Xander Vittorio POVI was worried Ponti was going to starve us to death, but luckily they finally gave us something to eat.It’s four pieces of dry bread and one chicken breast each. It’s a far cry from Mama’s food, but it will have to do.I finish my food before Anya is done with her first slice of bread.When she catches me eyeing her food, she tears the chicken breast into strips, takes one of the strips, and pushes the rest of her food closer to me. “You need it more than me.”I hesitate for a moment, but knowing she’s right, I take two strips of chicken and a slice of bread and wolf it down.“Finish the rest,” I say, not wanting her to starve.We’ve been in this room for three days, and after the first day’s torture, we’ve only been allowed out of our prison to visit the restroom. It’s usually in the morning and late at night. It’s also the only time we get to drink water.If they’re going to feed us every three days, we’re fucked.Another thing that worries me is that I’m gettin
Anya de Luna's POVI’m struggling to process everything.This is crazy.Terrified out of my ever-loving mind, my eyes dart over Riccardo Ponti, Darius, and the other three men. Just the thought of them raping me turns my insides to stone. Then there’s the threat that they’ll kill Xander and me.Even though the past three days have been hell, I still don’t want to die. I’m still hopeful Xander’s father will rescue us.One of the men watches me with blatant lust, and my stomach rolls with disgust. God, please don’t let them rape me. They can tear all my fingernails off– just don’t let them rape me.When Xander reaches for the zipper of my pants, he whispers, “Keep your underwear on. I don’t want them seeing you.”A fresh wave of tears spills from my eyes, and I swallow hard on a sob as I nod.“Focus on me,” he reminds me.I’ve only had sex once. It was last year, and it hurt a lot.Xander pushes my pants down to my feet, and as I step out of the fabric, he takes hold of my hips and lift
Xander Vittorio POVWhen the room becomes unbearably cold, Anya begins to shiver.I push her away from my chest, and taking off my shirt, I struggle in the darkness to make sure it’s the right way around before I tug the fabric over her head.“It’s not much, but it will help,” I say as I adjust the fabric around her torso and hips.“Thank you.” Her voice sounds hollow and fragile.I pull her back against my chest and soak up the heat from her body. “You okay sleeping like this? It will help us generate some heat.”“Yeah.”It’s the middle of fucking winter, and if we don’t use our bodies to keep each other warm, there’s a possibility one or both of us will get sick. The old radiators I saw in the hallway and the heat from the building pipes might keep away the worst of the winter, but it’s still going to be cold as fuck in this room.Minutes pass before I ask, “How are you feeling? Physically.”“Sore,” she admits. “It didn’t hurt as much when I lost my virginity.”Christ.Guilt rears i
Anya de Luna's POVI think it’s been two weeks since we were kidnapped.The only way we keep track of time is when we’re allowed to go to the restrooms. But the days are blurring together.I don’t get hungry anymore, and it’s hard to eat the little food they give us. I always give three-quarters of mine to Xander. He needs it more than me.Because of our situation, I don’t process things the way I would typically do. My survival instinct is stuck in overdrive, and honestly, it feels like a lifetime has passed since Xander and I were forced to have sex.My pinky nail is starting to grow back, but Xander said it will take around eight months to grow out fully.The cut on his forearm is almost completely healed, but the stab wound is taking a little longer. At least it didn’t damage any nerves, and he can move all his fingers.Instead of letting the trauma overwhelm me, I’m more worried because my period is due in a week. Or maybe it’s just a couple of days. I can’t tell.I’ve heard some
Xander Vittorio POVAnya thinks it’s only been three weeks, but I’m sure we’ve been here for over a month.Because we’re only fed every three days, I’ve lost most of my weight and muscle mass. Anya’s face has become hollow, and when she tries to share her food with me, I have to use all the strength I have to deny the scraps so she can get some nourishment into her body.I still haven’t seen Marc Vincent since the first day, and my worry for my brother is eating me up alive. For all I know, Marc Vincent is already dead.We also haven’t been taken from the room to be tortured since Ponti forced us to have sex. But that doesn’t mean we’re not suffering.My worry for my brother and watching Anya fade away is a different kind of torture that nothing in this world could prepare me for.Melody and I sit side by side during the day, and at night I pull her onto my lap so we can help keep each other warm while we try to get some sleep.Sleep. It’s not something I’ve had much of. I only manage
Anya Santini de Luna POVAfter the first glimpse I get of Marc Vincent, I’m horrified out of my mind and can’t bring myself to look at him again. Spending weeks in a dark room with Xander, I’m not mentally prepared for this level of violence.Unable to tear his eyes away from his brother, I want to reach out to Xander to comfort him. But I don’t dare, knowing it will shine a spotlight on us.My eyes flit to Ponti, and seeing the twisted enjoyment he’s getting from Xander’s reaction, my stomach churns with bile.Deep down, I know today will be the worst, if not the final day of our captivity.“I’ve had some fun with Marc Vincent while you fell in love,” Ponti taunts Xander. He lets out a chuckle, then adds, “Today, you get to choose who I torture.”Slowly, Xander pulls his eyes away from his brother to look at Ponti. “I choose myself.”Ponti starts to laugh as if Xander just said the funniest thing, the sound making goosebumps spread over my skin.“Ahh…” Ponti shakes his head, “you kno
Alexander Vittorio POVComing to, I’m confused as fuck. My body feels like it’s been torn apart, and I struggle to pry my eyes open. For a blissful moment, I don’t remember what happened as I glance around the sterile room, seeing Maryo sitting on an armchair.My best friend glances at me, and instantly a smile spreads over his face. He rushes to the doorway, and leaning out into the hallway, he shouts, “Xander’s awake!”My parents and Tanya come barreling into the hospital room.Mama looks like she’s aged ten years, a shock of white streaks in her dark brown hair. Her face has new lines, and her eyes are dull with heartache.Tanya starts to cry and comes to grab my hand.Then my eyes land on my father’s stern face.Marc Vincent. Anya. The moment of bliss splinters, and every shard flays my soul to shreds.My brother’s head falls forward, and blood trickles from the gunshot wound to his temple.NONONONONO!My body fails me, and as I drop to my knees, three shots echo into the night. M
Anya Santini de Luna POVWhen I open my eyes, my body feels numb, and I don’t recognize anything around me. It looks like I’m in a hospital room. I hear sounds from machines next to the bed. My heartbeat speeds up, and I notice an IV in my left hand.Where am I? The memories of my captivity pour into my mind, and I remember being shot by Xander’s father.Oh, God! Xander! Did he survive?Suddenly an elderly man comes into the room. I don’t recognize the old man and stare at him, fear and panic filling my chest. When he notices I’m awake, his eyes widen. He rambles something in Filipino language, and it looks like he expects a reply.“I’m Italian,” I say, my voice hoarse as if I haven’t used it for a long while. “I don’t speak Filipino language.”“Ohhhh.” He comes closer, his eyes skimming over my face. “I found you in field not far from my house. I brought you to hospital.”Pure relief washes over me, and the tension that’s become a normal feeling for me falls away. Overwhelmed by the