Page 151 of The Devil's Fire

“What’s your name?” I smiled and took her hands in mine, trying to give her some comfort.

“Laila.”

“Laila, are you in any danger? Do you need help?” I asked softly, letting her know it was okay to tell me. She was hesitating to say anything.

“What’s taking so long?” The man suddenly erupted. She flinched, squeezing her eyes shut.

“Just a minute!” I said loudly, not hiding my annoyance with him. “Listen, Laila, I can help you. You don’t need to be with someone like that. Stay here while I get help, okay?” I gave her a reassuring smile. There was no way I was letting her go with that dickhead.

I didn’t exactly have a plan, but all I had to do was to make a call and Luca and Giovanni would come in here instantly.

She stopped me before I could step out of the dressing room.

“H–he has a gun.” Laila looked at me hopelessly, on the verge of tears. Even I had to take a moment and not let her know that I was scared now. I had to be the strong one.

“Don’t worry, I can get help.” I gave her hand a tight squeeze before getting out of the dressing room. The man’s cold eyes snapped at me when I stepped out, sending a chill down my back, but I held my head high.

“I took the wrong size for her. I will be back with the right one.” I gave a tight smile and hurriedly went to the desk to grab my phone.

Only to find it missing.

Panic surged through me as I desperately looked around for my phone in my purse, the drawers, under the paperwork. But it was gone.

Fuck!

“Looking for this?”

I jumped and turned around. He let out a sinister smile and waved my phone in front of my face.

I backed away when he slowly inched closer, trapping me between the desk and him. I glared at him even though my heart was furiously beating. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing me scared.

“Give me my phone back.” I frowned, but he just let out an evil snicker. He shook his head and made a tsking sound while pressing himself against me. His face came so close to mine that I had to turn away from him.

“You were only supposed to get us a dress. And now look at what you have done in a pitiful attempt to masquerade as a strong woman. You are only designed to spread your legs and please us.” He hissed.

My eyes widened when I felt a gun against my stomach, wincing when he pressed the gun harshly into me and violently grabbed my hair.

“Now, go back and get us a dress, and I won’t shoot your guts out.” He pushed me roughly in front of him and followed closely behind me as I walked back to Laila.

He had his gun pressed against my back, and it filled my body with fear. I put my hand to my stomach and took a deep breath. I couldn’t even run out to alert someone. I had to think of something fast.

I quickly glanced at the clock on the wall. Damiano would be here shortly since I was supposed to close soon. We just had to hang on tight until then.

“Okay, let’s get you into a dress.” I gave Laila a warm smile, trying to let her know everything was going to be okay, but she looked like she was about to pass out.

“You keep that open.” He said before I could close the curtain. I glared at him, but he just waved the gun, daring me to defy him. I slowly let go of the curtain and turned my back to him, trying to cover Laila as much as possible as she shakily undressed.

I clenched my jaw. No one deserved to be stuck with a douche like him.

I moved out of the way after she finished getting dressed, allowing him to see her. He looked her up and down, not impressed with what he was seeing, and all I wanted was to spit at him in the face.

“If only she had the body for it.” He looked at her with disgust. “You! Let me see it on you.” His sinister smile returned as he looked at me. He leaned back on the couch with his arms and legs spread, still holding the gun in his hand.

“That’s not a service I provide.” I spat out.

The smirk slowly faded from his face, and was replaced by an icy, lifeless expression as his eyes bore into mine. In an instant, he sprang from the couch so fast I had barely time to react as he stood before me. Laila let out a gasp and backed away, and I tried to step away from him, but he gripped my arm and pressed the gun against me again.

“You do as I say, you fucking whore! Get undressed and let me see those fucking tits.” He yelled, his grip tightening and making me clench my jaw in pain.