Kidnapped

ELARA'S POV

I couldn't just sit there. Not with Matteo in danger. Not with those men having him.

I jumped off the couch, nearly tripping over my own feet as I grabbed my bag and keys. My hands were still shaking so badly I could barely grip them properly.

I had to find him. Had to do something. 

I needed to call the hospital. Tell them I couldn't come in for my next shift. Make up some excuse. I didn't care what they thought. Matteo's life was more important than my job.

I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers and dialed the charge nurse's direct line. It rang three times before she picked up.

"St. Mary's ER, this is Karen."

"Karen, it's Elara." My voice came out strained and breathless. 

"I need to take emergency leave. Starting now."

There was a pause on the other end. 

"Elara? Your shift doesn't start until tomorrow morning. Are you okay?"

"No. I mean yes. I mean—"

 I pressed my free hand against my forehead, trying to think straight through the panic. 

"It's a family emergency. My brother. I can't explain right now but I need someone to cover my shifts for the next few days."

"How many days are we talking about?"

"I don't know." My voice cracked. 

"However long it takes. Please, Karen. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't serious."

Another pause. Longer this time. I could hear her flipping through papers, probably checking the schedule.

"Alright. I'll see what I can do. But Elara, you know we're already short-staffed. I can cover you for maybe three days, four at most. After that—"

"I understand. Thank you. I have to go."

I hung up before she could say anything else. My mind was racing too fast to process work schedules and staff shortages. None of that mattered. Not when Matteo was out there somewhere, possibly hurt, definitely in danger.

I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door and shoved my arms through the sleeves. My keys jangled in my shaking hands as I tried to fit them into my bag's side pocket.

Where would they have taken him? The loan sharks. Where would they go?

I didn't even know where to start looking. Didn't know their names, their location, anything. Just that cold voice on the phone and the threats that came with it.

Seventy-two hours. That's what he'd said. Seventy-two hours to come up with fifty thousand dollars or—

I couldn't finish that thought. Couldn't let myself imagine what they'd do to him if I failed.

My phone was still in my hand, the screen showing Matteo's contact information.

I hit redial again even though I knew it was useless. Even though I'd already tried twenty times, it went straight to voicemail.

"Damn it, Matteo!" I wanted to throw the phone across the room. Wanted to scream until my throat was raw. 

"Where are you?"

Think, Elara. Think.

The police. Should I call the police?

But what would I even tell them? That my brother borrowed money from loan sharks and now they had him? They'd probably laugh at me.

And what if involving the police made things worse? What if it made those men angry enough to hurt Matteo?

I couldn't risk it. Not yet.

I needed more information first. Needed to know exactly what I was dealing with before I made any moves.

My bag was packed. My jacket was on. I stood by the door, keys in hand, ready to leave.

But I had nowhere to go.

The realization hit me like a wall. I was standing here, desperate to save my brother, and I had absolutely no idea how to find him.

Tears burned my eyes again but I blinked them back furiously. Crying wouldn't help. Falling apart wouldn't help. I needed to stay calm. Stay focused.

My phone rang.

The sudden sound in the silent apartment made me jump so hard I nearly dropped it. My heart hammered against my ribs as I looked at the screen.

Unknown number.

For a second, I just stared at it. Afraid to answer. Afraid of what I might hear on the other end.

But it could be Matteo. It could be someone calling about Matteo.

I swiped to answer with shaking fingers.

"Hello?"

"Miss Santos." That same cold voice from before. The man who'd told me about the debt. 

"I assume you've been trying to reach your brother."

My stomach dropped.

"Where is he? What have you done to him?"

"Nothing yet." The man's tone was almost bored. 

"But that could change very quickly depending on how cooperative you are."

"Please." I hated how my voice broke. Hated begging. But I'd do anything if it meant keeping Matteo safe. 

"Please don't hurt him. I'll find the money. I'll figure something out. Just give me time—"

"Time is exactly what you don't have, Miss Santos." He cut me off smoothly. 

"But I'm calling to offer you an opportunity. A chance to resolve this situation quickly and cleanly."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"Come see us. In person. Tonight. We'll discuss the terms of your brother's debt and how you plan to repay it."

Ice spread through my veins.

"Come see you? Where?"

"I'll text you the address after we hang up. Come alone. Don't bring the police. Don't tell anyone where you're going. If you do, your brother pays the price. Understood?"

My mind raced. This could be a trap. They could be planning to grab me too. Hold us both for ransom.

But what choice did I have? Matteo was with them. In their hands.

"How do I know he's even alive?" The question came out steadier than I felt.

"How do I know you haven't already hurt him?"

"You don't." The man's voice held a hint of amusement. 

"You'll just have to trust that we have no interest in damaging the merchandise before we're paid. Dead men can't pay debts. And neither can their sisters if they're too traumatized to work."

The casual cruelty of his words made me sick.

"Let me talk to him. Let me hear his voice."

"That's not how this works, Miss Santos. You don't make demands. You follow instructions. Come to the address I'm about to send you. Come tonight. Come alone. Or your brother's debt gets paid in blood instead of money. Your choice."

"Wait—"

But he wasn't done talking. His voice dropped lower, more dangerous.

"Oh, and Miss Santos? Don't even think about running. We know where you live. Where you work. We know your routines. Your friends. Everything. There's nowhere you can hide that we won't find you. So save us both the trouble and just show up. Nine o'clock. Don't be late."

My throat was so tight I could barely speak. 

"How will I know it's the right place?"

"You'll know." There was a smile in his voice now. Dark and unsettling. 

"Trust me, you'll know."

"What if I can't come up with the money?" I had to ask. Had to know what we were really facing. 

"What if there's no way to pay you back?"

The silence on the other end stretched out. Long enough that I thought he might have hung up.

Then he spoke, and his words made my blood run cold.

"Then we'll find another way for you to settle the debt. There are always alternatives, Miss Santos. Always other forms of payment.”

I understood exactly what he meant. And the understanding made me want to vomit.

"I'll be there," I whispered. 

"Nine o'clock. I'll come."

"Smart girl. The address will be on your phone in sixty seconds. Don't disappoint me."

The line went dead.

I stood frozen, phone pressed against my ear, my entire body trembling. Sixty seconds. In sixty seconds I'd know where to go. Where they were keeping Matteo. Where I'd be walking straight into danger with no backup and no plan.

My phone buzzed. A text message from an unknown number.

I stared at the address, my heart pounding so hard I felt dizzy. Industrial Boulevard. I knew that area. It was on the outskirts of the city. Abandoned factories and empty warehouses. The kind of place where screams wouldn't be heard and bodies 

could disappear without anyone noticing.

I had to go. Had to face these men. Had to find some way to get Matteo out of there alive.

Even if it meant walking into a trap. Even if it meant risking my own life.

He was my brother. My responsibility. My family.

And I'd already failed him once by not seeing how deep his problems went. I wouldn't fail him again.

I looked at the clock on my phone. Six thirty. I had two and a half hours to figure out some kind of plan.

Two and a half hours to save my brother's life.

Or lose everything trying.