SARAHThe moment felt surreal. I sat there, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the band had just dedicated a song to me in front of all these people. I could feel every single eye in the room on me—strangers smiling, whispering, probably wondering who I was and why Marco had orchestrated such an elaborate surprise. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. How had I ended up here, in the middle of this?I glanced at Marco, who was looking back at me with the biggest grin plastered across his face. He was practically beaming with pride, clearly enjoying my reaction, while I was just trying to keep myself from completely melting into the floor. I shook my head in disbelief, unable to suppress the small smile that crept onto my lips despite the overwhelming nerves I was feeling.“You’re absolutely unbelievable,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady as I leaned closer to him. “What length on earth won’t you go to just to be extr
SARAHAs soon as we stepped into the bar, I could feel the shift in atmosphere. It was cozy, dimly lit, with just the right amount of chatter and soft music playing in the background. The waiter immediately recognized Marco, which wasn’t surprising. He seemed to know people everywhere we went.“Mr. De Luca, good evening,” the waiter greeted with a respectful nod. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”Marco gave a small smile, nodding in return. “Good to see you too. Lead us to your finest table, please.”The waiter gestured for us to follow, and we made our way to a quiet corner of the bar. The table was tucked away, providing just the right amount of privacy, and I couldn’t help but notice the envious glances some of the other patrons gave us as we walked by. Marco had that effect on people—commanding attention without even trying.Once we were seated, the waiter handed us menus and stood by, waiting for our order. Marco glanced through his menu, quickly settling on his drink of choice
SARAHI grabbed the glass, my determination kicking into high gear. There was no way I was going to let Marco win this, not after all his teasing. I glanced at him, sitting across from me, looking so casual and relaxed, like he wasn’t taking any of this seriously. Meanwhile, I was ready to down this drink like my life depended on it.“Ready?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.Marco gave me a slow, amused smile. “Oh, I’m ready. Are you?”I didn’t answer, just brought the glass to my lips and started drinking. The whiskey burned as it went down, but I powered through, my focus locked on him. Marco was sipping his drink with way too much ease. Was he even trying?I gulped faster, determined to get ahead. But suddenly, I felt the burn in my throat intensify, and before I knew it, I was choking. The whiskey came back up, and I coughed hard, feeling the liquid spill out the corners of my mouth.“Oh my God!” I gasped, dropping the glass and reaching for a napkin as I wiped at my face, morti
MARCOI made my way down the hall, stepping lightly to avoid waking anyone up. The last thing I wanted was to disturb the peaceful night at this place. We were supposed to be on vacation, relaxing. But, of course, work had a funny way of sneaking in no matter where I was. Especially with Tony.I pushed the thought aside and made my way down the dimly lit hallway, looking for somewhere more private to talk. As I spotted a balcony at the end of the corridor, I nodded to myself. That’d work. I needed some air anyway.Sliding open the glass door, I stepped outside into the cool night. The breeze felt good against my skin, a reminder that I wasn’t in some stuffy office dealing with the usual problems. Not right now, at least.I leaned on the railing and brought the phone to my ear. Tony picked up on the second ring.“Marco! How’s the vacation, man?” he asked, his voice instantly bringing me back to the usual chaos.I sighed, glancing out at the view below. The moonlight reflected off the w
SARAHI woke up with a jolt, my head pounding like a drum. The sharp pain was unbearable, and my vision was blurry. I tried to blink it away, but everything still seemed off, like I was seeing through a fog. I felt nauseous, my stomach churning in waves that made me want to throw up.I groaned, trying to lift my hand to my forehead to massage away the ache, but I couldn’t move. I blinked again, more aware now, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Something was wrong. My arms… they were tied. I tried to jerk my wrists free, but they were bound tightly. I was sitting on a cold, hard surface, my back pressed against something solid, and both my wrists were tied behind me.“What the—?” I whispered, the panic slowly creeping in as I tugged at the ropes binding me. I looked down at myself, and that’s when I realized: I had no idea where I was. The room was dim, shadows filling every corner. The air was thick and musty, and the silence was deafening.How did I get here?It was like a flo
SARAHThe sound of the key twisting in the lock sent a fresh wave of panic surging through me. My heart was pounding so hard, it was deafening. Who was it? Was someone here to rescue me, or had the person who kidnapped me come back to finish the job? My thoughts spiraled, and I felt frozen, locked in place, eyes glued to the door as it creaked open. I squinted into the dim light, trying to make out the figure standing there. For a moment, it was just a blur, the flickering light from the lone bulb above casting eerie shadows on the walls. But as the person stepped forward, the light hit his face, and my heart leapt.“Carlos?” I gasped, a mix of relief and confusion in my voice. It was him—Marco’s right-hand man. Relief washed over me. “Carlos, thank God! I was kidnapped, I don’t know how I got here, but you have to help me!” My words came out in a rush, stumbling over each other. I tugged at the ropes around my wrists, desperate to be free. He didn’t move. He just stood there, stari
MARCOI spent the last day glued to the hotel’s CCTV footage, running it over and over again, trying to find a trace—*anything*—that could lead me to Sarah. But whoever had taken her was smart, almost too smart. The camera caught a dark figure once, a shadow slipping into a car outside the lobby. I couldn’t make out a face, nothing identifiable. It was like the guy knew the place inside out, maneuvering between blind spots like he had a blueprint in his head. Every corner, every hallway he avoided, it was like he was a ghost.I slammed my hand down on the table, frustration bubbling up inside me. My mind was racing, going through every possible lead, but all I kept coming back to was that damn blurry footage."What the hell am I missing?" I muttered to myself, pacing back and forth in the small hotel room. The silence felt suffocating. I couldn’t just sit here. Every second I waited felt like time slipping away from Sarah.And then, my phone rang. I grabbed it off the table without ev
MARCOI paced back and forth, the text still open on my phone. My eyes scanned the same words over and over, my brain trying to process them while my body vibrated with fury and desperation.“We have your darling Sarah. Once we’re done with her, we’ll be ready to negotiate. We’re going to have a lot of fun with her before then.”The idea of someone touching her—hurting her—made my blood run cold, and then it boiled over into rage. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t just stand here, doing nothing. Every second wasted felt like another second Sarah was closer to being lost. And it was my fault. I should have protected her. I should have seen this coming.The phone was in my hand before I realized it, and I dialed Petrov’s number, my fingers moving with a mind of their own. The moment I heard his voice on the other end of the line, I didn’t waste time with pleasantries.“Petrov,” I growled, my voice harsh and urgent. “I got a text.”There was a brief pause on the other end. “What kin
MARCOThe flashbang was still working its magic as I stumbled forward, my vision blurry and my ears ringing like an alarm clock from hell. But there was no time to wait for things to settle. The moment the light hit, I felt the chaos erupt behind me—grunts, shouts, the clatter of boots on the floor.Instinct kicked in. The first guy behind me was flailing around, clutching his face like someone had poured hot sauce directly into his eyes. I took the opportunity, jabbing my elbow into his ribs with enough force to knock the air out of him. He let out a strangled wheeze and crumpled like a cheap folding chair.Unfortunately, his buddy wasn’t as incapacitated. The second man had somehow managed to pull out his gun, though he was aiming like he’d never used his eyes a day in his life. The first shot rang out, going wide and hitting a piece of metal somewhere to my left.“Great aim, sharpshooter,” I muttered, yanking the first guy’s body up as a human shield. The next shot hit him square i
MARCOI stared at the scene before me, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and regrets. Tony lay crumpled on the floor, motionless, and Petrov wasn’t faring any better. My eyes darted back to Danzo, standing tall and smug, his expression carved with triumph. His words echoed in my head, striking me like a hammer with every repetition: This is where your poor planning has gotten you.Poor planning.Was that really it? Was it my fault that Tony and Petrov had been brought to this state? That Sarah was here, caught in Danzo’s grasp, her wide, fearful eyes pleading silently for a rescue I wasn’t sure I could give?You should’ve seen this coming, Marco, I thought bitterly.Danzo had been working against me from the shadows, a viper I had failed to notice until it was too late. But was it just him? Had I been so blind, so arrogant, to think that I had anticipated everything? My chest tightened as my mind spiraled further.Tony’s bloodied face flashed in my mind, followed by Petrov’s ragged brea
MARCO“Tony!” I choked out, the word barely escaping my lips as I turned toward the source.He was on the ground, his body crumpled awkwardly, blood pouring from his side. The crimson stain spread across the floor, pooling beneath him like some sick painting. My heart stopped as I stared at the scene, every ounce of air in my lungs evaporating.“No… no, no, no,” I stammered, stepping back instinctively, my boot catching in the slick blood pooling around him. I staggered, almost falling, my mind spinning.“Tony!” I called again, my voice cracking as if saying his name louder would wake him, make him look at me, make him respond. But he didn’t. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, his eyes fluttering as if he was fighting to stay conscious.Danzo’s laugh broke through the chaos—a guttural, maniacal cackle that made my blood boil.“Ah, the mighty Marco. Look at you now,” he sneered. His voice was sharp, cutting through my panic like a razor. “I told you, didn’t I? You thin
MARCOThe air in the room crackled with tension as I leveled the gun at Danzo, my finger firm against the trigger. He took a step back, his eyes darting between me and the scattered bodies of his men. For a second, I thought I saw fear, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that damn smirk he always wore, like he still had the upper hand.“It’s over for you, Danzo,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through me. “You might want to think twice before doing anything stupid.”He scoffed, a dry, humorless sound. His hand twitched near his side, hovering too close to the gun strapped there.“I mean it!” I barked, raising my voice. “You even so much as look at that gun, and you’ll die here, right now. No last words. No bargaining. Just done.”Danzo froze for a heartbeat, his hand still dangerously close to his weapon. “You don’t have it in you, Marco,” he sneered. “You think you’re the tough one, don’t you? You think you’re the hero in all of this?”“Shut up.” My
MARCOThe sound of gunfire outside was getting closer, louder. Each shot echoed like a drumbeat of inevitability, and I could see the panic setting in on Danzo’s face. His eyes darted around the room as though searching for an escape that wasn’t there.“You hear that, Danzo?” I said, leaning back in my chair. My wrists were still tied, but my voice was steady. “That’s the sound of your grand plan crumbling. Everything you set up here? It’s falling apart. And you’re dying here today.”Danzo’s head snapped toward me, his jaw tightening. For a second, he looked like he was going to lunge at me, but he held back. Instead, he pulled a walkie-talkie from his belt, his fingers gripping it so tightly his knuckles turned white.“Status!” he barked into the device, pacing in tight circles like a cornered animal. “What’s going on out there?”There was a pause on the other end, filled with static and the faint sound of chaos—shouting, gunfire, something heavy crashing to the ground. Finally, a vo
MARCO The ropes around my wrists burned as I strained against them, my jaw tight enough to crack a tooth. Danzo paced back and forth like a predator toying with its prey, his smirk wide and arrogant. His voice dripped with satisfaction, every word landing like a calculated blow. “You really don’t get it, do you?” he said, pausing to glance at me. “All this… it’s personal, Marco. You made it personal the moment you threw me to the wolves.” I stared him down, refusing to let the venom in his words show any effect. “You think I’m afraid of you?” “Oh, I don’t need you to be afraid. Not yet, anyway,” he said, laughing softly. “But you should be. You always underestimated me, Marco. Always thought I’d stay in your shadow, didn’t you?” I said nothing, focusing instead on Sarah, who sat just a few feet away, bound and trembling. Her eyes met mine, and the fear in them sliced through me like a blade. Danzo followed my gaze and chuckled darkly. “Ah, yes. The princess. Don’t worry, Ma
MARCOThe goons gathered my weapons with smug satisfaction, tossing them onto the floor like trophies. My knife. My Glock. The backup pistol. Each piece felt like a part of me being stripped away. I clenched my jaw as the masked man stooped to pick up my gun. He held it up to the dim light, turning it over in his hand like he’d just found buried treasure.“Nice piece,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he inspected the setup. “Who’s your plug, Marco? This stuff’s top-tier. Custom job? Or do you just know the right people?”I didn’t respond, glaring at him in silence. My hands itched to grab it back, to feel the weight of it in my palm, but my wrists were bound tightly behind my back.“Not much of a talker, are you?” he continued, pacing slowly in front of me. He raised the gun and mimed aiming it, letting out a low whistle. “Damn. This feels good. Might keep it. Hope you don’t mind.”I didn’t take the bait. Instead, I focused on what they hadn’t found—the tiny chip in my boo
MARCOThe silence inside the narrow hallway was almost unbearable. The dim, flickering light above me buzzed faintly, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. My boots clicked softly on the metal floor as I moved further in, my breaths shallow and controlled. Every step felt heavier than the last, each one carrying me deeper into uncertainty.“Petrov,” I whispered, pressing a finger to the mic in my ear. “Petrov, can you hear me?”Nothing. Just static.I paused, my heart thudding harder as the realization hit me. The connection was dead. Whether it was deliberate or accidental, I was on my own now.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement. My hand instinctively drifted toward the gun hidden beneath my jacket. I didn’t pull it out yet, but just feeling its presence steadied me a little. Whatever was waiting for me here, I wasn’t about to face it unarmed.The hallway stretched further ahead, leading to an open door on the left. The sh
MARCOThe night air clung to me like a heavy cloak, thick with tension and the metallic scent of salt from the nearby docks. As I stepped out of the car, the first thing I did was adjust the mic in my ear. Petrov’s faint voice buzzed briefly in the connection, a reminder that I wasn’t entirely alone in this. But still, the silence surrounding me felt absolute, broken only by the distant hum of machinery and the soft crunch of gravel under my boots.My hand hovered close to my side, grazing the cold steel of the gun tucked under my jacket. I didn’t draw it, not yet, but the feel of it was a small comfort. The shipyard was a maze of shadows and towering containers, each one a potential hiding place. My eyes darted left, then right, sweeping for movement. Nothing. Not yet.“Marco, can you hear me?” Petrov’s voice crackled in my ear, low but clear.I pressed the mic lightly. “Loud and clear.”“Good,” he replied. “We’ve got eyes on the perimeter. Cameras are feeding us everything in real t