Chapter7

A thick, suffocating void surrounded Valentina, her senses dulled by the drug in her system. Her head pounded, her body felt weightless, and her limbs refused to obey her commands.

The scent of leather, whiskey, and something metallic clung to the air.

She wasn't dead.

But she wasn't safe, either.

A low hum echoed in her ears, followed by the steady creak of floorboards. Someone was moving. Watching. Waiting.

Her instincts screamed at her to wake up.

So she did.

Valentina's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurred. It took her a moment to register where she was—an unfamiliar room, dimly lit by a single overhead bulb that flickered erratically. Chains rattled above her, and that's when she realized—

Her wrists were bound.

She was hanging from the ceiling, suspended by steel cuffs wrapped tightly around her wrists.

Not good.

A slow, measured clap broke the silence.

"Finally awake, princess?"

That voice.

Valentina lifted her head, her body sluggish from whatever drug they had used on her. Across the room, leaning against an old wooden table, was the scarred man who had tricked her in the alley. His expression was one of amusement, his dark suit immaculate despite the filthy surroundings.

Behind him stood two more men, armed and watching her like predators waiting for their prey to break.

She swallowed the dryness in her throat and glared at him. "I don't like being played."

The man chuckled, stepping forward. "Then you're in the wrong business, Rossi."

Valentina tested her restraints. They were secure, bolted to the ceiling. The bastards had done their homework.

"Who sent you?" she demanded.

The man tilted his head, studying her. "Oh, I think you already know."

Dante.

Her stomach curled with disgust.

"I should've known that rat would try something like this," she muttered. "What's the plan? Ransom? Torture? Or do you think I'll beg for my life?"

The man smirked. "Begging would be entertaining, but no, this isn't about money."

He took another step closer, lowering his voice. "Dante doesn't just want you dead, Valentina. He wants you broken."

A slow smile curled on her lips. "Then he's going to be very disappointed."

The man exhaled, shaking his head. "You're a tough one, I'll give you that." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek black phone. "Let's see if your lover boy thinks the same."

Her blood turned to ice.

Lorenzo.

The Devil Answers

The man pressed a button, placing a call.

She held her breath as the line rang.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then—

"Who the fuck is this?" Lorenzo's voice was sharp, lethal.

The scarred man grinned and turned the phone toward Valentina. "Say hello, princess."

Valentina's jaw clenched. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

The man sighed. "Tsk, tsk. That's not very polite." He stepped behind her, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head back, exposing her throat.

Valentina hissed but didn't cry out.

"Let her go." Lorenzo's voice was dark, furious.

"Oh, I don't think so," the man said smoothly. "You see, we have a bit of a situation here. Your little mafia queen decided to play detective, and now she's in quite the predicament."

"I swear to God, if you touch her—"

The man laughed. "Oh, I intend to. But not in the way you're thinking."

A pause.

Then—

"I'll kill you," Lorenzo growled.

Valentina's heart pounded. She could hear the barely controlled rage in his voice.

The man grinned. "Then come and try."

The call ended.

The room was silent for a moment.

Then the man turned to her, his smirk widening. "Tick tock, princess. Let's see if your knight in shining armor gets here in time."

Valentina remained still, her mind racing.

Lorenzo was coming.

But would he make it before Dante's men did whatever they had planned?

No.

She couldn't afford to wait.

She had to escape.

Now.

Valentina Rossi wasn't a damsel in distress.

And she sure as hell wasn't waiting for rescue.

Her eyes darted around the room, calculating, planning.

She still had one weapon.

Herself.

If Lorenzo didn't get here in time…

She'd make sure to take these bastards down with her.