“Find her!” one of McIntosh’s men yelled angrily. His voice was laced with frustration and rage. His ego couldn't accept being outsmarted by a woman, and he was annoyed with his companion whose insistence on drinking had gotten them all drunk. They'd been persuaded to drink, and he couldn't understand why three bottles of alcohol had gotten them so intoxicated. They hadn't realized Gigi was escaping until he woke up needing to urinate and saw her slipping out the exit. Even though he was dizzy and weak, he immediately woke his two companions to chase her. If she escaped, they'd all be in serious trouble.
Gigi felt as if her soul would leave her body when she heard the yell. She was drenched in sweat, breathless from running, her legs trembling from exhaustion. The shout was too close; she felt them right behind her, so she couldn't stop. She could barely see where she was going as she ran, the moon offering no guidance in the darkness. Her feet were bleeding, but she“Find her!” one of McIntosh’s men yelled angrily. His voice was laced with frustration and rage. His ego couldn't accept being outsmarted by a woman, and he was annoyed with his companion whose insistence on drinking had gotten them all drunk. They'd been persuaded to drink, and he couldn't understand why three bottles of alcohol had gotten them so intoxicated. They hadn't realized Gigi was escaping until he woke up needing to urinate and saw her slipping out the exit. Even though he was dizzy and weak, he immediately woke his two companions to chase her. If she escaped, they'd all be in serious trouble. Gigi felt as if her soul would leave her body when she heard the yell. She was drenched in sweat, breathless from running, her legs trembling from exhaustion. The shout was too close; she felt them right behind her, so she couldn't stop. She could barely see where she was going as she ran, the moon offering no guidance in the darkness. Her feet were bleeding, but she
Roccio gripped the steering wheel tightly, speeding down the road. He needed to get there before 3:00 AM. That politician seemed to favor secluded locations. He checked the GPS; the location was in an isolated part of town. From the moment he’d gotten the call, his nerves had been on edge, and he was irritated with himself. He could have just left Yana there and let the police handle it. But for reasons he couldn't explain, the thought of Yana being held captive by that lunatic politician unsettled him. His brother seemed to have a lot of enemies lately. First, it was McIntosh, after his brother’s wealth. That old man was greedy, unsatisfied with his own riches, needing to seize what others had worked for. Roccio had him investigated; his fortune stemmed from exploiting other companies. Being a member of the underground society, he'd easily evaded prosecution for his crimes. Now, Fabian’s success had become his greatest downfall. The Romanos weren't easily defeated, as proven by the
Yana slowly opened her eyes. A throbbing headache was the first thing she felt as consciousness returned. Her vision was blurry, making it hard to see where she was. She groaned in annoyance, and when she tried to move, she felt the soft mattress beneath her. She couldn't remember what happened after losing consciousness at the hospital. All she recalled was someone covering her face while she was buying a snack from a vending machine. She'd inhaled a strong chemical smell, and then her body had gone weak before she blacked out. It took a moment for the realization to sink in: she’d been kidnapped, and this was a strange, unfamiliar place. She sat up abruptly and looked around. She was in a bedroom, lying on a large bed with a plush mattress. The room was brightly lit, allowing Yana to easily scan her surroundings. The furnishings were luxurious and expensive; clearly, she was in the home of a wealthy person. She had no idea where she was or who had kidnapped her. One
Roccio strode purposefully into the hospital where Yana was confined. He’d been in a meeting with underworld associates when he received a call that Yana had been missing for an hour. The news sent shockwaves through him, and he abruptly left the meeting without a word. He was furious, learning that the guards assigned to Yana's room had taken a cigarette break simultaneously. He'd explicitly instructed them never to leave the room unattended. He’d entrusted this woman’s life to them, and this happened? He would make them pay for their recklessness. Everyone Roccio passed stopped to look at him. At over six feet tall, with striking, exotic features, he was the stuff of women's fantasies. He knew the effect he had. Under other circumstances, he would have reveled in the attention. His hair in a ponytail, a thick beard enhancing his ruggedly handsome and dangerous look, and his intense electric blue eyes commanded attention. Some women looked almost giddy, openly fantas
Gigi had seen with her own eyes how fate could twist someone’s life. Hers felt like a roller coaster—full of ups and downs. There were times when she was genuinely happy, even if life was tough. Those were the days she was with her family. They may not have had much, but they had each other—and that made everything bearable. And when Fabian came into her life, she felt even happier. She didn’t love him at first, but in time, she fell deeply and completely for him. She thought he was the answer to all her dreams. That he would be her happy ending. But not all good things last. Their relationship was doomed from the start—Fabian was already engaged to someone else. That relationship with Fabian… it was the reason she was suffering now. But honestly? She had no regrets. If she were given the chance, she’d choose him all over again. Gigi looked around the room where McIntosh had her locked up. Ever since that old man showed up
Yana and Fabian both watched Roccio leave the hospital room, speechless after his chilling statement. Fabian was shocked; he'd never heard Roccio offer help to a virtual stranger before. Roccio was usually guarded and didn't trust easily. Roccio rarely showed his softer side. Fabian cleared his throat to get Yana's attention. He looked around the room: no air conditioning, old beds, and a strange odor that he'd noticed earlier. The hospital was understaffed. Gigi's mother was still sleeping soundly, and Pia was asleep on Yana's bed. Fabian frowned, noticing Gigi's brother was absent. He knew she had one younger brother, Adrian, and Pia wasn't her sibling. “Where’s your brother? I didn’t see him when we arrived.” Yana, still shocked, blushed when she realized Fabian's reaction. “Adrian? He went out to buy food,” Yana replied simply.