Chapter 4Captive Hearts: Catfishing the Kingpin's Son

I didn't sleep a wink.

The next day, I wore my nicest dress and got into the van with Shane.

Shane looked decent, handsome even. You’d never guess he was a scammer.

But to sit in the Team Leader's chair, his hands couldn't be clean.

He put a black hood over my head as soon as I got in. There were a few other "top earners" in the van.

They were excited.

I didn't say a word. My fingernails dug into my palms, cold sweat trickling down my neck.

After buying a few random clothes, I sat in a café by the window, staring at the flagpoles in the plaza below.

Shane sat opposite me.

"What are you looking at?"

I jumped. "Just... that kid dropped his ice cream and is crying. Kind of funny, isn't it?"

He followed my gaze and warned me, "Don't even think about wandering off."

"I used to cry for three days if I dropped my ice cream."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but his phone rang.

His expression turned grave as he answered. He glanced at me.

My heart sank.

I had a bad feeling.

While he was distracted, I slipped into a lingerie store next door.

I grabbed a few items and ran into a fitting room.

I locked the door immediately.

I pulled the phone from my bra and texted the number.

"Can you come early?" "Something's wrong."

No reply.

I was frantic.

Suddenly, a knock on the door. Shane's voice. "Chloe, we have to go."

"Okay, coming!"

My heart was in my throat. I texted again: "Please, pick me up now. They are making me leave."

Reply: "The van is 30 minutes away."

"30 minutes is too late."

I couldn't stall for thirty minutes.

The knocking got louder. "Chloe, what are you doing? I'm breaking the door down."

My scalp went numb with fear.

"The zipper is stuck! Just a second!"

I started stripping off my clothes while waiting for a message.

Reply: "We have to wait for next time."

I lost it.

"My grandparents won't survive until next time."

Just as I hit send—

BANG!

The door was kicked open.

Shane walked in. His eyes scanned me for a few seconds, then checked the fitting room.

Confirming there was no other exit, he threw the clothes at me.

"Put them on." "I'm watching."

I was already naked before he entered.

Being watched by a man while changing is humiliating, but in this hellhole, shame is a luxury we can't afford.

I had accepted my fate long ago, but I still couldn't stop my face from burning red.

Terrified he would find the phone hidden in the pile of clothes, I was shaking the entire time.

After I put on the lingerie, he finally spoke:

"Take the black set. It suits you."

"Okay."

He finally turned his back, letting me finish dressing, then dragged me out.

The others were waiting outside.

Seeing me and Shane walk out of the fitting room together, with my face flush red, they exchanged knowing looks and dirty smiles.

Shane paid, and we were herded back to the van.

In the car, Shane suddenly said, "You all know what to say and what not to say, right?"

The group nodded in unison.

"We're all men here, blood runs hot. We understand."

"Leader, we get it."

Shane didn't explain. I had no energy to explain.

I stared at the spot by the flagpoles. The white van never came.

I felt like my soul had died.