I snapped.

"Your life depends on men like me, Graciel. You don't believe that I know Mr. Javier?" Carlos asked.

I faded my expression after hearing Carlos mention my father's name.

Wait. This man really knows my father?

All this time, I've known almost every mafia group my father worked with. But I never found out about Carlos at all.

While I was silent, Carlos pressed the LED screen in the center of the passenger and driver's seat. On the screen then appeared a photo showing the figure of my father with a strange man.

"Your father was taken by Matteo Denaro, the boss of one of the biggest cartels, right when you were taken away to be sold at the club," Carlos explained.

I flinch. Part of me still couldn't believe Carlos's explanation. As I watched the LED screen, I could only imagine that my father was in a difficult situation without saying anything to me.

Why are you being held captive by that mafia group? What did my father do wrong?

"How could..." I was speechless, my heart beating more and more uncomfortably.

"What did he do to get them to lock him up?" I asked in a sluggish tone.

"He's a traitor. You must know that Mr. Javier is a mafia lackey. He was caught helping the enemy cartel by leaking business strategy information," Carlos replied.

I was becoming increasingly speechless. My body crumpled at the thought of what my father was going through.

This wasn't the first time my father had been held captive. I knew that he had been released many times, but this time I had my doubts.

I had heard about Matteo Denaro. That man was the God father of the Silfiadro cartel, the leader of all mafia clan leaders.

"Ah, your father is a bastard. He owed me $50,000,000, and when I went to him, he said he couldn't pay and sold you as collateral," Carlos continued.

My heart suddenly throbbed with pain as I heard Carlos' call for my father.

"Don't call my father an asshole," I snapped. "I know he must be in a tough spot. He's been struggling-"

I stopped talking when Carlo laughed briefly, his tone dismissive of me.

"Yes, of course you're going to defend your father. You and your father are worth nothing."

Suddenly my hand flew up to slap Carlos. But Carlos had already caught my hand.

"Don't talk nonsense. I don't want to deal with you, Mr. Carlos. Let me go now, I want to see my father," I said firmly.

I slowly felt Carlos' grip tighten. I winced, trying to endure the pain in my skin. When I tried to jerk my hand away, Carlos didn't let go.

"Mr. Javier has signed the marriage contract between you and me," Carlos said with emphasis.

"He's already handed you over to me, Graciel. There's no reason for you to run away," Carlos continued.

"You forced him to, didn't you?" I pointed at Carlos and gave him a sharp look.

Carlos shifted his gaze to me, then suddenly leaned closer. One of his other hands gripped the driver's seat, locking me between his restraints.

My body jerked into the corner of the seat, while Carlos placed one of my hands on his chest without releasing the grip.

Our faces were now only two inches apart. So close that I could feel Carlos' breath. My blood rushed as our eyes met in closer proximity.

I could clearly see Carlos' jet-black eyes so clear and dark. My whole body was paralyzed as his intimidating aura locked down my movements.

"You already belong to me. I won't let you go easily, Graciel. Whatever the reason."

Silence fell between us for a few seconds. My throat constricted as my goosebumps bristled. When Carlos said that, I suddenly felt like my life was in danger again.

"But it doesn't matter if you insist on leaving. I'll look for you, no matter where, Graciel."

Why did his tone sound even more terrifying?

I should be fighting him right now. But I didn't understand why my body was just frozen and silent.

"If you comply with my request, I can guarantee your life, Graciel. Your wealth, position, and security."

"I just need to free my father, you bastard," I said in a voice that was spontaneously irritated. I almost spat in his face.

Instead, Carlos widened his lopsided smile upon hearing my words.

"I can give you that too, Graciel," Carlos replied, pausing for a moment.

"I need you as my bride so that the legacy and position of clan leader will be mine. I also want to destroy Matteo, the man who held your father captive. The only way is for me to have more power. Are not our goals the same, Graciel?"

I was suddenly indecisive. The offer Carlos made was tempting. On the other hand, I didn't want to get involved with the mafia-to me, they were no different than scumbag VVIP men.

"I can't trust you completely. What is the proof that you can free my father?"

"Only if you become my partner, I will do everything for you."

"What if you break your promise?" I asked, deliberately challenging him.

Carlos extended one of his hands towards my chin, then gave it a slight grip.

"You could kill me," he said. "Besides, you won't be able to save your father alone, Graciel. Besides, an agreement is an agreement."

I regretted my life having to get involved with a man like Carlos.

***

"The flight to California is on schedule, Mr. Carlos. Your Air Force One is ready for takeoff in fifteen minutes."

I arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In the end, I had no choice but to agree to Carlos' offer. Even now, I was still surrounded by doubts and worries as I followed Carlos.

I never expected my life to end up involved with Carlos.

All this time, almost all of my life had been spent running away to avoid getting involved in my father's world. Look at it now, I almost thought that I was free and could run away again, but instead I was trapped in an agreement with Carlos.

Damn fate!

"I read the doubt on your face very clearly, Graciel."

I gasped after hearing Carlos' voice. As soon as I came to my senses, Carlos was already looking at me very intensely. There was a faint smirk, which... I couldn't understand if it was mockery or something else.

"I don't think you're completely sure of your decision. If you want, there's still a chance for you to leave now."

I hadn't had time to say anything when Carlos suddenly approached me. He didn't let go of his sharp eyes, then he lifted my chin.

"But one step away from me, and you're dead, Graciel."

GRACIEL'S POV.

[CALIFORNIA CITY, GENOVASE CLAN FAMILY'S MANSION]

"Damian, this is Graciel, the woman who will marry me."

The loud clinking sound of a fork falling onto a plate startled me. From one of the chairs, the man who looked the most dominant, suddenly stood up. His face was burning in anger.

"Carlos, why did you bring her here?"

Carlos then walked up to me and spread his arms low just as the man walked up to me.

"Damian, he's different, he won't make mistakes like in the past," Carlos replied in a low voice, but I could still hear him.

My eyebrows furrowed in surprise after hearing Carlos' words.

What did he mean by past mistakes?

Did he mean that I was different?

I hadn't even met this family in my 27 years of life. Of course I didn't have any history in the past, let alone do anything wrong to them.

The man, Damian, looked at me through his killer eyes. I wasn't quite sure, but Damian looked as if he held bad memories-and my arrival triggered those memories.

I felt the goosebumps all over my body bristle. For some reason, I immediately got the feeling that they would resent my arrival for a long time.

"Damian, calm yourself," Carlos said as he slowly backed Damian's shoulders.

"You just came to California and already made the bad decision to bring him here?" asked Damian, his sharp gaze shifting to Carlos.

"Carlos, haven't you learned from your previous mistakes? You brought a nightmare back to this mansion!" snapped the other man who had already stood up, looking at me hatefully.

"Leo, I told you she's a different person!" Carlos raised his tone.

There was silence for a while.

I felt a strong tension between them. While from behind Carlos, I noticed Carlos' jaw hardening and his teeth gnashing in exasperation.

I didn't understand what Carlos' words meant. The only thing I realized was that they all wanted to get rid of me.

"If you all hate my coming, I'll leave this place," I said in the silence.

Carlos immediately turned to look at me fiercely.

"What are you saying? You're not leaving here until I tell you to," Carlos said with emphasis.

"Can't you see they hate me for coming? Then you want me to stay-"

"Your business is with me, Graciel, not them. A treaty is a treaty. It won't be broken by anyone or anything," Carlos cut in as he took a step closer to me.

I spontaneously stepped back, surprised at Carlos's strengthening aura of intimidation.

"Now you go to your room," Carlos said firmly, then turned to someone else. "Sean, take her to my room. She'll be staying here from now on."

"CARLOS!" Damian snapped loudly, I gasped in surprise.

Damian grabbed Carlos by the collar of his shirt, his chin up, and a glint in his eye. Damian looked like he wanted to kill Carlos on the spot.

Carlos didn't seem fazed at all.

I wanted to listen to more of their conversation. But someone was already pulling my arm to leave.

The last thing - and faintest - I could hear was Damian's ambiguous words.

"Why did you allow a traitor among us?"

***

"Why would your family call me a traitor?"

I confronted Carlos when he finally entered our room. Ever since hearing Damian's words, I couldn't stop thinking about why Damian called me a traitor.

"You don't have to think about that," Carlos said, simply walking past me.

"Hey, at least you gave me an explanation, Carlos. I never met your family, or had anything to do with any of you. So, why am I being called a traitor?"

Carlos paused, then turned around to face me.

"You can't know everything in this family, including about me, Graciel," Carlos replied in a fierce tone.

"Your job is to be my wife until I get the position as clan leader, and you free your father," Carlos continued.

I laughed sarcastically. "How can I stay here when your whole family hates me?"

"What do you want, then? Do you want to escape our agreement? You can't do whatever you want."

I let out a rough breath and stepped back slowly. I was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. There was something off about Carlos's family-I could clearly see that.

Why did Carlos sound like he was trying so hard to hide something?