جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

You should be more careful, wandering around alone at night," the man said, his tone suddenly turning serious. "You never know what kind of folk you might run into.""And you're going to preach to me about safety?" Maria retorted, a note of defensiveness in her voice. "You don't exactly look harmless yourself."The man chuckled in response to her retort, his smirk returning. "Touché," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "But trust me, I'm the least of your worries out here.""And what should I worry about, then?" Maria crossed her arms, still maintaining her guard, yet she was becoming more and more intrigued by this man's presence and his cryptic responses."Wolves, for one," the man replied nonchalantly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. The statement sent a small shiver down Maria's spine, the thought of being stalked by wild animals was something to worry about."Don’t tell me you're scared of wolves," the man teased, noticing her shiver. He was enjoying this taunting

Her vision went dark as she felt a sudden sharp pain on the side of her head. The man had knocked her out. When she came around, she was in the back of a moving car, the soft rumbling of the engine and the passing streetlights outside the only thing she could see.Groggily, she tried to sit up, but her head was spinning and her body felt heavy. She realized she was bound at the wrists, a rough rope digging into her skin. The sight made fear and confusion swirl together in her mind. What was happening? Where was she being taken?The car continued to move, the world outside the window a blur of streetlights and buildings. She tried to keep track of the turns and landmarks, but her head was still fuzzy and disoriented. Every bump in the road sent a jolt of pain through her head. How long had she been unconscious? And where was she going?The drive seemed to go on for hours, the monotony broken only by the occasional stop at traffic lights. Every time the car came to a halt, Maria's heart

Leonardo planned to use Maria as leverage. He kidnapped her, planning to use her as bait to lure Markham out into the open. He assumed that Markham would do whatever it took to save her, and that his affection for her would cloud his judgment and make him vulnerable. Leonardo believed that by holding Maria hostage, he could manipulate Markham into making a mistake and ultimately lead to his downfall. Leonardo sat back in the chair, a satisfied smile playing across his face. Everything was going according to plan. The girl was in their custody, and as far as they could tell, Markham hadn't shown up yet. But he wasn't worried. He knew Markham would come, eventually. He was not the type to let something like this go unpunished. It was just a matter of time before he came charging in, ready to do whatever it took to get her back. And when he did, he would find himself walking right into their trap. Leonardo reclined in his chair, sipping his whiskey. The room around him was dimly lit,

Marko glanced at the clock on his dashboard. Time was slipping away. He had two nights before the job.“Send me the name,” he said.Luca sighed. “Marko, you’re walking a fine line. You know that, right?”Marko’s jaw clenched. “I don’t have a choice.”A pause. Then, “I’ll text you.”The line went dead.Marko exhaled slowly, trying to rein in the fury burning inside him. He needed to be smart. One wrong move and Maria would pay the price.His phone buzzed again. A text from Luca.Santino Greco. Leonardo’s buyer. He’s in town.Marko’s lips curled into a cold smile.Perfect.The Next NightMarko stood outside the dimly lit club, his hands tucked into his pockets. The bass from the music inside pulsed through the pavement, a steady rhythm that did nothing to settle his nerves.Inside was Santino Greco—the man with answers. If he could get to him, he’d know exactly what Leonardo was moving and who else had their hands in the deal.Marko pulled open the door and stepped inside. The club was p

 He tilted his head, unconvinced.Then, before she could react, he lunged.“Who were you talking to?” he demanded, his grip tightening.Maria struggled, her pulse racing. “No one, I swear—”The man wasn’t buying it. He shoved her back onto the bed, eyes dark with warning. “Leonardo wants you alive. That’s the only reason you’re still breathing. But if you make trouble…” He pulled out a knife, flipping it effortlessly between his fingers. “Accidents happen.”Maria’s breath hitched.She knew what he was implying.Her mind screamed at her to stay quiet. To not provoke him. But she also knew one thing—Marko was coming for her.She just had to stay alive long enough for him to get here.MarkoMarko killed the engine a block away from the estate. The place was still on high alert—guards patrolling, the main entr