Chapter 2 TWO

I run into the bar and go behind the counter. Vincent is nowhere in sight and I am grateful for that.

I am serving some customers when I see Vincent walk into the bar with two beautiful blondes in his arms. They are skinny and svelte.

So pretty I envied them. I wish I could be skinny like them. I try to appreciate my curves every now and then but right now I envied the way their crop tops hang on their petite bodies.

Vincent turns to me and a shadow crosses his eyes. He says something to the girls and walks off.

Something is wrong and I don't know what it is. I turn my attention to the customer in front of me and place the icecubes into his drink.

He slaps a bill on the counter.

“Keep the change,” He says walking off

“That's her… she's the one you want.” I hear Vincent say as I stuff the change into my pocket.

I look over to see why he's yelling but I am shocked to see that he is pointing at me.

There are three hefty men in black suits walking towards me.

“What's going on?”

I ask as they grab my arms roughly.

“Vincent? What is this?” I ask my boss

I'm trying my best not to panic because I want to assess the situation.

“What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into?” Vincent asks me with pity on his face.

“Wait, can you stop pulling me and explain to me what I did?”

They pull me out of the bar through the back door without ever uttering a single word. The night air is chilly and the world is spinning.

“Help!” I shout to some men smoking in the back and they just stand there, staring at me. “Please help me,”

No one makes a move.

I push away from the men and try to free myself but their grips on my arm are so strong I know I'm going to end up with bruises.

The door of an armoured car opens and they throw me in and we drive off.

“Where are you taking me?”

All my answers are met with silence.

We stop at a very large gate and in a few seconds we start walking again. Their car opens and they pull me out.

I try to run away again but it's no use.

They drag me into the mansion, I stop fighting when they throw me into a dark room.

There is someone standing in the window with his hands at his back.

Thick black hair is all I can see.

He turns around and my breath catches in my throat, I know that face.

“She's the thief?” He asks, his deep voice sends a shudder through me. His dark eyes are fixed on me but I cannot read his expression.

“Yes, boss. She's the one we've been looking for.”

“What is your name?” he asks

“I'm not a thief, I haven't stolen from anyone in my life…”

“Your name??”

“Anya.”

He walks to me and I take a step back. His face is immaculate and handsome. I should not be thinking of such things in this situation but it is undeniable.

“Where is my money, Anya?” he asks

“I don't know what you're talking about, I don't have your money.”

He frowns and one of his men kicks my leg, sending me crashing to the ground. With my elbow, I catch myself.

Pain shoots through my arms and knees, I cry out.

“Show her the video…” he says and someone comes to me with a laptop, “That is you on the screen, No?”

Indeed, it is me on the screen.

“In that case, there was two million dollars in cash, the CCTV shows you walking into the room and taking the money.”

“This is all a misunderstanding. I'm a cleaner for the hotel and my boss asked me to fetch that suitcase, nothing but a pair of dirty clothes were in it, I know this because I took it to the dry cleaners, I swear.”

I was frightened because the man standing in front of me did not seem to believe any word I said..

“So you admit to taking the suitcase.”

“Yes, but there wasn't a single Dollar in the case. Just old clo–”

“Bring her here.” He says and they drag me closer to their boss and drop me at his feet.

I'm kneeling in front of a man that is from a completely different world from mine.

Dante Marchetti, the leader of the biggest mafia groups. He is feared and worshipped for a reason. Anyone who dreams of crossing him never wakes up from that sleep.

“Please, believe me.”

“I do not appreciate thieves but what I hate more than anything are lying thieves”

He pulls out a gun from his suit jacket and presses it against my temple. It was cold and foreign.

I could feel fear, running through my veins like poison. I remember my mum, no one other than me is taking care of her. I think of all the suffering she would have to endure if I die.

“I'm not going to ask you again, where is my money?”

“Sir, if I had two million dollars, I would be on a cruise ship somewhere in the Atlantic.”

I see his finger adjust to the trigger and I feel hot nails sink into my heart.

“Okay, I will give you back your money, I'll pay you back, I'll do anything, please don't kill me.”

Tears are streaming down my cheeks and my nose is blocked, I can barely breathe or see and I hate that two of my vital senses are blocked.

He pulls the gun from my head.

I wipe my eyes in time to see his gaze fall on my lips.

“Anything?” He asks, his tone is laced with lust.

I'm shaking all over.

“Anything.” I say desperately.