Chapter 70
Chapter 70
A few hours later
VILLA PRINCIPALE
7:04 PM
“I don’t give a damn that you didn’t manage to sell the weapons! What matters is that you came back with my merchandise.”
I told Khalid about the warehouse incident, but I tweaked the story. I made him believe the men were thieves who tried to threaten me into handing over the weapons, but that Larbi and I managed to turn the situation in our favor. That’s all he needs to know.
“You should be more careful with new clients and only do business with those you’ve known for a long time.”
“You have to take risks to make money. And you’re not paid to complain or give me advice–got it?”
I sigh.
“You should be more cautious, that’s all.”
He gives me a crooked smile that spells bad news.
“Tonight, we’re having guests over to celebrate Hakim’s promotion properly.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“He’s been promoted for weeks and now you want to celebrate that bullshit?”
“It was only with gang members before. Now I have to announce it to members of external gangs too.”
I look at him, skeptical.
“Why now?”
“Why not?”
I sigh in annoyance.
“I’m not attending this party. If you need me, I’ll be in my room.”
“No way. You’re going to make sure you look gorgeous and you’ll stay by Hakim’s side, especially when he gives his speech in front of all the guests.”
I clench my jaw and fists.
“What the hell! I’m not playing the wax doll!”
“Nobody’s asking for your opinion! The outside gangs need to believe there’s an unbreakable unity between all our
members. Appearances matter more than anything. You’ll do as I said. And I don’t want to hear a single threat toward Hakim or I swear Maria will pay for it.”
Same old threats. I give a fake smile.
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Chapter 70
“What time do I need to be ready?”
MAIN VILLA
9:34 p.m.
I stand next to Hakim like a statue. I spend my time smiling hypocritically and laughing at the stupid jokes of the other guests, even though they all know I hate them – and the feeling is mutual.
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Hakim takes advantage of the situation to let his hands roam over my body, but I set boundaries. I want so badly to smash his face in or throw him off a bridge.
I don’t understand the point of this ceremony. The outer gang members don’t need to know Hakim got a promotion. This party is clearly a bad idea and a mistake from Khalid.
I also don’t understand why he decided to organize it today.
“This dress looks great on you, Inara,” Hakim whispers.
For the occasion, I put on a strapless black dress that highlights my chest and my tan complexion. I chose black stiletto heels matching the dress that make my legs look endless. I let my hair down, carefully curled. My makeup is light, with red lipstick.
I glance at Hakim with a tilt of my head that makes my hair sway slightly. I’m playing the part of someone who likes him — for the audience.
The moment I get the chance to show him how much I hate him, I won’t hold back.
“I looked in the mirror. I know what I look like.”
He sighs.
“You’re so cold.”
“No need to be warm with trash like you. The only reason I’m glued to you like an idiot is because Maria’s life depends on how I act.”
“Keep that up and the guests will hear you, which won’t please your father.”
He flashes a sly smile that I return. I gently caress his cheek with my thumb while biting my lip.
“They can’t hear me. So I can tell you, looking you in the eye, that I hate you more than anything in this world and I can’t wait for you to drop dead.”
From afar, the scene must look confusing because the guests probably think we’re exchanging sweet words.
“You’re just a whore, Inara.”
I smile.
“Oh really? Yet you’re the one sucking my father off day and night, it’s pathetic.”
He keeps smiling without reacting to my provocation – which is strange. Normally, he would’ve already threatened me. He must be planning something. He doesn’t know how to control himself.
If he’s managing now, it’s because he knows he’ll be able to take out his rage soon.
Chapter 70
“Your attention, please.”
I turn my head like all the other guests in Khalid’s direction as he starts speaking. He’s standing in the middle of the room on a platform set up just for the occasion. All eyes are on him.
I try to focus, but I keep wondering what Hakim is planning
“We are gathered here tonight to celebrate Hakim’s promotion. Tonight represents a truce between all our gangs, and this evening is entirely in honor of this young man whom I consider like a son. He deserves everything coming to him; he’s brought a lot to our organization and has always been unfailingly loyal. He’s proven to me multiple times that he’s ready to take hundreds of bullets for me and for the gang. It’s totally legitimate that he officially becomes my right hand. Let’s give him a thunderous round of applause.”
The guests start clapping and smiling – all hypocrites! Just serve them alcohol worth a fortune and they become cooperative in no time.
Hakim smiles like an idiot, proud to be the center of attention and to finally get the recognition he’s been craving
Tll now give the floor to Hakim so he can speak. My daughter, Inara, will accompany him since she insisted on being by his side for this very important moment.”
He steps down smiling from the platform under applause.
Before I can even protest, Hakim grabs my wrist tightly, forcing me to come up with him. The guests move aside to make a path, and he walks forward without even asking my opinion.
I find myself on stage in front of everyone.
I feel terribly sick, and I know this is going to end badly. I’m frozen.
Thank you all for coming. Thank you, Khalid, for such an emotional speech. I’m proud to belong to this gang, and I’ll continue to behave with honor in my new role as your right hand.”
–
Hakim is still gripping my wrist tightly. I can’t fight him off the guests might notice, and it would hurt me.
“This gang is a big family made of many members, each with their own place. I’m truly honored to be part of this family.”
I remain indifferent.
First of all, I want to say that in our gang, we do not tolerate disrespect, because respect is the first path to success, right, Inara
I raise my eyebrows. I don’t understand the implication.
“Why are you asking me that?”
I scan the guests one by one until my gaze meets someone who just entered
Alexander is in the middle of the room. He’s wearing a black tuxedo, dark brown designer shoes, and a luxury watch completes the look
He analyzes how close I am to Hakim He doesn’t seem angry or jealous. He raises his glass and takes a light sip.
Why would he be jealous when we owe each other nothing!
Among all the guests who seem impatient with Hakim’s cryptic speech, he’s the only one who holds my attention. I feel like he’s the only real thing, and everyone else is just an illusion
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Chapter 70
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A sharp pain in my wrist brings me back to reality. Hakim tightens his grip. He looks at me with a vengeful glint in his eyes. I’m careful not to show my pain
He starts laughing, then turns me toward the guests, raising my arm in the air as if to present me. They all stare at me,
stunned
“What are you doing. Hakim
Tm introducing you- seems logical”
“What are you talking about? They all already know me.”
He gives a shy smile.
“Dear guests, this evening is also the opportunity to introduce Inara. Inara is Khalid’s daughter and also the biggest slut of all the gangs combined. Some of you already know her by name, and others perhaps more intimately. Unfortunately, this whore belongs to our gang, and we’ve tried in vain to turn her into a decent woman, but she’s so horny nothing seems to stop her…
I am stunned. The guests are laughing – especially at me.
“How dare you do this to me? Let me go right now! What the hell is wrong with you!”
This evening is a truce. To show our good faith, I wanted to be honest with them. You can even offer your services for free -you don’t mind, right? You’re used to doing it for twenty euros, so what difference does it make?”
He just humiliated me publicly. They’re all whispering and mocking me. So this was his plan.
With a sudden move, I break free from his grip.
As I step down from the platform, Hakim pulls out a pair of scissors from his suit pocket. I barely have time to react before he cuts through the fabric of my dress and violently rips it until it tears.
I let out a scream of shock. I try in vain to cover my body with my hands.
I can hear the guests laughing and gang leaders offering to sleep with me in exchange for a twenty–euro bill.
I try again to leave the stage, but Hakim takes advantage of the distraction to violently push me to the ground.
As I fall. I scrape my elbow but still try to cover myself.
“Whores like you don’t deserve to wear clothes!”
I’ve rarely seen so much hate in his eyes. He had this all planned
“You’re nothing but shit”
Under the laughter and indecent proposals of the guests, he spits on my hair as if I were nothing. He approaches, trying to grab me
I shut my eyes to stop sering lam
After a few seconds, the mocking and laughter stop, like time froze.
I open them again. My lips tremble and my eyes widen in shock. My heartbeat becomes more and more erratic.
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Chapter 70
How did he get up here so fast?
Alexander is standing in the middle of the platform, directly in front of me and facing Hakim.
I can only see him from behind – one hand in his pocket, standing tall and proud.
“What do you want, Alexander? The problems of this gang don’t concern you!”
He approaches me and holds out his hand to help me up. He takes off his suit jacket and places it on my shoulders.
“First of all, don’t call me by my fucking name like I’m your damn buddy, unless you want me to fuck up your whole bloodline, bitch — got it?”
–
Hakim glares at him but doesn’t dare speak.
“The problems of your gang? I couldn’t give less of a shit. But the moment you start airing your dirty drama in public and pissing in my ears with it, that’s enough reason for me to step in.”
“She deserves what’s happening to her!”
AD
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