Chapter 1
1.Collateral
BELLA’s POV
“Shhhh...”
A commanding voice rasped against my ear, cold and riddled with something that had the hair on my back standing.
I froze.
‘’Who are—‘’ Before I could finish my sentence, a heavy palm clamped over my mouth, the grip seizing my breath in my throat.
Just as quickly, a thick fabric smashed against my mouth and nose, reeking of fossil fuel and chemicals that made my lungs twist in repulsiveness.
The fuck?
What the fuck was—
My hand tightened around the sink as I thrashed, my fingers clawing futilely at the masculine wrist.
The hold on my lips tightened and my vision began to sway, my eyes watering as darkness slowly dragged me down.
‘’Mmmhhh…’’ My voice was a distorted hum as I struggled to bite down on the hand.
But it was useless.
Futile.
I slumped heavily, my eyes closing in defeat as I gave into the darkness.
___
My eyes snapped open.
I sat up abruptly, my heart beating Incessantly in my chest as I stuttered backwards, my breathing heavy. As I did, my back pressed against soft silk.
I had expected to be in a dark space… a basement even.. tied over a chair and blind folded.
Instead…
My breath caught in my throat as I swung off the bed, my legs hitting the marble floor in what would send jolts of electricity down my spine.
My legs trembled as I walked over to the vanity table and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I looked….exactly how I’d been taken.
No bruises.
No sign of manhandling. Only a small smear of lip gloss by the side of my lips.
I reached up and wiped it off, my heart beating incessantly in my chest as I stared around the room.
It was beautiful…
‘’Why the fuck would anyone kidnap me to a place like—‘’
CLICK.
The heavy double doors swung open, and the temperature in the room plummeted.
My breath caught.
I tried to step back but my legs seemed to have been frozen in place.
Two intimidatingly ferocious men stepped inside, their presence instantly consuming every drop of oxygen in the space.
They were towering, broad-shouldered, and striking with sharp jawlines, dark piercing eyes, and an unmistakable aura of casual violence hidden beneath tailored black suits.
They were..Identical. Twins.
My insides twisted.
Still, I maintained a cold font, my hand tightening into fist by my side.
‘’Who the hell are you?” I demanded, keeping my voice as steady as humanly possible.
The twin on the left…the one with dark eyes that seemed to be tracking my every move curved his lips into a ruthless smirk. Alessandro.’’ he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly purr.
He gestured casually to the man beside him. “And my brother, Domenico.”
Domenico curved a chilling smile that had goosebump flooding my skin.
His gaze swept down my frame with an intense, shimmering heat that made my skin prickle. “And you…’’ He eyed me provocatively. ‘’are our newly acquired collateral.”
The word hung heavily in the air.
Before he could say another word, laughter rippled out of my throat.
‘’Collateral? Are you fucking kidding me right now?’’ My hand reached up to wipe the tear that had formed in my eyes due to laughter.
They both looked at each other for a moment.
Before looking at me with furrowed brows.
‘’What the fuck is funny?’’ Domenico asked, his jaws clenching as he took a heavy step forward.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to stop laughing.
Luckily, Alessandro held him back just before he could reach me. His eyes flashed with dangerous amusement. “You’re supposed to be on your knees, begging to be released. Maybe a few tears here and there…. Not laughing.’’
I waved a dismissive hand in the air at his words. ‘’Tears is such a waste of hydration.’’
His eyes went two shades wider and a smirk lip up his lips.
What was I supposed to do?
Ever since the walked into the room and I felt the aura emanating from them, I knew one thing.
I was either going to die or die.
So there was no use wasting my tears.
It wasn’t hard to tell men from the underworld from normal men.
A few days ago, my father had received a letter with the seal of these mafias on it demanding for money owed to them.
He had tore it and ignored their warnings so of course I knew a day like this would come.
There were repercussions to doing business with men like these.
And I was the one going to bear the brunt.
‘’Let’s get this over with.’’ Domenico stepped forward, his massive frame closing the distance between us in two effortless strides.
The shear heat radiating off him was overwhelming, compelling me to hold my breath as he reached out.
Without a word, he grabbed my wrist.
His grip was firm, yet controlled—a controlled strength that sent an unexpected, unwanted shiver straight down my spine.
He bound my wrists tightly together with a thick leather restraint, his thumb brushing against the sensitive pulse point inside my wrist.
My heart hammered wildly against my rib..half out of fury, the other half out of something far more traitorous.
Even though I knew I was going to die soon, I couldn’t help the trembling in my legs.
Alessandro reached for something and I couldn’t help the pounding in my chest at the thought that it was a butcher knife.
‘’Wait I—‘’
He pulled out a camera and my words hung in my throat.
My brow furrowed and my thighs clenched tightly as hot pee threatened to pour out of me.
He stepped forward with the camera and took a quick snap of me.
Then, Domenico reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a phone.
My phone.
He gave me a slight glance before dialing a number on speaker.
It rang twice before a familiar, clipped voice answered.
My heart constricted.
“What?!’’ My father snapped from the other end, his voice riddled with irritation.
“It’s us, Conti.’’ Alessandro said, his tone dripping with quiet authority.
Silence slammed down on the line. I could almost hear the blood draining from my father’s face through the speaker.
“You’ve been ignoring our calls for three weeks.’’ Domenico stated coldly, stepping closer to me, his presence looming over me like a shadow. “So we decided to collect a deposit. We have your daughter. If you want her back in one piece, you pay us every cent you owe by midnight.”
A low, haunting laugh echoed through the phone’s speaker immediately.
Chills rolled down my spine.
I already knew what was coming.
I knew who my father was, knew the absolute void where his heart should have been.
Yet, as the sound filled the silent room, my shoulders slouched slightly, and my bound hands curled into tight, desperate fists at my sides.
“Do whatever you want with her.’’ my father sneered coldly. “I don’t care.”