Sold For Millions to the Mafia

Bella Charles woke up to the sharp ring of the alarm on her bedside stool, eyes wide open, she lay, still sweating profusely with eyes full of tears, she must have been crying in her sleep. She realized she was holding onto her bed sheets too tightly,

"Freaking nightmares'' she murmured.

This occurring nightmare she'd had for ten long years was still so unsettling, only it wasn't just a nightmare it had actually happened. At seventeen she had witnessed her father being murdered in front of her, he lay there on the ground in a pool of his own blood, a bullet in his head, that left his head in a little split that showed a little bit of brain, blood running down his face and his eyes still open looking at her so lifeless and hopeless as she was being dragged away. Bella sat up, brought her knees to her chest and hugged herself, the memory fresh and hurting like it had happened yesterday.

"I miss you Pa, and I miss Mum and my sister so much. I will make sure he gets his karma twice as much"

she let the tears fall, it was her therapy, and crying her heart out helped her function properly. She brought out her diary beneath her pillow and opened the last few pages where the word 'Drago' was written repeatedly all over the pages. She stared at it for a while.

"Die, die, die, you freaking son of the devil" she cursed, hitting the page of the book with her hand.

"Burn in hell devil" she cursed under her breath, swearing her day for revenge would come. She closed the book and stood from the bed to get ready for her appointment for the evening.

The cold evening breeze only reminded Bella of her life as she knocked on the door of the house of her client, she wore a black fur jacket to keep out the cold as well as cover up her unnecessarily revealing outfit. The door opened and a huge man with a bald head appeared before her.

"How can I help you?" He asked. It was her first time with this client but she had seen a picture of him so she knew it wasn't this huge man, he was a lanky looking man in his early forties popularly known as the transporter.

"This is one funny-looking fellow," she said under her breath.

" I'm here to see Hugo," she said with a smile, then walked in when the man left the doorway.

Bella walked in observing the house calmly, it wasn't as big inside as it looked outside, and there were men all over about six of them sat in the living room, some smoked, some counted sealed packages into a bigger bag.

"Go upstairs," the man who answered the door said.

"Ohh okay thank you"Bella said turning to him she nodded her thanks before going up the stairs where she found additional four men moving around with guns.

One of them pointed to the last room.

"the last room," he said as he pointed in the direction.

"Thank you" Bella responded then followed. Knocking twice she let herself in. It was a big messy master's bedroom, with clothes and plates cluttered around.

"What a mess, how do people live in such a pigsty?" She murmured to herself, she saw the stacked-up package in the open dresser, and halfway across the room, she heard the spattering water of the shower and Hugo's humming.

"Ohh in the shower now, nice!" she whispered, seizing the opportunity she ran to the desk at the end of the room, she frantically looked around before searching the tables, then the drawers, she finally found it, the log book.

She flipped hurriedly to the middle and she found it, 11 pm tomorrow, Manhattan port, code: 55517, title: cold gold. She heard the shower go off and she hurriedly placed the book back in the drawer, ripping it a little.

"Shit! Shit careful Bella Charles!" She cursed under her breath then closed the drawer as quietly as she could, she hurriedly walked to one of the two single chairs in front of the bed cursing as her heels made more noise than she thought they could, she sat down, dropped her small handbag on the table in front of her then crossed her legs trying to look calm and composed, and forty seconds later Hugo came into the room naked with a towel on his wet hair.

"Santa Maria!" He exclaimed, jumping a little at the unexpected sight of her.

"I take it you were really expecting me" Bella said sarcastically with a smile, eyeing him head to toe letting her eyes linger on his groin.

"Not bad at all" she said, her eyes still feasting on the sight of his groin, she smiled at him when she finally raised her eyes to him.

"How long have you been here?" He asked walking to the dressing room unbothered by her bold stare.

"I just got here," she answered, getting up to remove her fur jacket.

A few minutes later he came out of the dresser wearing just trousers, he walked to the home theatre and turned it on, a song Bella wasn't familiar with came on, and he increased the volume a little higher, then went ahead to pour himself a half glass of Bombay sapphire that stood on the drawer beside his bed before coming to sit on the second chair opposite her.

"Come," he said, sounding more like a calm command as he took sips from the glass. Bella stood and walked to him swinging her hips seductively, he placed his hands in between her thighs, then moved upward till he got to her genital then he pinched her.

"Ouchhh, careful there" Bella warned trying to maintain her smile

"Did Lorenzo tell you how I like it huh? My taste is huuhh very peculiar" he said sniffing in between her legs through her short dress before looking up at her with a smile.

Bella didn't like the play out so far but she managed to smile back at him, it reminded her of 'Wild House' the birthplace of horror for her, where she had serviced men with so-called peculiar tastes, men who often abused women or like women abusing them for pleasure.

"Dance! Baby dance" Hugo ordered much to Bella's irritation. She did, swinging her hips side to side, twisting and whining her body the way she knew how, she giggled when she saw the sight pleased him.

"I hope this ends sooner or I will lose my mind, fuck!" She murmured to herself. He waved his hand signalling for her to take off her clothes, and she did, gently, one shoulder strap after another then let it fall to the floor, exposing her bare plum breast to his eyes, still dancing as she reached for her panties and slid out of it.

"Beautiful!" He exclaimed, laughing as he looked at her head to toe. He stood, going over the home theatre, he increased the volume some more, and Bella began to fear for herself.

He approached her with a smiling face, grabbed her left breast and began to suckle on it violently. Bella managed a terrified laugh but didn't expect what came next.

A slap landed on the left side of her face without warning, blinding her left eye temporarily and sending a deafening ring to her ears, she fell to the ground a terrified scoff escaping her lips and surprised eyes looked up at him. Hugo pulled her back up, grabbing her ass, kissing her neck and breast hurriedly like an animal starved of food, he grabbed the back of her head and then landed another slap on the same side as before. Bella screamed, swearing...

"Shit! Fuck! What the hell Hugo!" She cursed but the man wasn't moved by her reaction.

"This man is going to render me deaf as well as blind at this rate," she thought to herself.

"Should I fight him? No, I do not stand a chance, this is his territory, he could kill me" she contemplated in her head.

"I shouldn't have come, shouldn't have volunteered," she thought to herself, she had come because Hugo was transporting Drago's package and she wanted to be a helping hand in sabotaging the packages, she'd insisted she would take on this mission, she knew they were worth millions of dollars and it will be a painful loss for Drago.

Hugo pulled her again this time he took her to the bed and then shoved her onto it so her body was on the bed while she knelt on the floor.

"So beautiful," he said rubbing on her buttocks, he then bent over and kissed it before sending a hard smack onto it. This time Bella cried out in pain.

"Please stop" she begged knowing she couldn't escape him, not with his men lined up outside the door.

"Ohh I like it when you beg, you know what I like, nasty girl," he said, smacking her even more.

"Enough please" Bella pleaded, she felt his sweat drip on her back before he flipped her over onto her back and began to choke her.

Bella couldn't understand what was happening, had she been caught spying? Why was he trying to kill her?

She tapped violently at his hand, struggling as she twisted and turned beneath him fighting to push him off of her, she felt herself choke and her vision gradually began to blur, she felt another resounding hit to the head and everything went blank.

Bella sat in front of the mirror assessing the injury done to her face, it stung whenever she tried to apply powder to conceal it.

"Monsters and psychopaths now walk freely like it's normal huh?" she said to her reflection.

"Ouch! Fuck, fuck, fuck son of a bitch" she cursed trying to apply her makeup. Hugo was a monster, he was a necrophilia, knocking her out and having sex with her motionless body; she had barely managed to return home that morning after waking up in so much pain.

"How could he do this horrible thing to this pretty face, what a piece of shit."

She felt weak and in pain so she sat there feeling terrible and violated.

"I would have played dead if he wanted me to, he didn't have to knock me senseless, I should report him for this" she kept talking to herself.

"I ought to kill Lorenzo too for this"

Her father would turn in his grave seeing the kind of life she's been living, he had always been a proud man of his two daughters, saying they had the brightest future there is in his family.

"So much for a bright future" Bella murmured under her breath, tears stinging her eyes.

"I'm sorry papa, I'm so sorry it turned out this way" she said, letting the tears fall.

Ten and half years ago, she had been diagnosed with a severe kidney problem that left her in the hospital. She'd wished she would just die, seeing the pain and suffering it caused her family who were barely getting by.

Her father had tried everything, sold his tractor and even his little farm back in Mississippi State where home was, but it wasn't enough to get her to surgery, her younger sister who was fourteen at the time was a perfect match and had agreed to be her donor.

"Was all the sacrifice for nothing," She asked her reflection. Her father had gone to Drago in frustration against her mother's warning, the mafia lord had agreed to loan her father the money on the condition that he pay the money with its interest in three months, her father had agreed out of desperation not minding the forty per cent monthly interest.

They had done the surgery and everything went well, but her father couldn't raise the money to pay back even after four months and Drago refused to take instalments.

After the fourth month, Drago had come for his money, but when he got nothing he'd ordered they take Bella in replacement, she would work for him till the debt was paid. Her father had pleaded for more time, but Drago wouldn't hear of it, he had begged Drago to take him instead, but Drago saw no use of him, and he began to fight the men that held her, dragging her away, but Drago had pulled a gun on her father just like that, she'd frozen, her mother screaming and running to her father's side was the last she saw of her family.

" Could have ended differently, but you chose to kill him in the presence of his family Drago" she murmured staring at her reflection, she didn't even get to see her younger sister who was safely hidden at the back of the house, and she'd blamed herself for everything that happened so far, she was the genesis of it all, if she hadn't gotten sick, if she'd just died instead... The scene of that day was stuck in her head, as well as the face of Drago.

"Funny how it all changes in the blink of an eye," she thought. She was sold off to Italy a week later, to a place called 'the wild house' where she was always locked in a building with other girls and forced to sleep with different men who abused her, beating her to a pulp, doing weird and bizarre things to girls.

At seventeen they had on a few occasions pumped her system with drugs at night to loosen her up for the men that came, she'd forced herself to loosen up before she became an addict.

After four years of living in such horror, she became used to it, but then they brought in newer girls so they sold them (the old girls) to a man called BigDog who ran a brothel and a strip club in New York. For another three years, she was a stripper, Big Dog wasn't the best of people but he wasn't too greedy, although every client paid to him before spending a night with any of his girls he'd allowed them to keep whatever money they made while stripping and equally gave them a little stipend monthly, and that was when Bella began to save her money for school, she wanted to do one thing her father could be proud of despite living a Godforsaken life. She'd begged BigDog to let her go to school within her first year with him and he did. Two years after her admission into NYU, Captain had come to the strip club and after taking a liking to her saying she was smart and good for business, he had bought her from BigDog.

"God bless the man, amen," she said with a smile.

Not able to touch the bruises she wore a big sun glass and wrapped a shawl around her head covering her face, then she stepped out onto the road and headed for the Captain's office.

Entering Captain's office she saw Lorenzo and in impulsive anger, she charged at him.

"Ella, Ella, Ella let me explain" Lorenzo begged, backing away from angry Bella.

"Ella!" It was the captain's voice and Bella stopped in her chase. She took off her shawl and sunglasses in anger revealing the damage done to her.

"This looks really bad Lorenzo" Captain said, turning to look at Lorenzo who stood at the far side, his hands clapped together in a plea.

"Bad? The man almost killed me, he knocked the living daylight out of me" Bella explained feeling anger build up in her as yesterday's incident came into play.

"He paid well" Lorenzo defended in a high-pitched voice.

"Yeah he paid to kill me you moron" Bella snapped.

"How much? " Captain asked, looking at Lorenzo.

"Five thousand..." Lorenzo replied in good defence.

"Bella takes seventy percent, she needs to go to the hospital, and this should be the last time Lorenzo" Captain ordered before turning to Bella.

If it wasn't the nature of the business Bella swore she would have had Hugo arrested.

"Update Ella, " Captain urged her.

"Package moves 11 pm tonight, package code 55517, they're using the Manhattan route, their disguise is the cold gold trailer " Bella said, going over to sit down and putting her glasses back on.

"Lorenzo" captain called and the other man nodded and then exited the room. Bella observed Captain through her glasses as he searched his drawer for God knows what...

For ten years she hadn't spoken to her family, she was too ashamed of what she'd become, and she preferred to remain dead to them rather than shatter their hearts. This man was the closest to a family she had now, he wasn't perfect but Bella sometimes played, pretending that he was in fact her father.

Back in Italy when she first arrived at the wild house, she'd seen with her eyes as a girl who tried to escape but ran out of luck was fed to big wild dogs that tore her to shreds, they had intentionally let all the girls seen the scene as a warning of what will happen if they tried to escape and it had terrified everyone to the bone so much that no one dared to think the thought, back at Bigdog's club she'd been given the chance to go to school, but she knew better than running away, BigDog was considerate but he was mean when he chose to be, just a little bounty on her head would have sent all bounty hunters in New York after her, these people do not joke with their money. With Captain it was different, she wasn't completely bound but she wasn't free either, even though she knew she meant nothing but money to him she appreciated how he communicated with her, she knew she couldn't outrun him and she didn't intend to, considering she had nowhere else, he had let her have her own place like she'd always wanted, it was a small room but it was her own and had even supported her schooling and was the only one who came to her graduation ceremony.

" Lotus we have information" Captain said over a phone call.

"Do you know him?" Bella asked after he dropped the call.

"No, no one does," Captain replied absentmindedly, opening and closing books in search of something.

"And you trust him enough to sell information?"

"I do not trust anyone Ella, it's pure business, he seems to be too interested in Drago as I am, he tipped me off on the container last month, I'm simply returning the favour," Captain defended.

"I still do not approve, if he is clean he shouldn't be a ghost, it's too suspicious "

"You can sit tonight's operation out go home and take care of yourself "

"But I'm...." Bella began to protest

"Don't argue Ella just go and treat yourself" Captain interjected.

"Alright... see you tomorrow Cap make sure you make him pay" Bella said putting on her shawl she left Captain in his office.

* * * * *

Bella dashed into Captain's office the following day after receiving a call, she forgot to put on her sunglasses so she half-wrapped the shawl around her face.

"What happened?" She asked closing the door behind her, her eyes searched the room, Captain sat at his desk his face in his palm, Lorenzo was pacing back and forth and a man called Eric stood with his hands in his pocket, and Cassandra a lady whom Bella had met when she first arrived at Captain's house half laid on the couch.

"Cap? Sandra, Lorenzo someone say something"

"Lotus double-crossed us, he got to the package before us" Eric answered flatly.

"Shit! Shit! I knew it, a ghost can't be trusted " Bella cursed.

" That's what I said," Cassandra replied, biting on her fingers.

"Double Cross is a strong word, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding" Captain defended

"Cap! " Bella snapped.

"Look I gave him the juice, the plan was to split the profit he was just there ahead of schedule"

"Yeah and forgot to leave behind your half" Bella said sarcastically.

" Have you tried calling him?" Bella asked, getting a bit pissed as to why Captain was still trying to defend the thief called Lotus.

"Unavailable," Lorenzo replied.

"Oh my fucking God!, How do we find a ghost?" Bella exclaimed, falling to the couch beside Cassandra.

A knock sounded at the door and everyone began looking at each other in suspicion, the boys were out so who could it be, so early in the morning after a failed operation Cassandra and Bella both stood up and reached for the guns beneath Captain's office table, then hid it in their dresses, Eric reached for the gun tucked in his trousers at his back, Lorenzo opened the fridge and retrieved a weapon himself.

"Come right in" Captain called out his hands holding a gun placed in the second drawer of his table as he sat up.

A man walked in with three hefty-looking men behind him and Everyone froze. Bella couldn't believe her eyes, even in a thousand years she could never forget that face, no matter what change occurred to him Bella will always remember the face, it has haunted her dreams and bugged her for ten long years leaving her in guilt.

" Haa Captain, we are too old for this, don't you agree?" Drago was saying looking at the head of the walking stick he had come with after which he looked around the room.

"Drago! To what do I owe this pleasantry from King Drago himself" Captain said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

" Let's cut to the chase Cap, first was my container, now my package?" Drago smiled looking around the room the second time as if he would see the package stacked up somewhere in there.

Bella tightened the shawl so that it covered up her face except her eyes as she observed Drago closely, he hadn't changed much, yes age was telling on him, the lines and wrinkles were proof, their eyes met and Bella looked down immediately fearing he might recognise her, that's highly impossible for a man of his calibre she assured herself to relax.

"And you came thinking we did it? " Captain let out a chuckle, he took his hand out of the drawer and off the gun then proceeded to pour himself a glass of 18 years Glenfiddich.

"We both know, you are still sobbing over your warehouses" Drago said reaching for the glass in Captain's hand, he took a big gulp out of it.

Captain grinded his teeth, making his jaw muscles jump, the nerve of this man to admit to his face that he had been the reason Captain's warehouse was destroyed eight months ago, he had lost hundreds of millions and it had almost crumbled his business if not for the ghost Lotus and a few other contacts.

"You make enemies wherever you go Drago, it's no wonder they are coming after you," Captain said, taking the glass of whiskey back from Drago.

"Haa Captain but we all have enemies, I have made it this far because I know mine, I do not have time to be idle like you, so if you would just return what you have taken from me, I will be out of your hair," Drago said looking around the third time.

"I have no warehouse Drago, where will I put such an amount of package? Look around if you must"

"Perhaps with these little goons of yours" Drago said pointing to everyone in the room.

"Next time Drago come with proof" Lorenzo said eyeing the man despisingly.

Drago chuckled, then began heading for the door but he stopped at the door and asked.

"I take it you know the coward Lotus?"

"Is he one of your enemies?" Captain asked absent-mindedly as he took sips from his glass.

" Well I only know he is a coward, all he does is hide in the shadows, I understand I'm a man to be afraid of after all" Drago boasted with a smile which didn't change even when he got ridiculous and scoffed from the room.

"I hope he can make an appearance at the auction. He has my interest," Drago continued, then walked out leaving the door wide open.

Everyone exhaled in relief except Captain he sat still looking at the glass cup in his hand deep in thought.

"The man has got balls I can't deny, doing all the work himself" Cassandra said sitting up.

"Piece of shit!" Bella cursed.

"We would have been caught Cap, there's no longer enough space at the warehouse, we would have had to bring it here or take it home, who's to say Drago's men aren't there already searching our houses?"

Captain had three warehouses, the smallest one was a secret, and Drago had had one destroyed and the other seized by the government, yes he had higher hands and he used it to oppress others, and claim king of Mafians, he is a notorious one.

Captain's phone rang and he looked at everyone with surprised eyes, he picked up the call and left the phone on speaker.

"I'm sure by now he has left your office, now how do you want your share, raw or liquidated?" Lotus asked.

"How did you know?" Captain asked.

"I have eyes, Captain, I know about things you can only imagine," Lotus said, the pitch and voice on the phone fluctuating showing it was dubbed and not his real voice.

"Like?" Captain asked

"Like your little warehouse on Fifth Avenue, nice disguise there, I couldn't believe it was a warehouse with the little family living there"

Captain stood up in shock, and so did everyone as they stared at Captain in confusion.

"Don't worry Cap we are on the same side" Lotus assured.

"Liquidated, but no transfer, I want cash, payment will be at the auction. I want to know you Lotus if we are truly on the same side " Captain said sternly trying not to be agitated else everyone else would worry.

"See you at the auction Captain" Lotus said then ended the call.

"I told you it was a misunderstanding, he was looking out for us," Captain said in unnecessary defence.

"Forget about misunderstanding, this ghost knows too much that can screw us up," Bella said in frustration

" Well he won't be a ghost anymore by Friday " Eric said, putting a hand on Bella's shoulder.

"If he knows so much about us, then he will have information on others as well, if we get him as an ally, we will be at an advantage too" Lorenzo added...

"Captain, what are your orders?" Cassandra asked.

"Lorenzo, clear up every incoming product, we start sales next week, Eric gather the boys and keep your eyes on the warehouse, make sure the Kingstons haven't said a word to anyone, girls get ready we have a party to attend in two days and I need premium information, Lorenzo you will meet us there and bring snipper and Matt with you" Captain ordered, and they all left to prepare.

* * * * *

Leonard Giovanni stood with a glass of champagne in hand as he observed her, a raven dark-haired beauty, she wore a short white dress that hugged her figure and had a slit almost up to her waist revealing straight and full legs, he'd noticed her from the moment she walked in and she had his attention still, he wasn't big on events like this and had only wanted to make an appearance but he was glad he did, he watched her chat with a group of three men, laughing and leaning into them softly.

"Ohh she's a flirt" he murmured to himself then took a sip of the champagne.

"Haa ladies drink " he complained as he set down the glass on the tray of a help that passed him, then he headed for the bar, he needed something a bit stronger.

A glass of scotch in hand he headed towards the black-haired beauty but she had switched groups, she looked over her shoulder and their eyes met, he raised his glass slightly to her and she flashed him a soft smile then looked away.

Bella noticed the man from across the hall watching her. He looked handsome, she would give him that, but she didn't know him which means he wasn't influential and she knew half the top gang leaders and mafia lords in this room directly and indirectly and she was here to make a more influential alliance.

"Tall glass of handsomeness over there can't get his eyes off you" Cassandra informed, coming to stand beside Bella.

"Too bad we ain't here for pretty boys" Bella reminded.

"Hmm hmmm, fun comes later" Cassandra agreed nodding her head and taking a sip of her drink.

"Any juice on Lotus?" Bella asked, looking around.

"Nothing yet Cap is still waiting "

"What about Lorenzo and the boys?"

"On their way "Cassandra confirmed.

"Ohh beautiful, you look ravishing," said a familiar voice that made Bella cringe.

"Hugo? What are you doing here?" Bella asked with a fake smile as she let him hug her from the side.

"I'm a transporter baby, and all these folks need a service like mine," he said, tucking her hair behind her ears.

"I heard your last deal was a flop and now you're having troubles with Drago himself" Bella said, shifting away from him when he frowned.

" I see words travel fast," he said, laughing nervously.

"I see you managed to cover up pretty well, it's a miracle what makeup does these days".

He said in a clap back and Bella clenched her fist in anger but settled when Cassandra patted her back saying.

"They are starting, let's go sit down" and they began to walk away.

"Don't worry baby you were delicious, I will pay more next time" Hugo mocked, smiling as they left.

Leonard waited for the beauty in a white dress to sit then sat next to her, he unbuttoned his suit as he sat a soft smile gracing his face.

Their eyes met and he flashed her a little smile then looked away.

Bella smiled back, he was more handsome from close view, and he seemed new to all these, was he a new recruit who was his boss?

"Leonard Giovanni " he said finally speaking to her then extended his hand for a handshake.

"Bella Charles," she said, extending her hand also, she shook his hands softly.

He was so calm and composed that Bella thought he must be a pro with his confidence.

"Giovanni? I know a few Giovannis, who are you with?" She asked.

"I'm afraid I'm alone," he said with a little smile.

"I haven't seen you before," she continued.

"I'm not big on these things, " Leonard explained briefly.

"Ohh I see..." Bella was saying but got cut off.

"Shushh, it's starting, " Cassandra informed them.

Bella spared Leonard a smile and then searched the room for Captain, she found him three rows behind with a familiar face sitting next to him involved in a deep conversation. But she wasn't the only one taking notice, at the other side of the room Drago sat observing Captain and his companion. She pinched Cassandra who looked in her direction.

"Ohhh my fucking god, there's no way he is the Lotus, him?" Cassandra said in a whisper, and Bella couldn't help but feel something was off.