Page 64 of His Ruthless Obsession

The first guy lunges. I dodge, driving my elbow into his sternum. He stumbles back with a grunt. The second man grabs for my arm — I twist away, my knee connecting with his groin.

"Bitch!" He doubles over.

The third attacker gets his arms around me from behind. I slam my head back, feeling his nose crunch. His grip loosens enough for me to break free, but the first guy recovers, tackling me against the brick wall.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be." He pins my arms as I thrash.

"Get the van!" The one I kneed barks, limping toward us.

Metal scrapes against pavement as a dark van pulls up. I kick and scream, managing to land a solid hit to someone's jaw before a hand clamps over my mouth. They drag me toward the vehicle, my heels scraping concrete.

"The Mantiones send their regards," one whispers as they shove me inside.

The door slams shut, leaving me in darkness.

Before I can get my bearings, the van lurches forward, throwing me against the metal wall. My head throbs where it connects with the steel. No windows, just darkness and the stench of oil and rust.

"Stay still." A rough hand grabs my ankle as I try to kick out.

I draw in sharp breaths through my nose, forcing myself to focus. I can make out shapes now. Four men. One driving, threein back with me. The floor vibrates beneath me as we take what feels like a sharp right turn.

"Should we tie her up?"

"Nah, she ain't going nowhere."

My eyes adjust slowly to the darkness. The interior is stripped bare except for some rope and a toolbox sliding around near the front. The men's faces are hard to make out, but their silhouettes loom over me like vultures.

Where did security go? How did they know when I'd leave? The questions spiral through my mind as panic claws at my chest.

I try to calm myself. I know that it won't take long for someone to notice that I am missing. And when they do, Nerio will come. He has to come. He always knows everything happening in his territory.

But cold reality settles in — they grabbed me so easily. Like they knew exactly when and where I'd be vulnerable.

"The boss wants her unharmed," one of them grumbles. "For now."

My stomach drops. If I doubted before, the guy who threw me in the van confirmed it. I've been picked up by the Mantiones. And God only knows what they're going to do to me now that they have me.

The van hits a pothole and I slam into the side again. Pain shoots through my shoulder. I bite back a cry, refusing to show weakness.

"Looks like Nerio's little pet ain't so tough now," one sneers, reaching for my face.

I jerk away from his touch. "Don't call me that."

"Shut her up."

A hand clamps over my mouth again. I taste blood and dirt on his palm. The city lights flash by in thin strips through thecrack under the door. Left turn. Right turn. Straight for what feels like miles. I try to map it in my head but soon lose track.

My heart pounds against my ribs. Nerio will come. He has to come. I repeat it like a prayer, even as fear wraps its icy fingers around my throat.

At some point, the van screeches to a halt. My captors drag me out, zipping tying my wrists before they march me through metal doors into a dimly lit warehouse. The musty air fills my lungs, mixing with the scent of oil and rust. Empty shipping containers line the walls like giant metal coffins.

They force me to my knees on the concrete. My dress tears, gravel biting into my skin.

"Here she is, boss."

Heavy footsteps echo through the space. A man emerges from the shadows, his silver hair catching what little light filters through the grimy windows. Even without introduction, I know who he is — Don Mantione.

He crouches in front of me, his cologne overwhelming. "So this is the woman who's got Nerio acting like a lovesick fool." His fingers grip my chin. "I must say, you're prettier than I expected."

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