There were a few lucky ones who weren't sold off to various men around the world. No, those few lucky ones got to live on the Upper East Side in a penthouse overlooking Central Park under Saffron's eye.
Of course, there were consequences for living the high life. They weren't allowed to leave the penthouse at all, no matter what time of day or night it was, and if a client came in and chose them for their fun, they had to do it, no questions asked.
The business plan worked for Dominic and Saffron for several years. They didn't live in the penthouse, so they didn't mix business with pleasure, and they were finally making their own money. They were planning on starting a family since the business was booming.
But Dominic died before they could make a baby.
The night he was killed was because his men took the wrong whore. Every pimp and trafficker knew the rules, the main one being that they could only take another pimp's girl if she chose up. Choosing up was when the whore would make eye contact with another pimp. That pimp was now hers, and if the original pimp wanted her back, he would need to pay a fee. The whore they chose that night had made the mistake of looking up from her post, but Dominic's men weren’t pimps, they were muscle. Without thinking, they took the streetwalker to the warehouse, not realizing her pimp was watching. Her pimp knew who the Russos were, and while it was known on the streets not to fuck with them, Manny was just starting his own business and thought he could become king of New York City by taking down the Russo Empire.
Manny followed Dominic's men to the warehouse with two of his own men. When they thought the coast was clear, Manny gave the order to go in guns blazing. When they did, they took Dominic's men off-guard. While Manny and his men were outnumbered seven to three, they had the upper hand and were able to take out Dominic's men with no problem, all the while the women’s screams were heard over the popping of each gunshot.
Dominic heard the commotion and came running from his office, gun in hand, expecting to be backup. The problem was that he was alone since all of his men at the warehouse were dead or severely injured. Dominic was no match for the three men coming in hot.
Manny was the first to see Dominic, and with narrowed eyes, he pulled the trigger before Dominic knew what was happening. The bullet hit Dominic in the forehead, killing him instantly. Manny and his men assumed they had succeeded. What they didn't know was that Dominic had been on the phone with Frank when they entered the warehouse.
Just when Manny and his men thought they were in the clear and all set to take their girl back, plus all of the women held in cages, they walked outside and met their maker. Frank had arrived on the premises and was ready with his own muscle to eliminate the interlopers and take back what was Russo property. Frank stared down at the lifeless bodies of the wannabe pimp and his crew and snarled, "No one fucks with the Russos and lives."
Two Years Later – Eighteen Years Ago
The last thing Frank wanted to deal with after a long day of working was someone stealing from him. He'd expected to go home to spend time with his newborn son, Frank Jr., but business came first, especially when someone was a thief.
When the limo pulled up to the curb where Russell was walking with his wife, Frank almost had a change of heart. But if he allowed one guy to get away with stealing, others would take advantage of him.
The scream was almost deafening after the poor woman realized that Frank had killed her husband. "You fucking killed my husband!" Jackie shrieked.
"I killed a thief."
Tears started to roll down her cheeks, and Frank was seconds from ending her life too, but she was pregnant, and he thought about his sister-in-law. Before Dominic died, he was going to start a family. Frank knew that Saffron always wanted a baby, and now he could give that to her.
"Are you going to kill me too?" Jackie asked.
Frank bit his bottom lip. "No, I have other plans for you and your unborn child.” He instructed his driver to go to the penthouse instead of heading home.
"What are you going to do with me?" Jackie inquired as the car came to a stop at the curb.
Frank grinned. "Put you up in a penthouse, of course."
Jackie furrowed her brow. She looked out the window, seeing skyscraper across from Central Park, but then she looked over at her dead husband, who was still slumped in the seat next to her.
"Out," Frank ordered as he opened the back door. She didn't hesitate as she slid out.
The doorman opened the door for them, tipping his cap and saying hello to Frank. Jackie wondered if this was where he lived. She was walking into the unknown with the man who had just killed her husband, and now it was as though nothing had happened at all. She didn't want to be next. She had a baby on the way, and that baby was a piece of Russell.
Frank and Jackie walked through the lobby to the elevators. After Frank stuck a keycard into the waiting elevator, the lift rose to the thirty-third floor. Jackie was still silent, not believing that she was going to a penthouse. Her apartment in East Harlem was a shack compared to the high rise.
The doors opened, and she saw a man dressed in a suit. She caught a glimpse of a gun sticking out from his suit jacket.
"Where is Saffron?" Frank asked the guard.
"Her room, sir."
"Get her. Now," he ordered.
"Yes, sir."
The guard took the stairs up, and Frank led Jackie to a chair near a coffee table. "Sit."
She didn't hesitate.
A few moments later, she heard footsteps coming from above. Jackie turned her head and watched a pretty, dark-haired woman descend, dressed in a long silk robe and fancy heeled slippers.
"What are you doing here?" Saffron asked.
Frank smiled. "I brought you a baby."
"What?" Jackie shrieked.
Saffron looked at her and narrowed her eyes. "I don't see a baby."
Frank grabbed Jackie's arm, causing her to stand. He tore open the jacket and revealed Jackie's eight-month belly.
"I don't understand." Saffron crossed her arms. Jackie didn't understand either.
"She's going to give birth soon, and then you'll have your baby, the one you and Dom couldn't have together."
"You can't give her my baby!" Jackie protested.
Frank growled. "Shut up! I own you now."
"Own me?" She blinked.
"In this city, I'm the king, which means I can do whatever the fuck I want. Your husband had the audacity to steal from me, so yes, my dear, I own all of you. That value you can bring me is the only reason you're still alive, so if you want to remain valuable, I suggest you keep quiet and do as you're fucking told."
Present Day
Since the moment I met Zell, I couldn't get her out of my head. She had told me that she had been held captive since she was twelve. I thought my father was bad, but this was worse.
Much worse.
What mother didn't let her kid out of the house for over five years? And before that, only to cross the street to feed fucking ducks? I couldn't even imagine not being able to come and goes as I pleased, especially at age seventeen. And to think her mother had all but sold her virginity.
Dad and I took the elevator down to the waiting limo. "Did you have a good time?" he asked as we slid inside.