33. Leo Offers

Caterina hugged her father's body tightly as footsteps could be heard approaching. Dante was no longer able to stand for long. His legs really couldn't support his weight anymore, especially since he had previously forced his broken leg to tread. The man's face looked pale with cold sweat breaking out.

Caterina looked closely at her father's face. It seemed that the fracture in Dante's leg was getting worse, and he was attacked by a fever because of the wound in his leg. She needed medicine to treat her father. If left untreated, her father's broken leg could cause an infection.

“Dad.” Caterina called her father in a whisper, as she didn't want him to lose consciousness. The man's body was very hot, and he began to shiver. Caterina felt very guilty because her father had become like this because of her.

They couldn't hide there any longer. They had to leave as soon as possible before Marco returned. She didn't know what Marco would do to them. However, it was certain that they would be treated very badly because they were enemies.

Caterina changed position. Although her strength was not fully restored, she carried her father on her back. If she forced her father to continue walking, the man's condition would worsen. She had no other choice; she had to carry his burly body.

After the guards passed through their hiding place, Caterina took her father to find a way out. There were many hallways in the building, so they had gotten lost a few times. She didn't know what the place was, but she knew there were many of Marco's prisoners there. If he had more power or more time, he would have helped to release the hostages.

“Dad, you can't sleep.” Caterina kept trying to engage her father in conversation throughout her efforts to find a way out.

“Hmm.” The only audible gasp came from Dante in response. The man knew the consequences of sleeping, so he did his best to stay awake. He felt very unlucky that he should be attacked by a fever in such an urgent situation.

“I found the exit.” Caterina felt happy when she saw the exit. There were two guards ahead, so she had to find a way to get past them.

“Dad, you wait here for a moment. I'm going to have to do something.”

Caterina lowered her father off her back. She sat him down on the floor. Then she sneaked up on the two men standing guard at the door. With lightning speed, she attacked them without making a sound. In just a short time she managed to defeat both of them. She snatched the gun from the guard's pocket and tucked it into her pants.

After making sure everything was safe, she returned to her father and took the man into her arms. Dante's consciousness was declining. Caterina half-ran to the car park. She broke the window and opened the car door. She placed Dante's body gently on the driver's side seat. She didn't have the keys, so she had to start the car by herself. Fortunately, she was quite handy with machinery.

“There she is!”

“Hurry up and catch her before she gets away!”

“Lord Marco will be furious if her hostage escapes!”

Hearing those shouts, Caterina became trembling. Their plan to escape was 80% successful. Just waiting for the car engine to start, they would be able to escape from there. However, because of the time crunch and the panic that was chasing each other, she found it difficult to concentrate. She even forgot that she had a gun in her pants that she could use to attack them.

“Shit! Let's fire!” Caterina cursed at the car that wouldn't start after she tried to start it repeatedly.

“Hands up!”

The guards eventually surrounded them. Caterina couldn't do anything. She couldn't fight back because she was sure she would lose if there were that many opponents. Moreover, she was with her father, who couldn't do anything.

“Get down!” A well-built man pointed a pistol at Caterina's head. He gave an order for Caterina to get down immediately.

Caterina turned to look at her father.

“My father is sick, please be a little gentle.” She pleaded as her semi-conscious father was dragged out of the car.

“After you attacked the guards, you expect us to be gentle with you?”

Caterina was silent after she heard the question. She understood their attitude, especially with her status as a hostage. She had no right to ask for different treatment. While inside La Vendetta, she was treated very harshly, let alone at the hands of her enemy.

“What's going on?” Marco, who had just arrived, immediately approached the crowd. The man looked at Caterina, who looked miserable in the hands of his men.

“Sir, she attacked the guards and tried to escape. Luckily we managed to catch her.” A man gave an explanation.

Marco looked at Caterina with a smile. Caterina returned the gaze with a disgusted look.

“Let her go!” Marco gave the order.

“What?” The man looked surprised at Marco's order.

“Was my order not clear enough?” Marco looked at the man with his left eyebrow raised.

“But, sir—”

“Do I need to repeat my order?” Marco asked firmly. Marco's authority really stood out this time, although he was nothing compared to Leonardo.

“So—sorry, sir.” The man released his grip on Caterina's hands. He looked a little annoyed, but he didn't dare to fight back.

“Dad!” Caterina ran to her father, who looked unconscious. She took her father from the grip of Marco's men.

“I know I have no right to ask for anything. But please save my father. It looks like the wound on his leg has become infected. I'm not asking that my father be taken to the hospital; I'm just asking that you allow me to treat him. Please, just this once. I will be very grateful if you help me.” Caterina pleaded with Marco. She understood Marco wasn't that good, but it couldn't hurt to try.

Marco smiled slightly. His sharp eyes slowly turned into a gentle gaze.

“Why do you have to beg like that? I will contact a doctor to treat your father. Forget what happened between us before. I realized our enemies are the same. So, why don't we work together?”

Caterina narrowed her eyes to look at Marco. She was a little confused by what he meant. Work together? Cooperate with what?

“What do you mean?” Caterina stared with a questioning look.