Ch. 2 ABDUCTED BY THE DON OF DRUG

Rosita’s POV

A sharp, shooting pain jolted me awake, and I cried out, sitting up abruptly. A woman was kneeling beside the bed, her rough-skinned hands tending to the angry red burns on the soles of my feet.

Instinctively, I tried to pull away, but she shoved my leg back down, glaring at me. "Behave yourself, Perra," she snapped. "My name is Silvia, it's not like I'm some kind of nurse. But my boss insisted I take care of you, so don’t make me do something I would regret."

She stuffed a small towel into my mouth, muffling my tortured screams as she applied a pungent ointment to the blistered skin. As I chewed on the fabric, I took the opportunity to study her.

Her long, red hair was marked with premature strands of white, and her eyes were covered in heavy black makeup, lending her a decidedly witchlike appearance. A small ring decorated her nose, and multiple earrings lined the shell of each ear. Dressed in a leather crop top and jeans, she had a large, ghostly tattoo on her right hand.

Once the woman—Silvia, as she had introduced herself—had gently wrapped my feet in a non-stick dressing, she rose from the bed, pinning me with a piercing stare.

"I'm the only female allowed in the boss' life; even if I'm just one of his henchmen now, I will be something more in the future," she stated bluntly. "And while you may be beautiful, if he has no more use for you, he will just get rid of you."

My blood ran cold at her words. "'Get rid of me'?" I echoed, my voice trembling. "W-What do you mean by that?"

Silvia merely laughed, the sound grating on my nerves. "Stay in here while we decide what to do with you," she ordered, slipping out the door and leaving me alone.

Hesitantly, I reached up to touch my throbbing head, the motion sending a fresh wave of pain through my feet. Gritting my teeth, I rose from the bed, using the mattress as support as I slowly made my way to the small balcony door.

Peering out, I drank in the sight of the bustling nighttime street below—cars honking, people chattering as they strolled by. It had been so long since I'd experienced the outside world, and a sense of melancholy nostalgia crashed over me. How I longed to simply walk those sidewalks with my father, as we had done in years past.

But those carefree days were clearly behind me now. Drawn by the sound of raised voices, I tiptoed to the window, peeking in to see the strange, eyepatch-wearing man in heated discussion with his henchmen, including the one from the fire and Silvia.

"Boss, why don't we just leave her here and go back home?" Silvia suggested. "I have already tended to her wounds, she will be fine on her own."

But the man shook his head. "I can't just abandon her," he stated. "We burned down her father's house to get to him, and since we couldn't find the old hag, we will just have to use the daughter to draw him out."

Silvia's brow furrowed. "But we can't take her to the mansion! That's a sacred space, only we're allowed there, it’s rule number one. And we are not kidnappers, you just want revenge on her father. I promise to bring you his head."

Their boss stroked his chin thoughtfully. "This isn't up for debate," he declared, his tone brooking no room for argument. "I'm taking her back with us. We will just do it in a way she won't know where we are going, If I have to break my own rules, I will, as long as I send that scumbag to hell."

One of the henchmen spoke up. "No, Papi, I am not drugging her again, it will mess her up."

"We won't have to," the boss replied briskly. "She will come with us willingly. After all, she has to help us find her corrupt father, the one who had the nerve to send a king like me to jail."

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling the gasp that threatened to escape. So that was their game—they wanted to use me as bait to lure my father out of hiding. And they had gone so far as to set my home on fire, to ensure I had no choice but to obey.

Fear gripped my heart, but I quickly tamped it down, a new determination blossoming in my chest. I had to escape, I had to find a way out of this nightmare before they could drag me to their lair. Ignoring the burning pain in my feet, I hurried out of the room, rushing down the empty corridor in the opposite direction of their hideout.

I knew not where I was or where I was headed, but I couldn't remain here, couldn't allow myself to be used as a pawn in their sick scheme.

Ignoring the burning pain in my feet, I burst out of the motel corridor, stumbling into the lobby. All eyes turned to me, no doubt taking in my disheveled appearance, but I paid no attention to them. The only thing that mattered was escape.

Spying a taxi waiting just outside, I rushed towards it, shoving the innocent couple who had just exited the vehicle. Tossing myself into the back seat, I shouted at the driver, "Take me to the police station!"

The woman I had shoved unleashed a torrent of curses, "Hey! Watch where you are going, puta, you could have injured me and my man!" but I refused to engage, focused only on putting as much distance between myself and my abductors as possible.

The driver glanced at me skeptically through the rearview mirror. "You better buckle up, miss," he said, before peeling out of the lot.

I craned my neck, watching as Silvia rushed out from the motel, a handgun clutched in her fist, her wild gaze sweeping the area. As the taxi sped away, I ducked down, my heart in my throat.

I was free—truly free, after so many years. But this was not the grand adventure I had planned. No, I had been thrust into a nightmare, a world of mafia dons and dangerous criminals.

Still, I clung to the hope that once I reached the police station, I would finally be safe. Surely the authorities could protect me from the clutches of that vile man and his henchmen.

After several tense minutes, the taxi pulled up to the station, and I flung the door open, stumbling out onto the street. I was about to dash inside when the driver called out.

"Hey, missy! Aren't you forgetting something?" He shouted, his hand outstretched.

I froze, the realization dawning that I had no money to pay the fare. Mustering my most tempting pout, I felt tears spring to my eyes as I approached the man.

"Please, señor," I pleaded, "I have nowhere to go. Those men... they were going to kidnap me. You are my hero—I don't have any money, but if you give me your number, I will be sure my father pays you back."

The driver's stern expression softened, and with a resigned sigh, he waved me off. "Just get going, chica. I'm glad I could help a beauty like you."

Flashing him a grateful smile, I hurried into the station, chest heaving from my desperate run. The officers behind the front desk eyed me curiously until one—a broad-shouldered man with a commanding presence—rushed forward.

"What brings you here, miss?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

I struggled to catch my breath, the words spilling out in a hysterical rush. "I was abducted...by this scary, narcissistic guy with an eyepatch and his goons! They are dangerous, you have to help me!"

The officer's expression shifted, a strange gleam entering his eyes. "You have come to the right place," he murmured, a chilling smile spreading across his lips. "I know who you are talking about, his name is Deangelo Luis Valladares, also known as Scorpion. He is the don of drugs and the most feared mafia in the city, and one of the four fathers."

My blood ran cold as he continued, "He is a runaway lord of the Spanish empire, although it’s impossible to deal with him, no one gets past me." He paused, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But don't worry, I can take care of your problem."

Swallowing heavily, I shook my head. "No, you don't understand. I just want to go home, to my father."

The officer’s smile widened. "Of course. Let me take you there."

He ushered me towards the door, guiding me to a sleek, expensive-looking sports car. As I slipped into the passenger seat, a creeping sense of dread gnawed at my stomach.

The officer started the engine, glancing at me with a sidelong gaze. "Your father's house burned down, remember?" he commented casually. "And you need to call him to know where he is, so here, use my phone."

He held the phone out to me, but as I reached for it, a sudden realization hit me. The doors had locked, trapping me inside. Panic seized me, and I began clawing at the handle, pleading with him to let me go.

But he simply chuckled, pressing a button to dial a number. "Boss, I got her," he reported, his tone spiked with triumph. "She was stupid enough to come right to the police station, just like you thought. I'm bringing her to you now."

My heart jumped into my throat as his words registered, he was working with the very man I had sought to escape. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as the realization punched me.

"Let me out of here! You are supposed to be a police officer who takes care of the citizens!" I shouted, but my words landed on deaf ears.