Rule #1: Never Date An A.C.E. [COMPLETED]

Chapter 14: Rule #31: Choose Your Torture Carefully

The light from the bulb isn't enough to reach the corners of the basement, but it shows me enough to worry about my situation. As the adrenaline from earlier begins to slip away, I shiver in the cold of the basement, annoyed all I am wearing is a short dress and heels. The rancid smell only increases as time ticks away. I eventually stand, wobbling from the shoes, but too afraid of what I could catch if I took them off. I test the length of the chain, walking throughout the room. A large spider catches my eye and I advert my gaze, glad that it is in the further corner. I find a working toilet, that surprisingly isn't too dirty, and it's about the only thing in the room not covered in blood. Blood cakes the ground and the walls, some splotches obviously fresher than others. I sink back to the floor and try to plot an escape plan. As I am in the middle of a widely absurd one, the door creaks open at the top and Dean walks in. His eyes flick to me, before returning his gaze to the stairs as he walks down them.

"It's a shame, really," Dean drawls as he sits on the last step, facing me. "You could've really been an asset to us, Isabella."

I shrug, "I didn't know Luca was so obsessed with me that he would propose to me on our first date after kidnapping me. Saying it out loud makes it sound even more ridiculous."

Dean sighs, "It's all he's talked about for years since you two broke up."

"He's the one that broke up with me," I state, past anger resurfacing. "Everything was fine until he ruined it."

"He only did it because of this," Dean gestures all around, making me assume he means the gang. "Didn't want you involved. None of us did, we all loved you." Dean smiles sadly. "Then we heard rumors of you being picked up by Ace, and Luca decided that if you were going to get into this business, you would be on our side."

"I'm not sure I would have," I answer and Dean nods.

"I figured. You were always the goodie-two-shoes of the group."

"Why are you here, Dean?" I tilt my head curiously. "I'm sure it isn't to bring up old times."

He sighs again, standing, "I wish it was." He approaches me as his face turns dark and I try to scurry away. The chain blocks me from moving further and I put up my hands in an attempt to defend myself from whatever will happen next.

"Before you do anything," I say, still standing at the ready. "What is becoming of Lacey?"

"She's been taken care of," he answers and my heart drops, assuming the worst. Before I can clarify, he takes a swing at me. I easily block and counter, but with my chained leg, it is difficult to move the way I want and Dean soon gets the upper hand. A fist connects with my cheek and my head swirls as I pitch to the side from the impact. I regain my balance, but am not able to retaliate before he kicks my stomach, causing me to hunch over, gasping for breath.

"What...what do you want from me?" I'm able to wheeze out, and I hear a dark chuckle from the top of the stairs.

I turn my eyes to meet Luca's, not watching Dean as he pushes me from the back into the wall. I bang my head and collapse to the ground. I see black dots on the edge of my vision when Luca's face appears above me.

"I want nothing. Just for you to feel the pain that I have felt for years," he laughs again, landing a swift kick to my stomach, reminding me of the fight with Lacey. He then leaves with Dean trailing behind.

"Dean..." I cough out, pleading. He pauses at the top of the stairs, but doesn't turn around as the door is closed and locked behind him. I heave deep breaths and cough as the stench in the basement seems stronger, when I realize my forehead and nose are bleeding. I try to wipe my face, but it is a struggle to lift my arms. After a while, I give up trying and just allow a pool of blood to surround my head, my vision drifting in and out. I fall asleep at some point, too tired from the fight and blood loss. My dreams are images of the Three Princes and Lacey and her crew teaming up to beat me. I don't fight back, just allow them to hit and kick me as much as they like.