Author's POV -
In the dimly lit room, the air hangs heavy with silence, broken only by the distant murmur of voices. A single flickering bulb cast eerie shadows, revealing a group of men huddling around a table. Tension cracks in the air as their eyes darted nervously, their fingers drumming impatiently on the worn surface.
It's a meeting they had all dreaded, a gathering that would change the course of their lives. The room's oppressive stillness masks the storm brewing within, a tempest of secrets, lies, and alliances about to shatter. And when the first word is spoken by the girl auction lead mafia, the world as they knew it would unravel.
"Antonio, you were supposed to get 10 more girls for tomorrow's auction. Everyone submitted their collection already. What is the update from you? We need to check if they are eligible or not." Gibson yells at one of his providers whilst playing with his gun.
"So far 9 girls are in my collection, I can submit them. However, I promise to provide for the last girl sooner. And I bet these 9 are worthy for the auction." Antonio is confident enough about his collection.
"How can you be sure? Did you use them somehow?" The mafia leader smirks and Antonio is just standing by bowing his head though feeling disgusted to be here. "Anyway, submit them and within 1 hour provide me another girl. I need to look at them personally." He flows away his right hand as the permission for Antonio to leave.
Antonio leaves the cabin whilst muttering himself by addressing him as a jerk.
"Let's submit these 9 girls first." Roger, his friend and co-worker aka mafia man offers. Antonio nods and comes out from the Mafia office. His pissed-off face turns into a grin expression when he finds his cute little sister running to him with a shining smile.
"Bro, I was searching for you. Why are you not picking up my call?" Chiara complains with a pout whilst huffing.
"So sorry, fatso. I was in a meeting." Chiara frowns at him and shrugs.
"Huh! Look at me. I am slim, not like the teenage fatty body. Don't call me that." She rubs her nose with her index finger and extends her right hand to her brother. "Now, give me some money. I need to go shopping for prom night." Antonio shakes his head with a smile and takes his money bag to give her money. Roger is smiling as well.
"Don't grin. It's a sibling thing. Stay away. Shoo." Chiara is irritated at Roger as always.
"Chiara, don't come here anytime. It's my workplace. Do you understand?" Antonio asks Chiara and points to Roger to bring the car.
"Why, bro? People visit their loved ones' workplace, right?" Now, how can Antonio tell her about his work?
"You are grown up. 20 years old is the age to face troubles and I don't want that." Antonio shares his concern and a groan releases through his vocal cords with a sudden unbearable pain on his shoulder.
"Bro, are you okay?" Chiara's frightened voice is cracked with fear whilst grabbing her loving brother. Only he is the one whom she can call her own on the earth.
"Run," Antonio utters and Gibson grabs Chiara's tiny waist. "Leave my sister." Antonio is whimpering due to the shooting pain in his shoulder.
"You were hiding this flower from me. I can get so much money through her." Chiara is surprised about what is going on. However, her brother is her first concern at this moment.
"Just leave me, you moron. Why are you talking like this, I will sue you. How could you shoot my bro?" Chiara's eyes are releasing tears at seeing her brother tasting the dust.
"You are mine. And your brother can't even deny it." Gibson pulls her back before Chiara intends to hold her brother.
"You can't do this. Bro, say something." Gibson starts laughing devilishly at Chiara. His men surround Antonio by pointing their guns.
"He can't utter anything if he does then I will kill him. Do you wish for that?" Chiara's ground shivers with fear. After her parents' death, only his brother took care of her.
"No, please don't kill my brother." She is unable to react even recklessly when her brother is pointed at a gun.
"I beg you, please let her go. I will bring another girl, I promise." Chiara can't believe her brother's words.
"What are you saying, bro? Have you lost it?" She growls. and Gibson is laughing. Roger is here and he is standing like a statue.
"He provides me with girls for auction, hot cheeks." Gibson snuggles his face on Chiara's shoulder. She shrugs to move his face and he squeezes her into his arms. "Your fragrance is intoxicating. Is it okay if I have you before I put you on the auction?" Gibson uses his tongue's edge to touch her neck skin.