Chapter 6

Adrian stopped. His hand was already on the door handle. He didn't turn around

Isabella stared at him, her voice shaking.

"Can I at least know the name of someone who is holding me hostage?"

A long silence.

"Adrian." He replied without looking back at her

Just that. Nothing else. Then he walked out.

She watched the door close behind him. The lock clicked.

He walked down the hallway, his expression becoming serious.

He pulled out his phone.

opened his messages and sent it to someone.

A few seconds later, he made a call.

"Hello, did you see the picture I just sent you?"

He paused.

"I need a complete background check on her. Her name is Isabella. Find out everything you can—her identity, family, history, where she lived, everything.”

He stopped talking.

Because the man on the other end of the phone was no longer calm. His voice had changed completely.

"Wait... wait wait wait. I think I have seen her before

Adrian frowned. "Really ?"

"Adrian, I know her. I have seen her before but I can’t remember the exact place”

Adrian's grip tightened on the phone. His eyes went cold.

“Then carry on with the background check immediately”

“Okay sir I will get back to you in less than 24 hours with all her information.

——Jackson mansion——

Jackson pushed open the front door and walked into the house.

Noval was sitting comfortably on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

She barely looked up.

“Can you tell me what happened and stop walking around? You’re making me dizzy” she asked.

He dropped his keys on the table.

“They still haven't found her.”

Noval finally looked up.

“What?”

“They can't find her.” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration showing on his face.

“It’s been five days. No call. No message. Nothing.” He paced across the living room.

“My men have searched almost every hospital in the state. They checked emergency rooms, private hospitals, everything. She's nowhere.”

Nova leaned back against the couch.. “Or maybe she's already dead and we should just forget about her. Is not like we didn’t want to get rid of her before”

“If she's alive, we need to know and if she is dead, we need to know too,” Jackson continued. “ And don’t forget about the evidence “

She stood from the couch and walked closer to him “ don’t tell me you’re feeling this way because you want her back “

“Hell no “

Jackson reached for her hand.

“You know I've loved you from the beginning.”

She smiled. “Then prove it.”

She took another step closer to him, her voice becoming softer and more playful.

“If you really love me…”

She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

“…why don't you do the needful?”

Jackson raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“She's already out of the picture. So why don't you put a ring on my finger?”

He looked at her for a moment.

“I will.”

“When?”

“When the time is right.”

Nova's smile faded slightly.

“That's what you always say.”

“Because it's true.” Jackson pulled her closer.

“We have to make sure Isabella is completely out of the picture first. Once we know she's no longer a problem, I'll make everything official.”

“You're sure?”

“Of course.”

Jackson smiled and kissed her forehead.

—-* few days after in Pinnacle Hospital—-

For the past few days, the hospital had been unusually busy.

Among the doctors, nurses, visitors, and cleaners moving through the hallways, a few unfamiliar faces had begun appearing more often than they should.

One man pushed a cleaning cart through the hallway, his eyes occasionally lifting from the floor.

Another sat quietly in the waiting area, pretending to scroll through his phone.

And another dressed like an ordinary visitor, sitting close enough to the hospital rooms to watch anyone who came in or out.

They were not there by accident.

They had been watching.

That afternoon, the man dressed as a cleaner noticed Isabella.

She had just stepped into the hallway trying to walk around with a nurse assisting her.

He immediately lowered his head and continued pushing the cart.

When he was far enough away, he slipped his phone from his pocket and quickly took a picture of her.

A few seconds later, the picture was sent to his boss.

His phone rang almost immediately.

"Where did you see her?" Asked in a shocked tone

"In the hospital."

"Are you sure? I thought she was….

"I'm certain. She is here. And Adrian’s men are with her

There was a brief silence on the other end.

After a few seconds, his boss spoke.

" find a way to get her and if you fail, you’re dead”

The call ended

The man slipped the phone back into his pocket and continued pushing the cleaning cart as if nothing had happened.

He didn't notice that Charles, one of Adrian’s men, had been watching him.

——>>>———>>>

The basement was cold.

One bulb hanging from the ceiling. One chair.

A man was tied to that chair. His name was Milo. His lip was bleeding. His hands were tied behind him.

Adrian sat in front of him. White shirt, sleeves rolled up.

Jerry one of his trusted men stood behind him

Silence for a few seconds.

Then Adrian spoke. His voice was low. Cold.

"a week ago."

Milo looked up.

"You tampered with my car."

Milo froze. His face turned white.

"Boss, I explain—"

Adrian took a sip of his wine.

"You've been working for me for years," his voice harder this time. "I trusted you. I let you touch all my cars. And you tampered with it” he pause "And because of you, a girl almost died."

Milo started crying.

"They paid me! They said they would kill my family if I didn't do it!"

“They paid you?”

Milo nodded, his whole body shaking.

Adrian stood up “ and who is ‘ they; Milo?”

"I don't know! I swear I don't know! They didn't show their faces.

Adrian looked at Jerry giving him a signal to pick up the hammer from the table

“No, no please wait, I swear I don’t know them. I only heard the name ( volko) when the guys were talking on the phone

The name hung in the air.

He took his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his hands, even though he hadn't touched anything.

"Volko," he whispered to himself.

Jerry already knew what that meant. Italian gang.one of Adrian’s enemy.

Milo started begging.

"Boss, please. I didn't have a choice. They would have killed my family. Please, I have kids —"

He cut him off.

"You had a choice, Milo. You just made the wrong one."

Just then his rang

Jerry check it “ boss is Charles “

Adrian glanced at the screen before picking it up

“Talk”

“Boss we have a problem”

His expression changed slightly “ what problem?”

“ I spotted some familiar faces, they have been coming here everyday disguised as doctor, cleaner and visitors”

He took a step back.

"Who are they?" he asked.

"Boss, I think they are Janza's men," Charles replied.

Adrian’s jaw clenched. His eyes turned dark.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. His voice was low, tense.

"You think they have seen her?" he added, his tone suddenly worried.

“ I think so sir and I feel they are about to make a move”

He looked at Jerry

“ deal with Milo “

Jerry nodded

Adrian looked at Jerry.

"Deal with Milo."

Jerry nodded.

He quickly walked toward the stairs. While still on the phone.

"I'm coming there right now. Double the men. Don't let them get her."