chapter seventeen

"Where am I? Who are you!!!?? Why am I in this place?! Is there anyone there? Do you know who my father is?! He won't spare you!!! You've made a great mistake!!"

Lilly’s voice ricocheted off the metal walls, slicing through the stifling silence of the abandoned warehouse . Her wrists ached from the ropes. Cold concrete pressed against her back. The air smelled like rust and dust.

Outside, three of rivens men Ave, Kane, and Victor stood guard across the broken doorway.

"Oh my, this woman is soooo annoying," Kane groaned, dragging out the word as if it pained him physically to say it.

Victor rolled his eyes so hard it almost made a sound. "The mute girl was far from this girl. She seems like a cheap rat," he sneered, arms crossed, leaning against the crane.

"I said, get me out of here, you low-life losers!!!" lilly shouted again from inside

.

"If she shouts again, that'll be the last thing she'll ever do." Victor muttered through clenched teeth , voice thick with threat

Ave, usually the reasonable one, held up a hand like a tired parent.

"Calm down, dude. We won’t do that. Boss would kill us, remember?"

"I'm very sure boss wouldn't mind. She's a complete trash. And why does the boss keep on kidnapping Mr. White’s daughters?"

Ave gave him a death-glare.

"That's a very stupid question to ask, and if I were you, I'd keep the stupid questions to yourself. You know boss—he only gives instructions. That’s it. He doesn’t share why he wants a person eliminated. Just orders."

Victor looked offended.

"But we've been working with him for three years now!"

"Haven't you learned anything in this mafia world? Trust. No. One," Ave replied flatly.

"Trust? Then why does he keep on trusting us with the kidnapping?"

"Well, I guess we’re good at it." kane shrugged lazily

From inside, Lilly’s voice boomed again.

"Let me go, you cowards!!!!"

"Okay that’s it. I have had enough of her!!!" Victor grinned, and Ave’s phone buzzed. Just one glance silenced all three of them.

“Boss,” Ave said stiffly as he picked up. All traces of annoyance vanished.

"Release the girl and make sure she makes it home safe," Riven’s voice came through the line—cold, controlled.

"Yes, boss," Ace responded, without a single question. and riven dropped the call

Victor blinked.

"What does boss say?" he asked

Ave cleared his throat and straightened his spine.

"He said we must release the girl and make sure she is home safe." He unlocked the door and walked inside.

Kane stared as if the sky had just turned purple.

Is the boss okay? Kane thought, confused lines creasing his forehead as he followed Ave in

Victor shoved in his earbuds to drown out the world. "I’m plugging in," he declared like someone about to survive a bad concert and followed Kane

"I said get me out of here. Do you know who my father is?! My father won't spare you!!" Lilly yelled—still fighting, still furious, her voice cracking a little.

Ave rolled his eyes and ripped off the blindfold tied around her eyes. Lilly froze. She didn’t expect him to look like this—built like a weapon, dark eyes sharper than the night.

"I've been yelling for a long time—why have you kidnapped me?! Are you the same people who took my sister? Where is she?! She might be scared—but I am not!" Lilly’s voice rose, pain threaded into every word.

Ace’s jaw tightened. His voice dropped like ice.

"If you don't shut up now, this bullet will go through your forehead without hesitation. Understood."

But Lilly only narrowed her eyes and spoke slowly, like talking to an idiot.

"I think you did not hear me the first time. I am not scared of you."

Ace smirked. He wasn’t used to prey talking back like this… and yet, he found it oddly intriguing.

Kane chimed in.

"Well, I'm sure you wouldn't mind when boss comes here. I'm sure you know how cunning Mr. Riven is."

Lilly’s expression shifted—serious. Then suddenly, she laughed. Hard.

"Oh my, oh my... you're working for Riven?! Please. It'll take more than that to scare me."

I'll - "Kane almost exploded, but Ave held up a hand again.

He stepped closer. Lowered himself to her level, eyes boring into hers.

"Listen, little girl. You see this thorn tattoo on my neck? I'm sure you know very well that only Riven's men have this sign. Now, if you dare talk or utter one more word, I won’t hesitate to kill you. Okay?" he threatened. his voice sharp.

Lilly went quiet, her lips trembling. She didn’t know him. Didn’t know if they would actually do it.

"Good girl." Ave smirked.

Then kane opened his mouth at the worst possible time.

"I really prefer the mute girl. She’s much easier to handle. " " and prettier, " he added, nodding his head.

That hit Lilly. Deep. Jealousy burned in her heart like a secret flame. Even strangers prefer her over me... always her. For a split second, she hoped her sister was dead. she always got the adoration . maybe i don't care if she is alive or not. At least I'll no longer be living under her shadow.

Ave started untying Lilly.

Why are they untying me? Are they letting me go? she thought suddenly, confused and cautious.

Ave tossed the cuffs aside and let out a sharp breath.

"Go." His tone was serious, almost unreadable. Still, he couldn’t ignore that weird thump in his chest.

"Go where?" Lilly frowned ,confused

"Is she dumb?" Kane scoffed

"I'm not dumb, chicken." Lilly fired back instantly without hesitation

"Chicken?!" he exclaimed . to him, it was a game

"Yes, chicken. I called you a chicken. What are you gonna do about it?" Lilly shot back with fire.

Kane clenched his fists.

"You are getting on my last nerves."

"Am I? Am I? Am I really?" she taunted, leaning forward.

Kane turned to Ave. “Ave…” he growled.

Ave snapped.

"That's enough! What are you two—children?" He ran a palm over his forehead, exhausted.

Lilly threw her hands up with dramatic flair.

"Ahhh, darhhh! I'm almost nineteen, and thank you for the trauma! " she uttered in full sarcasm and added "I’m here arguing with this grandpa. How old are you, fifty?" she mocked . a smirk grew on her face.

Kane looked like he had just swallowed fire.

"I'm twenty, you you you ...you're hybrid!"

"That's enough, both of you. You get going. Or else I’ll change my mind."

"I am going," Lilly yelled straight into Ave’s face and stormed out, spine straight, pride intact.

Ace watched her go, heart pounding harder than he'd admit.

Victor unplugged his earbuds dramatically.

"I couldn't stand her," he muttered.

Kane pretended to strangle someone in the air.

"Stand her?! I felt like—" he said, miming violence.

Victor just nodded. "Exactly."

Ace stared after Lilly, expression unreadable.

"Well... let’s tolerate her one more time. We still have to make sure she’s safe," he said, unexpectedly quiet.

Normally, he'd make some smart comments. But he didn't. Kane and Victor exchanged looks.

like they were looking at a madman solving a math's question.