I open my eyes when I don't feel a thing.

Huh... How come? A shot was fired. I heard it. Was it not from him? If yes, where did it come from?

Before I can react, the man signals for me to stand up.

I do, raising my hands above my head. I turn to the other side of the room. I feel him come behind me, and when a cold metal touches my skin, I immediately know what he is trying to do.

But I don't let him. I forcefully slam my body against his extremely hard chest, then turn and reach for his gun. When I don't get it, I reach for his mask instead. Then I pull it off.

A small scream escapes me when I see his face. He is... scary-looking.

He has scars all over his face and neck-knife marks, burns, so many of them. The cuts are ugly. They make him look really dangerous.

Dangerous... and hot, I might add.

I felt his abs when I slammed into him. I'm pretty sure he lives in the gym with how built and strong he is.

Was he in a fight? Is he a fighter? How did he get so many scars? I wonder, still staring at him in bewilderment.

I notice the moment he clenches his jaw, clearly irritated by my actions.

Before I can make another move, I feel a sharp hit on my neck.

Darkness replaces everything as I black out.

***

A groan leaves my lips as I regain consciousness. I open my eyes, but I don't recognize where I am.

It's cold. Very cold.

And I'm lying on a wet floor.

When I try to move, I can't. My hands are chained behind me, and my legs are restrained.

"Where am I?" A whimper leaves my lips as I struggle to understand what is going on.

"Hey, Dakota, you're awake. Finally," a soft, familiar voice says. I follow the sound. I look up and see my elder brother sitting a distance away from me, a small smile on his face.

"I'm glad you're alive. I've been calling you since they brought you in," he says.

"Gino..." I shiver, surprised.

"Hey, can you sit up?" He asks softly.

"I... I'll try," I swallow, pushing myself into a sitting position. I lean back against the wall and look at him again.

"Gino..." I call, panic rising inside me. "What is this? What is going on?"

"Hey, don't be scared, okay?" He says calmly. "They haven't killed us for a reason. I'm sure they want something. We'll be fine as long as we cooperate."

"What happened?" I ask. I don't remember anything clearly.

My question makes his expression change. He takes a deep breath and lowers his gaze.

"Father is dead," he says. "They beheaded him before setting the house on fire."

I frown. "I... I don't understand," I stutter, confused.

Who are these people? Why would they do that? "Who are the people holding us?" I ask.

"I don't know," he shakes his head. "But one thing I know is that they hate Father. And they want something from us."

"What about the others? You said they set the house on fire... did they kill everyone?"

He nods. "Yeah... they did. I was conscious. I watched the house. It was terrifying... their screams..." He pauses, taking a shaky breath. "I still hear them."

***

My brother has explained everything, and I understand it now. We've been taken hostage.

These people hate our father-or should I say, our late father. They killed him and everyone else, but they kept us alive because they want something from us.

I don't know what it is, but I hope they make their demands soon and let us go. Whatever it is, I'm willing to give it.

I also remember the man who killed my boyfriend. I remember how he shot him. The look on his face before he knocked me out. I remember everything now.

My brother is asleep. He snores softly. According to him, he stayed awake waiting for me and hasn't slept at all.

I wish I were closer to him. I'm scared. Terrified of what these people might do to us.

The loud sound of the door opening causes Gino to stir awake. Two men walk in, holding weapons.

A gasp leaves my lips, and my heart starts beating faster as they walk closer. But they don't come to me. They go to my brother.

When they start unlocking his chains, fear overwhelms me.

"Where... where are you taking him?" I ask.

No response.

"Are you going to hurt him?" I ask again.

Still no response.

They remove his chains and start leading him out.

"Gino! Gino!!" I scream, my heart pounding wildly.

I see the fear in his eyes before they take him away. The door closes.

And then...

His screams.

They're loud. Painful. Terrifying.

Tears instantly fill my eyes and roll down my cheeks.

No. Not Gino. Not my brother.

He doesn't deserve this. He has never hurt anyone.

They killed our father, the one who wronged them. Why are they hurting him? Why?!

"Open the door!"

"Open the fucking door!" I scream, kicking and struggling.

"Open it, you bastard! Open the door or I swear I'll kill you! Leave my brother alone!"

I thrash against the chains, trying to break free. But it's useless. I can't escape. I can't stop them.

His screams go on for minutes.

Then they stop. Silence...

After some time, the door opens again. A man walks in, dragging Gino's bloody body behind him.

My breath catches in my throat when I see this. He chains him back to where he was before.

The man turns to leave, but I'm too angry to allow it.

"Hey!" I call out.

He stops.

To my surprise, he turns and walks toward me. The moment he gets close enough, I spit in his face.

"Bastard," I snap, anger burning inside me.

A dangerous smirk forms on his lips. I spit at him again.

"Useless cunt. You people are nothing but vagabonds."

He doesn't respond. Instead, he grabs my jaw, holding my face in place as he studies me. Then he lets go and stands up.

He's about to leave when I speak again.

"I want to see him," I say. "Your gang leader or whoever he thinks he is. I want to see his ugly face." I hiss.

He stops.

Then he turns, anger flashing in his eyes as he glares at me. "How dare you speak about him like that?" He growls.

Before I can process his words, I feel his palm land hard on my cheek.

Smacks!

My head snaps to the side.