FRACTURED CONTROL

Cleo's POV

The slap from Aunt Lydia stung more than just physically; it was the final blow that severed whatever ties I had left to her as my family. The realization that the only family member I had left had just disowned me settled over me like a heavy blanket, suffocating and cold.

Russo’s words echoed in my mind as he loomed over me, his presence inescapable. “Don’t keep me waiting.” He was demanding my submission, demanding that I accept the life he was forcing upon me. But as I stood there, trembling and alone, I couldn’t find it in myself to fight back anymore.

“I have nothing left to lose,” I whispered, my voice hollow, devoid of the fire that had fueled me before.

What more could he take from me? My family was gone, my freedom was gone, the only thing I have left was my pride, and even that, was something Russo could strip away in an instant. He stared at me for a long moment, the gun still in his hand, the acid still burning in the air between us. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes darkened as he contemplated his next move. For a fleeting moment, I thought he might actually follow through with his threat, that he would push me to the brink of no return.

But then, just as suddenly as the tension had built, it seemed to dissipate. Russo lowered the gun, the cold steel glinting in the dim light as he tucked it back into his coat. He capped the vial of acid and handed it back to Viktor, who accepted it with a curt nod.

“Get inside the car,” Russo ordered, his voice devoid of the earlier malice. “We’re done here.”

I didn’t move right away, my legs frozen in place by a combination of fear and exhaustion. Just then, the men that had earlier held me down grabbed my arm and tucked me into the car.

The drive to Russo's estate was silent, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sigh that escaped my lips. I kept my eyes on the road, my mind racing with thoughts I hadn’t entertained in years.

Was I really going to be his bride?

There's no way I would let that happen, not when Miley had just proposed to me. I glanced at the ring on my finger and gave it a soft peck.

“I'm sorry Miley, I'll be back soon, I promise,” I whispered to it, hoping the air would carry my words to Miley.

As the car came to a halt in front of the house, I stepped out and looked around the villa, I realized there was no going back, I had to surrender to a man who was more beast than human. I was now all on my own with no one to help me, but I'm not the type to give in so easily without fighting back.

I would fight for my freedom and return to claim what was mine from Aunt Lydia, I assured myself.

Russo’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. “Lock her up.”

I barely had time to react before two of his men moved swiftly toward me, they grabbed me, their grip firm but not rough. Panic surged within me, but before I could say anything, I was being dragged down another long hallway, away from Russo’s cold gaze.

“Wait…. what are you doing?” I demanded, trying to pull away from their grasp, but they were just too strong. “You can’t just lock me up!”

One of the men, a tall, imposing figure with a scar running down the side of his face, glanced at me briefly. “Orders are orders,” he muttered, his voice devoid of sympathy.

I struggled, fear and desperation clawing at me as they led me deeper into the mansion. I had expected to be thrown into some kind of dark, damp cell, a dungeon fitting for the monster Russo had shown himself to be. But when they finally stopped and opened a door, I was momentarily taken aback.

The room they shoved me into was... normal. Almost too normal. There was a bed, although bare, without any blankets or pillows and a small, barred window that allowed a sliver of moonlight to filter in. But aside from that, the room was empty, devoid of any comforts or even basic necessities.

The door slammed shut behind me with a deafening thud, the sound reverberating through the barren space. I rushed to it, pounding on the heavy wood with both fists, but there was no response from the other side.

“Let me out!” I screamed, my voice cracking as I banged on the door. “You can’t just leave me here!”

But there was no answer, no sound at all except for my own frantic breathing. I slid down to the floor, my strength draining away as the reality of my situation sank in. They had locked me up like an animal, without food, without water, without even the dignity of a blanket to keep me warm.

I curled up on the hard floor, wrapping my arms around myself as the cold seeped into my bones. My mind raced, replaying everything that had led me to this moment, my parents' death, the debt, Russo’s cruel demand, and the horrifying realization that I had no one left to turn to. Aunt Lydia had made it clear that I was no longer a Benson, that I was nothing but a burden she was eager to be rid of.

A wave of hopelessness washed over me, so intense that it took my breath away. How had my life fallen apart so quickly? Just days ago, I had been celebrating my graduation, surrounded by friends and loved ones. And now, I was here, trapped and locked away in a stranger’s house, at the mercy of a man who saw me as nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I fought to hold them back. I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to give in to the despair that threatened to consume me. But as the minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity, I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks.

The room grew colder, the silence more oppressive, and the weight of my circumstances pressed down on me until I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I lay on the floor, curled up in a ball, too tired to move, too scared to sleep. The hours passed slowly; each one marked by the relentless ticking of the clock in my mind.

How long would he keep me here? A day? A week? Or longer? And what would happen to me when he finally decided to let me out? Would I be forced to marry him, to live the rest of my life under his control? The thought sent a shudder through me, and I buried my face in my arms, trying to block out the world.

And as I lay there in the darkness, the only thing I could cling to was the faint, flickering hope that somehow, someway, I would find a way out of this hell.