I sat on the bed, unable to move. Daniel just walked out on me.

I knew he was upset but why would he leave me alone like this?

I played with the silver diamond ring on my finger; I couldn't believe Daniel saved this in all this chaos.

It had a five-karat diamond at the centre surrounded by silver, vine-like strips snaking around the diamond and inside the ring was 'Nia' in cursive.

Each time I looked at the ring, it reminded me of the time when Bra—Daniel proposed to me.

It was our ten-month anniversary and I was all dolled up. His butler had arrived and ushered me to a black Audi, driving me to Daniel's penthouse.

I was to meet him on the roof and there I was when suddenly I saw a helicopter flying overhead. The lights blinding me and when it was dimmed, I looked up again.

The next thing I knew I saw someone jump out of the helicopter. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed it was Daniel.

I yelled out his name in fright as he fell towards me. He pulled a string and instantly a parachute opened. On this parachute were the words 'Marry me' written in pink cursive letters.

My heart was beating off the charts and a smile was plastered on my face. When he came down smoothly and landed on top of me, taking me down with him. It was then I gave him my answer.

"Yes!" I said as I looked into his eyes.

"My Nia," he leaned forward and kissed me.

Even after my answer, he wanted to give me the speech he had prepared so I calmed down enough for him to say it.

'Shania Jakes, I've only known you for ten months, but you've been the most influential person in my life," he had started. "I haven't felt so alive in my life, I know that it's a bit cliché what I'm saying know but it's the truth. I love you Shania and no matter what, I will never leave you. I will risk my life for you. You're my queen, my everything. So, I was wondering if you would do me the honour of being my love, my only reason for existing, my everything, my wife?'

I hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.

'Yes, yes, yes!' I had screamed.

He slipped the ring onto my finger and I kissed him with so much emotion. I was so happy.

'I love you,' I said as we kissed.

'I love you too,' he responded.

That was the happiest day of my life.

A tear slipped from my eye as I remembered that night. The happiness I had felt, the joy that ran through me and the joy in his eyes. I loved him, I still do but he kept on hurting me over and over again. I know he was hurt that the baby wasn't his but it wasn't my fault.

I wasn't strong enough... Years of training and emotional pain yet I hadn't grown strong enough to fight my tormentor.

His words played in my head and I couldn't help the tremors that shook me.

'The more you fight, the more I hurt you. The more you cry the harder I go. I'm going to make you wish you were shot instead of Alia.'

I fell to the ground crying as the memories came flooding into my mind, I hugged myself as I cried alone.

After a few minutes of weeping, I got up and went to the bathroom for a shower. The memories of what we did in there came flashing into my mind and a faint smile came upon my face. I washed my body with a strawberry scented body wash and the water washed away both my tears and the suds.

I pulled on a white robe and used a towel to dry my hair. I walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom, pulled on a pink sports bra and sweatpants.

Suddenly, I heard the door to the bedroom jiggle, I was happy. I thought it was Daniel coming back to apologize but it wasn't.

I opened the door to be greeted with a slap across my face. I fell to the ground in shock; I could feel the outline of his fingers on my face. I looked up to see no other than Giovanni.

He was in a black hat and a black jacket.

"Well, well, well, we meet again. Bet you never thought you would see me princesa," he said as he walked closer to me.

"How did you know where I was?" I asked crawling away from him.

He chuckled advancing towards me.

"Rodriquez was working for me all along, princesa. The money he gave you was traceable. He put in a lot of work into our little scheme, it's a shame he died. He was obsessed with you. I told him if he helped me out, he'd have you. He had been a fool to think I'd give up my princesa—"

I didn't even let him finish, I didn't want to hear anymore, I need to get out of here. I kicked him in his crotch and swept his feet, scampering from the floor as he fell.

Running through the bedroom door, I spotted two men in the living room. When they saw me, they advanced, trying to grab me. I dodged the first man by sliding between his legs and kicking him in the back. He fell face-first onto the ground, hitting his nose and it started to bleed.

The other man grabbed me by my hands and pulled me forward. I jumped up and attempted to kick him in the crotch but he blocked. I then pulled at his hands to distract him and tried again this time succeeding. As he grabbed his crotch, I punched him before grabbing his head and smashing it in the wall.

The other man grabbed me from behind. I stepped on his toe, grabbed his hands twisting my body around, and kneed him in his stomach. I grabbed one of the decorative balls and smashed it against his head. He fell. I turned around and attempted to run out the door when I felt something hit me in my head knocking me out.

***

I had awoken to find myself on a chair bounded by my wrists and ankles. I had a major headache and my eyes were blurry. When they cleared, I looked around.

I was in a brightly lit room with grey walls, it was big, and there were two leather chairs and a table in front of me. There in one of the chairs was Giovanni Ferrez. He was looking at me with a smirk on his face and a grey suit tailored to his body, his long hair in a low ponytail.

"I love seeing you like this Shania," he said huskily, standing up before circling me. "Defenceless, weak, in pain and with your breasts glistening with sweat. I love to see you begging me to spare you and to stop. It turns me on."

He walked until he was in front of me, kneeling and stared into my eyes.

"You sicken me," I said through gritted teeth, his face falling. "You rape girls thinking it's okay. You use them for your pleasure, not caring about what happens to them. You're not human Giovanni, you're a fucking monster. A big, ugly fucking monster," I spat in his face.

He wiped the saliva from his cheek and then smiled at me, one that sent chills down my spine. He punched me in my stomach hard, so hard I tasted blood. Giovanni grabbed me by my chin, looked at me with a chuckle before slapping me. He then attempted to punch me in my stomach again.

"No! My baby!" I yelled out as tears streamed down my face.

He paused and looked at me shocked, trying to comprehend what I had said. He finally snapped out of whatever he was in.

"Is it mine, princesa?" he asked with his voice a bit softer.

This bipolar mother—

"You don't deserve to know... and even if it is yours, I wouldn't want my baby to call a monster like you dad!" I shouted.

His anger flared up again and he was about to hit me again when a door opened, a man coming into view.

"Alright, Giovanni. I'll take over from here—"

Giovanni hesitated for a few minutes before stepping back and the man came into view.

He had greying hair and a wrinkled smile, one that could give you nightmares. He was in a black suit with a red undershirt and shades covered his eyes.

His shoes tapped on the concrete as he advanced towards me. "Welcome, Mrs. Homes."

His voice was raspy and cold. "I'm Lionel Kane, Daniel's father and well, you could say your father-in-law... If I were you I'd get comfortable, you'll be with us for a long time, my dear."

With that, he smiled before lighting a cigar and crouching in front of me.

"Now where should I start?" he asked himself, puffing out smoke in my face. "Oh yes. I know."

Suddenly pain erupted on my shoulder, flaring heat burning away at my skin. I cried out in pain, the scent of burning flesh surrounding me as Kane laughed and the one thing that flooded my mind was. Daniel please find me...