FOUR

VALENTINA'S POV

The footsteps got closer and louder, and I could see his shadow...a man holding a gun.

My heart thumped with trepidation as I stumbled back, eyes traveling around the room, as I tried to find where to hide. I looked towards the corner and saw a refrigerator.

I gagged, nearly spilling the content in my stomach as I opened the fridge. It was filled with so much dust and rotten foods and cobwebs. I didn't have a choice and hurried into it before closing it against myself.

The footsteps finally echoed in the room.

"Where is she?" The growl sent shivers down my spine but why didn't it sound like him? 

"I...I don't know where she is." Her voice trembled.

My heart jumped into my throat. They'd come for me. Seeing I wasn't at the strip club today. I was in trouble.

"I'll advise you to tell the truth. If not..." 

I heard a gasp.

"I...I was here the whole time, unconscious until I heard footsteps. Pl...please... spare me." She sobbed.

She was really covering up for me?

"Then I guess I'll take you then. If you can't provide her location."

"I think the person you should take is her boyfriend. He knows where she is...I don't."  She said,

"Valentina! What the fuck is going on here?! You fucking bitch, what gave you the balls to come down her..." He trailed off, and I could guess it was after he noticed the other man in the room. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Watch your tone, boy." The man said and I could hear the scoff of disbelief escape from Mark's lips. 

He didn't like that statement.

"You the fuck you calling a boy?" I could hear his advances. "And you little bitch fucking letting a man in. When did I..." I heard a gun clicking, and I could guess it was what made Mark shut up.

"Where is she?" He growled.

"The fuck you're talking about?" Mark questioned. "How I'm I supposed to know?"

"Don't test my patience Mark Valdin." 

"I don't know! She was upstairs and I fucking locked her up in the room. How the hell did you even get in here? How the hell do you know my name?"

"Call her, now."

"Her phone is with me. No way I can reach her that way. But she couldn't have gone far."

A heavy silence fell.

Then, I heard footsteps advancing towards this refrigerator.

Then a phone started to ring.

"Boss. No, it appears she's not at home. It appears she was locked up in the room by her boyfriend, but she found a way to escape." 

"The fuck are you snitching on me for?" Then I heard choke sounds. I could guess, the man was choking Mark.

"I said don't test my patience." He said, anger, laced in his tone. "Yes boss. Here, make sure you accord him with respect."

"Hello?" That was Mark and the phone was now on loud speaker.

'I give you one hour little boy. If she's not out yet. Your fingers will be the next designs on my wall.'

Why did that voice sound so familiar? Even from the phone it sent thrills down my spine.

"I'm sure she's here... somewhere around here." He trembled. Wow. I can't believe the man that had hit me a few hours ago was silently pleading for his life.

'Your time starts now.' 

"Hum..."

I closed my eyes hoping he wouldn't come here.

"I'll be upstairs. When you see her. Give her this." He said and I think he took the girl with him too. "We found another girl boss."

'Good.'

I sighed out of relief.

"If you don't get the fuck out of where you're hiding I'll kill you." Mark growled, shattering a lot of stuff in the room. "Get the fuck out you stupid bitch! I can't afford to die because of a worthless whore like you?!"

I couldn't believe this was the monster I'd been dating for seven years.

"Fucking bitch." He smashed something on the floor. Sounded like a...wait, was that my phone? "The moment I find you?"

Silence followed.

And afterwards, I could hear footsteps approaching.

I don't know why I was so scared of him matter how much I tried to convince myself that I wasn't. My hands trembled out of petrification.

One thing I knew was that I could never view him the same way again.

Then silence, no movement, no sounds, no nothing. Not even the sound of breathing.

I waited with anticipation. Fear, slowly piercing into my chest.

But nothing happened.

The refrigerator suddenly jerked open. And I, laying against it somewhat, fell onto the ground, a grunt escaping my lips.

"I knew you were fucking here bitch." He gripped my neck, his hand tightening against it so hard I could barely breathe.

Trying to slap his hand away was an epic fail, in fact, it only made the grip tighten.

He stared at me with so much resentment in his eyes.

It made me wonder, for how long had he been bottling up this hatred?

"Ma...rk." I choked out, feeling my face heat up.

"If I die right now, I wouldn't even care as long as I kill you. I don't even know what I saw in you then." 

My eyes rolled behind my head as I felt my soul leaving my body.

"You... can't do this to me. If...you get caught...he... he'll k...ill you." Talking made everything worse but I had to let it out either way.

"I'll allow it, as long as you're dead." His grip tightened so hard, I could hear my own bone crushing.

"Ark...ark." That was the sound I made as I saw my life flash before my eyes. My eyelashes are getting heavy.

"You fool... actually thinking you can sleep with other men and then get away with it. Now you want to leave me for another man? I'd rather you die bitch. If I can't have you, then nobody else can. Or haven't I been patient enough?"

My veins were almost literally popping out of my neck, but it was also as though I was refusing to die even though I could no longer breathe.

My eyes shut before hearing a gunshot.

A groan followed, and the hand on my neck loosened.

I fell to the ground, head first and really did feel like I'd died.

Darkness overwhelmed me...