Page 50 of Claimed By the Enforcer

I eyed Luca curiously while his man motioned me toward the door. “Who are you going to call?”

“An old friend.”

Chapter 18

Luca

With the new contest fully underway and all my plans in order, I headed out to the main room to end the girls' preparation time and start the judging. Mira would have the hardest job. She would have to act like she was trying her best while ensuring that she wasn't the one to win the contest. Mira, on her worst day, was a hundred times more beautiful than Giulietta could ever be, but for our plan to work, Giulietta had to win. It couldn’t look fixed or one of the girls might get suspicious. I was banking on Giulietta’s vanity and the other girls’ strange loyalty to her to outweigh any doubts of who should win.

If nothing else was going to teach them a lesson, that night surely would. It would be the compilation of all our work. It would be the night that would reveal what was in store for them. If my plan didn't work to change them, at least I would know that I exacted some type of justice against them for what they did to Mira.

My other concern was, when the time came, that their escape would go smoothly. I didn't want anyone to actually get hurt, mostly because it would cause a diplomatic incident that I didn’t want to bring on to the family. As long as all of that was avoided I would count this mission a success.

The main room was filled with the quiet chatter of girls as they applied finishing touches to their makeup and hair.

"Alright, time's up. Put your brushes and makeup down. It's time for the final touch before we vote for the winner of our little beauty pageant here."

"The final touch?” one of the girls asked curiously. I nodded and one of my men brought out a handful of garment bags.

"The clothes," I stated bluntly.

“Those bags look kind of small,” Giulietta said suspiciously, and an evil grin spread across my face.

I pulled a very revealing pink piece of lingerie from one of the bags, and Giulietta's mouth dropped open.

“You want me to parade around in skimpy lingerie for you to judge and vote on us?” She sounded so offended that it almost made me smile but I forced myself to respond with just a single nod.

“If you want to win,” one of my men added, and that time, I did crack a small smile as Giulietta let out a huff.

“I have been extremely generous. You have several options to choose from in different styles and colors. Make your choices, change clothes, and tidy up your cells quickly before the judging begins.” I paused to check my watch. “You have fifteen minutes.”

The girls quickly picked out their outfits, each trying to beat out the others for the best outfit, but Mira hung back, choosing to clean up her cell before picking out her clothes.

"Don't see anything you like?" I taunted her.

"I don't see the point in rushing and fighting over clothes that will just make us seem even more like sex objects in your eyes," she spat back, throwing me off my game momentarily.

Since she'd found out who I really was, Mira had chosen to keep a low profile during her captivity, and I wondered why she chose then to change up the game.

As the chaos suddenly quieted, I realized that we had an audience. I had to remember to play my part.

I looked back at Mira, cleared my throat, and straightened my back to stand a little taller. "That is all you are now. Have you learned anything through all our training? You are property. A thing to be used for men's amusement and discarded once they are through with you."

Mira's jaw set but tears shimmered in her eyes, and though everything I said was just an act, it pained me to say those words—especially to her.

I went over to the piles of discarded lingerie and grabbed a simple babydoll piece that would cover more than the bikinis Mira wore in the summers at the beach.

"Here, put this on." I tossed it into her cell, not bothering to lock the door. "All of you," my voice rose to address the other girls. "Get dressed. It's time for judging to begin."

Once the girls were dressed, my men directed them to stand outside of their cells. Each of us walked in front of the girls, taking in their made-up faces and styled hair. They squirmed under our penetrating stares, and I smirked. After everything they’d been through, I was finally getting a response.

"Now, it's time to cast our votes."

Five of us stood ready with our pre-rehearsed votes.

"All in favor of girl number one, raise your hand." I pointed to Francesca and none of the men raised their hands. I shrugged and moved on to the next.

"All in favor of girl number two..."

---