2

Fleur’s point of view

After hearing what Mario said, I didn't want to believe it! I'm feeling foolish, bereaved, and sad, and my anger has just burst through me!

My head spins a little. I felt my stomach coils from processing what just transpired. Somehow I thought I left that life behind. It was too good to be true how could be so foolish.

I'm trying hard to control my tears, begging to be released, but the reality here is he does have the capability of doing it. His money can make any mountain move. I feel my face heat up as I remember how my body endured his beating after beating.

He's a sick bastard.

How can I be so stupid to forget that he loves playing all these mind games and I fell right through his trap. I've seen him many times do this with business partners who he succeeded in overthrowing.

He would always make them think they have the upper hand till Mario reveals his little ploy. Never in the past has anyone ever out smart him, He's always one step ahead. With all the mixed emotions thrown at me. I looked at Mario in disgust.

His expression is mocking me. My body now is shaking nonstop involuntarily. My vision focused on his face, completely messing with my mind. A sudden urge of courage to slap and push him with all my might happened in seconds. I slammed my whole palm hard across his face.

"You are an asshole!!!" I screamed on top of my lungs right after the slap.

I saw his eyes darkened for I knew he didn't expect my outburst. He grabs my neck in one hand, I fought back ,throwing punches at him so he would let go but he only end up pulling my hair up harder, dragging my whole body to the other side of the bed! I knew when he retaliates there's no more holding him back, I felt the shiny metal on my skin while struggling to getaway and seeing its the gun. I decided to grab it from his tucked pants while I kicked his shin multiple times. I struggle to get out of his hold when finally my last kick freed me.

He fell a few inches away from me, and I pointed the gun at him with my arms shaking. I gathered enough strenght and stood up from where I was. Still topless, I saw and grabbed my robe from my chair to cover me, I'm not about to run outside bare naked. I'm yelling for him to stop while all of this is happening. I'm determined to get away from him. I'm not going through all that torture once again specially now that I left him.

"Stop! Do not! dont come to me any closer, Mario. I will shoot." My voice were very shaky my tears are spilling out my eyes. I almost couldn't say the last sentence as I feel my body heating up as I feel my sweat sticks to the fabric of the robe.

He got up and released a scary laugh. He was mocking me with his gaze. His whole demenour exudes dominance. His face tells me to shoot. I feel the metal trigger on my shaking fingers and I really don't have in me to shoot. I'm not a killer but I'm not about to die tonight.

He attempted to move by stepping a foot closer.

In a panic, I accidentally pulled the trigger resulting in firing the gun, and it quickly slipped on the floor with my trembling hands.

The bang was so loud that it temporarily disabled my hearing. I never fired or even held a gun before! Although I'm always around weapons when I was still living with Mario.

I stood there sweating and shocked. I watched him slowly pick up the gun, his face tells me that I really push it. Right then and there, I knew there was no way out. I dropped on my knees in the most defeated feeling I have ever felt, unconsciously my head and eyes dropped on the floor!

I felt many numb dots crawling on my face and hands. Mario walks to me and pulls my head up close to his face. I can smell his breath. Everything he has done is coming back to me in one flash.

I close my eyes as he licks my face while cupping my breast harshly, giving it a tight squeeze as he whisper on my ear that he misses them. He pulls on my nipples hard; I feel them tingle as he flicks them one by one. This is just the beginning, who knows what he has in store for me the minute he brings me back to his cage.

"Fleur, this is why I like to keep you! "I feel his lips on mine softly, and he suddenly kisses me hard until his teeth cut my lips." I cry even harder.

He pulled away, and a hard punch was sent through the side of my head!

I'm starting to feel a nasty headache. My heart is hammering inside me.He drags me harshly to bed as I feel my legs struggle scratching whaterver it touches on the floor. My vision blurs for my tears are pouring out nonstop and he gives no care as his touches just gets rougher and rougher.

He push my face on the bed, lying on my back while he puts all his weight on me to stop me from getting up.

He then ties both of my hands, painfully stretching it on my back using my satin robe's belt. Mario tied it very tight that the burn on mummy skin feels like it would slice through.

There was a loud knock on my front door. My neighbors must have heard me. I can only hope they called up some local cops although Mario is too powerful to just pay them off but that would still give me time to getaway.

"Fleur, if you get out of this position when I come back, I'll make you regret it, and you're not gon na be able to walk for months." That's a true promise from the devil's mouth.

My hope of getting out of here vanished when I heard a familiar voice, it's Dan, one of his loyal men from my living room, "Boss, we heard a shot" Should I call a medic?

" No, Dan, she's fine. No on is hurt. Just bring it to me like the plan, " Mario commanded.

A few more minutes passed without moving on my bed, just staring at nothing, i'm now silently crying. I was sweating profusely and scared in anticipation of what Mario would do after the stunt I just pulled!

I'm wondering why no one had come to my aid when they heard the gunshot and all that screaming that i just did. My neighbours are all probably planted too. Of course they are, I should have considered the weird reply I would get from them sometimes.

Mario came back to the room. His footsteps are loud and heavy against the flimsy flooring I have.

I smelled something that seemed to be burning, and I saw his reflection, he is holding on to a black steel stick in the big, now cracked mirror next to my bed. This image looked very scary.

I've seen this stick before. It's a branding iron. I've seen how it's in orange form and what looks like it has been newly heated.

I screamed for I knew what he's planning.

Oh god, he's going to brand me! Is all I said in my mind.

Out of instinct! I got up to move back, away from him till I touch the wall behind me. "Come here, Fleur, don't make me put this longer on you." I pleaded for him to have mercy and stop this madness.

"Please, Mario, don't do this. I will go with you, "I'll submit. I won't ever leave "-I cry the hardest while a pleading squeak comes off. I dont know what else to say to make him stop from what he was planning. So the same sentence came out of my mouth like a broken record. I shouldn't have fought him earlier.

"This is the version of you. I love most, tell me, who owns you?" Giving me a devil's smile, He tugs my hair harshly as I'm taking awhile to answer.

I swallow hard, feeling the dryness in my throat before uttering."What?"

"Who owns you Fleur?" Hearing Mario say this again clearly this time as my hearing still hasnt come back fully.

"You-You own me!" feeling that he might have like my answer, I went along and start speaking some more to change his mind. I'm making promises that I will for sure will break.

"You can untie me now and give me an hour to pack, and we'll be on our way home "-still trying to convince him not to burn me but my words did nothing to change the inevitable.

He comes closer and closer. I can smell the metal burning.

I'm now panicking, hysterically crying, and at the same time still pleading, hoping he would changed his mind and say this is all just a prank to teach me a lesson.

"Fleur listen up, this is how I can forgive you if you bear my mark and own it. I'm afraid I can't take you back without this." He shakes me banging my body on the wall for me to stop moving.

In one swift motion, he forced me to face the wall, and a loud thud was heard throughout the room as I was pinned on my nape with his forearm, He pulled back a little and in one go, burned my skin on the side just above my ass. I lost all my hope, all my sense to reason with him is gone. I've accepted that I will not survive tonight.

I screamed in pain. Feeling my skin sizzling. Excruciating pain.

After God knows how many minutes, he let's go! And I fell on the floor trying to catch air! Tears started pouring out of my face again but this time its with full anger.

I scream in so much pain. I began cursing him, "You son of a bitch!!!"

You Fucking asshole, I will never come back to you over my dead body "Get away from me, you jerk" I fucking hate you! I tried to kick him but he has my body on a lock down position resulting to just hurting my toes.

I hate you!!!!

Suddenly, I felt the prick of a needle on my neck.I see Dan, one of his trusted bodyguards, holding a small injection.

"Dan what did you just-" before I can say anything else, blackness takes over me.

I hear voices chatting—men and women with all sorts of movements. I opened my eyes. But it keeps shutting. I tried to see once more where I am but still nothing. I can feel I'm being carried bridal style inside a plane. I want to yell and ask people for help but I dont know why all i can say was Mario's name when i meant that I am being taken by Mario.

I'm familiar with the air cabin scent. I knew this was Mario's private jet. We've used this many times in the past two years I was with him.

I felt like being seated, I tried pening my eyes again but I still couldn't see who was strapping me.

I feel very thirsty. I finally said "Water" in a small husky voice. I suddenly feel a straw being gently put in my mouth. I sipped a lot for the liquid was so refreshing sliding in my throat, but a few moments later, I felt nauseous and threw up all of the water I had just swallowed. With that, I could no longer stay awake and dozed off again.