Chapter 2

Astrid's POV

I finally opened my eyes after how many hours I knew nothing of. My mind was hazy and couldn't think straight. The cold seeping through my skin, chilling me to the bone even though the room itself wasn't cold. I didn't know if it was an unconscious fear but it felt familiar to whenever I felt fear.

I blinked, trying to get myself together, trying to get my hazy mind straight, and that was when it hit me hard. I was at the club when Luca Santoro came in and he drugged me. He drugged me.

My heart hammered against my chest as I shot up but I felt sore all over, but that was the least of my worries now. Realizing I was no longer in Nexus club. I could be easily kidnapped in the club and they won't bat an eye as long as Luca Santoro did it.

The room was unfamiliar, but it screamed wealth and power– two things I had no business being around. The walls were deep, muted gray with paintings that probably worth more than I make a year.

The bed was massive and very comfortable. Normally I wouldn't want to leave this kind of bed, but where on earth did Luca bring me to? I scrambled out of bed, my legs shaky as I tried to regain my balance. My head still felt fuzzy from the drug Luca gave me and go make things worse, I ached all over, especially down there.

“Wait what?” I screamed looking down at myself like I would get an answer from just looking at myself. But I was no longer dressed in the same dress, instead I was in a comfortable black t-shirt which was much bigger than my stature.

I didn't know why went down because I couldn't remember anything after I passed out last night. At least, I thought I passed out because of the breach in my memory.

I quickly moved towards the door to find my way out. My hands reached for the doorknob, half expecting it to be locked. But, it wasn't. The door swung open easily, revealing a long dimly lit hallway. The air was heavy with silence only broken by faint humming I couldn't make out in a distance.

I cautiously stepped into the hallway with my mind racing. Where was I? Why didn't Luca lock me up? Was this some sort of sick game? I didn't even want to continue questioning myself and just wanted to come face to face with him.

My bare feet made no sound on the cold hardwood floor as I crept down the hallway, my eyes darting around. The hallway branched off into different rooms, but each door I tried was locked, but I moved on forward.

Finally, I got to the end of the hallways where the door wasn't locked. It opened into a spacious living area, decorated in the same muted tone as the bedroom. The furniture was sleek and modern with an ominous atmosphere hanging around.

And there, sitting on one of the comfortable couches, was Luca.

He looked up as he heard me enter the room, his expression unreadable. He was in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up which I noticed he was in something similar last night too. But, now, he almost looked casual as if it was just another day, same thing for him. But one thing that wasn't casual was the way he looked at me like I was some prey.

“Ash,” he said, in his calm and controlled voice. “You're awake.”

I didn't reply, just staring back at him before my eyes darted around the room to look for any exit. “Looking for something?” he asked, a little nonchalant.

“Let me go, Luca.” I met his gaze again, my fists clenched besides me.

Luca didn't move from his position but there was a slight shift in his posture. “Does your body hurt?” He asked, leaving me in confusion. How did he know my body was hurting me? Did he ask them to beat me up while I was drugged or did he–.

My thoughts came to a halt as I stared back at his face, memories of after I was drugged flooding to me. “Y-you drugged me. A-and I-I was acting weird.”

“Seems like you remember how you were throwing yourself at me. I have to admit, you're better than other women I've had.” He said and I could feel my entire face burn, not in embarrassment but in anger.

“Are you crazy? You didn't only kidnap me but you drugged me with some aphrodisiac and slept with me…”

“Correction, you wouldn't let me go.” He cut me off, still keeping his cold and unfazed look which made me even more angry. Even if he was Luca Santoro, if he owned this entire part of the city, he didn't have a single right.

“Put that aside for now,” his eyes narrowed slightly. “I know who you are, Ash. And I know what you're capable of.”

“I am Astrid. Whoever Ash is, I am not her,” I yelled in anger, my body trembling slightly. “What on earth do you want from me?”

He finally leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at me. “I need your skills, Ash- Astrid. You're one of the best hackers out there, and I have a job that only someone with your talents can pull off.”

A bitter laughter escaped my lips before I could stop it. “You drugged me and dragged me here for a job offer? Who do you people even think you are?”

His expression remained calm, but there was an edge to his voice when he spoke again. “I don't think you understand the situation you're in. I'm not asking. You're going to do do this job, and in return I'll give you what you want.”

I clenched my jaw, hating how easily he seemed to read me. “And what do you think I want?”

Luca stood up, moving toward a small table in the corner of the room. He picked a folder and tossed it onto the coffee table in front of me. The content spilled out, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the photos inside.

My mother. My sister. They looked… “Where are they? Where did you find this?”