I know Vaas is a little nice in the other chapters, but I sort of wanted him to be kind to Mirabella alone just for a little bit, then things will change as we get into the next chapter and so on. There will be some conflict coming up, I didn't want to get to much into detail, but its coming.

Chapter 22:No more Bluffing

Mirabella's POV

Vaas decided not to look at me for the continuation of the auction. Pai was brought to the back and when I asked to go see her Vaas said "no". Vaas couldn't go back now, he knew that whatever he had bet would surely be taken from his paycheck that Hoyt gave him every week. He didn't even touch me, not even in my sexy facade that I was putting on for him.
Pagan followed us around and I found myself having more conversation with him than anyone else. Hoyt didn't seem to happy either, ignoring both Vaas and I altogether. I regretted doing what I do, but as most know I work out of impulse. I did what I did because Pai was like a friend to me, right? Not only that she was in fact a woman that I spent cage time with. I had seen her only a few times we had only talked once when I was away in my cage, she had no hope and tonight I gave her hope, or Vaas had. Vaas was paying for her, he was doing it for me, he didn't look at me at all though... If it was really that big of a deal, he didn't have to do it, I would feel guilty, but her freedom really was his decision.
The poker game was held after a few of the other high class drug lords and slave traders had left with their purchases, if not then nothing. When Vaas started his way towards a well lit building, somehow another bottle of beer in his grasp, I followed after. Pagan had disappeared in the same building, a large garage was open, the few remaining pirates sat around half drunk and tired, the moon at this point was high up in the sky.
It was no surprise to me that Vaas was starting to stumble with his walk, each step was a long stride causing him to nearly fall. Part of me told me turn around and not go to this Poker match, not play beside Vaas, but I couldn't get myself to leave him, he needed me, he wanted me to come in the first place. I started walking up beside him, he looked over at me with a strict expression.
"What the fuck are you still doing here?" He asked as we continued walking, his words heavily slurred.
"I am here for you..." I answered softly, he chuckled shaking his head, he stopped, I stopped with him, he moved to drink more of the beer, but the bottle was empty ass he tipped it, he groaned with annoyance and angrily threw the bottle to the side where it hit the ground with a clash. I flinched at the sound, at his approach he grabbed my waist and pulled me to him, placing a hand over my throat as though he was going to choke me, but it was so soft and gentle, that I did not believe he would.
"I am going to be the death of you..." He whispered. "And you are going to be the death of me." He pulled me to kiss him, a strong kiss, where I moved my hands up his chest, wrapping arms around his neck. The taste of the beer on his tongue did not repulse me, in fact I wanted him just as much as he wanted me, but something was holding me back. Something deep in my mind that I could not put my finger on.
Our lips parted, our bodies still mingle, he stared me in the eyes and inhaled my scent. I breathed raggedly, while he took in steady calm breaths.
"I thought you were upset with me." He nudged my nose with his, our lips grazing each others.
"I am not upset with you..." He sighed. "And no matter how fucking badass I am, I could never stay mad at you." I giggled, pecking a kiss on his lips and smiling at him, I hopped off the ground, his strong arms held me up.
"You are pretty fucking badass after all .
"That's what I thought you would say." He dropped me onto my feet, wrapping an arm around my neck. "Now let's go and gamble our lives away, shall we?" We started continuing our walk to the garage, I snuggled myself into him as we did, taking care to keep my feet from getting stepped on by his boots.
"Vaas?"
"What?"
"I don't know how to gamble." Vaas snorted at my statement as though I was joking, but I seriously never learned how to gamble.
"Bella, we can play a little game I like to call strip poker later, then I can teach you. Not now... Now you will watch." We entered the garage, five familiar men sat at a circular table in the center, the corner of the small garage had packages of white powder stacked up on top of each other, a couple wads of cash here and there. An empty chair at the table is where Vaas had sat, all eyes found his, Hoyt sat across from him. Vaas gestured me to sit on his lap, I sat down and leaned back against his shoulder, propping my legs over his right one, the bulge at his crotch was obvious and although it was vulgar I kind of liked it.
The five other men at the table where easy to pick out, Benny, Hoyt, Pagan Min, that other guy from before that Vaas didn't want me to meet, and lastly... I froze, I couldn't forget that smirk, that tattoo, that... Man... Buck. I would never forget his name. Vaas stared at me with an odd expression when I tensed in his arms.
"And this is?" Buck asked smugly, Vaas glaring up at him before wrapping his arms around me.
"No one who should be of importance to you." Vaas snapped back, I gulped gripping tightly onto his shirt.
"His wife." Pagan stated, all eyes turned to him, everyone looking with confusion.
"Wife?" Hoyt intervened, flipping the cards in his hands.
"They got married a few weeks ago, I believe."
"I wasn't-" Vaas kicked Benny under the table hard enough for him to yelp, he pulled me tighter to his chest and stared directly at Hoyt. Hoyt's eyes furrowed with anger, his expression was of annoyance and he looked like he could kill anyone at this point, it wouldn't surprise me if he did, all the stories I have heard about him so far have been proved trustworthy.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and resting my head on Vaas's chest listening to his heartbeat, which calmed me. Being in his arms, I felt safe, like nothing would happen to me, I couldn't have been more wrong as I slightly dazed out from the world around me, my breath going in sink with Vaas's heart.
"Bella." His voice caught me from my half sleep, my eyes snapped open and I sat up slightly all eyes around the table were staring at me.
"What?" I answered hoarsely, dark circles under my eyes.
"Don't you want to learn how to play?" Vaas asked with a small smile, still amused by the fact I went to sleep on his lap.
"Um... I guess." He chuckled, moving me so my back was to his chest, his arms wrapped around me, leaning on the edge of the table. He held his two cards up for me to see, an ace and a six of diamonds, the cards on the table were clear and being Vaas and Hoyt were the only ones who were still in from what I could see, Vaas was bluffing.
"If she doesn't know how to play, maybe I should teach her Vaas, you think poker is all about bluffing its best she doesn't learn that." They shared a stone stare at each other, the conflict between them was obvious.
"I think she is fine here, Hoyt." He placed the cards face down, Hoyt doing the same.
"Vaas, you still never truly answered my question. Why did you pay for that Badtown Whore?" My eyes widened, they were still going on about that?
"I did it for my Bella." I tried to hold back how proud I felt that he would do such a thing for me.
"Yours? Vaas? Is she truly yours? I don't remember you marrying anybody three weeks ago, I believe that was when you were on my island." They talked as though I wasn't there, as if I had no say in the matter and maybe I didn't.
"Things happen..." I heard Vaas gulp, his grip tighten on me.
"Oh, I see, then I guess you wouldn't mind if we did a dirty deal right here at this table. If I win, Buck gets her, if I lose, you can keep her and I won't question anything." Pagan looked over at us with questioning eyes, I would think he'd be gone by now, considering he has a country to run. Hoyt leaned in with a mischievous grin. "You can't bluff there Vaas and things just happen don't they." I grew worried, I trusted Vaas to make the right decision and give up the hand, he was bluffing and I knew it, he couldn't lose me, he wouldn't and making a deal like that was asking for loneliness. He grabbed a wad of my hair and kissed my forehead, he nearly flipped his cards over.
"Vaas wait!" I practically shouted, I looked over at Buck who winked at me, I turned to Vaas till my lips met his ear.
"Remember those wounds and how I never told you who had made them?" I shuttered at the sound of my own voice, it scared me talking about those wounds. "It was Buck, I don't know why I didn't tell you, but-" Before I could react, Vaas pushed me off his lap and stood up onto his feet, pulling his knife out and stabbing it into the table.
"Buck!" He growled, Buck's eyes widened, the entire room in surprise at Vaas's complete outburst, I stood up onto my feet and stood beside Vaas. "Have you seen my Bella before?" Buck shook his head silently, obviously Vaas was in fact the more dominant one. "Are you sure?" Buck shook his head again, Vaas groaned between gritted teeth grabbing the top of my dress and ripping it from my body, I gasped, my hands shooting up to cover my bare breasts, the pink underwear Vaas put in the bag was all that I wore. Vaas pointed to the various scars from only a few weeks ago, those scars that Buck had made, with the exception of a few wide open cuts. "Perhaps these jog your memory." Vaas was in such a pit of rage, he failed to recognize the eyes that stared at my half naked body from head to toe, that other man in particular more than other's. Pagan held no attention to me, his eyes were on Vaas, a small smirk on his lips. he leaned on his hand.
"Vaas." I croaked out, Vaas slammed his hands on the table ignoring me.
"My Bella almost died because of you, you sick MOTHERFUCKER!" Vaas yelled loudly at Buck, Hoyt and the others confused as to what was going on, Buck calmly stood up, Vaas's eyes planted on him. Buck held up his hands in defense, that sshit eating grin still on his face. My anger was starting to build, if it wasn't for the skills Vaas taught me, then I would be dead.
"Vaas... Mat-"
"Don't even fucking do that SHIT with me, I deal with it for Hoyt's sake. What did you fucking do to her?"
"Well... I found her dying on the side of a creek, all bent out of shape, brought her back thinking I could have some fun. One thing led to another, the next thing you know she wants to fuck me-"
"That is the biggest Fucking lie I have ever heard in my life, you sick pri-" I grew silence when Hoyt shot up from his seat, slamming his hands on the table to gain everybody's attention, I was in rage, Vaas was in rage, Buck was afraid. Hoyt sighed and closed his eyes staring down at the table.
"It's weird how the only ones standing up are the ones that have an extreme influence on this island, excluding Beautiful Bella." Vaas's eyebrows furrowed and he raised his chin crossing his arms.
"Only I call her Bella." Vaas accused angrily.
"Yeah, whatever Vaas. I certainly hope you all know, your mistake is... That you have no respect for anything and anyone. Pagan has Kyrat, Paul works for Pagan, and Benny works for Vaas, but Vaas and Buck both work for me, so if you could fucking please have some BLOODY FUCKING ORDER IN HERE! I DONT THINK I WOULD MIND A litt-" Hoyt took a deep breath, the silence was so deep that a pin could be dropped and everyone could hear it. "A little respect is all I ask." Hoyt pressing his hands together and glared around the room at all of us, Vaas sighed and nodded his head.
"I apologize... I just don't like it when people touch my things..." That word, oh please not that word, that word that makes me feel like shit to him, I hated it when he used it before, I hate it now. "Much less harm them."
"Good, Apologize Buck." Vaas licked his lips as Buck snorted.
"I fucking apologize mate, a man can't control himself when a woman comes onto him, you know?" That was the breaking point for Vaas, he flipped the table over its contents spilling out not the floor, the others at the table standing up and backing away. He pulled his pistol out with not a second to spare, pointing it at Buck.
"Vaas! Calm the fuck down!" Vaas was serious, his expression stern and stone. I sighed, I knew I would have to get involved, if I had known he would act like this then... I wouldn't have told him. I was afraid though, Vaas was about to lose me to some stupid bet, he knew he would lose to, which questioned the security I had grown with his new personality. It made me wonder what went through his head when we were younger, it was as if this new self was something he had been hiding for a long time, between losing his mother and then losing me, afterwards getting nearly killed by his sister, after killing his father, this new him all was the product of those things.
I calmly placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling my other hand up to grab his chin, I turned his head to look at me. The moment our eyes connected, I saw his killing rage that he had grown over the years. I grew hopeless, perhaps I was wrong, he was lost and gone forever.
"No..." I plainly stated, Vaas took in a deep breath of air before holstering his weapon and turning to face me, where I placed a hand on each side of his face, pulling his forehead to mine. "Are you okay?"
"No."
"Why don't we talk about it back at the warehouse?" He simply nodded his head, when his eyes found my naked torso, he panicked, pulling from the embrace I created and pulling his shirt from his torso, revealing his chiseled abs, he helped me put the shirt on over my head. Like all the other shirts he gave me, it sagged over my breasts from the fact he was much bigger in frame than me.
"Ooo... Eye candy." Pagan exclaimed with wide eyes, maybe Pagan was right. Vaas's chest was amazing, the hairs their were just right for him, he wasn't to hairy, and he wasn't to smooth, just the way I liked it. I really did want him, it had been a long time since our first, that wasn't exactly the problem though. It was the fact that he wanted me for lust, not love.
"Go back to the warehouse." He whispered to me, I nodded my head and leaving the garment on the floor, I started my way back to the warehouse. I heard nothing as I walked back, the strain on my eardrums trying to find anything coming from the garage deemed difficult. I earned looks form pirates, but they knew who I belonged to and word had gone around of what I had done, nobody would mess with me. Who I had belonged to? Had i really thought myself under his ownership? He did own my heart though, maybe that's what my conscious meant. When I got back to the warehouse, I went back up the stairs to the bed and as soon as I hit the covers, I fell asleep. My eyes shutting, then nothing but Vaas on my head as the scent of his tank top swelled into my nostrils.