Bounded To You

Where it all began.

I woke up to the beeping sound coming from my phone. I hate early mornings especially when i have too work. I turned the alarm off, taking a deep breath in the process. I'm working day shift at the ballpark blue bar today. Getting my long, brown hair up into a high ponytail, i made my way to the bathroom, staring at the mess in the mirror. My tanned skin looked yellow and my lips drier than the earth crust. I took a deep breath in ,today is going to be okay, i tried to convince myself. I hopped into the shower quickly since my shift starts at 8am. As soon as i finished dressing into jeans and a simple black tank top i grabbed my keys and locked my apartment door behind me. My apartment may be small but its all i got for now. At least i have a roof over my head and a kitchen to stuff my face with. Its not much but its worth more than anything, I've had in the past. My name is Anebela Costa. I'm twenty two years old, my parents died when i was ten years old in a tragic accident where our house caught on fire. Ever since than i was on my own. I was placed into a foster care system where they moved me from house too house. I had to deal with torture and abuse for ten years, so when i turned eighteen i ran far, far away from them. I moved here to Florida and did a few jobs here and there to make ends meet. until a year back, i got this bartending job. I both equally love and hate this job with a passion. It pays the bills so i should not complain about it. If anything I worked my ass off to get here and trust me it wasn't easy.

I clocked into my shift at the bar and immediately got to work. I placed all the different whiskeys and spirits neatly in a row, after wiping down the wooden bar table. I moved all the bar stools, sweeping underneath them to clean up the place a bit. I basically have to prepare the bar for customers because we open at 10AM. I noticed my boss, a middle aged Italian man, who goes by the name Marco.  He seems a bit irritated talking on the phone, his face frowning as he rapidly spoke Italian, whilst his hands move up and down, as if the person over the phone could see him. "Anebela" I snapped out of my trance, he called me. "yes Marco?" he proceeded to ask me, "I need you too come in tonight, I will pay you double for it" he pleaded desperately. I let out a sigh, "sure thing boss", well there goes my freedom. Deep down I cringed a bit, knowing i'll have to push through until 2AM tomorrow morning. "Also Anebela, I've got important men coming in tonight for a meeting. The bar is reserved for them, whatever happens just respect everyone and don't do anything stupid, these men are dangerous and don't play games" he said with a glint of worriedness glossing over his tired eyes. I'm starting to think this is why Marco is acting strange. About two months ago, i met Marco. He has given me this job and basically is the closest thing i've had to a leader in my life. This was the first time in 22 years, that i didn't feel like a total disappointment. I have a good job, I'm living in my own apartment and making a living for myself. My past wasn't always this clean unfortunately. When i was 18, i stripped for cash and did things i am not proud of, not willingly but i needed the cash back than so i did what i had to do to survive-sue me for it. 

A few hours has passed, I cracked open a can of redbull, gulping a few sips down in one shot, attempting to wake myself up, since I'm working night shift. I got behind the bar serving some of the clients their drinks, and topping off Marco's cup with whiskey. He seemed quite on edge today and i'm pretty sure it's because of this meeting. Time went by rather quickly, until 11pm came around, Marco had turned the store sign from opened to closed. "Relax Marco, everything is going to be fine" I reassured him. I noticed he poured himself another drink and drank it all in one swing. "Anebela, whatever happens tonight, i want you to know I'm really proud of you." he said a bit sluggish. "if you keep talking like that I'm going to assume you're trying to fire me" i said with a laugh at the end. Before he could reply to me the bar door swung open, ringing the little bell at the top. I looked towards the door and saw a group of men entering. This must be the men Marco was talking about. The men were all wearing tuxedos, except for one man, he was wearing a black dress shirt, his sleeves rolled up half way revealing some of his arm tattoos. His shirt unbuttoned perfectly too reveal some of his chest and even more tattoo's all the way up to his neck. His skin is sun-kissed and his hair black as night. This man is walking sex. Fuck, i thought to myself, his so tall and his muscular build adds to his sex appeal. "Anebela" Marco's called me, diverting my hot gaze to him "why don't you get us a good bottle of whiskey?" he said rather than asked nervously. Whoever these men are, they have Marco in a frenzy. I placed clean cups on a tray and a very expensive bottle of whiskey. I slowly made my way across the bar, pleading to the god's above me too not drop anything. As i placed the cups down, i made eye contact with the very attractive man, his face not giving any emotion. "So Marco, you and i had a deal?" he looked at Marco in all seriousness "yes boss, but she isn't apart of this, she has no idea" he said, his forehead dripping in sweat. "Marco, si, si " he waved his hand. O this man is definitely italian. "I told you to report back to me, you didn't" if looks could kill, Marco would be ash by now. As i began to make my way back to the bar, a voice called my name "Anebela" Mr handsome summoned me, rolling my name off his tongue. "Anebela , come join us " he said, throwing me off a little bit. "Sir, i don't think that would be very" i was about to finished my sentence when he rudely interrupted me "shut up and join us " he glared at me, while i processed what just happened.  I shot a look over to Marco who gave me a warning filled facial expression. What a fucking asshole, i thought to myself as i walked back to the table. I watched mister handsome digging at the back of his pants. He pulled out a hand gun, i tensed up, sensing danger. He placed the gun on the bar table. I stood there dumbfounded and scared, what is this bullshit. "where do i sit ?" i asked, not making any sudden moves because i don't want to die. "Here" he replied, tapping on his leg for reference. He wants me to sit on his lap, my cheeks betraying me by turning a shade of pink. I had no choice but to obey because he has a gun, so i made my way over to him and sat down slowly. He grabbed my hips locking them in place and something about him touching me made me scared and excited at the same time. "Marco, i can see why you've kept her a secret " he laughed, he was the only one laughing. "Boss, i didn't want to give you mis-information, i needed to be sure she was the girl you were looking for" Marco's said, as i placed two and two together. These men are talking about me. Fuck my life, what is going on. I started getting restless, my hands getting sweaty with anxiety, and my heart beat picking up it's pace. My mind is racing with unbelievable thoughts. "You know how paranoid i've been Marco" he shouted across the bar, grabbing his untouched drink and throwing it aggressively to the floor, breaking glass everywhere.  "You are lucky i need you Marco, but make no mistake if you dare lie to me again, i will end your life as fast, as i gave it purpose" he threatened Marco's, while pointing the gun at his face. My heart is beating so fast i can hear it through my chest. "Grazie, (thank you) Dante, i will not disappoint you " he said relieved, giving me the name of this man. "I'm taking the girl" my eyes widened at his statement. Before i could process anything, the words just pushed through my mouth "what, no , why the fuck?" I asked aloud. Marco looked at me like he just saw a ghost. I am still sitting on Dante's lap, as i turned my attention towards him, my eye's lingered to the tattoo on his neck and i inhaled his intoxicating scent. I realised how close i am too him now, goodness i feel flushed at the sight of him. My cheeks turned pink as we made eye contact "i cannot go with you" i stated ,turning away from him. The bar became so silent, you could hear a pin fall on the floor. " i didn't ask you" he said leaning down to my ear, whispering those words, as i felt his minty hot breath flow over my neck. "Who are you and what do you want from me?" i asked defensively, desperately trying to get up from his lap. "You are a fiesty one aren't you" he stated amused at me fighting back. "Yes i am, especially when creepo's like you try to kidnap me " i snapped back at him, "Don't flatter yourself, i need you for business not pleasure." he spat rudely. Now I'm officially curious, why on earth would a man like this need me for "business". My throat all of a sudden dry, my hands pooling beneath me, i don't like this at all, if anything i think I'm going to die of a heart attack. "I'm not going willingly"  i finally mustered up the courage in my soul to speak up. "okay, si, hard way it is than" he said a little to at ease, "Ricardo bring the girl" .