LILIANA

It takes four days of drowning in tears and wallowing in the loss of Kyle without solace before I realize that I'm fast becoming more useless than a couch potato. Eating junk or skipping meals altogether – the fastest way to ruin my life.

If Kyle was alive, he would surely crack a joke about my being underweight and I'll throw some chips at him and…

You're doing it again, I berate myself before rising from the bed.

I sigh.

The corners of my eyes are cracked with dried tears and I'm bleary-eyed. I would need to drum it into my subconscious that tears will not bring him back.

Another sigh leaves my lips. Perhaps, taking a drive through town and maybe picking up a few things at the grocery's would help?

Just maybe.

So I freshen up and begin on my way down the stairs where my bodyguard is watching the TV. As soon as I land on the final few steps, he spots me and he pulls himself to his feet.

I nod towards the TV. “Crime Now? Very predictable of you.”

He gives me a curt smile. “Good morning, ma'am. Going somewhere?” He asks as I walk past him to the door.

I turn and force a smile on my face. “I cannot bear one more day holed up in that room anymore. A change of scenery and fresh air would do me some good. Please, don't stop your show on my account.”

He frowns, taking a step closer. “I'm not authorized to let you leave the premises by yourself, ma'am. Let me come along. I can take another car if you want, stay several meters away from you while we walk.”

I shake my head while my lips struggle not to scowl at him. The innocent man is just doing his job. “Thanks but I'll be fine by myself. I promise. If there's a problem, your number is on speed dial.”

He regards me with squinted eyes as though re-evaluating my words in his head. A second later, I see his resolve fall like building blocks knocked over.

He hasn't got so much of a choice.

“If you're not back in a few hours, I'll be on my way to find you. I wouldn't want my head on a stake.”

I see the little pinch in his brows that betray his facade. His fears are valid. After Kyle's body was discovered, it was revealed that the job was done by a brutal enemy. There is no telling what he could do if that person finds his wife.

I shake off the fear of the unknown and try to reassure him that I'll be fine. Soon, I'm in the Porsche which was gifted to me by Kyle on our wedding day, and driving out the gate.

I shudder lightly as I peel out of the estate and onto the main road where the boisterous noise drowns the thoughts in my head.

My windows are halfway down for the breeze to filter in. It instantly calms me, luring me to forget my worries for a while.

It's summer and there's no sign of an incoming storm but I find my teeth chattering again and a slight shudder coursing through me.

I grip the steering wheel tightly, trying to shake off the numbness.

After stopping at the grocery store to get a few things, I drive out and take a narrow but quiet path. It's a road Kyle used to drive through whenever we were out for an evening drive.

My phone rings and I glance at my phone to see it's Theodore.

“Liliana, how are you?” He asks after I pick up, his voice ladened with so much concern.

How about we talk about the fact that I've never stopped crying over my husband and how I packed every one of his belongings so they could be moved to another bedroom because I couldn't bear to see them?

How I lock myself indoors for almost a week with instructions not to be brought food while I ruin myself with sorrowful instant noodles?

Or how I just took a bath after obsessively wearing Kyle's T-shirt for four days?

“I'm… managing,” I say instead. I can't stand another adult fussing over me.

A brief moment of silence falls. It feels too awkward so I break the spell, “Is that all?”

“Oh, no.” He chuckles lightly, probably laughing at his forgetfulness. “I’ve got updates on your husband's properties,” he informs me.

“What is it?” I ask, eyeing the exit of the street as I approach it.

“The proceedings are moving faster than expected,” he explains. I catch the crinkling of paper in the background. He's at the office.

Suddenly, a car comes out of an alley, cutting me off abruptly. I slam on the brakes, my heart racing.

“Jesus Christ!” I exclaim in shock. I stick my head out of the car and yell, “Are you trying to get me killed, you asshole?”

“What's that? What’s happening?”

I huff angrily, tucking back the loose tendrils of my hair behind my ear. “Just some idiot who thinks the road is his playground. You know what they say; boys and their toys.”

But the jerk isn't making an efforts to drive. “Move, will ya!” I yell again with a loud honk for effect.

Impatient and angrier, I put my car in reverse and try to back out of there only to see another car parking the same way as the one in front, both blocking my exit.

Doors open and menacing men step out. My heart rate picks up.

“Um, Theo?”

“Liliana, what's happening?” He asks in a panic.

“I don't know,” I inform him as my throat closes up in fear. I struggle to breathe, cold sweat breaking out on my skin.

“Where's Eric? Where's your bodyguard, dammit?” He sounds angry and frantic too. There's a shuffle in the background and a door banging shut.

I look around me for an escape. “I left him at home. I just needed a ride into town alone.”

“You did what? Have you lost your god-damned mind?”

My door opens. “Get out.” The man growls.

I try to resist and scream when large hands and arms wrap around my hand, yanking me out. In blind terror, I swivel and throw a punch to him in the face.

It hurt my fingers like a bitch. “Let me go!”

“Lilia–” Theo's voice is cut off as one of them grabs my AirPod and flings it to the ground, crushing it with his foot.

I drive my knees up, fast and hard, into the crotch of another one holding me. He kneels in pain and my escape route is paved.

One of the men yanks my hair before I can inch forward. I fall back against his chest and he begins to pull me roughly. I kick with all of my might ensuring to give him a tough time.

My efforts are proved useless when another grabs my ankles and lifts me off the ground, I resort to screaming my lungs out.

My head bumps against their car as I'm shoved in which dazes me for a second.

One minute, I open my mouth to scream again, the next, I'm choking violently on a piece of clothing shoved into my mouth.

I bite down on the man's fingers as hard as possible with the intent to break skin and draw blood. I'm like a raging dog and fear is my only drive.

The next second, my head whips to the side as a large hand collides with my cheek. My teeth close down on my tongue and I let out a groan of pain.

My cheek smarts with pain from the hit and now I'm confused about which hurt the most; the slap or my bruised tongue.

I start to cry, terrified for my life.

Is this what it felt like for Kyle when he was being kidnapped?

A piece of cloth is pressed tightly over my nose and one whiff to stop myself from suffocating, I inhale chloroform. In almost the same instant, everything blurs.

The last words I hear before I lose consciousness of the world around me are, “It is done.”

What is done?

I barely have time to process my thoughts when my head lolls back against the seat and darkness consumes me.

DAMIAN

My footsteps echo off the black granite floor polished to a high shine. The cream-colored Venetian plaster walls provide a subtle contrast, while the dark wood trim adds depth and warmth - a far cry from the state of my heart which has now gotten colder than the ice in Antarctica.

I continue through the foyer, my footsteps quiet and in sync with the beat of my heart, descending to the basement where the latest captive is being held.

I feel like I'm at a crossroads. Waiting. The outcome of the next few hours will determine my final decisions; if I return to my duties or if I continue to hunt.

One thing is for sure; I will never rest until I feel peace within me. Else, I don't mind reducing this world to ashes for her. I would go on and on until my feet give out beneath me and my bones find their way out of my skin in exhaustion.

I stop right outside the door where sounds of muffled screams meet my ears. I turn my head this way and that to get rid of the kinks in my shoulders before I place my hands on the heavy doors and shove hard.

I step into the room and immediately, my eyes lock onto the captive woman. Her brunette hair is dishevelled, framing her heart-shaped face.

Her slender nose and mouth shaped like a bow tremble with rage. An angry-looking, purple bruise mars the left side of her cheek. Her clothes are ruffled with the first few buttons missing, exposing a hint of delicate blue lace.

She must have given my men a tough time. Such a vicious lady. The type I love to see come apart under my torture.

Green eyes blaze with defiance as her gaze meets mine. My chest burns hot with impatience to douse the fire in there and crush her spirit.

The same way Stellëza was ruined. Images of how someone with so much vibrance coiled into her shell until she became a shadow chooses now haunt my soul.

I push the image to the back of my mind.

“Remove the tape,” I order to the man standing to her right. He complies, ripping off the duct tape ignoring her pained groan.

The moment she spits out the gag, her eyes flash with a murderous rage. She struggles against the cuffs keeping her hands bound behind her.

She gives up with an exasperated scream. “Let me go, you demented psycho!” She yells followed by a slew of sailor curses and a series of threats tumbling out which end with, “Wait until Theodore gets a hold of you! My family will destroy you!”

The corner of my lips curl upwards in a smug smirk. I'm amused by how someone so small holds such a volcanic explosion within.

“The game hasn't even begun. Your husband would feel your pain in hell by the time we're done playing.”

Hands deep in my pocket, I stroll toward her with the deliberate pace of a predator. Her anger rolls off her in massive waves but I remain calm.

“Do you know Nicolo?” My voice is even as I ask.

She aims her gaze anywhere else that isn't my face and I know right then that she's avoiding the question.

“I do not owe you anything until you release me.”

Daring little thing, I muse as I grasp her chin with my fingers wrapping firmly around it. She struggles against my grip, but her efforts are feeble against it. I drag her face towards mine even though that doesn't deter her from looking somewhere else.

“Where is Kyle then?” I repeat, my voice dropping to a chilling quiet.

Pain slashes across her features as her eyes meet mine. They're burning with rigid stubbornness and more anger. “You're wasting your time.”

“Perhaps,” I chuckle darkly. “But I have plenty to spare.”

She glares so hard that I can see through her eyes how badly she wants to mark my face with daggers.

“You're just a coward hiding behind your goons. Shameless, cowardly piece of trash!” She fires. Her entire body vibrates from the weight of anger coursing through her.

I close my eyes when her spittle lands on my cheek. I give her a smile to show how unfazed I am. “And you're just a pawn, trying to protect a monster.”

Her eyes flash and she pushes on her feet in a pathetic attempt at freeing herself from the chair. Once again, she is unsuccessful.

“Kyle is not a monster, you are! He's ten times the human than you will ever be.” She retorts.

That statement sparks a round of laughter between my men and I. My shoulders shake in amusement.

Like I promised, I have all day.

“Darlin’, I never said I was human, did I?” Her expression cracks for a brief moment when she tries to decipher my words.

She recovers quickly with fresh venom in her words. “Take me back from where you picked me right this instant!”

I take a step closer and lower my head so that our faces are within inches of each other.

“Last chance,” I warn, “Where is your husband, Kyle?”

She gives a lopsided grin. Suddenly, she spits into my eyes. Momentarily, I am blinded by her actions.

It all happens so fast. Just as I open my eyes, a fierce cry leaves her lips. She rears her head back and slams it forward with her forehead crashing into mine. The impact jars my skull.

Bone crunches and pain explodes around my head. Her headbutt is vicious. I can tell it was aimed at breaking my nose.

“Fuck!” I grind out, shaking my head to clear my vision and ease the pain. My fingers fly to my nose to check for crimson flowing.

Nothing.

I glare at her, inches away from wrapping my fingers around her thin neck and wringing it till it snaps.

One of my men lands a punch on her cheek before I give out orders. She yelps out in pain and before I know it, I put a bullet in his head.

He drops dead.

She looks up at me with a sprinkling of blood on the side of her face. I catch the movement of her tongue as it pokes the inside of her mouth, pressing against the injury.

Then, like the roles have been reversed she curls her lips up in a devilish grin while my initial smile is turned upside down.

But that's a facade. The sight of fear is unmistakable as she looks at me.

My vision blurs again yet I go close to her and force a hold on her chin, refusing to be gentle and give her the delusion that I am relinquishing control.

This is my zone.

I see the bruise beginning to form on her forehead even as she smirks at me.

“You're… quite… fierce.” I manage in a strained voice.

She struggles with a firm kick on my shin. My hold tightens so hard that she winces. “Don't bother,” I advise. “You're never getting out of here.”

Her chest heaves. Her breasts rise and fall. That stubborn resoluteness remains on that face. “And you can never break me, I promise you! I will never tell you anything!”

“In that case,” I pull away from her as I straighten my spine. “Let's see what my men have to say about that. I'll know if you'll remain tight-lipped after my men take their turns easing themselves.”

Panic rises in those defiant green eyes but it's too late. She had her chance and she blew it.

“Ti çmend i shqerrë!” She curses in Albanian.

I walk out of the room with a wicked smile on my bruised face. Call me a crazy motherfucker all you want, I'll get back my pound of flesh.

LILIANA

The moment the sadist exits, his goons fall in line, gagging and confining me. I'm left alone with the haunting presence of the corpse. My mind begins to conjure gruesome images which amplifies my fear.

Being locked in with a corpse isn't something I have gone through like I do a walk in the park.

Seconds bleed into minutes and hours until I hear the door creak open once more. The men walk in and my restraints are removed.

Simultaneously, my heart leaps into my throat when their boss's threats come back to haunt me.

He would be in for a surprise if he thought I'd let these men have sex with me without one of them losing an organ at least.

Again, my eyes flit over to where the dead man lies with a hole in his head and blood that forms a halo around his head. A shiver racks through my spine and I tear my gaze away.

How did I end up in the lair of such a dangerous man? If he could kill one of his own without remorse, there is no telling what he could do to me.

One of the men grunts, his hands tightening around my arm to pull - yank me to my feet. They are a bit wobbly as I rise but I force myself to straighten.

Steel, baby, steel, I chant loudly in my head over again.

Flanked by two burly men and their iron grip on my arms, I'm escorted out of the room as my mind races with futile escape plans.

Think, Lily. Think!

The endless corridor stretches before us, likely leading to the depths of their lair. We reach our destination and before I can react, I'm bound to another unforgiving chair. The ropes dig into my skin, promising to leave a dark-purple reminder of my captivity.

I wince in pain but not a sound slips out of my mouth. It would be better to slit my own throat than let these fools know their actions are getting to me.

The room's darkness is almost suffocating, except for a small window high above - a subtle reminder that night has fallen.

I sit frozen, waiting for the silence to confirm I'm alone. But before I can process grim reality, a torrent of freezing water assaults me.

“The fuck!” The muffled words slip out before I think to clench my teeth together. The water sinks its iciness into my bones like an iron thong hammered into the earth.

“Shut up!” One of them barks at me before they all exit one after the other.

The silence is now filled with sounds of my chattering despite all my efforts to not make any. Tears drip down my face hidden by the wetness as I think about how my life has taken a brutal twist.

One moment, I was mourning my husband; the next, I was kidnapped and brought to the lair of a madman with forgiveness issues.

If only I had just let Eric come with as he pleaded. Not only have I brought trouble upon, I have succeeded in dragging into the consequences of my recklessness.

You've gone and done it, Liliana. Brilliant, I think to myself in my broken despair.

I close my eyes and let the tears flow. After a while, I feel a sense of relief wash over me but I know it's short-lived. I need to stay strong to fight back against these monsters.

The hours drag on and exhaustion starts to creep in. There is deafening silence punctuated by the sound of water dripping to the cemented floor from my wet clothes.

I fight against the exhaustion as it comes in full swing to pull my eyelids close and lure me to unconsciousness. Instead, I stay determined to be awake and prepared for whatever comes next.

Sleep would be a vulnerability I can't afford.

At long last when the first light of dawn creeps into the dungeon casting eerie shadows on the walls, I straighten my aching spine, bracing myself for the inevitable return of my tormentors.

Thankfully, the men hadn't stepped in here at night to do the unthinkable. I shudder lightly.

The door creaks open and Damian walks in with a smirk twisting his face. His mismatched blue and brown orbs pierce into my soul as he takes a long look at me.

If he wasn't such a bastard at the moment, I would look his way more than twice.

“Good morning.” He coos in that stupid baritone voice. “Did you have a refreshing night?”

I meet his gaze as my voice laces with sarcasm. “Oh, it was fabulous. The five-star accommodation and excellent customer service made my stay truly unforgettable.”

He chuckles, the gravelly sound unsettling as it travels throughout my body to pool low in the pit of my stomach.

What the hell?

He meanders so close to me, the upper part of his face partially hidden by the growing shadows. I see the bruise I'd given him earlier and my smile widens. I gave him something to nurse after all.

His eyes glint in the darkness.

“I’m glad you appreciate our hospitality. Now, shall we continue our conversation?”

Defiance burns through me and I snort, “Conversation? Do you mean the part where you try to break me and I refused to crack? Your men haven't told you how failed you are for a boss, have they?”

His jaw ticks in anger even though his face says something different. “I see you didn't lose that smart mouth.”

“Lose it? Oh no, it's a treasure for bastards of your kind.” I retort in anger.

“This bastard has a lot of better use he would like to put that mouth to.” A corner of his lips lifts to punctuate the meaning of his words.

A shiver travels throughout my entire body and I wonder why it's not from the wet clothes clinging onto my skin.

His smile widens and I begin to wonder just how cuckoo in the head he is. “You're quite the spitfire, Liliana. I admire that.”

Before I can stop it, my face freezes at the mention of my name. “Don't bother trying to charm me. Your fake smiles and empty words won't get you anywhere.” I snap, my tone venomous.

He studies me for a split second before giving an unperturbed roll of his broad shoulders. “We'll see about that.”

He gestures to his henchmen who move to restrain me as if I wasn't already tied to a stifling immobility. I struggle against their grip, but they're too strong.

“Let's get started properly, shall we?” He says, his voice dripping with malice. Gone was the friendly steward and in his place was the unfeeling monster who was holding me captive.

The one I'm used to.

My heart races. I steel myself for the ordeal ahead. I know I won't go down without a fight.

Damian's anger is palpable and his eyes come to burn with intensity. He turns to me.

“You think you're doing yourself any good by keeping the secret of your husband's whereabouts away from me? Thinking you can outsmart me?” His voice is low and menacing.

I meet his glare, refusing to back down. “You're desperate to pin something on me, but you have nothing. I already told you I have nothing to say but you're too thickheaded to listen.”

His smile is calculated and too cold. Another shiver has my teeth chattering for a second. “You're going to regret underestimating me, Liliana.”

I hate the way each syllable rolls off his tongue when he calls my name like that. I just want to bash his head in with a piece of wood again and again until I'm drenched in his blood.

He paces around the room like a caged tiger bidding its time, his agitation fueling. “You know, I've broken tougher people than you. You're just a –”

“Window dressing?” I suggest in a sweet tone. “A mere prop in your twisted game? Perhaps, the doorknob as it is easily replaceable?”

He's in front of my face in seconds. His eyes flash with anger that oddly gives me satisfaction. “Shut up!”

I shrug, unfazed. “Or what? You'll torture me? Kill me?” I lean forward in my seat even though the restraints only allow me so little room. “I'm already living in hell, dumbo. You can't do worse than I have been through.”

I make sure to lean as close as I'm allowed to his face, our breaths mingling together. I don't mind that mine is filthy at the moment. That's his cross to bear.

His nostrils flare in anger, his eyes coming to life in the shadows. For a moment, I think he'll lose control and strike me. But he reins himself in, his expression smoothing into a calculated calm.

“Let's take a break,” he says, surprising me. “I'll let you think about your cooperation.”

He exits the room, leaving me shaken. Determination fuelling me as well. As I sit there in the dim light of dawn, I realize that he's losing control. If I push a little more, he'll crack.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps. Lighter, more hesitant than his. The door opens and a new player enters.