Chapter one

Amanda's POV

I climbed into the small rental car I had hired from the automobile company on my first day here. It was cheap and old, but my only option for transport whilst I was in Italy. 

I started the engine and drove off in the direction of the diner where I would be working my second shift for today. My real reason for being in Italy was because I had been sent by the company I worked for in New York. I had begged my boss, who was also my boyfriend, to let me stay back this time. The business trip coincided with my father's memorial and it was not something I wanted to miss. 

However, he disagreed, arguing that I was the best person for the job since research was my specialty. Arriving here, I realized that this whole trip was just a waste of time. The investor I was supposed to meet with had canceled on short notice. So the one week that my boss was letting me stay here had gone to waste. 

I was so angry and tried to call my boyfriend, but he didn't answer. Frustrated, I decided to make good use of the time by finding a small job. After all, with the piling debt, I needed all the money I could get. Since I was only required to work a few hours a week, I'd taken the opportunity to go job hunting at a place with daily pay. The popular diner six streets away from my motel was the perfect option. 

I was already so tired that I wanted nothing more than to just jump into bed, but I had to do this job. My whole life depended on it, including the roof over my head back home in New York. It was my only shot at being able to repay the debt. 

I blinked back the tears that pooled in my eyes at the thought of losing the house I had grown up in. What would we do? Where would we even go? We were completely helpless. 

Wiping my face and shaking off my fatigue, I drove down the road until I got to the diner. I quickly parked the car behind the restaurant and shoved out my work apron from the passenger seat. 

I was tying the apron around my waist when I heard the gunshot. 

The sound of a bullet whizzing past my ear made me jump flat to the ground and take cover close to a dumpster. 

What the fuck is going on?!

I was nearly paralyzed with fear as I crouched in the alley, holding my breath to see what came next. Footsteps of about a dozen people sounded down the road.

"Don't let that bastard get away!" A voice snarled in the distance. "Find him!!"

I could hear the pattering on the wet ground as more footsteps ran down the road. It sounded like there was a chase. 

My heart clenched fearfully. I needed to get out of here! 

"Boss, we got him! He has a gunshot wound, there's a blood trail. He couldn't have gotten far." Another voice spoke. 

"Shut the fuck up and bring him to me!!" The initial voice thundered, spilling curses in a language I did not understand. 

I couldn't stay here. No fucking way did I come to Italy to get killed!

Trying my best to be as quiet as possible, I discarded my apron in the trash and waited till the footsteps faded away. When the time seemed right, I raced back to my car. I was just opening the car door when I bumped into a figure crouched on the floor. It was so dark that I couldn't make out the man's features. 

Ridden with fear, I stumbled backward to run. But then I saw the blood spurting out of a wound in his abdomen. I instantly knew he was the one those men were looking for.

"Who are you and what the hell are you doing next to my car? Leave or I'll call the cops!" I threatened, trying to put on a brave voice but I was shaking with fear inside. 

Before I could say anything more, the man let out a sharp growl and leaped forward, grabbing me roughly and clamping a large hand over my mouth. 

"Don't make a sound," he hissed into my ear, dragging me towards the car. 

I was so paralyzed with fear that I did as I was told. 

"Where are the keys?!" He demanded. 

My shaky hands dug into my bag as I rummaged for the keys. When I handed it over he got into the driver seat and shoved me to the passenger side. After he shut the doors, we heard footsteps approaching. It was the men, clutching guns as they stealthily moved down the street.

"Make a sound and you'll regret it," the man threatened me, placing a finger over his lips. He looked so dangerous at that moment that I shivered in fear, shutting my eyes and curling in my seat as the men passed us. Luckily, they did not check the car. 

As soon as they were a good distance away from us, the wounded man started the ignition and began to drive at breakneck speed. 

"What are you doing?!" I yelled, anger mixing it with my fear. "They're going to see us!"

But it was already too late. A sudden surge of screams filled the air as the armed men cocked their guns and began to shoot at the car. 

"No!! AHH!!"

I ducked to the floor of the car screaming as bullets whizzed past my ears, shattering the glass and leaving holes in the car. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I cried. 

This all felt too real. For a moment I was certain I was going to die. 

I was barely able to hold on as the car jumped roughly through the road. The man drove recklessly, not bothering to be careful with the car. After a few minutes, a loud popping sound filled the air and the car came to a stop. I whipped around to see that the thugs were no longer following us. We must have lost them in the chase.

"Climb out!" The man yelled at me. 

Without thinking, I pushed the door open and rolled out of the car. Next thing I knew, the car went up in flames, exploding with a loud crash.  

"No!" I yelled in agony.

I felt my legs give way and I fell to the ground in tears, watching the car I had hired on installment burn to ashes. Now I had to pay in full for damages and the full price of the car. Yet another debt on my shoulders. All because of one man!

Anger tightened my throat as I whipped around to yell at him. But to my shock, he was nowhere to be found. I staggered to my feet and looked around the abandoned area he had driven us into. But still, I couldn't find him. 

That bastard had taken off and left me in the middle of nowhere! I let out another frustrated scream. There and then, I vowed within myself to teach that bastard a lesson if I ever saw him again. 

*****

I looked down at my cell phone worriedly and dialed Logan's number once again. It rang, but he did not pick up. 

"God, Logan," I breathed. "Where did you put your phone?"

I had been calling my boyfriend's line since I got to New York to no avail. I was supposed to return to New York in a few days, but since the trip was a waste of time, plus last night's scare, I decided to come earlier.

I missed Logan so much, and I'd wanted him to come pick me up at the airport, but since he wasn't picking me up, I decided to surprise him instead. 

A mischievous smile curved my lips as I imagined the look on his face when he'd see me. I giggled as I hailed a taxi. He would probably be at work right now. 

Logan and I worked in the same company, although he was several levels above me. We'd met a few months into my employment and it had been bliss ever since. I felt like the happiest and luckiest woman alive when Logan asked me out. Falling in love with him came easy, and if it were up to me, I would flaunt that to the whole world.

But Logan felt differently. 

The only issue I had earlier was the fact that he insisted on keeping our relationship a secret from our colleagues. But when he explained that he didn't want to seem unprofessional, I completely understood. 

Because I was amongst the lowest level of staff at the company, I hardly got to see Logan often. My best friend, Vanessa, disliked Logan for some reason, clearly insisting that he kept our relationship a secret because he was ashamed of me. 

I had fought with Vanessa several times because of this. Although she thought that Logan was bad for me, I fully disagreed. We had been together for five years, and I knew he loved me. He told me every day. He had been there for me through all my struggles, and even whilst I was distracted trying to pay off my family's debt, I still made time to be with him.

That's how important he was to me. 

I practically raced to Logan's office once I arrived at the company building. I was about to pull the door open when I heard the voices within. 

"Yes, I'm serious, baby. I'm pregnant!" A female voice announced happily. "I still can't believe it!"

My face scrunched in confusion. Wait a second. I recognized that voice…

It belonged to Candace, Logan's best friend. She was his childhood friend whom we saw once in a while, but it was unusual for her to be in his office. But, pregnant?! I didn't know she was seeing someone. 

Curiosity getting the better of me, I slowly pushed the door open and peeked in. The image I saw before me was one I would never forget. 

Candace was perched on the desk with Logan standing in between her legs and running his fingers up her chest to cup her breasts. 

I stared at the sight in front of me, unable to move. It felt like I had been punched in the gut. 

Logan was cheating on me?!