The Don’s Daughter In His Cage

My fiancé Julian owed $50 million in gambling debts.

He and my best friend Chloe drugged me. They sold me to an underground casino in New York. I woke up in a cell. I stared through the iron bars at the man I had loved for five years. My heart broke.

Julian thought I would still fight back. He sneered at me through the bars.

"Save it. No more tricks. I owe Don Victor $50 million. You’re my only way out."

"Victor loves breaking stuck-up artists like you. You think you're so high and mighty? Crawl into his bed and beg. Let's see how he rips off your cheap lace!"

"Once he's done breaking you, Chloe and I will get married. We’ll take over your gallery. It’s perfect!"

The drugs still clouded my brain. My body went limp. I collapsed on the dirty floor.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. Five years of pure devotion. This was my reward. Absolute betrayal.

But they didn't know the truth. They didn't know Don Victor. The ruthless tyrant. The mafia boss who ruled the American underworld.

He was my father.

Ever since my mother died, my father guarded me like fragile glass. He was terrified the world would leave even a single scratch on me.

Now, Julian was serving me up like a piece of meat. To please my own father.

If he knew I was the one in this cage...

Soon, the entire New York underworld would face the Don's absolute fury.

Sharp pain tore through my wrists. It ripped me out of the drug's haze.

Rusty chains dug into my skin. I forced my eyes open.

I heard Julian and Chloe laughing above me.

"Julian, what if she wakes up and throws a fit?"

Chloe’s voice was sickeningly sweet. But her greed and excitement were obvious.

"Relax. The drugs will keep her on her knees." Julian’s cruel laugh echoed through the door. "As long as the Don is happy, my $50 million debt is cleared."

$50 million.

To the man I loved for five years, that was my price tag.

"But... I heard he's a savage. Vivian might not survive..."

Chloe paused, faking sympathy.

Julian sneered. He sounded so proud.

"She acts like a pure, untouchable artist. The Don loves ruining innocent girls."

"Once she's ruined, we'll sell her gallery. Then we’ll have our wedding."

I listened to these two scumbags. I bit my lip until it bled. The taste of despair was metallic and bitter.

Five years ago, my mother died in a mob shootout. Right in front of me.

After that, my father's protection became suffocating.

He locked me inside the estate, handing me the world on a silver platter.

But I hated the constant bloodshed.

So I hid my name and ran away from the estate. I just wanted a normal life.

Then Julian found me. He was gentle and sweet. He looked at me with so much love. He said he loved my cold, mysterious vibe.

For him, I threw away my title as the Mafia Princess. I became a simple painter.

I gave him all my savings from my art sales. Every single penny. I helped him fund his startup.

And then there was Chloe. We met when I opened my gallery.

I treated her like a little sister. When she got dumped, I drank with her. When she couldn't pay rent, I let her move into my apartment.

Now, it was all a sick joke.

Julian was still dreaming outside.

"Once Victor accepts this gift, we’ll move to a Manhattan penthouse. We’ll buy luxury cars!"

Victor?

A spark of hope ignited in my chest.

That was my father!

If I could just get taken up to see him, I would live.

I waited for the door to open.

Bang. Julian kicked it wide open.

He marched in and looked down at me on the floor.

"Listen to me, Vivian." His eyes were full of disgust. "Drop the arrogant act. When we go to the penthouse, you better use every trick you know to please the Don. If you ruin this for me, I’ll kill you."

I leaned against the wall. I struggled to stand up. My voice shook, but I tried to stay rational.

"Julian, stop. You don't know who you're messing with. Let me go. My father will not let you live. I am Don Victor's daughter."

Julian froze for a second. Then he burst out laughing.

"Did the drugs fry your brain?" He pointed at my face. "You? A dumb bitch who paid my bills? You think you're the Don's daughter?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. She threw a piece of fabric at my face.

"Enough. Stop listening to this crazy bitch. Put this on. The Don doesn't like his women fully dressed."

It was a black lace dress. Skimpy. Pure trash.

I looked down at it. Shame made my blood run cold.

"I won't wear it." I stepped back. "Julian, I'm not lying..."

That set him off.

"Bitch!"

He lunged forward. He slapped me hard across the face.

I had no strength to fight back. My head snapped to the side. I slammed into the wall. My mouth instantly filled with blood.

"Don't think your stupid lies will save you!" Julian grabbed my collar. He roared in my face. "You think the Don's daughter is a broke painter? You're just a whore to pay off my debt!"

My face burned. Tears of pure humiliation and despair spilled over my cheeks.

Chloe was done listening to me. She and Julian pinned me to the floor. They violently forced me into the cheap lace dress.

Right then, a siren went off.

Red warning lights flashed in the hallway.

It was the ultimate signal. The absolute ruler of the underworld had arrived.

Julian and Chloe turned pale.

"The Don is here!" Chloe gasped, torn between thrill and terror. "Get her upstairs!"

Panic flashed in Julian’s eyes. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me off the floor with Chloe's help.

The iron chains bit into my flesh. I bit back a groan as the tearing pain ripped through me.

They dragged me out of the cell like a dead weight and shoved me into the private elevator.

The moment the elevator doors parted, the heavy stench of cigars and fresh blood hit me like a wall.

A dozen heavily armed Mafia enforcers lined the lavish hallway.

Standing dead center was a man in gold-rimmed glasses.

Silas. The new second-in-command who had climbed to the top over a mountain of corpses in recent years.

I saw my way out. I tore free from Chloe’s grip and threw myself at Silas’s feet, desperate to reveal who I was.

"Help me! Take me to Victor! I'm his—"

"Shut up, you fucking whore!"

Julian screamed before I could finish. Terrified I’d ruin his deal, he lunged, yanked my hair back, and drove his heavy boot hard into my stomach.

"Ugh..." I doubled over. Cold sweat instantly soaked my thin lace dress.

"Are you crazy?! In front of Mr. Silas?!" Julian had completely lost his mind. To prove his loyalty, he pinned me to the floor, raining vicious punches and kicks down on my head and stomach.

The drugs were still in my system. I couldn't fight back. My ears rang violently, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Just as I was about to black out...

"Enough."

Silas spat the word like ice.

Two enforcers drew their weapons in a heartbeat, pressing cold muzzles directly against Julian's skull.

Julian froze. His raised fist dropped instantly. "Mr. Silas... I-I just wanted to teach this crazy bitch a lesson..."

Swallowing the agonizing pain, I forced my swollen eyes open and looked up at Silas with desperate hope.

He stopped them... He must have recognized my face!