Anita's heart leapt hard as she was dragged out of the house, the Alpha's grip tightening around her wrist as he kept dragging her past the dragon fountain.
She risked looking up and realised that the Gotti was dragging her to the same van that had brought her to the Alpha's mansion.
"Alpha?" Paul, the bodyguard who had led her to Vivian, stepped out from behind the van and bowed to Gotti.
"Ugh!" Anita gasped as she was suddenly pushed to her knees, the Alpha's strong hand holding her down on her shoulder.
"Take her to the club –"
"A-Apha! P-please, n-no! I am sorry, please –argh!" Anita screamed, her face flying to the side from Gotti's angry slap.
She palmed her cheek, her tears falling freely.
"You will learn why no one ever disobeys my order, no matter what." Gotti spat, glaring at her.
"Take her away," Gotti ordered.
"Yes, Alpha," Paul replied with a bow.
"Get up," Paul hauled Anita to her feet, dragging her over to the Van.
Anita sobbed, her limbs trembling greatly from fear and hate.
"Alpha, please!" She screamed as Paul roughly pushed her into the van.
She tried to struggle but the doors were closed before she could even make it out.
"Please, no!" Her desperate voice came out muffled from inside the van.
"Your orders, Alpha," Paul asked cautiously, staring at Gotti's darkened face.
"Make sure she understands my rules, Paul. Or you will pay with your life," Gotti's voice was a dark growl, his eyes never leaving the van.
Anita's cry was so loud, and she was hitting the walls of the van, hoping someone would let her out.
Gotti clenched his jaw, realising that her protest irritated him.
He'd never had anyone refuse him, not even when he ask3d then to take their own lives.
Anita was something he had never seen.
Quiet, but he could feel the inner strength that made her stubborn, resilient.
He smirked, he would so enjoy breaking her, after tonight, she would never dare to test him again.
"Yes, Alpha," Paul replied and entered the van.
Gotti stood there as the car drove away, however, why wasbhe suddenly feeling a strange pang in his chest as he watched her go?
Was it because he knew that his son would be hurt if he found out what his Nanny had gone through?
If there was anyone Gotti cared about, it was Nero. He might not show it, but he'd give his life for his son, and whatever brought pain to Nero, he didn't do.
Was it right to send Anita to the Brastov's Club tonight?
He frowned.
Since when did he second-guess himself for punishing someone?
Anita deserved her punishment, he was doing what he'd always done: inflict pain.
With clenched fists, he turned and walked back into the mansion.
Meanwhile, in the speeding van, Anita swayed from side to side, her voice already so hoarse from crying. She sobbed, clawing at her thighs.
It wasn't even up to twenty-four-hours since her initial death, but there she was, wishing for another one.
She'd rather die all over again than have herself defiled by those monsters at the Brastov's Club.
She gritted her teeth and crawled to the front, "Let me out, you monster!" She yelled, banging her hands right behind the driver's side.
No one answered her, but the van's speed suddenly increased, throwing her forcefully to the side.
"Ah!" She gasped, pain shooting through her body as her forehead collided with the strong metal wall.
She didn't bother to sit up, she remained crouched, blood trickling down her face; she cried silently, cursing Gotti, wishing him the most painful death ever.
The van slowly stopped, signalling their arrival at the Brastov's Club.
Her heart sank deep into her stomach, her hands turning cold from fear.
She would have fought, but she hadn't eaten a thing all day.
She could ask them to kill her, but she knew they wouldn't dare, Gotti would have their heads. Plus, she was so skeptical about taking her life again. She was yet to survive the consequences of her past actions.
She snapped her head up as she heard the door being opened. She moved quickly, crawling to the end of the van and plastering her back on it.
The door opened and a chill pierced her bones as she saw the very dark, and tall mafia-looking clubhouse in front of her.
That was no doubt the Brastov's Club. Chilling in one look, holding a dark promise of pain and trauma to people like Anita.
"Get out," Paul commanded, standing beside the van.
Anita vigorously shook her head, "Just shoot me, already. You must be if you think I'm walking in there –"
"Get out!" Paul snapped and climbed onto the van, walked over to Anita, and roughly dragged her to the door.
"No, no, leave me alone! Get your hands off me you-ufh!" She cried loudly as she was suddenly pushed out like a sack, her physical and verbal protests ignored.
"Oh, god!" Anita screamed, her knees and palms stinging from the impact of her fall.
"Stay away from me, you insane man. I promise you, you'll pay for this –" her words were cut short by Paul's hot slap across her cheek.
"I will beat you if you dare disobey the Alpha! Get up!" Paul kicked her side, pulling her up roughly.
Anita cried painfully, coughing up blood, her vision turning blurry.
She almost fell back to the floor as Paul pulled her to her feet but she managed to lean on the side of the van, breathing hard and fast.
"Please, just let m-me g-go," She stammered, quickly glancing at the compound to search for any escape routes.
There wasn't.
Everywhere was surrounded by high walls and guards in black intimidating uniforms.
Cars of different class was parked all around the compound. There was no way she could make it out even if she tried.
Suddenly, she felt the cold muzzle of a gun on her neck.
"Move toward the building. Now," Paul ordered.
Anita gulped and nodded weakly. She knew Paul wouldn't kill her, but he could hurt her, and she didn't want to be hurt more than she already was.
Slowly, she moved her weak legs toward the Club.
The place she thought she would never visit was now looming over her life her nemesis.
She was limping, the gun on her neck a constant reminder of her choiceless life.
Reaching the entrance, a tall, buff man in a tight black shirt and pants blocked the door.
"I didn't get a clearance, Paul." The tall guard stated, narrowing his eyes at the battered girl in front of her.
"She's from the Alpha. Do you want to ask him yourself, Stan?" Paul asked, his stance intimidating.
Stan went silent for a while, observing Anita closely.
Anita felt her skin crawl, she hated these men, if only she could push her fingers into their eyes and
"She's dirty, take her to Mia," Stan said and stepped out of the way.
The door slid open and Paul pushed Anita in.
Anita was instantly welcomed with loud noise/music, blaring multi-colored lights, and worst of all, male and female strippers were on the stage, grinding against each other.
"Ah!' Anita groaned as Paul suddenly grabbed her hands, forcing her back to arch.
His breath fanned behind her ear, making her stomach churn.
"You see those people up there, that's you in a few minutes–ugh!" Paul grunted, palming his bleeding nose.
Anita had forcefully hit the back of her head on Paul's nose, and in the next second everywhere was a blur as Anita sprang off, speeding through the dancing crowd and heading toward the less crowded, dimly lit hallway by the corner.
"Bitch! Stop!" Paul yelled, running angrily behind Anita.
Anita's legs felt like wheels, she ran with pure adrenaline pumping through her veins.
"Hey! Watch it!" A lady jumped out of the way as she saw Anita speeding through the hallway.
"Stop her!" Paul shouted, pointing at Anita who had just turned another corner.
"Oh—" the lady blinked, staring at the two people who were running through the hallway like maniacs.
Ahead, Anita turned a corner into a quieter hallway. Her pulse raced, muscles ached but she pushed forward.
She thought she'd find some place to hide, but she wasn't fast enough Paul was behind her at an insane pace.
"I'll fucking kill you!" She heard Paul shout and the next thing she heard was the sound of a cooking gun.
"Oh no!" She trembled and immediately dove into the slightly opened door by the side, not caring that she landed unceremoniously on her face.
"Ouch!" She groaned, biting her tongue to keep herself from making too much sound.
"I never thought we'd be meeting this soon again,"
Anita suddenly gasped, fear forming g a heavy lump in her throat as she heard a man's voice in front of her fallen body.
She snapped her head up and widened her eyes in realisation.
She had just landed herself in more trouble. Jumping into the Beta's office was one way to deliver herself to the wrong person at the wrong time.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Rowan, and I'd like to help you to your feet," Rowan offered a hand, a calming look in his green eyes.
Anita frowned, shaking her head slowly, "I-I'm sorry—this was a mistake, I shouldn't have –"
"Beta, may I come in?" Paul suddenly knocked on the door behind Anita, her heart jumping out of her chest as she gasped and scrambled farther away from the door.
"P-please," She lifted her teary eyes to Rowan, "Help me." She whispered, her lips trembling.
Rowan's face gave nothing away, just calm as it was, "Take my hand, Anita. Let me help you," he spoke again, his voice like a soothing balm to Anita's aching muscles and heart.
Anita did not trust him, but she had no other choice, he was better than the maniac outside the door waiting to kill her.
With a shaky breath, she lifted her bruised, weak hand and placed it on Rowan's warm ones.
"I got you," Rowan easily lifted her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist to steady her beside him.
"Thank you –"
"Come in, Paul," Rowan commanded.
Anita's heart sank.
She should have known. A person who works with Gotti should never be trusted.
She froze as the door opened, her eyes meeting with Paul's angry ones.
"Beta, the Alpha has asked that she be brought to the Brastov's Club for tonight. As a punishment." Paul informed, his tone restricted as he didn't want to offend the Beta of their pack.
Rowan nodded, his arm never leaving Anita's waist, "I know. She's with me now, I'll take it from here. You can go." He spoke with steady command.
Paul hesitated, staring at Anita with reluctance.
He didn't just want to leave without punishing her for what she did to him.
But he had no choice, the Beta had ordered it.
"Do we have a problem, Paul?" Rowan asked quietly.
Paul balled his fists and bowed his head, "No, Beta." He replied and quietly left the room.
Anita held her breath, unsure of what to expect.
"I saved you—" Rowan murmured, placing a finger under Anita's chin and lifting her face, "How are you going to repay me?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her scared blue ones.