TAYLOR MACKENZIE

The days of my life had turned into a cold nightmare, I could still remember the crash, the ruin, everything. The day I lost my father to a terrible accident.

My name is Taylor Mackenzie, the daughter to the richest man in Italy, and the strongest mafia leader, Abraham Mackenzie. My grandfather was a wealthy man and controlled a great empire. My father took after him and also developed an empire so great. I grew out of wealth and had a beautiful family. However, everything started breaking apart when a woman showed up with a young boy just my age then. She claimed she had an affair with my father and the boy was the result of it. Father didn't deny it so he wanted to pay them off but she refused to leave, she refused to be paid off and wanted a place in our lives. Mom had a weak heart and suffered a heart attack.

Immediately Mom died, dad brought the lady and her son in after a DNA test was carried out, I could remember Jason then, he used to be quiet, innocent but now, he was a monster. He fought alot with dad, argued and his mother always took his side, I thought everything would die down, I thought we'd get over that stage. Unfortunately, we didn't.

Dad and Jason had a fight the night before the accident and I had a hunch Jason was responsible for the tragedy, but how would I face him? He and his mother had frustrated my life to a core, they want me out of the house, their space, everything.

I hated myself because I couldn't speak out, I couldn't voice out, everyone took their sides, my uncles, aunties. I was so alone.

I'm just like Mom, weak and vulnerable and I hated myself for it, I hate myself everytime.

I stood alone in the cemetery, tears streaming down my cheeks as the gravestones of my parents silently paid witness to my grief.

It had been a month since the accident that took dad away from me, and I would give anything to not be around Jason and his mother. I clutched a bouquet of fresh flowers tightly to my chest, the petals dampened by my tears. "Come back to me, please," I wept, whispering into the quiet air.

My legs got heavy and I knelt before the graves, feeling it's texture with my fingers.

Suddenly, sounds of approaching footsteps caught my attention, I turned to see my stepbrother, Jason, standing behind me with a cold and indifferent expression on his face. His presence felt more like an intrusion than solace.

I cleaned my tears, standing to my feet. "What?"

"Your tears won't bring them back, Taylor," his voice cut through the somber silence, devoid of any sympathy.

I looked up at him, my eyes pleading for some semblance of compassion. "Can't you just have a heart? He was our father," I whispered hoarsely, my voice choked with pain.

Jason's expression remained unmoved. "He's gone, Taylor. Crying won't change that."

I recoiled from his callousness, and sniffed. "It wouldn't still hurt to at least pretend to care, without him, you'd be-"

He didn't let me finish before his hand shot out, colliding with my cheek in a powerful strike. I recoiled from the slap, placing my palm on my hurting cheek as hot tears flowed from my eyes.

"What did you do that for?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"That's what happens when you say nonsense. That's by the way, I had a visitor earlier. He wants to see you."

I took down my hand, shaking my head as I wasn't ready to meet any of his mad friends. "I'm not interested in meeting anyone right now," I protested weakly, hoping he would at least respect my wishes.

However, Jason's demeanor hardened further. "You don't have a choice," he stated flatly, his tone brooking no argument.

Before I could protest further, Jason grabbed my arm roughly and began leading me away from the cemetery.

I was confused and frightened, who was this that I needed to meet. Jason never cared of introducing me to his friends, he didn't even let me come out when they came around, now he was pulling me to them, something felt odd.

Unable to speak up due to the slap from earlier, I stumbled along beside him. He opened his front door and pushed me inside, just when he was in, he drove up with full speed that I had to hold onto something for my dear life.

He drove in silence until we reached the imposing gates of a grand mansion that once belonged to my late father.

He grabbed my arm, burying his fingers into my skin with a deliberate intention of causing me pain. I whimpered, unable to make a sound. "Behave, or regret it," he warned.

He was the first to get down and I followed. A tall, imposing man, dressed impeccably in a dark suit stood by the entrance of the house, holding a cigarette.

He tossed the cigar aside on seeing us, a calculating expression on his face as he acknowledged Jason with a nod.

"Jason," he greeted coldly, his eyes shifting to me with an interest I found disgusting, he was literally my father's age or older. "And this must be Taylor."

Jason nodded curtly, walking into the house while we followed. "Yes, she's here."

Jason's answer caused my heart to pound in my chest. I glanced between Jason and the stranger, a feeling of unease settling in my stomach, I knew Jason and his mother wanted to get rid of me, however something about Jason and this strange man felt unease, unsettling.

"Hmm," the strange man observed me, "you don't look so bad."

"And a virgin," Jason said and I shot him a confused look.

"What's going on?" I finally managed to ask, my voice quavering with fear and confusion.

Jason turned to me, his face devoid of any warmth or concern. "Taylor, meet Mr. Donovan," he introduced with a hint of finality in his tone. "He bid on your head ten thousand million dollars."

My eyes widened in disbelief and terror. "What? My head?" My heart was racing now, what did he mean?

"You can have her, she did serve a good purpose anyway." Jason said.

He sold me.

Realization dawned on me, this motherfucker sold me. I was so done for, who was this old man, what would I become to him? What was happening?

I took a step backwards without their knowledge, my eyes scanning my escape route. If I escaped this episode, I would stay away from Jason forever, he could have everything, the property, the house, I just wanted a normal life.

When I was sure he wasn't looking, I sprinted to the door. My escape was short as a sharp pain hit the back of my head, I stumbled, meeting the ground in a heavy thud. My vision of Jason was blurry as he approached me holding a broken shar of glass, he smashed in on my head, son of a demon.

He squat down to my size and grabbed me by my neck, his grip tight and unyielding.

"Do you know what your escape would have caused me?"

I couldn't speak, I was gasping for air, I was struggling as my legs wriggled helplessly.

"Enough, Jason!" Mr. Donovan intervened and I was glad he did, I didn't want to be killed by Jason.

Jason released his hold on me and I sucked in a good amount of air.

"Take her," he ordered.

I couldn't struggle or resist, he had subdued me. I watched two burly men emerge from the shadows and approach me swiftly. Their hands closing around my arms, and their grip firm and unyielding.

I tried struggling against their hold despite my exhaustion as panic rose within me.

"Nice doing business with you," Jason said, a satisfying smile on his face. He turned to me, a wicked grin on his face. "So long Tay-tay, I hope you satisfy him enough. It's too bad I couldn't fuck you, he wanted you a virgin, if not, that hole of yours would be begging for my dick to fill it every minute."

I gave a weak smile and whispered. "I hope your dick gets chopped off."

"What was that?" He asked, leaning close with his ear close to my lips. Just when I was sure he was close enough, I bit him so hard that I drew blood.

"I said I hope your disgusting dick gets chopped off by a hungry bear, you bastard!"

Jason recoiled, looking surprised. He didn't see my outburst coming. However my excitement was shortlived as his fist collided with my face causing my nose to bleed.

At that point, my head spun around, I could hear an argument between the two men but couldn't understand what they were saying, Jason's hits were brutal, more like he really wanted me dead.

After their argument, I was dragged away by the men and thrown into a car trunk where I nursed my bleeding nose. Although I was in pain, I was glad I inflicted pain on Jason before leaving, I hope it leaves a scar, a painful reminder of what he did to me.

TAYLOR MACKENZIE

The car ride felt like an eternity for me. I had controlled my bleeding nose and was quiet in the confined space. It wasn't a new thing as Jason and his mother locked me up on several occasions.

I felt the car halt to a stop. The truck was opened and the light hit my eyes that I squinted. "You're riding with us," was all I heard before I was dragged from the trunk and pushed into the backseat where Donovan sat.

He smiled on seeing me. "You look shitty," he threw a white handkerchief towards me. "Clean all those blood."

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"I said, clean the fucking blood," he repeated.

"So what? Are you going to kill me?" I asked defiantly.

Suddenly, he grabbed my neck pushing me backwards and slamming my head against the car window. A shout escaped my lips before he slammed his strong palm against it, sealing both my nose.

"When I talk, you listen, you know why? Because you're my whore and I'mma fucking kill and dispose your carcass where not even the vultures will be able to find if you do otherwise."

I trembled, tears clouding my vision.

"I'm not Jason, you shouldn't mess with me. Incase you want to act funny, remember nobody cares about you. Behave, Taylor Mackenzie."

He released me and I muffled a cry, this was terrible, my life was terrible.

As the car kept moving, I sat trembling in the backseat. I was a lost cause, he was right, no one cared about me.

The streets passed by in a blur outside the tinted windows as I felt the ownership of my life slipping into another's hands, I felt my freedom fading away.

I faced Donovan, trembling as I spoke. "Please, let me go," I pleaded in a small, desperate voice, my eyes pleading for mercy. "Please..."

Donovan remained silent, his jaw clenched tightly as he stared straight ahead, ignoring my pleas.

My heart sank further with each passing minute of his cold indifference. I knew consistent talking would spell trouble for me but I had to say something, anything at all.

"Please, I haven't done anything wrong, to deserve such treatment" I sobbed, my hands clutching the edge of my seat as if holding onto the last shreds of my shattered world.

"I-"

"Enough!" Donovan's voice boomed suddenly, cutting through my cries like a whip. His sharp tone silenced me instantly, leaving only the hum of the car's engine.

"I said, don't mess with me!"

That was it all, I couldn't say another word, I remained quiet, slowly accepting my fate.

We finally arrived at the destination—a sprawling mansion that exuded an air of wealth and power.

My eyes widened in astonishment and dread as I stared at the building. My dad had showed me the building a certain time we went for a ride, he told me it belonged to his enemy and I should avoid the house with my life.

I looked at Donovan, it was him my father was referring to. His was the notorious mafia leader, Donovan Salvatore.

The car came to a stop and I got down together with Donovan. At this point, my fear for him just increased, he was a monster and Jason knew father didn't like him, that was why he sold me out to him. Donovan would always resent me, I was really done for.

I stood some distance from Donovan who spoke to one of the men who arrived with us. Once he was done, he approached me and grabbed my arm roughly. "Come!"

I followed.

Once we were inside the mansion, my senses were overwhelmed by the opulence of the whole place.

Suddenly, a short, lean woman with thick-framed glasses approached us, she glanced at me before heading to Donovan and whispering something to him.

Donovan raised a brow as a look of surprise took over his features. "That's amazing, tell them I'll meet them soon," he said.

The woman nodded and looked at me.

"Emy, meet Taylor Mackenzie, Taylor, the house nanny, Emy."

"Hi, Emy," I said although it sounded more like a whisper.

Emy faked a smile. "Hello, Taylor, I am the house manager and I cook Mr. Salvatore's meals. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask me."

"That won't be necessary as Taylor will be under you, she'll be a servant so it's your duty Emy to show her around. Please make something wonderful for dinner."

Emy faked a smile. "Come with me, Taylor."

I nodded and left with her, I didn't understand how I became a maid, I thought I was his sex toy. At least I had some relevance.

Emy stopped by a door and faced me. "The children of Mr. Donovan got back today and will be having dinner with him, you just need to behave yourself and everything will be fine."

I nodded. "I will." Even though I didn't know what she meant by 'behave' yourself.

"Good, this is your room. A dress is waiting for you, refresh and come out." With that, Emy walked away and I shut the door close.

I walked in and took a deep breath, checking the room out. I eventually headed to the bathroom.

I had a clean bath and dressed into the simple gown that laid on the bed.

On walking to the kitchen, I met Emy who immediately instructed me to blend some fruits. I started immediately, blending it accordingly.

After some minutes, we were both done and waited for instructions. I could hear muffled sounds coming from the dinning room but I knew better than to check it out.

I rubbed both my hands together, waiting for Emy who said she'd be back soon. I didn't know what my purpose in this mansion was, but I vowed to be careful and escape whenever. I needed my freedom, I wanted my life back. Dad was the only one nice to me, his brothers were mean, every other man around me were mean.

The door to the kitchen suddenly opened and Emy walked in. "Get a tray and start dishing," she instructed.

I stood up and pulled out a tray, carefully placing the food inside it. I followed her to the wide grand dining room of the mansion which was adorned with crystal chandeliers that cast a soft, golden glow over the opulent setting.

I gulped as I approached the table where three figures sat—Mr. Donovan, a girl I suppose to be his daughter, and a young man who was the first to look at me. However, his gaze was intense making me uneasy.

I suddenly became nervous as my hands trembled slightly. I couldn't slack, I couldn't get on Emy's bad side.

I carefully balanced the tray, but just as I reached the table, a sudden slip caused the entire tray to crash to the ground. The clatter echoed through the room, drawing sharp gazes from Mr. Donovan and his daughter.

TAYLOR MACKENZIE

"Oh no," I whispered. Emy dropped the tray of steaming food she held on the table and walked back to the kitchen, totally ignoring me. Tears filled my eyes, this was bad. I hurriedly knelt down, parking the glass particles when I got cut.

"Oh my God!" I heard the girl exclaim and stand to her feet, her eyes were wide with concern as she immediately reached out to me, her voice soft and kind. "Are you alright?" she asked gently, her hand grasping my trembling fingers.

"I..I.." I stammered and looked at Mr. Donovan who's stern expression remained unmoved as he regarded me with cold detachment.

"Careless," he muttered under his breath, his disapproval palpable. "As always."

"I'm sorry, I... I'm sorry," I begged, wondering what he'd do to me next.

The girl helped me up, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It was an accident, we all saw it. I'm Olivia by the way. That's my brother, Diego," she introduced but since I was aware the Diego of a guy had been staring at me since I got into this place, I didn't look at him.

After helping me up, Olivia turned to her father, concern etched on her face. "Father, who is she?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Donovan's gaze flickered to me briefly before he replied, "She's our new servant."

I lowered my head, more like his sex toy disguised as a servant girl.

"Why such a young girl?" Olivia pressed further, her brow furrowing with confusion.

"It's not your concern," Donovan replied curtly, his tone brooking no argument.

"Are you serious? Since when did we pick young people for the business?" She asked.

"What business?" I didn't know when the question came out. However, the look Donovan gave me made me shut my mouth.

"I said it before, It's not your concern, Olivia. Stay away," he said icily.

"Dad!" Olivia walked over to his side. I could sense the tension in the room thickening. However, by accident, I looked at Diego. He was still watching me intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing the situation.

"Why exactly is she here?" He asked, speaking for the first time. His voice was deep, manly and just perfect, it matched his features which the dim light seemed to prevent me from beholding.

"We're here to have dinner and spend time together as your mother's memorial service is in two weeks, let's not quarrels over irrelevant things."

"But this isn't irrelevant-" Olivia pressed on.

Suddenly, Donovan slammed his fist on the table, startling I and Olivia but Diego didn't flinch. "I said, drop it!"

Olivia's shoulders slumped in defeat, my death was coming soon because Donovan would surely kill me for causing trouble during his family dinner.

"Now sit, and you-" he pointed at me. "Get out!"

"Let her go!" Diego said with a firm voice that cut through the order of his father. "She doesn't look like the women you bring over," he said, his tone unwavering.

Donovan's expression darkened, his jaw clenching with frustration. "Diego, she's here to serve us," he retorted sharply, his voice laced with authority.

"Why does that sound different?" Diego's gaze hardened as he stood to his feet. "She's bruised," he pointed out firmly.

"Not your problem."

Diego gently placed both hands on the table, looking directly into his father's eyes. "I said, let her go," his voice was calm but there was something about him I couldn't put into place. Donovan seemed shaken by him, who exactly was Diego Salvatore.

Donovan features tightened with displeasure. "I decide what happens under my roof," he stated coldly, his resolve unyielding.

A grin appeared on Diego's face and I didn't understand why, however it was replaced almost immediately by a look of anger mixed with something I couldn't place. "If that's the case, I hope you enjoy your food."

He then pushed his chair back abruptly and strode out of the dining room, his footsteps echoing faintly in the silence that followed.

I was so lost in watching him leave that I didn't realize when Donovan grabbed me from behind and pressed a table knife against my neck, the cold metal sending a shiver down my spine.

Olivia gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "Dad! Stop this!"

Her voice cause Diego to stop and face me. His features darkened more, anger building up within him. He rested on the door, both hands buried into his pockets as he watched with a stoic expression.

"What are you going to do now?" He asked.

"You're staying for dinner Diego else I'll slit her throat, you know I will."

Normally, I would have bet he wouldn't, but when the knife cut a thin line along my neck followed by a sharp sting, I swore he would do it.

I winced as blood trickled down, Donovan would kill me. Tears filled my eyes as I watched Diego, his fist clenched by his sides.

"Alright," he said, his voice relaxed. "I'll stay, leave her."

Donovan hesitated before taking the knife off my neck. However, before I could steady myself, a sharp pain exploded in the back of my head and just immediately, my vision faded. I could see Olivia running towards me until I collasped onto the ground, darkness covering my vision.