4

Solenne

I couldn't pinpoint the exact time, but I realized it had nearly been a full day. Not a single soul had come to check on me. I hardly moved, and the churning in my stomach made it impossible to think about the hunger I felt. 

All I could do was hope that I wouldn't be passed around like a toy among these men tonight. The stillness around me was driving me up the wall. I could hear the faintest sound of a pin falling. I wished none of those men would return, but I also didn't want to remain down here indefinitely. 

Then it began. A few gunshots rang out, followed by screams. I lost track of how long it lasted until the basement door burst open. Though I could still hear the commotion above, my focus was locked on Vincent. He was stained with blood, swearing as he laid eyes on me. 

He was talking to me, but I couldn't absorb anything. Why was he here? Was he looking for me? How did he discover my whereabouts? "Baby, are you okay? " he asked, his hand gently cradling my face. I nodded, tears streaming freely. I was too shocked to utter a word.

Suddenly, Vincent's phone rang, and he answered with one hand while keeping the other around me. "Caelum, I need you here. . . I don't care. . . there are more guys than I expected. " I wasn't certain of what was unfolding, but it was evident his cousin wasn't pleased with his attempt to save me. Did Caelum want me to stay down here? Perhaps he preferred to let the police handle things?

"Solenne, you need to go with Isaac and do everything he says," Vincent instructed softly. I nodded in agreement, still caught between my current reality and my shocked mental state. Isaac's hand gently pushed against my back, guiding me away from Vincent. I quickly grabbed onto his shirt. 

"Where are you taking me? " I asked. "To resolve this. No one threatens my family. Go with Isaac! " His gaze darkened, and for a moment, he transformed into the person I wasn't fond of. Vincent definitely had a switch in personality. 

He kissed my forehead before rushing upstairs. Isaac paused for a moment before guiding me after him. "Are you alright, Sol? Does anything hurt? " Isaac was taller than Vincent and even more muscular. 

"I'm fine, but I hurt everywhere. " Looking into his deep brown eyes, I saw genuine concern for me.

 "I don't know what's happening, Isaac, but I'm okay. Thank you! " I managed a weak smile as he led me out of the basement. I gasped in horror at the scene in front of me. Numerous men lay dead and mutilated on the once beautiful Italian marble floor. Who could have done this? 

"Don't look, Sol! " Isaac pulled my head to his chest and continued moving me out of the room. As we reached the entrance, the front door burst open, and a swarm of men poured in, immediately opening fire. Isaac swiftly shielded me with his body and pushed us behind the wall. My body started trembling again. 

"Isaac, what's going on? " I shouted. I was struggling to keep calm, but it felt like a war was happening all around me, and somehow I was caught in the chaos. 

"Shhh, we have to keep you hidden," Isaac said, his voice strained. My gaze followed his body and noticed he had two bullet wounds that were bleeding. 

"Oh no, Isaac, you've been shot. " 

"I'm fine. Let's keep moving," he replied. Somehow, he stood up and lifted me. One of his arms wrapped around me while the other held a gun. Why did he have a gun? We managed to make it upstairs without being noticed, but I caught sight of the man I thought I loved, down in the chaos, brutally taking down one man after another. He was drenched in blood, his eyes reflecting a darkness I had never known could exist in someone. 

"Isaac, we need to stop the bleeding. Find a bathroom," I urged, trying to apply pressure to his wounds as we walked. I couldn't process everything I had just seen; I needed to distract myself until this was over and we were safe. After that, I would deal with Vincent for getting me into this situation. I didn't know how, but I was certain this was all Vincent's doing.

 "Over here! " He opened a door down the hall that led to a large master bedroom. As soon as we got into the bathroom, he locked the door and collapsed onto the floor. 

"Damn it, Isaac. You're too heavy for me to carry. I need you to stay awake, okay? " I hurried through the cabinets and found some alcohol and bandages. I checked the wound on his shoulder and was relieved to see the bullet had gone straight through.

 However, the bullet in his side didn't seem to have an exit point. He was burning up and drenched in sweat. He urgently needed a hospital. "Let's get you to the bed. We need to remove that bullet," I said as I helped him up, struggling to support his weight. We stumbled our way to the bed, and I quickly took off his shirt.