Elena's POV
I type through my laptop, replying to emails and rescheduling Rio's meetings because he hasn't shown up at the office for a while now.
My head is pounding hard. I haven't slept a wink since what Mariana said about the guy named Hunter. I've never heard that name in my life, or maybe I don't remember. Aunt Lilly didn't mention such a name either, and I keep wondering who he is.
Also, I've been looking over my shoulder every second because now I'm a bounty in the underworld. The dons want me dead. And at this moment, I'm just an assistant at a company with no protection whatsoever.
Sam picks me up from work most evenings, if not, Mariana takes me home instead. They're doing their best to make sure I'm safe, and that makes me grateful because I know I'm not alone in all this mess.
I sigh as I reply to the last email and snap my laptop shut. I pinch the bridge of my nose, the headache accelerating until I can feel it behind my eyes.
A knock on the door causes my eyes to open weakly.
"Yeah, come in," I call out loud enough, and the door creaks open. Mariana walks in carrying two steaming cups and a muffin box under her arm. I smile, standing up and helping her get them on the table.
"Girl, you're a life-saver. I really needed this," I say, grabbing a cup and sipping.
"Yeah, I figured, since you haven't stepped out of this office for almost five hours," she says, flopping onto the chair in front of me.
"Dang, that long?" I ask, pretending not to know, but really, I just prefer keeping my mind occupied with normal things rather than the fact that I'm wanted by criminals.
"Yeah… uhm, I was at Rio's earlier," she says, and I stop mid-sip. Just the mention of his name makes me want to throw up, but I know Maria doesn't mean to offend me, so I let her finish.
"I know you hate to talk about him, but if you saw him… he isn't his usual composed, broody mafia boss. He looks like an addict. Or a zombie. He's in terrible shape, and when I asked him what's gotten into him, he didn't say anything, just said he couldn't tell me," she whispers, drawing circles along the rim of her cup.
You could tell how worried she is about her big brother.
"He'll come around soon," is all I manage to say, squeezing her hand and forcing a smile.
I know I should hate that bastard, but from what Maria has said, I suddenly feel bad for him ,even though he's the one that hurt me and is keeping things to himself.
She nods and smiles, and we settle into a long, comfortable silence, the sip of coffee and the sound of a bird pecking at my office window filling the quiet.
Mariana later leaves after lunch break is over, and I'm left alone again.
I try to busy myself with work, but I fail because my mind keeps circling back to him. A million questions in my head.
What changed?
Why did he suddenly decide to break me like that?
What's troubling him so much he has to drown himself in alcohol?
Rio has always been a composed man, someone who knows how to keep his emotions in check. So all this is bizarre, to me, even to Mariana.
I end up taking a nap at the office, because why not? And also because I haven't slept a wink for the last two days. I drift off to sleep in no time.
I jump, startled from my sleep, when my loud ringtone fills the space. I wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth. It's also super quiet, and when I look outside the window, it's dark.
Hold on… how long was I asleep for?
I blink and reach for my phone. Sam's name pops up and I pick up immediately ,she must be worried sick about where I am.
I answer.
"Hey, Sam, sorry I—" I start ranting, but she cuts me off.
My heart stops. I realize that's not even Sam's voice speaking back ,it's a man's.
"Container number 34, west from the park, lake view ,Don't be late, unless you want your friend dead," the deep voice says, and I jump from my seat.
"W–what? Who the fuck are you and where's my friend, you asshole?" I yell, chest heaving, voice raised. Panic clawing at my insides .
"E–Elena… please…" Sam's voice comes small and shaky, scared, and tears instantly swell in my eyes.
Before I can call out to her to ask if she's ok , the line goes dead, and my phone drops to the floor. I stand there in shock. Mouth open in a gasp , tears flow down my face , my lip quivering .
My best friend is kidnapped. Because of me.
I grab my phone, my bag, and the car keys to Sam's car that I drove here.
I sprint out of my office ,the only people around are countable, but it's all a blur as I step into the elevator and press the ground floor button.
My hands shake as I try switching my phone on, but it doesn't.
"No… no, no, no…" I murmur. Shit. I forgot to charge it. I throw it in my bag.
The elevator dings, and I step outside, running out to the parking lot. I slide inside the car and start it, slamming the door shut.
I drive toward the park at an alarming speed ,but I don't care. I just hope I don't get pulled over by the police. It's almost 9 p.m. My heart is beating so loud, my hands are shaking, and I keep wiping my tears because they keep blurring my vision.
"Hold on for me, Sam. I'm coming for you," I whisper as I take a turn that leads to the park. It's the only park around the area that has a lake nearby, so it's gotta be this one.
I drive west of it and find myself on a dirt road that leads to a small lake. I stop and turn off the engine, breathing in and out. I grab a small knife and hold it under my wrist so it's covered by my long-sleeved jacket.
I step out, and the wind whooshes through my hair. The scent of smoke and fish fills my nostrils, and I figure it's a fishing zone where people come to fish and trade.
My steps are small along the gravel. It's eerily quiet as I walk closer and closer to the lake. Once the lake is in full view, I look around and spot a small ferry with containers,it's the only one with containers. I quicken my steps but try to stay quiet.
I jump onto the ferry. Although it's anchored, it's a few feet away from land. I almost twist an ankle in the process.
I take off my heels and walk around, looking for number 34. I stop in front of a red one with the bold numbers 34 painted across its door.
A small light flickers inside, and before I can think of what to do next, the cold metal of a gun barrel presses against the side of my head. I freeze and my hands drop my heels as I raise them slowly.
"Back away from the door, slowly," the man says, and I do just that. I feel the knife slipping inside my jacket sleeve, praying it doesn't stab me.
The man opens the door and pushes me inside. Once in, my eyes immediately land on her.
Sam. She's strapped to a chair, her head falling lazily. A few other men in masks are around, but one of them sits at the front on a chair, lighting a cigar. His face isn't covered ,he has jet-black hair, tall, ripped, tattoos crawling all over his exposed skin from the vest he's wearing.
"Move!" the guy behind me orders, and I stagger forward.
"Tie her up," the man I assume is the leader orders.
"Sam!" I call to her, but she groans and doesn't answer.
"What the fuck did you do to her, you asshole?" I yell in anger, my body boiling from seeing my friend like this.
They tie me up next to her.
"You've got a mouth on you, sweetheart. Don't worry ,she's fine," the guy says, standing from his chair and walking toward me.
His huge stature shadows mine as I look up at him, not giving him the satisfaction of being scared. I can now see him clearly, dark eyes a crooked nose and a sharp jawline. A scowl and a scar running from his cheek towards his neck . Scary man .
"Who the fuck are you, and what the hell do you want?" I ask angrily, eyes glossy, lip quivering, voice cracking..cracking my façade of trying to act brave.
He kneels down in front of me, blowing the smoke from his cigar onto my face. I don't flinch.
"Allow me to introduce myself, princess," his deep voice vibrates through the room.
"I know you're Elena Rosa Grey," he says, and I flinch when he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"Well, no shit, Sherlock. I know my fucking name. I asked what's yours, and what the hell do you want?" I sass back, annoyed and irritated.
He smirks and chuckles darkly.
"Well, I like how feisty you are. My name's Hunter, princess. Heard about me? Because I sure as hell have heard about you," he says, and my body goes completely still, panic mode alarms going off in my brain.