HE FOUND ME FIRST

~~NICCOLÒ~~

This wasn’t how I usually handled business.

My men were paid to fetch girls, clean up messes, and make problems disappear.

Yet here I was, personally driving through these filthy streets because her useless father couldn’t keep what he had promised.

The front door opened before I even knocked. Lena’s father rushed forward, forcing a nervous smile.

“Mr. Santoro, welcome. Please, come in and—”

“No.”

He shut up instantly.

“Where is she?”

His wife appeared behind him, already pale. Their eyes darted to each other in a quick, terrified glance.

“I’ll get her right away, sir,” she said and hurried upstairs.

I stayed in the hallway, watching the father. His fingers twitched at his sides. His breathing came shallow and fast. Pathetic. The kind of man who sold his own daughter and still wanted the world to see him as some kind of hero.

Upstairs, a door creaked.

“Lena?” the stepmother called. “Lena, you’re needed downstairs!”

Silence.

Then her voice, sharp with panic: “What is this? She’s not here!”

The father bolted up the stairs. I followed at my own pace, taking the steps slowly.

By the time I reached the empty bedroom, the truth was obvious. The window stood wide open. A thin curtain fluttered in the night breeze as if mocking them.

The stepmother turned, eyes wide. “She… she was just here. I swear—”

“Speak clearly,” I said quietly, tilting my head slightly so I could read her lips.

“Lena’s gone.”

Of course she was.

The father dragged a hand down his face, already babbling. “It’s nothing. She couldn’t have gone far. We’ll find her immediately—”

“I thought you’d at least be competent,” I cut in. “You can’t pay your debt… and now you can’t even keep the girl you sold.”

His face drained of color. “Please, Mr. Santoro—”

The gun was already in my hand. I pointed it at him lazily, letting the weight settle between us.

“Now I’m wondering…” I tilted my head slightly. “What exactly do I do with you?”

He dropped to the floor, instantly. “Please, please, I’m begging you!”

His wife hesitated half a second before he yanked her down with him.

“I’ll get her myself.”

That silenced them both.

I lowered the gun slightly. “And if anything happens to her before I do…” I let the silence stretch, watching fear bloom in their eyes. “I won’t need to visit this house twice.”

I turned and walked out.

As I reached the car, my phone rang. I answered while sliding behind the wheel.

“She took a cab to the train station,” my assistant said crisply. “Witness saw her at the ticket counter. No money. She left on foot. Last sighting was a side alley near the station.”

I went still.

An alley?

“What kind of nonsense is that?” I muttered. “Running from me just to walk into a place like that?”

I started the engine. “I’m already on my way.”

The drive felt too long. Every red light grated on me. When I finally turned into the narrow, dimly lit street, the scene was exactly what I expected.

Two low-life scum had her cornered. One gripped her wrist. The other stepped closer, grinning like she was tonight’s entertainment.

My grip tightened around the gun.

They dared touch what was mine.

I raised it and fired once.

The bullet punched through the first man’s head. He dropped with a wet thud right in front of Lena.

The second man’s eyes widened in terror. He spun and ran like the coward he was. I’d deal with him later.

Lena stumbled backward—straight into my chest.

Her body went rigid against mine.

Slowly, she turned her head. Wide, terrified grey-green eyes met mine. Her breathing came in sharp, panicked bursts.

Good. She understood exactly who had found her.

She tried to jerk away, but my arm locked around her waist, pulling her flush against me. She struggled, small hands pushing at my chest, but she wasn’t going anywhere.

I leaned down until I could see the side of her face clearly. “Found you… Lena.”