Ch1: I also need her

Her body was numb from the relentless torture she had endured, but the pain in her heart far surpassed any physical agony. Her heart bled for the atrocities committed against her family. Her heart was full of hatred and determination for revenge.

Her mother had been brutally murdered, her life stolen away without a trace. Tears streamed down Natalie's face as she watched helplessly, unable to stop the horrific act unfolding before her eyes.

The torment didn't end there—her brother and father were subjected to unspeakable cruelty, enduring electric shocks, beatings, and multiple gunshot wounds.

The anguish of witnessing her loved ones being torn apart, coupled with the uncertainty of their fate, weighed heavily on Natalie's shoulders.

Her own suffering seemed insignificant compared to the impending danger threatening their lives. She cared little for the pain inflicted upon her; her only concern was for the safety of her family, the only remaining pillars of her shattered world.

"Where is it?" one of the men demanded, brandishing a knife in Natalie's direction.

Natalie shook her head, her voice trembling but resolute. "I don't have it," she insisted, her father's words echoing in her mind. He had clearly told her not to hand that thing to anyone. She understood, from his words, that whatever the thing was, it was very important, yet very dangerous.

Her handing it to them was similar to causing harm to other people in the world. So, no matter how she was tortured or questioned, she was never going to give it up.

The men laughed, mocking her. "You're quite something, aren't you? Will you protect that thing and let your father and brother perish?" they taunted.

"That man is dangerous! He'll come for you himself. You'd better hand it over," another man sneered.

However, Natalie, well aware of the scary nature of their situation, shook her head. She knew that even if she surrendered what they sought, her father and brother would still be in grave danger. She was never going to risk that.

Amidst the tension, a phone rang, interrupting their exchange. One of the men hastily answered, his face growing tense as he listened to the voice on the other end.

"Yes... Boss, um... She still refuses to cooperate," the man relayed, his voice filled with apprehension.

Unable to hear the conversation, Natalie's heart pounded in her chest. Was this person on the other end their boss? Fear and uncertainty coursed through her veins as the man on the phone spoke, dictating her fate.

"Bring her to me," the man instructed. "Meet me by the road. I'll deal with her personally."

“Okay,boss,” the man said. “We shall be there in a while. Meanwhile, we are still trying to figure out where it could be!“

Natalie's confusion deepened, but the message was clear. She was to meet this deadly boss, the one who had pursued them relentlessly. She realized that her life hung by a thread, her time drawing to a close.

"Please!" she pleaded, desperation evident in her voice. "Don't...don't take me to him. I'll do anything... I'll pay you..."

Her hatred for these men burned within her, fueling her desire for revenge against those responsible for her mother's death and her family's suffering.

But above all, she needed to escape, to find help for her remaining loved ones. What if she were held captive, never to be released?

Yet, her pleas fell on deaf ears. The men callously held her, dragging her toward the road, heedless of the bruises they inflicted upon her. As they neared the main road, an unexpected commotion erupted, startling both Natalie and her captors.

A car screeched to a halt, and a man emerged from it. Pointing directly at Natalie, he ordered his men, "Take her!"

In the blink of an eye, chaos ensued as she was forcefully subdued. Before she could comprehend what was happening, darkness consumed her as consciousness slipped away.

The captors were ready to fight back, but their leader intervened, raising his hands to halt their resistance. He was the only one aware of the identity of the intruder.

"Please," he pleaded, his voice trembling. "Our boss needs her..."

The tall, handsome man exuded a deadly aura as he regarded the trembling men before him. "I also need her. She has a debt to pay," he declared, his voice commanding authority.

The men trembled, fearing the wrath of their boss should he discover their betrayal. Nevertheless, the man paid them no mind, placing his hands in his pockets as he surveyed the scene.

"Remember, you were ambushed, and she was taken from you. You don't know who has her," he instructed firmly.

With that, he entered the car, and it sped away, leaving Natalie's captors in bewilderment.

"Let's fight back!" one of the men urged, unwilling to abandon their mission. They were going to be paid so well.

Their leader clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Do you have any idea who that was? It's Ivan! You'll be signing your own death warrants if you go after him!"

"What?" they exclaimed in disbelief. Was that the one Ivan Dione they knew of?

The men trembled at the mere mention of Ivan's name. He was a force to be reckoned with, and his reputation alone struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. Who were they to confront him? Would they risk their lives?

"Why would Ivan want her? What did she do to offend him?" one of the men questioned, mirroring the confusion that plagued their thoughts.

"To ensure our survival, remember what he said," their leader admonished with a sigh. "We were ambushed, and she was taken from us."

Nodding in acknowledgment, the men understood the gravity of the situation. They had to remain low-key. If Ivan failed to retrieve her, there would be dire consequences.

Meanwhile, another car arrived on the scene, prompting the men's attention. Their boss stepped out, scanning the area with an air of urgency.

"Sir... We... We're sorry! We were ambushed, and she was taken from us!" they hastily explained, their voices tinged with anxiety.

"What?" their boss exclaimed, his shock apparent. "Which way did they go?" he demanded, knowing it wasn't the time to assign blame. He had to find her, no matter the cost.

"That way," their leader pointed, providing the information that their boss sought. Without hesitation, their boss boarded his car and sped off, determined to locate her.

As relief washed over the remaining captors, they knew they had to lie low for the time being if they wanted to save their lives.