Artur: The exact name etched onto the knife. I swallowed, a feeling of urgency sweeping over me. But before I could say anything, the door burst open.
I jumped, falling onto the bed and clutching the covers tighter around myself. A man shoved a woman into the room, and she stumbled to her knees. She looked to be in her late thirties, with her mouth sealed, and her hands bound in front of her.
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at me, and I recoiled. I recognized her as the chef who served us at Marco’s place.
Artur, if that was his name, stood and grabbed the knife. He sat back down, his eyes never leaving me.
Panic surged through me. I hated that look.
“I don’t understand what you want,” I cried out.
“Answers,” Artur replied.
“Marco…” I swallowed. “Marco and I have only been dating for three months. We—I know nothing about him. We only dated for three months.”
“How well do you know him?” Artur asked again, the knife still rolling between his fingers.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the deadly weapon.
“Not so well,” I admitted, my voice shaking.
“Wrong answer.”
In an instant, Artur hurled the knife across the room. A loud thud echoed through the air, and my breath caught in my throat.
The chef’s body hit the floor with brutal finality. Blood pooled around her as her lifeless eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. The sight made my stomach churn.
“Now,” Artur said, his tone colder than ever. “where does he live?” Before I could answer, he added, “The beach house wasn’t his.”
I froze. How could I have known that? It was my second time at his place, and Marco behaved as if he owned the place.
“I only know the beach house,” I replied, tears welling in my eyes. “That’s the only place I know, I swear.”
Artur’s eyes narrowed. “He knows your father.”
“Yes, yes,” I said quickly, desperation creeping into my voice.“He was in my father’s office when we met. I don’t know their relationship.”
His gaze hardened, and he stood up, a dark smile curling at the corners of his lips.
“Your family is my enemy,” he said, his voice laced with venom. “Just the people I needed. We’ll see how fast your parents can set you free.”
The smile he gave me was chilling. It was darker than his suit, and I hated it more than anything else.
Chapter Five
Alessia
I counted the days thatpassed, using the light filtering through the window in the room where I was locked. The house was an eerie, abandoned structure. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the constant creaks only made it worse. I had heard no sounds of life since my capture—only the occasional rustle of wind against the brittle windows.
A man also came once a day to deliver food and water. In that isolation, panic continued to claw at me.
But on the third day, everything changed.
The door creaked open, and Artur walked in with two men. My heart skipped a beat as I sat up against the headboard, my throat tight with fear. His eyes locked onto mine, and an overwhelming sense of dread flooded me. He motioned for me to stand and follow him, and in that moment, all hopes of my parents findingme were shattered. I didn’t know where I was or where the hell they were taking me. But I didn’t dare ask questions as we left the room.
Cold air rushed at me when we stepped out. One man yanked me by my arm when I stumbled, pushing me toward a car and forcing me into the backseat.
We drove for twenty minutes before pulling through an enormous gate. Artur stepped out first, and a man helped me out of the car. Only then did I realize we were in a new location. The elegant mansion loomed before me, its grand entrance framed by marble pillars and pristine landscape. It radiated nothing but power and wealth, yet another prison for me.