Attack

Eleni's Pov

I was so shocked I couldn’t even cry. How could my mom do this to me? I knew she didn’t really like me and I never knew why. Despite doing everything to be a good daughter to her, we had never been close. It seems even the sight of me annoyed her, but I’d never have believed she would try to kill me.

Because dead is what I would be if the Makris brothers didn’t get their money in thirty minutes time. I looked under the mattress again. She really had taken my money and left with her favorite child, Nick. I was sure she had tricked him into leaving. Nick loved me too much to agree to any wicked plan against me.

She had probably lied to him that I had agreed with her that leaving was best and would join them later. When I don’t show up and he realizes what Mom has done he would be devastated. Just like I was devastated now. How the hell was I going to get out of this mess?

My first thought was to run away, but with just a few dollars in my purse how far was I going to run before the brothers caught me. I shuddered thinking what they would do to me. No, the only answer was to face them and tell the truth, maybe I would work out a way to pay back what my dad owed. They may be merciful if they saw how sincere I was. It was a choice of the devil and the deep blue sea, and I choose to swim. I left the house and began walking to their club. I had walked a couple of feet when a car pulled up besides me, and a man I recognized as one of the men who had come with Alexios stepped out.

“The boss is waiting.” He said harshly.

“I am on my way to see him.” I said trembling as I got into the car with him. On the way it occurred to me that the man had been watching the house, probably so I won’t run away. I was happy I hadn’t, but also confused. Why hadn’t he seen my mom leave? I was still thinking about it when we arrived. I was trembling as I walked to Alexios’ office, but to my relief he wasn’t there. Instead it was a slightly older, taller, kinder looking man.

“I'm Christos, my brother Alex says you have our money.” He said.

Without wasting time I told him everything then waited for his decision.

“I am sorry this happened to you.” He said finally. “And because you didn’t try to run away I’ll be merciful. I’ll give you a chance to work for me and pay off your debts. You can either work as a stripper in our strip club every night, or a waitress in our bar at nights and a cashier in our supermarket by day. I will suggest the strip club, you will make money faster.”

I hated the idea of being a stripper so I choose the second job.

“You will live in the staff quarters so we can keep an eye on you.” He said.

I agreed. I couldn’t afford the rent in our place anyway. I was now officially their slave and two months later here I was working two jobs, which meant I didn’t have time for my baking business, so it collapsed. It also meant I got a lot of unwanted attention from men. The first day one of them, Glykos, grabbed my breast and I slapped him in anger.

“How dare you hit me you bitch!” He yelled grabbing my arm.

Luckily Christos was nearby and intervened. When he heard when happened he was pissed.

“You know the rules Glykos, you don’t touch the girls without consent!” He yelled.

Glykos tried to apologize but Christos ordered his men to teach him a lesson. They beat him up and broke his arm, after that the other men kept their hands to themselves. But not Alexios. He kept flirting with me and won’t take no for an answer. Now as I knocked on his door at midnight I wondered what he was going to try now.

“Come in.”

I walked in carefully. He was sitting on his sofa and his eyes lit up as I came in, then darkened when he saw I’d changed from my skimpy uniform into my usual t-shirt and jeans, but he didn’t say anything. I looked around and saw he was alone. Why had he sent his bodyguard away? I thought anxiously.

“Come and sit down and have a drink. I want to talk to you.” He said patting the seat besides him.

I obeyed reluctantly, sitting away from him.

“Yo don’t have to be scared Leni,” he said handing me a drink and moving closer. “I will get straight to the point. I like you and want you to be my girl, in exchange I’ll convince Chris to forget your debts.”

I stared at him, shocked by his audacity. I’d die working before I dated this jerk.

“Thank you sir but don’t worry. I promised to work off my debt and I will.” I said carefully.

He frowned, then pulled me closer and tried to kiss me. I pushed him away in disgust and stood up.

“Please sir I am not interested.” I said firmly.

Before I realized what was happening, he had his hands around my throat and was squeezing hard.

Blood pounded in my ears and my tongue protruded.

“No one says no to me you whore!” He fumed.

I struggled to loosen his grip as I realized he was trying to kill me, then I remembered a self-defense technique my dad had taught me years ago. I rammed my head with all my force into his face. He screamed in pain and let me go. I jumped back, coughing and gasping for air.

“You bitch!” He yelled. Blood was dripping from his nose and his face was contorted in murderous fury as he rushed towards me. I knew without a doubt he would kill me if he got his hands on me. In desperation I picked up a footstool nearby and brought it down on his head.

He crumpled to the floor. I leaned against the wall trembling from fear and adrenaline, wondering what Christos would do when he heard I’d knocked out his brother. Then I froze in horror. Alexios wasn’t moving. Still holding the stool I went closer to him.

“Are you okay?” I asked hoarsely.

Then I saw the blood trickling from his head and panic gripped me. He was dead and I had killed him!