Threatened

Desi’s head throbbed as she slowly opened her eyes. Her body felt heavy, and for a moment, everything was a blur. The room was dimly lit, and nothing looked familiar. The air was heavy with the scent of stale cigarette smoke and dampness, and the walls were adorned with peeling wallpaper.

She blinked a few times, trying to focus. Panic rushed through her as she remembered what happened. The men, the cloth over her mouth, and then—nothing.

"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice weak, echoing in the eerie silence.

A deep voice answered from across the room. "You're awake."

Desi’s eyes snapped toward the sound. A man stood in the corner, leaning against the wall. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his presence filled the room. He wore a black suit, and his expression was unreadable. The dim light cast eerie shadows on his face, giving him a menacing appearance.

"Who are you?" Desi asked, trying to push herself up. Her arms shook with the effort.

"Don’t bother trying to leave," the man said calmly. "You aren’t going anywhere."

Desi’s heart raced. She glanced around the room, searching for a way out. The door was closed, and the windows were covered with heavy drapes. It felt like a prison, suffocating and ominous.

"Why am I here?" she demanded, her voice stronger now, filled with a mix of fear and defiance. "What do you want from me?"

The man stepped forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "I’m Lucas Moretti. You’ve probably heard of me."

Desi’s breath caught in her throat. Moretti. The name sent a chill down her spine. She knew who he was—everyone did. He was the head of one of the most dangerous mafia families in the city.

"What... what do you want?" Desi stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas didn’t smile. "I need you to treat someone. My daughter."

Desi stared at him in disbelief. "What? You kidnapped me to... to treat your daughter?"

"Exactly," Lucas said, his tone as if it were the most normal thing in the world, his voice resonating with a chilling confidence.

"You're insane!" Desi spat, shaking her head. "You could have just brought her to the hospital like a normal person!"

Lucas’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t trust hospitals. Too many people ask questions."

Desi frowned. "What’s wrong with her?"

"She’s sick. Very sick. And I hear you’re the best pediatric surgeon around." His voice was cold, emotionless, but there was something underneath it. Desperation?

Desi crossed her arms, her body language reflecting her defiance. "If you want me to help, I need to know exactly what’s wrong."

Lucas studied her for a moment before speaking. "Her name is Lily. She’s six years old. She was diagnosed with a heart condition about a year ago. The doctors we’ve seen... they say she doesn’t have long."

Desi’s heart softened for a brief moment, but she quickly hardened herself again. "Why not take her to the best specialists? There are plenty of hospitals that can help her."

Lucas’s jaw clenched. "I’m not putting my daughter in the hands of people I don’t trust. You’re going to treat her. And you’re going to stay here until she’s better."

Desi stared at him, stunned. "You’re keeping me here? Against my will?"

Lucas stepped closer, his eyes cold. "You don’t have a choice, Doctor Jones. If you refuse, you’ll lose more than just your freedom.”

Desi's insides twitched with unease. “Can you tell me what you mean by that?’ 

Lucas lowered his voice still more, dangerous. "If you do not agree to take care of my daughter, I will ensure that you never work at a hospital as a doctor. Your medical license will be revoked and if that’s not enough… Let’s just say there are plenty of other things that I can made worse."

Desi’s breath quickened. "You are threatening me? This is not how it works!"

Lucas moved his head a bit. "I am not threatening you. It is a promise."

Desi’s mind raced. She felt trapped, cornered. There was no way out, no escape. She had to think fast.

"If I agree to help your daughter," she said carefully, "what guarantees do I have that you’ll let me go after?"

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "I give you my word."

Desi almost laughed. "Your word? You’re a criminal!"

Lucas’s eyes darkened. "I don’t need to explain myself to you. You will stay here for as long as it takes to heal Lily. After that, you’re free to go."

Desi felt a lump forming in her throat. "And if I can’t heal her?"

"Then we both have a problem," Lucas said quietly.

Desi felt another painful clench in her stomach. She looked towards the door, and all the stresses of the situation came crashing on her. It was not just her medical competence that mattered- it was a fight for life.

"I need to see her," Desi finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas nodded. "Follow me."

He turned and opened the door, waiting for her. Desi hesitated for a moment before reluctantly standing up. Her legs wobbled beneath her, but she forced herself to stay steady. She wasn’t going to show any weakness in front of him.

As they walked down the long hallway, Desi couldn’t shake the feeling that she was walking deeper into a trap. The walls were lined with expensive paintings, and everything was pristine, but it all felt suffocating.

They reached a large set of double doors at the end of the hallway. Lucas pushed them open, revealing a massive room with a four-poster bed in the center. A little girl lay there, her skin pale and her breathing shallow.

Desi’s heart clenched when she saw the child. She couldn’t help it. No matter how dangerous the situation, she was still a doctor, and her instinct to help took over.

"This is Lily," Lucas said quietly.

The young girl lay still on the bed, her fragile appearance made her look too young for her age. Desi felt her eyes watered. It didn't get easy seeing kids in pain even though it was her profession. 

"How long has she been like this?" Desi asked, leaning over to check Lily's pulse.

"She's been sick for over a year. She's been getting worse for the last three months," Lucas replied, his voice softer than before.

Desi gently lifted Lily’s wrist, feeling her weak pulse. "Is she on medication?"

"Yes, but it isn’t working anymore," Lucas said, frustration creeping into his tone. "Every doctor says the same thing. She needs surgery, but I don’t trust them with my child."

Desi glanced at him, her heart going out to the concerned father. "And you trust me?"

Lucas met her eyes. "I trust your reputation. You’re the best."

Desi set Lily’s wrist down gently, her heart aching for the little girl. She sighed, looking up at Lucas. "If you want me to help her, I need full access to medical records, equipment, and specialists. I can’t do this alone."

Lucas crossed his arms. "You’ll have everything you need. Name it, and I’ll get it."

Desi studied him for a moment, trying to understand the man in front of her. He was clearly desperate when it came to his daughter. "I need to examine her properly," Desi said. "I’ll need blood tests, an updated scan of her heart, and to speak with her previous doctors."

Lucas nodded. "That can be arranged."

Desi turned back to Lily, gently brushing a strand of hair away from the girl’s face. "I’ll do my best for her, but I need to make something clear."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I’m not a miracle worker. There are risks and no guarantees. I’ll give her the best care possible, but you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that—"

"No," Lucas cut her off, his voice hard. "You will save her."

Desi stared at him. "You can’t control everything, Lucas. You need to understand that."

Lucas’s jaw tightened. "Do whatever it takes. Just make sure she lives."

Desi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the responsibility. It wasn’t just about saving Lily’s life anymore. Her own life hung in the balance, and Lucas wasn’t the type of man to accept failure.

"I’ll need to see the medical room," Desi said, stepping back from the bed.

Lucas nodded, already moving toward the door. "Follow me."

They walked in silence again, the tension between them palpable. Desi could feel Lucas watching her, his gaze sharp and calculating. She didn’t trust him, not for a second, but she couldn’t deny the urgency in his eyes when he talked about his daughter.

They reached the medical wing of the mansion. Desi looked around, surprised by the level of equipment. Everything was state-of-the-art.

"Impressive," she muttered.

Lucas stood beside her, arms crossed. "I told you, you’d have everything you need."

Desi walked over to the machines, inspecting them. She would need to run a full diagnostic on Lily to understand the severity of her condition. "I’ll need to start right away," she said, turning to Lucas. "I want a team of specialists here by morning."

"You’ll have them," Lucas replied. He paused, his eyes dark. "But remember, Doctor Jones, if anything happens to my daughter, you are a dead person.”