Possession by Laila Ali (best authors to read txt) 📕

"Now stand up," he said rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing his veiny arms.

Zahra immediately stood up, fearing he might hit her again. And instantly grabbed her dupatta from the bed, draping it all over to cover herself.

"Come with me," he ordered in his deep voice and turned around, heading towards the door.

Zahra froze in her place after listening to his words. These three words were enough for her to knock the breath out of her lungs. Her mind flooded with haunting questions.

What does he want from me? Where he is taking me? What if he does something to me? Why he is doing all this to me? Is this because of that rejection?

When he noticed, Zahra isn't following him, he looked back and saw her standing frozen in her place. Her eyes were widened, she was clutching her dupatta tightly and her breathing was ragged. He slowly approached her and seeing him coming towards her, she stepped back but within two strides he was standing in front of her.

"Why aren't you coming?" he demanded.

"I do... don't want to come," her voice shaky.

He brought her hand near her face and she flinched thinking he was going to slap her. He slowly caressed the same cheek where he previously slapped, daring her to disobey him.

Zahra got the signal, the hidden threat behind his 'caress'. He was purposely caressing the same cheek to recall her, his slap. She knew he will do worse if she'll not follow him and she did not want that. Her jaw was swollen from that single slap, her back was in immense pain, her throat was as if it was pressed together due to his tight grip and has red marks on it, and her scalp was burning due to his manhandling. She just can't take it anymore.

"You won't come Zahra?" he asked in his cold, calm and menacing voice.

The back of his fingers was smoothly caressing her swollen cheek. Zahra kept her eyes down. Shivers ran down her spine when she heard her name rolling off his tongue so smoothly. And his question was causing goosebumps all over her body. She had no idea that his question was dreading her more or his mere voice.

"Hmn?" he retreated his hand back.

"I...I" she was unable to form any words. The seriousness of the situation slowly sank in pooling her stomach with dread. She was anxious about what might happen if she'll go with him.

He raised his perfect brows urging her to answer.

"I...will," she told in her small and shaky voice. Her heart, mind, soul everything was screaming her to say no to him. But she had not enough courage to say that to him. She knew by hook or crook he will have his way with her and in the end, she'd have to go with him. His whole demeanor was screaming danger and trouble. Just minutes ago he beat the shit out of her only by saying a no to him and now she cannot repeat the same mistake.

"Wise decision, señorita. Move ahead." he gave her the space, cocking his brow and now he was following her.

She opened the door of the room and right in front of her was the door of her mother's room. Something hit her mind and she begin to take fast steps towards Ammara's room which was only 10 steps away. She didn't care whether he is behind her or not, the only thing which she was caring about right now was somehow getting to her mother's room, and then she will be out of danger.

She was moving like a maniac. Her legs turned into a jelly and immense fear had her tripped and she fell. She looked back to see whether he was following her or not and what she saw worried her more. He was leaning against the doorframe of her room and looking at her, amused. All calm and composed.

Zahra was shocked but cared less and immediately stood up. Now she was 1 step away, just one step. One step away from her freedom. Her mind was forming images in her brain that when she'll open the door, her mother will instantly wake up and she'll cry her heart out on her lap complaining about this monster who slapped her and manhandled her. She'll show her mother her swollen cheek, her back, her scalp, her throat. Her mother will apply the ointment and relax her and she will safely and securely sleep on her lap, protecting her all night from Irtaza.

A small smile formed on her lips and her vision blurred with tears of happiness. Her hands reached the door handle and her fingers were about to cover that 2-millimeter difference from the handle when abruptly her arm was snatched back and she crashed into his hard chest of Irtaza.

Her back was against his front and he pressed the nozzle of his gun just above her kidney. His minty breath fanned against her ear shell and she could smell his sweet-scented extremely expensive cologne.

"Move or I'll shoot," he huskily whispered his threat close to her ear, demanding her to move into the hallway.

Zahra gasped with horror. A feeling of helplessness crossed her heart. She felt so alone, so weak, so dependent. She wanted to scream at the moment. Scream aloud that her voice reaches the heavens and her father could listen to her pleas that how this man who was holding her in his arms slapped her, hit her. Her tears which were minutes ago tears of happiness converted into tears of helplessness and proudly fell her eyes streaking her rosy cheek, wet.

He pressed the gun more into her threatening her to move. And she moved.

Moved towards her cage.

Towards her prison.

Her hell.

They both reached outside the building of haveli and that's when Irtaza removed the gun from her back. The security guards who were performing their duties, on seeing the head of the haveli was coming became extremely vigilant and over efficient in the fear of him.

He held her arm in a vice-like grip and followed her out to the haveli gates where a black SUV was parked. He opened the passenger door with his keys shoved Zahra inside and baby locked it. Zahra hit the window several times at least someone could hear her violent knocking and help her but if someone had still he'd not be able to help her because who can go against this notorious and ruthless mafia don.