Chapter 5: The Contract of Survival

"You think I’m bluffing?" he questioned, moving back and pulling out his phone.  With a few touches, he turned the screen toward me.

It was Clara.

She was seated at a bar, sipping a drink but I was unable to recognize the two guys standing behind her.

My breath hitched.

Greg smile.  "She is a gorgeous girl, isn’t she? Shame on you if anything happens to her." My heart raced towards where Clara could even with the fact that she hated me, she remains my cousin.

"Leave her out of this," I yelled, rage overpowering my anxiety.

"That is up to you."  He placed his phone aside.  "You always loved to be stubborn, Isabella.  But here’s the thing, you won’t get to win this time."

I gulped hard, my thoughts racing.  "You shouldn’t hurt her."

He laughed.  " what did you just say?" he asked with a strange look towards me.

I had seen and known what Greg was capable of and even if he did not touch Clara, he had his ways of making people suffer.

He tilted his head.  "Or maybe… someone else would convince you."

Before I could inquire what he meant, my phone chimed again.

Another message.

This time, my stomach dropped.

It was a photo of my mother In her ward.

I almost choked on my breath.

Greg grinned at my response.  "I have pals everywhere, Isabella.  People who would do anything for me and get properly paid.  And right now?  I’m paying them to keep an eye on your darling mother and everything connecting to you."

Fear gripped my chest, as I got confused about what next to do.

"You should not hurt my mum," I muttered.

He leaned closer, his lips touching my ear.  "Try me."

I pushed him back, wrath burning in my veins.  "You’re so disgusting."

"And you are out of options," he remarked easily.  "Here is how this works.  You come back to me—no questions, no conditions or your mother pays the ultimate price”

A lump stuck in my throat.

"Isabella," he muttered.  "You have 24 hours to decide."

He then turned and walked away, leaving me stunned.

---

Back inside, I barely made it to the bathroom as my hands trembled.

What the hell am I going to do? I questioned myself.

Clara noticing the change in my mood had to approach me but I couldn’t tell her anything.

"Well, you look like someone just told you your ex is a mafia boss."

I spun, finding Clara leaning against the sink, arms crossed.

Her expression was playful, but when she saw my face, the humour faded.

"What happened?" she asked, stepping closer.

I swallowed hard.  "Greg is here."

She stiffened.  "No.  That is not possible."

"He sent men after my mother," I muttered, my voice shaking and you. “ He has people monitoring you, Clara."

Clara's face paled.  "That bastard—"  she said as I continued.

"He wants me back and if I don’t, he’ll hurt both of you."

There was tension hearing that, and then Clara breathed hard.  "Okay, what is the way out of this ?."

I shook my head.  "There’s one thing for sure I know about Greg.  He won’t stop."

Clara gripped my shoulders.  "Isabella, listen to me.  We will solve this.  You are not going back to him."

I wanted to believe her.  I wanted to think I could battle Greg and win.

But while his warning resonated in my thoughts, my heart tightened.

Clara may be courageous. She could appear to be powerful.

But what if Greg wasn’t bluffing?

What if my mother was already in danger?

What if I had no choice?

Twenty-four hours was meant for me to determine my fate, whether to fight—or surrender.

And if I surrendered… would I ever escape again Greg

"Then we fight back." Clara’s jaw tightened.

I laughed, but it was an empty assurance.  "Fighting a mafia boss?  With what, Clara?  Hope and good intentions?"

She crossed her arms.  "You are not alone, Isabella.  There has to be another way out."

Another way.  The words echoed in my thoughts like a cruel joke.

A sudden tap on the bathroom door made us both jump.  My pulse jumped.  For one terrifying second, I believed Greg had followed me inside.

"Isabella."

The voice was deep, calm, and clear.

Alexander Steele.

I breathed gently, pushing my heartbeat to steady.  Clara flashed me a curious glance, but I dismissed it and walked toward the door, opening it just enough to see him.  His piercing glance was impenetrable, but the tightness in his stance was difficult to ignore.

"Come with me," he stated simply.

I paused, staring back at Clara who gave me a nod, slight but reassuring.  Gathering whatever was left of my calm, I went out, shutting the door behind me.

Alexander did not utter a word; he took me past the lounge and down a dimly lit hallway.  The farther we went, the thicker the air around us grew.  I could feel the weight of his silence, crushing down on me like an unknown force.

Finally, we reached a private room.  He pulled the door open and beckoned for me to walk inside.

"Talk to me," he pushed, shutting the door behind us.

I swallowed hard.  "There is nothing to talk about," I said.

His eyes clouded.  "Greg sent men after your mother." I was shocked hearing this from him though it wasn’t a question.

I tensed.  "How do you know that?" I asked.

Alexander let out a big breath and ran a hand over his hair.  "I have my sources."

Of course, he did.  Alexander Steele wasn’t simply a billionaire—he was a guy who built companies, a man who controlled every place he went into.  And yet, at this moment, he looked almost… worried.

"You need protection," he added.

I gave out a humourless chuckle.  "And you are volunteering?"

His lips twitched slightly as if he found my sarcasm funny.  "In a way."

I frowned.  "What does that mean?"

Alexander leaned on the desk, crossing his arms.  "Marry me."

I blinked.  "What?"

He met my look head-on, unwavering.  "Marry me, Isabella.  A contract marriage in return, I will guarantee your mother’s safety.  I will pay for her hospital bills, repay your loans, and keep Greg away from you?" These he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Can Alexander save me from Greg the mafia boss?

Find out in the next chapter!