4

Chapter 4

Guilia

My eyes were still tightly blindfolded by the black cloth that had been on my face all day or night. I couldn't say what time it was. I couldn't tell where we were but the whole place smelled of piss, rotten food and cigarettes.

The offensive odour clogged my nostrils and I shuddered as bile rose to my throat. I tried my best not to barf and annoy my captors.

They had warned me throughout the journey to wherever we were right now to be a good girl and not mess things up if I didn't want to incur their wrath.

So even though my stomach felt like it was being ripped into pieces and my blood had almost stopped circulating, I still had to act strong until they released me.

Soon enough, a hand came upon my face and the blindfold loosened. I let out a deep sigh of relief.

My captor frowned at me, kicking a polythene bag carelessly at me. I tried to ignore the vein bulging at his temple and decided to focus on the bag he just kicked my way.

"What's that?" I glanced distrustingly from him to the polythene bag.

"You can find out yourself," He replied in a clipped tone.

"But my hands are tied. I can't even move," I had to remind him.

Were his eyes on holiday or he just didn't realize that I couldn't check out the content of the bag even if I wanted to because of the disgusting condition they put me in?

He hissed out loud and produced a knife from his pocket. I flinched, crawling slowly backwards but he caught my wrist and with an upward motion in the space between my tied wrists, he cut the rope. I hated to imagine how sharp the knife was to cut the thick binds in one move.

"Check out the bag and use whatever is in it. I'll be back in five minutes.” His voice was scarier and rougher than it had been back in the hallway.

I gulped and nodded, unable to put my mouth to use at that point.

He'd already gotten to the door when he stopped in his tracks, my heart flying to meet my guts as he turned to glare at me.

"And don't even think of escaping. You'll be dead before you make it out of the door.” I swallowed deeply at the ominous threat. He slammed the door so loud my ears tingled painfully.

Cold chills cascaded down my spine as I held back a tear. When would I ever enjoy some moment of peace in my life? It had always been from one problem to the other, but none of the challenges I'd faced had ever led to a life threatening situation.

Once again, I eyed the bag and grabbed it enthusiastically. My soul danced for joy when I brought out a popular food brand paper bag and found some chicken wings and pepper sauce.

I didn't have the chance to wonder when they might have stopped to get me this as I dug in ravenously. The chicken was too soft which meant that it wasn't purchased today, but I was helpless and hopeless.

Even if my people had found out about my disappearance, it would take a while for them to track my current location.

And it felt like a dagger had been pierced into my chest, my shoulders slumped at the thought of never having to see my Dalian again. Who would tell him his bedtime stories or prepare his favorite pancakes just the way he enjoyed it?

My mother never cared to bond with him, neither did my dad who was yet to forgive me for soiling the family's reputation.

The chicken turned stale in my mouth and the sauce lost its spiciness so I dropped it on the floor, finally allowing the tears I'd been fighting to flow freely.

My brief moment of reprieve was cut short when the door flew ajar with a few men storming in. They were broad-shouldered with unsmiling faces and cold eyes that had no iota of compassion in them.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here? The 'esteemed' daughter of the Consigliere," The man whom I presumed to be the leader of the guard stepped forward, not bothering to hide his sarcasm.

I lifted my chin and held his eyes.

"What do you want from me?" I asked challengingly even though my insides had turned to jelly.

He tilted his head to the side, a smirk growing on his face and then he crouched before me. His eyes scanned my body provocatively and stopped at my cleavages.

Feeling rather self-conscious, my gaze darted to my chest and a surprised gasp billowed from my lips. The neckline was torn and a greater part of my boobs were on show.

Intuitively, I spread my palms over my chest and staggered backwards.

"There's no need to hide such beauties, although I've seen several naked bodies to last me a lifetime. Yours won't be the first or the last," He snickered and drew nearer.

We continued the cycle of me moving back while he approached me with his obvious predatory intentions.

"What do you want from me? Why are you here?" I reiterated with a venom so great a tidal wave of bitterness coursed through me.

He scoffed, the stupid grin still plastered on his face.

"If you keep up with this, I might be forced to take you right here.”

There and then I should have clamped my lips shut, but my nerves were frayed and I was beyond frustrated.

"Then I'll cut your balls and feed it to you on a platter. Who the fuck do you think you are to try and touch me?" I retorted in an angry growl.

He grabbed my neck, cutting off my oxygen supply. My face took a bright shade of tomato red as I struggled to do as little as breathing.

"What did you say?" He raised a brow, slamming me against the wall, his other hand working rapidly on my already tattered dress.

Hot tears prickled behind my eyelids while I struggled hard to get his hand off me. I pinched, scratched and even dug my short nails into his flesh, but he didn't budge.

What was I expecting anyway? For a cruel thickly muscled, six-foot tall monster to back away just because I used my girlish antics against him?

"I warned you, but you forget that you're just a small scared woman against three of us here. We were mandated to keep you safe by our boss, but from the research I made about you, you aren't a virgin and having a little fun with you wouldn't hurt," He ran his tongue over his thick, brown lips and then glanced at the men behind him.

“Laurent, Marco, what do you say?" He asked, as though he wanted their opinion on something new in the market he wanted to try.

Their dark laughter rang in my ears, my body shuddering violently. I resorted to the only thing I'd decided not to do, begging. The brave front I'd put up earlier vanished into thin air and all I wanted right now was to avoid being devoured whole by these human predators.

"I'm so sorry, Sirs. Indeed, I've crossed my limits and I know that my silly actions have pissed you off, but can you just keep a blind eye?"

"It's too late for that, honey.” He nudged his men who kept me on chokehold, a sinister smile pulling at his lips as he slowly glided his palms against each other.

"Now we feast. I'll go first,"

"Not so fast, buddy,"

It was all I heard as a knife sliced through the little window straight into the neck of the leader who had attempted to part my thighs.

The others drew back, their eyes shrouded with surprise and glints of fear. Using their bewilderment to my advantage, I quickly jumped to my feet and made for my escape when I heard my name.

"Don't move, Guilia." It was a warning and there was only one man I knew who could command me with such authority in his voice.

My neck did a quick swivel in his direction and instantly my senses took a backseat. He was clad in an all-black leather tracksuit, his gorgeous brown hair styled in a slick bun which drew out his oh-so-gorgeous appeal.

Only Vladimir had the ability to pull off such sexiness in the midst of danger. His eyes which bore a ferocious glow softened when they landed on me.

He'd risked everything to save me, I realized and my heart swelled with joy. The grudge I had against him suddenly didn't feel important anymore.

"How did you know I was here?" My lips trembled at the roller-coaster of emotions that surged through me.

"I'll tell you all about it later when I'm done dealing with these men." Swiftly, he plucked out the knife from the man with blood spluttering from his throat.

"Which of you am I going to kill first?" He spinned the knife casually as if he wasn't faced with a situation that could cost him his life.

They didn't respond, instead they charged at him and my heart jumped to my mouth. Vladimir was huge, but having two men his size attack him at once looked so scary.

He was my only means of leaving here alive, asides that, he was my son's father. I didn't intend to get married to him even though all I wanted was to pull him away from these men and kiss him like my life depended on it.

A pain-filled scream averted my attention back to my captors and the sight before me caused my body to grow cold. Vladimir's body was smeared with blood, even his handsome face wasn't an exception.

Laurent, Marco, who had kidnapped me back at the mansion and their leader lay before me lifeless, and relief settled in my chest when I scanned Vladimir's body and found no injury on him.

Without thinking, I flung myself at him, my arms forming a circle around him as I inhaled the thick smell of blood mixed with his minty after-shave.

"Thank you, Vladimir," My voice cracked with sobs as I placed my head on his chest.

He ran his fingers through my hair and I shivered.

"I want more than a thank you."

I recoiled from the embrace but his arm held me back in place.

“We should get out of here," I deflected.

"Not until you give me what I want," He continued stubbornly.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry, his intense gaze scorching my skin.

"And what is that?"

"I want you to kiss me, buttercup. I want to feel your lips on mine again.”