1 before

(Three months later)

Moxie

I tilt my head, my eyes obscured by a piece of fabric. I won't deny it, I'm frightened. But I need to stay focused.

Being the daughter of a mafia boss, fear should not be part of my vocabulary.

I can sense danger lurking around every corner!

I was born resilient; fear has no place in me. I attempt to remove the blindfold by moving my eyes. The stench of the place suggests it's far from pleasant.

I'm seated on a hard wooden chair. If this were to be my last day on earth, I should probably start praying to God, Allah, or whatever deity people believe in.

For heaven's sake, I've been kidnapped; survival is uncertain. However, the discomfort of the chair I'm sitting on is currently my primary annoyance.

I was immobilized, bound tightly. Whoever was responsible for this clearly knew me well.

The smell suggested I was in a dimly lit, squalid place, akin to a beggar's dwelling, if I had to guess.

After successfully removing the blindfold, I quickly scanned my surroundings. The sight was enough to make me want to vomit. The place was worse than I had imagined. I had never been in such a place before.

It was disordered, with trash strewn everywhere. The resulting stench was unbearable. The small room was filled with garbage and miscellaneous items, the origins of which were unknown to me. All I could say was that they were not of any recognizable brand.

"Are you done inspecting my room?" a voice asked. "What does a princess have to say about it?"

I paused and turned to face the man I hadn't seen in a long time. Everyone believed he was dead. His soft eyes, the color of a dark forest, belied a fierce heart and personality.

"Ice..."

I whispered his name into the air, the disarray and decay of the room fading from my sight. All I could see was him.

I was torn between terror and elation. He was still the handsome man I remembered, from his captivating eyes to his enticing lips, now partially hidden by a mustache. Despite the changes, he was as breathtaking as ever.

However, his calm gaze suddenly filled me with fear. He was looking at me as if I were an adversary. What had changed?

I was a strong woman, but in his presence, I felt vulnerable. Such was his effect on me.

"You're dead?" I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, but loud enough for him to hear.

"Yes, it's true; all of you killed the Ice I once knew," he replied. "By the way, you don't seem pleased to see me alive, just like your father would be if he knew I was still breathing."

"What do you mean?" I retorted. "The last time I saw you, you were the one responsible for the atrocities committed against the group, my father, and even your own friend, who happens to be my fiancé."

"Are you still blinded by the wrongdoings of your father and your fiancé?" Ice asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I shook my head.

"Seriously, of course I know it," I replied. "And I'm pretty sure you know it too. You've been involved in this line of work for most of your life; you know what this group is capable of."

I tried to lighten the mood in the room with my words, but Ice seemed displeased by what I said. It was evident from the intensity of his gaze and the clenching of his jaw. In an instant, he rushed towards me.

His enormous hand closed around my throat, cutting off my air supply. Instead of fear, I felt a familiar sensation wash over me. He always had this effect on me.

"You're still the same stubborn brat as before, just like your foolish father," he sneered. "Blind to the demonic acts of your own flesh and blood."

As his eyes glimmered with rage, I struggled to breathe, gasping for air.

I could see the seriousness in his demeanor. He was capable of killing me.

"What do you think?" he taunted. "How do you think your father would react if I were to do to him what he did to my family?"

Confusion washed over me as I looked at him, our hearts pounding in sync. Why did it feel like he was trying to make a point?

Desperate for air, I mustered all my strength and tapped his arm as forcefully as I could.

"Iceee, stop it," a familiar voice pleaded. "She can't breathe."

I strained to catch a glimpse of the person who spoke. It was Shone, one of my father's closest guards.

After a moment, Shone rushed towards Ice and forcefully pushed him away. The chair toppled over, taking me down with it as I continued to cough.

"I thought you wanted to make them suffer by taking this girl. Why do you want to kill her instead?" Shone exclaimed in frustration.

"I can't help it! The more I look at her, the angrier I get. I want to even the score! Besides, that woman is the reason my family is dead—my parents and my little sister!" Ice shouted.

I shook my head in disbelief. "What are you saying? I thought everyone, including you, died unexpectedly in accidents."

"That's what a blind person would say," Ice retorted before storming out of the room.

I let out a sigh as the reality of the messy and foul-smelling room came back into focus. I didn't know how to react anymore. Everything was so confusing. Numerous questions raced through my mind. I wanted to cry tears of joy knowing that he was alive, but I was also distraught by the unfolding events.

"Shone, what is happening?" I asked, my voice filled with desperation. "I saw you die in front of me a few months ago. Why did he kidnap me? What did he mean by what he said?”

"Moxie, I'm so sorry. You need to know the truth. Your father killed Ice's family after discovering your relationship," Shone revealed.

Once again, I shook my head in disbelief. Ice's family was the epitome of kindness, and his sister was too young to die. But my own father? Could he really commit such a heinous crime? I always thought he only targeted people like himself.

As I pondered these thoughts, a sharp pain shot through my stomach.

"What's wrong?" Shone asked, concern evident in his voice. I had always been strong-willed, but in this moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear. It was only a matter of time before Ice discovered my secret...

"I couldn't bring myself to tell him that I'm pregnant. I couldn't, under any circumstances. Who knows what Ice would

do if he found out about our baby?" I confessed, my voice filled with worry and uncertainty.