Chapter Five

TRISTAN

Sweet is defeat when you actually win. I grinned at the thought. It only took a drink to get that annoying brat on board, all thanks to her bastard of a father. My grin grew wider; now I have Willow all to myself, and the shock on her face when she learns about it is predictably priceless.

I rose from my seat and rang for the casino's bouncer. Three strongly built men swiftly made their way to my office.

"You called, sir?" the leader came forward.

"Yes, dispose of him," I gestured, signaling them to take the old man. They grabbed him by his arms, ready to escort him out.

"Please, I lost my wife to death, and none of my relatives keep contact with me anymore. I just can't lose my daughter," he pleaded. My grin slowly vanished, and my face twisted in disgust as I signaled for another shot of gin, which was promptly delivered. A nod directed the bouncers to wait. I approached the old man, lightly brushing his collar, and collided my head with his, leaving him confused and shaky. Pulling up my sleeves, I seized his collar, imprinting my hand like a tattoo on his wrinkled face, and kicked him to the curb. He crumpled, cold on the floor, blood gushing slowly from his head.

I brought out Willow's profile the one Jaxon researched on earlier and showed it to the old fool

"You're adding fuel to the fire, you old fool. See this? It's everything about your daughter's profile. You've been gambling away the money she planned to use to pay your debts. It even suggests you're mentally disordered, but you look perfectly fine to me—just drunk, hopeless, and useless. You have balls though, lying that your wife died when it's clear she left."

I walked towards him; he was in tears, attempting to get up as I held his chin up and looked him right in the eyes. Furious, I threw him to the other side of my office. Cuddled weakly, he tried to rise, and as I approached, squatting below, my eyes locked onto his tearful ones. I hissed in disgust at the sight of him.

He moaned in pain, and I moved close to his face. His eyes were red, a clear sign of agony, and it seemed like he could give up the ghost at any moment. I peered into his ember gold eyes, almost similar to Willow's. I sighed, feeling an unsettling sensation as if something were eating me up inside. I couldn't quite define it, but I didn't want to acknowledge it.

I helped the old man up to a chair opposite mine, ordering the bouncers to leave us alone.

"The ambulance will be here soon to pick you up. I'll take full responsibility for your treatment. Once you fully recover, I want you to do exactly as I say," I stated, the atmosphere tense and choking. He looked up at me, sighed, but offered no reply.

"When you're admitted and eventually out of the hospital, I want you to cut all connections with your daughter, starting from now," I added. He gasped, clutching his chest tightly, as if anticipating his demise.

"But, but, sir let us be reasonable here, I know I am a fool for betting over my daughter but please I can't do that." he said almost about to cry and that amuses me how fragile he is now but didn't feel a single guilt, turning his daughter to his maid how absurd.

"You had the chance to be reasonable, betting over your daughter, you didn't care enough to know my offer" I stifle a chuckles, watching his expression darken. I received an intel from Hailey that the ambulance is here, I texted her to direct them to my office.

"Just take away my life Willow is all I have." he knelt down about to pass out, I made my way out of my table and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

I slowly leaned over his ear

"I assure you, I'll look after your daughter. Rest assured, I'm a trustworthy man," I calmly stated. His pupils dilated, and he convulsed on cue. At that precise moment, Hailey entered with medical personnel. Despite Hailey 's disapproving glare, I remained composed as a nurse approached to attend to him.

"He's convulsing; fetch the other wardens and a stretcher. Mr. Tristan, what transpired?" the nurse inquired, injecting him with a gelatinous blue syrup. As he lay down, blood slowly oozed from his mouth, his pupil still fixed. All eyes turned toward me, a mix of suspicion and fear, except for Hailey , poised to retrieve her concealed gun and take action.

I shot the nurse a mischievous grin as some of the medical wards bust in and carried the old man out of my office.

"I don't have to tell you how to do your job but you are supposed to treating the patient instead of asking me stupid questions" i said as Hailey rolled her eyes and the nurse kept pestering me.

"I understand, but I require information to form a diagnosis and provide proper treatment," she explained. Ignoring her, I strolled to my desk, comfortably sitting down with my feet propped up.

"Trust me, for your sake don't ask me questions. I have no authority to give you if I wanted to, you can just form a diagnosis yourself" With a smug grin, I muttered, leaving her in disbelief and shock, rendering her speechless.

"So, you are telling me to give a random diagnosis to the doctor? How will that make my job any easier? I could get fired" Furious, I rose from my seat and marched towards the nurse. Despite my glare, she stood firm, as if trained for confrontations like this, showing no signs of backing down.

"You should prefer getting fired than getting on my damn nerves, make a fucking diagnosis, if you like play miss detective in my office, I don't give a fuck, I've fulfilled my duty by alerting you about the patient and covering the expenses for medications and treatment. Now, do your part and form a diagnosis. Excuse me, I have a party to host," I asserted, as I prepared to leave. "Hailey will escort you out once you're done."

I left the two at my office, I made my way to Jaxon who was drinking.

"Care to drink?" Jaxon offered as I took two shots of vodka and faced Jaxon. I felt tipsy, if I have anymore drinks I might just pass out.

"Enough drinking go get the black SUV." I hoarsed as Jaxon took another shot confused.

"Who's the victim" he asked as I snatch his drink away from him before he could react.

"You will see her for yourself." my grin got thinner and wicked, it frightened Jaxon, I drank his shot and slammed the glass down the table.

"What about the party" he asked

"Hailey has it under control, by the way track this number, that's our target." I said handing him Willow's number and he nods.

WILLOW

Waiting in the subway for an hour, Allison , who volunteered to pick me up, arrived with a bag of chips. We hopped on a train to the other side of town, now rebranded as Good Luck Alley from its former name, Greenwood Alley – a change that intrigued me given its previous reputation.

"Hey Allison , can I ask you a question?" I inquired.

"Shoot." she nodded, handing me some chips

"Why do they call this place goodluck alley?" I asked she slowly nods her head sideways.

"You don't wanna know" she says

"Oh come on, I wanna know please" I whimpered like a five year old.

"They call it Good Luck Alley because, well, good luck trying to get out alive," Allison replied, sending a shiver down my spine.

"And we are walking." I panicked while she snorts laugh like a pig at my discomfort.

"I'm joking, relax. This place doesn't get worse than it already is by midnight, and it's only nine, so we're safe for now," Allison reassured, the last part delivered with a mischievous attempt to spook me.

"I hate you," I pouted.

"And yet, you called me after your old man turned out to be a liar. How are you holding up, sweetie?" she asked, patting my back.

"I'm doing fine. It's just that he has been lying to me all these years and I let him do it under my nose I'm so stupid but I hope he'll do fine without me"

I said as we stopped at at a convenient store and Allison smacks me face.

Why do people keep slapping me ?

Is it slap Willow day ?

"what was that for?" I asked rubbing my sore cheek

"You felt that right? let it linger in your heart. What are you saying? Your dad scammed you for literally four whole years, Willow. It's messed up, and you deserve so much better. Don't give a damn about how he's doing. You're on your own now; it shouldn't bother you for a second. Karma has given you clarity and is serving the justice you deserve – 'freedom.' Don't let your heart get in the way; use your head. Show your dad what he did was a big mistake," Allison passionately declared. Convinced that my dad had deceived and used me, I embraced the idea that I deserved better and strangely found solace in welcoming that slap as a symbol of newfound understanding.

"You're right. I'll show my dad he made a big mistake, I'll get another job and show him he didn't drag me down, speaking of job I have one at the casino can you get my things to your apartment." I pleaded

"It's the least I could do after contributing to getting you fired you don't even have to pay the rent it's all on me" she said as I gave her a bear hug.

"You're the best," I expressed, ready to leave, but Allison called me back.

"If you ever get fired or change your mind, just give me a call, okay? And be back before 12," she advised. I nodded, then ran, gradually slowing my steps.

I just remembered, I got no cash on me and the casino is at the other side of town and it's just 10, i better walk back besides I can't risk it eventually I will get fired why go and let it be done public.

Walking back, I decided to call Allison. Most houses were dimly lit, and not a soul in sight. I dialed Allison's number quickly, just as a mysterious black SUV parked nearby. Anxiously awaiting Allison's answer, I hastened my steps, but I sensed the person on the other end had picked up. Now aware I was being followed, I started running, not bothering to figure out who or what was chasing me. Desperate to escape, I fumbled with my phone, shoving it into my pocket while continuing to run. In a moment of respite, I called Allison one last time, and thankfully, she answered – hallelujah.

"Should I come pick you up?" Allison's voice sounded concerned through the phone. Suddenly, a metal object collided with my head, causing me to drop the phone. Dizzy and nauseous, I looked up to see a stranger in the dimmed darkness taking away my phone. Struggling to get up, I attempted to retrieve my phone, but the stranger beat me to it.

"Willow is no longer Tinailable," he declared, throwing my phone to the floor and smashing it to smithereens. Then, he produced a syringe, stabbing me in the upper arm, rendering me unconscious.

THIRD PERSON POV

Willow sat down blindfolded and tied up having no clue of where she was, making use of her other senses she tries to make out where she is.

"Hello" she yells as loud as she could but only hearing her echos.

"Hello sweetheart" She gulps at the familiar voice.

"It can't be," she quivered in her thoughts. Shaky and sweaty, she prayed fervently that her worst nightmare wasn't becoming a harsh reality.

Her blindfold slowly unmasked revealing the handsome devil of a man before her, Tristan.

"How comical" just her luck that she's seeing the handsome devil once again.

"How comical indeed, miss me? " He winked at her as she Blush a Little forgetting about her unfortunate state.

"You've got the guts to be comical when you have me hostage. I swear, when my father hears about this," she threatened, but he laughed, dismissing her empty words. He walked up to her, squatting down a little, and smiled as he looked right into her eyes—something he couldn't help but find captivating, as if they were worth their weight in Willow.

"What do you want from me, I don't have anything I owe you." She cries out in a struggle he tilts his head sideways.

"That's the thing princess you don't owe me anything but your old man does." it felt like her heart dropped and it was audible through the quiet room, she gasps looking down at the cold floor swimming In her thoughts what her father must have gotten himself into after all these years. And of all people, why did it had to be Tristan Donovan ?

"Please don't hurt him..." she sobs as he holds her chin pulling it close as their nose touches.

"I would never hurt him, besides he's not in the bet." she gasped again louder trying to make sure it wasn't what she was thinking.

"What do you mean by a bet?" She asked as he brings out a cigarette and lights it up puffing it in her face in an attempt to irritate her.

"Your father is a regular customer at my casino, so I made a deal with him. If he wins, he gets half of my property and my casino," he disclosed. She didn't quite comprehend how she got involved but remained curious.

"He lost, didn't he?" she sighed, anticipating her bitter fate.

"Like a toddler playing with fire, he got burnt so quick it was pathetic, you just had to be there." he mocked her unfortunate fate.

"But my father doesn't have any property. What could he possibly give you that got me involved?" she questioned. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth, pressing it into ash and tossing it aside. Horror flashed in her eyes as a simple thought struck her.

"And this is the best part of the deal, that's where you come in, sweetheart." Her eyes widened in shock, unable to believe her father had pulled such a foolish stunt, essentially selling her over a bet.

"And if I don't..." she dared him, attempting to threaten, but he remained unfazed.

He brings out a gun and points it's directly at her and fires it as she hears something or actually someone drop.

She opens her eyes to see one of his men dead on the floor, that was her warning. as he goes up to pick up the dress the dead guy wanted to give to her.

He cuts the rope, he used to tie her up with.

"Wear this." he says as she nods in fear he was dangerous and owns a gun.

"Oh and don't think of running, I own you now and if you wanna keep your old man alive you'll do exactly as I say" he said as she got up and raced to him taking hold of his hand.

"one question, concerning this bet what am I to you, your maid or your sex slave." she said with tears as she slopingly dries it but her tears won't stop flowing her heart is torn again her father has made her life a living hell, Tristan turns to face her seeing her tears soften his threatened glare but he can't let her know he feels pity a weird feeling dancing around his stomach fighting the urge to touch her but not tonight.

Tonight, he celebrated his victory, loosening his grip on her. However, tempted, he cupped her face with his hand, gently wiping away her tears. His hands remained like tattoos on her face, and he gazed into her golden ember eyes, mesmerized by their beauty, enough to blind him, to control him if he didn't look away.

"Your father bet over you without actually knowing my purpose or what I intend to do. So, I'll tell you instead," he disclosed, leaning forward. His breath brushed against her lips, startling yet mesmerizing, his cologne sharply piercing her senses. As he came close, their mouths were barely an inch apart. She gasped in before her lungs felt ready to explode, the tension hanging inches apart, hearts pounding. Tristan , regaining control, leaned across her shoulder to her ear, her senses wide open.

"I get to have you as my bride."