Chapter 6

Marcelina's POV 

I exhaled slowly and folded my trembling hands on the bar, pressing my fingers together to stop the shaking. Of all the things I've been in my life, a liar and a thief has never been one of them.

Until now.

The silence between us stretched, heavy and dangerous. I knew then that this was turning into something else. Something I wouldn't be able to control if I didn't put some distance between us.

"I should get going," I said, keeping my voice steady and professional. Like this was nothing more than an awkward encounter. "If you have concerns about my conduct as your doctor, you're welcome to address them formally. Otherwise, I don't see the point of this conversation."

With that being said, I slid off the bar stool and reached for my purse, careful not to rush or look at him. He didn't stop me. And that alone scared me more than if he had.

Every instinct screamed at me to leave. To walk straight out of the club and never look back. But I couldn't just disappear without saying a word to Corey. So instead of searching for the nearest exit, I moved through the crowd with my heart hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat. 

Fortunately, I spotted the restroom sign near the back and headed for it, weaving past bodies until I reached the door. The moment I was inside, I locked it, pressed my palms against the sink, and stared at my reflection. 

This was not me.

I couldn't remember the last time I had looked like this—undone, uncertain, and on the verge of losing control. Fear clung to my face in a way I didn't recognize.

Turning on the faucet, I splashed cold water on my face and gripped the edge of the counter, trying to slow my thoughts. He had heard enough. That much was clear. Not everything, maybe. But enough to know I had taken something from him. Enough to know I was lying.

I needed to leave. Now. 

I couldn't let him get his hands on me because if he did, I was finished. Not just tonight, but completely. Taking one last breath, I straightened my shoulders, unlocked the door, and stepped out.

I barely made it three steps before I stopped short. Two men stood directly in my path. They were big, muscular, and dressed in black suits pressed sharp enough to cut. 

Dark shades hid their eyes even though we were indoors. They didn't move or speak at first. They just looked down at me like I already belonged to them.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to step around them.

One of them shifted, blocking my way. "You need to come with us," 

My heart slammed against my ribs. 

"I'm sorry, what?" I replied quickly. "I don't have any business with you."

"Yes, you do," The other man said, his voice flat and emotionless. "When the boss calls, you obey without questions" 

The boss?

Fear crawled up my spine.

"I think you're mistaken," I said, forcing a tight smile. "I'm just leaving." 

I tried to brush past them. But the next second, strong fingers wrapped around my arm. I gasped and struggled, panic exploding inside me. 

"Let go of me!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the music. "Take your hands off me!"

People turned. Then turned away.

No one intervened as they dragged me forward despite my protests. I screamed again, but it didn't matter. It was like I didn't exist.

When we got to the elevator, they shoved me inside and the doors slid shut. The man finally released my arm, but neither of them moved. They just stood on either side of me like statues. 

With my heart pounding so hard it hurt, I watched as the elevator descended, the numbers dropping lower and lower. Each soft chime sounded louder than the music upstairs ever had. 

"I'm calling the police," I said, my voice shaking as I fumbled for my phone.

One of them glanced at me. "You can try." 

That was all he said without any attempt to stop me.

You can try...

The words settled over me like a verdict.

As if it wouldn't matter. As if whoever they answered to was beyond sirens, and handcuffs, and jail time. As if the law was nothing more than background noise.

My fingers tightened around my phone, but doubt crept in. Who were these men and why did they come for me like I was some criminal? And their boss... 

What could a person like that possibly want with me?

Before I could finish the thought, the elevator slowed. The doors slid open and they guided me out with one of their hands back on my arms. I yanked myself free, anger snapping through my fear.

"I can fucking walk on my own," I snapped.

They didn't argue.

The moment I saw where we were, I froze. 

This place was nothing like the club upstairs. It was darker, wider, and dirtier. The air felt heavy, thick with smoke and something metallic. 

To my left, crates were being unloaded and opened. Different types of dangerous weapons were laid out in neat rows while men in black gloves inspected them.

To my right, bags of white powder were being weighed and sealed by women who wore nothing but lingerie, heavy makeup, and high heels. 

Further down, I saw metal cages lining one wall. They were empty for now, but their presence alone made my stomach twist. Beside them stood a long steel table buried under stacks of cash. Three men fed bundles into counting machines while two others worked on their computers. 

Everywhere I looked, something illegal was happening.

This was a different realm.

Terror wrapped around my chest and squeezed.

Where on earth had I just walked into?

I did not realize I had stopped walking until one of the men nudged me forward.

"Keep moving." 

His voice was calm, almost polite. And that scared me more. This time, I didn't fight them. I didn't pull my arm away or threaten to scream. Part of it was fear. The other part was something worse.

I was no longer in the normal world.

Upstairs, there were rules, laws, cameras, and witnesses.

Down here, there were none.

I didn't know how things worked in this place. I didn't know what happened to people who resisted or disobeyed. And I wasn't ready to find out.

So I walked.

They led me deeper underground, past the noise and chaos. The air felt cooler here, quieter. The lighting was brighter too. The hallway was wide and the floor was polished so well I could see my reflection beneath my feet.

This part of the underground didn't look messy. It looked private, Important. And deep down, I knew somewhere in this place... was the boss.

As if on cue, the men finally stopped in front of a large black door. One of them knocked once. Just once but my heart raced a million miles along with my thoughts. 

A cold wave of fear ran through me and for a split second, I thought about running. About turning around and sprinting back through the hallway.

But I knew I wouldn't make it far. 

The silence that followed the knock seemed to have stretched like an eternity. But then the door opened and before I could prepare myself, I was ushered inside.

The room was nothing like the hallway outside. It looked like a normal office. Like something you would find in a law firm or a corporate building. Not in the middle of an underground empire built on weapons and drugs.

The contrast made my head spin. 

For a second, I almost convinced myself I had imagined everything outside. That maybe this was just some private security matter. A misunderstanding.

But unfortunately, the sharp click of the door closing behind me shattered that lie. I turned quickly only to realize the two men who had brought me here were gone.

I was alone. And alone was worse.

Without second thoughts, I immediately moved towards the door and wrapped my fingers around the handle. Before I could twist it, I heard a soft click that sent waves of panic rushing through me.

It was the unmistakable sound of a lock sliding into place.

My heart skipped. 

No, no no! I needed to leave. I needed to...

"Not so fast, Doc."