"Bought? Who sold me?"
A scoff escaped Alessio's throat at Elian's question. He rolled his eyes, clearing putting it out to the confused, other man that he was bored of the dilly-dallying.
"I don't think you should concern yourself with that. The fact remains that I have paid for your services so just come and do your job and stop asking stupid questions." Alessio said firmly.
The casual way he said it made Elian's skin crawl. Paid for his services, like he was some commodity?
Elian's face scrunched up in disgust and instantly, he snapped at the man with a declaration.
"I wouldn't do such!"
Alessio's lips parted really slightly, that it was hardly noticeable. He was shocked by the declaration. He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly as his eyes narrowed;
"Are you really serious about refusing me?"
He had asked as if refusing him was some sort of crime or abomination and Elian, getting more infuriated now, snapped back without hesitation;
"Who the hell are you that can't be refused?"
At that, Alessio's expression darkened his jaw clenched so tight it looked hurting. He stood up from the bed and approached Elian menacingly, his tall frame casting a shadow over him.
Elian wanted to cower, his body instinctively wanting to shrink back. But then he remembered that he was already doomed anyway. What more could anybody do to him? So he stood tall, forcing himself to meet the man's cold gaze head-on.
Alessio stopped right in front of him, so close that Elian had to tilt his head back to look at him properly. The height difference was intimidating.
"Alessio..." The man announced quietly but his voice was coated with pride, which to Elian was so unnecessary.
"The name rings a bell, right?" He added, a smirk crawling onto his lips. He expected Elian to probably fall onto his knees now, becoming aware of whose sacred presence he was, then jumping up with excitement that he had found grace.
Almost every guy in town knew Alessio. All the gay guys wouldn't hesitate for a heartbeat to strip down to nothing, give their all, deny their partners, just to win Alessio over.
In this city, you were not tripping over for Alessio
So, Alessio believed that this unfamiliar little man before him should be dancing for joy right about now. However, Elian surprised him again by scoffing mockingly, then said;
"No, it doesn't. Perhaps if you could add your surname?"
Alessio had never been insulted like this before. His eyes widened and slowly his hands clenched into fists by his sides.
He hesitated for a moment, peering at Elian's eyes, wanting to see if truly this man had no knowledge of him or he was just being ridiculously brave enough to spite him.
"Uhm?" Elian prompted, with an raised eyebrow.
"Lombardi." Alessio gritted out after realizing that indeed this man didn't know him.
The name hit Elian like a physical blow. He staggered back in fear immediately, his eyes widening as the realization slammed into him.
Lombardi? It was the brother of the man he had injured, probably killed. The same mafia family.
His mind spiraled that this definitely wasn't some random mix-up. This was punishment. The Lombardis had thrown him into their heir's private cell as some kind of twisted revenge.
But instead of fear, a different emotion surged through Elian. Rage...
"Fuck you! Fuck you and your entire family! Isn't this extreme enough as punishment? Getting sold to be a sex toy? Is this what your powerful family does?" He yelled, his voice shaking with anger.
Alessio's eyes narrowed, confusion flickering across his face for just a moment before it hardened into cold fury. He didn't understand what Elian meant, but it didn't matter. What mattered was that someone was disobeying him. Disrespecting him.
"You will obey me," Alessio said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. He took another step closer. "Because I own your body now. Every part of it belongs to me."
"I will never be reduced to that! Never!" Elian yelled back, not caring anymore.
Alessio's nostrils flared and he was rendered speechless for a moment.
No one had ever dared refuse him, insult him, challenge him so openly. In his entire life, people either worshipped him or feared him. But this man, this nobody, was doing neither.
A low chuckle escaped Alessio's throat. Then another. Soon he was laughing, but the sound was dark and unsettling.
"Interesting! Very interesting!" he murmured, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous.
He leaned in close, so close that Elian could feel his breath. "I'm going to show you exactly what I'm capable of. I'm going to break you piece by piece until---"
A knock interrupted him.
Alessio's head snapped toward the door, irritation flashing across his face. "What?"
The door opened and a prison guard stepped inside, his eyes darting around the room nervously. And when his eyes landed on Elian, he gasped, shaking his head slightly.
The guard moved closer to Alessio, lowering his voice. "Sir, I need to inform you... this isn't the person that was arranged for you. There's been a mix-up from the police station."
Elian could hear every word clearly and he heaved a sigh in relief, his shoulders sagging as hope flooded through him.
He believed that since they had established this was a mistake, they'd let him go now.
But Alessio glanced at Elian right at that moment and his face scrunched up in annoyance when he saw the look of relief spreading across Elian's features.
He turned back to the guard sharply. "Leave."
The guard hesitated, clearly reluctant to go. He was hoping that Alessio would allow Elian to follow him immediately, to correct the obvious error. But Alessio just stared at him coldly, using his eyes alone to chase the guard out without another word.
The guard swallowed nervously, gave Elian one last apologetic glance, then left.
Elian immediately tried to follow, rushing toward the door. "Wait, I should-"
Before he could take a step forward, a strong arm wrapped around his waist and yanked him backward. Elian stumbled, his back colliding with Alessio's chest.
They were pressed together now, Alessio's arm still around his waist, holding him in place. Elian's breath caught. The proximity was overwhelming. He could feel Alessio's heartbeat against his back, could smell his scent and feel the heat radiating from his body.
He turned his head slightly and found himself face to face with Alessio, mere inches away.
The sexual tension was suffocating.
Elian swallowed hard. His body was reacting strangely to the closeness, a warmth spreading through him that he didn't want to acknowledge. And even though he wouldn't say it aloud, he thought Alessio was the most handsome man he had ever seen.
Even in prison clothes, even while threatening him...
Then, Alessio's lips curved into a smirk, like he could read every thought in Elian's head.
"My toy isn't going anywhere," he murmured.
The words snapped Elian out of whatever trance he'd fallen into. He grabbed Alessio's arm and yanked it off, shoving himself away.
"I'm not your toy!" Elian yelled in his face. "I'm not, and I will never be anyone's toy!"
Alessio felt offended by the rejection and the defiance. He pouted slightly, an almost childish expression on such a dangerous yet handsome face, then nodded his head slowly after a few seconds as if making a decision;
"Since you're being stubborn, I'll make sure to break you and make you crawl between my legs to beg to suck me."
Elian's face flushed with anger. He retorted sharply without thinking;
"I'd love to see you try."
The duo glared at each other intensely, neither willing to back down first.
Then Elian suddenly broke the staring contest and ran to the door. He banged on it hard with both fists, the sound echoing in the cell as he demanded to be let out;
"Open the door! I landed here by mistake!"
Alessio, on the other hand, just chuckled darkly at the display. He turned and went to sit back on his bed casually, leaning against the headboard as he watched the show with clear amusement playing on his face.
Elian shouted louder, his voice getting desperate. "Guards!"
After a moment of silence, a guard stationed outside the cell finally opened the small window-like opening in the door and asked gruffly;
"What do you want?"
"I want to get out of here!" Elian told him desperately.
The guard firstly furrowed his brows as if Elian's words were gibberish, like he had completely lost his mind. Then he told him flatly, without any sympathy;
"The order would have to come from your owner."
Owner. That word again. Elian wanted to run mad at that term. "My owner? I don't have an-"
But before he could finish ranting, the guard closed the window shut.
Elian gritted his teeth in anger and frustration. He slowly turned around and looked back at Alessio who was busy smirking at him from his comfortable position on the bed, clearly enjoying every second of this.
"What are you doing to me?" Elian snapped at the man, his voice slightly trembling.
Alessio replied calmly, like they were discussing the weather;
"You belong to me now and you won't leave. Simple as that."
"No, you can't do this!" Elian shouted.
"Well, I just did." Alessio shrugged nonchalantly, then paused, studying Elian's face.
"But since I'm feeling generous, you have the grace to choose between two options - either become my sex toy or become my maid."
An exasperated scoff ripped out of Elian's throat. He couldn't believe the situation he'd just found himself in.
His life had gone from bad to worse to absolutely nightmare in the span of a single day.
And judging by the look on Alessio Lombardi's face, it was only going to get worse from here.
Which would it be: maid or toy?