— Safe house / 11:34 pm —

~ Ellie

My brain woke up on its own when it registered some unfamiliar voice talking. But I was still confused. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a dark room with a desk opposite of me, but there was no one sitting on the chair behind it.

I was about to sit up on the couch I was placed on, but the voice spoke up again and I became hesitant. I decided to pretend I was asleep little more until I could figure out what was happening and where I was.

"Non lo so." (I don't know.)

Shit. He's talking in another language. So far with my plan.

"Anche tu mi manchi, sorella." (I miss you too, sister.)

Wait. This voice was quite familiar.

I opened my eyes and discovered that someone was standing in front of the window and he had his back to me. Black hair...strong shoulders. Tall..tan skin that was glowing from the moonlight coming through the window right now. Antonio?

In this moment he turned around and caught me by surprise. He noticed I was awake and murmured something else on the phone before hanging up and walking over to me.

"You're awake." He said with flat voice.

There was something sad on his face expression that I couldn't put my finger on, but I didn't dare to comment.

"Where am I?" I asked while sitting up and stretched my arms up. His gaze flickered down for a second which made me put my hands back down and blush. But I paled up again when I remembered I had most likely been kidnapped.

"You're safe." He answered vaguely before sitting down on the armchair besides the sofa.

Safe in a place I've never seen before? How calming.

The last thing I remembered was being in Nico's car and he told me I wasn't going to like...wait. Nico.

"Why am I here?" I shuffled uncomfortably on the couch while trying to keep my calm.

He let out a huff and run his hand through his messy black hair. I don't know why I found this sexy.

"You're asking too many questions."

It hit me as he said this in such harsh tone. He didn't want to have a small talk and just gossip.

"You need to tell me everything you know about Nathan." He simply threw that at me and broke the few good thoughts I had about him. It sounded almost demanding combined with his intense gaze, which annoyed me. What made him think that he could command me what to do?

"Why would I do that? You're out to kill him." I answered back and crossed my arms loosely over my chest.

He smirked and leaned forward with his elbows on his thighs, his fingers accidentally brushed over my knee once and I had to stick my nails onto my upper arm in result not to jump from the contact.

He's giving me both good and bad chills.

"You still think he's innocent? You've been kidnapped because of him." He said that and left me thinking. Well, that was true. But I still knew less than enough to understand this situation.

"But I need to know some things too."

His eyebrows rose up and he looked surprised. I arched a brow back at him and tried to look confident, although he was quite intimidating even when sitting.

"Va bene. Just one question, bella." (Alright.)

Damn, that thick accent sounded good.

He leaned back on his chair and I breathed out in relief as we came to agreement. Okay that's a good start. Now, how was I supposed to I choose one question from the hundred ones I had?

"How can I know you won't kill me too? I mean, you kidnapped me for second time tonight."

He narrowed his eyes at me and in a second I was doubting everything I said. This deal was unfair towards me and I didn't know how to tell him the bad news without getting myself killed.

"Tell me the information I need and you will see for yourself what happens." He said like no big deal and forced me to doubt this even more. He couldn't even promise to not hurt me. I needed to leave this place.

"I'm not talking with you any further." I replied coldly and stood up, but to my surprise he did too.

"Ellie."

The way he said my name forced my legs to stop and I turned to look at him, fuming with anger and I tried to stay silent at the same time, but my big mouth had other things in mind.

"You know what? I don't even know Nathan as much as you all think I do. Yes, we've been together for three years. But he never talked to me about his personal life or past even when I tried to ask him about it. He dodged the subject like his life depended on it. So you're wasting your time with me here, Mr. Antonio."

I didn't realise when I was sitting again with tears streaming down my face. Guess today's events were too much for me to take in all at once.

But it became even more confusing when he sat besides me and put a hand over mine. The scent of his expensive cologne filled my nostrils and a warm feeling rushed through my whole body just from his close presence.

"No one is going to touch you, bella. I will make sure of that."

~ Antonio

This took me by surprise. I wanted to see if she was as tough as she pretended to be, but it turned in the wrong direction.

I could feel how scared and upset she was. That summoned some protective feeling inside of me and I moved my thumb up and down to caress her skin while holding her hand. She surprisingly didn't pull it back.

"Why would you make your life more complicated with a girl like me? I'm useless to you when I know nothing about Nathan. You could shoot me any minute now."

The last words stung a little. I was capable of doing that only if she didn't start to cry and look so vulnerable.

"I'm not going to do that." I said sternly and she looked up, her hazel eyes meeting mine.

"Why?" She asked as if it didn't make any sense to her. To be honest I was confused too.

I knew I wasn't supposed to do this. But my brain was telling me otherwise. My intuition told me that this wasn't the end and since Nathan contacted her twice already after his cover was exposed, he would do it again. So I was doing this only for the gang.

"Because you're innocent."

~ Ellie

Innocent? This was too easy. That's not the Antonio I met a week ago.

I made some distance between us on the couch and wiped my tears away with my fingers. Damnit Nathan. You were the one that broke me down. I've been overly emotional about this subject since he ended the things between us.

"You believe me?" I asked in surprise and a faint smile appeared on his face. It looked forced, but I wasn't in condition to think that much into it.

"Yes. I have enough experience to know when someone is lying to me."

Well, that made sense. Who knows how many people were interrogated the way I was. Well maybe this went smoother than I expected.

But now I really needed to go. Fiona was expecting me to come back at 8 and it's been four hours while I was unconscious and in an unknown place.

"Can I go home? It's almost midnight."

Antonio straightened up and took longer than normal to answer which was strange. He wasn't going to keep me in here, was he?

"I said that before and I'm going to repeat it. We're not the bad ones in this. You don't have to trust us, but if you hear something from Nathan..remember my words."

His eyes were focused on the table in front of us but I was looking straight at him. So I either had to rat Nathan out or get killed..or both.

"A car will drive you home. You may go."

He simply dismissed me before I could speak again. He got up from the couch and walked over to the desk with his back facing me.

Well, that's my cue to go. I run a hand through my hair and took a deep breath to collect some strength before getting up and walking out of the room quietly.

I felt like something went wrong. But I was mentally exhausted and wanted to go home.

A tall man in all black shirt and pants was standing besides the door and as soon as he saw me, he motioned me to follow him.

It was too dark to make out the place I was in so I didn't even attempt.

I was driven straight home as Antonio said and now I was supposed to face Fiona and explain why I went missing for couple of hours. This was not going to be easy.

***

— Couple of days later / Basque —

~ Ellie

Everything had been fine except some weird looks from Manuel at work. I don't think he trusted me.

As to Antonio..he appeared here once and didn't acknowledge my existence..so that's been all.

The situation back in that "safe place" was starting to fade and I was seeing him as a rude and impulsive gangster again. Everything was back to normal.

"Ellie, can you take out the trash?"

"Sure thing."

I sighed and got the plastic black bags through the back door of the club.

But as soon as I saw the situation in front of my eyes, I dropped everything and froze. Manuel was forcefully pinning up some man and his grip was tight around the man's neck.

"The deal was to pay us quarter for the drugs."

"That's not possible, dude. The drugs aren't selling so well.."

"Oh, is that so? Because a bird told me other wise. Next time you better not lie to us. Oh wait, there won't be next time...dude."

I thought about turning around and leaving, but then things escalated and the random man got a whole in his head by Manuel's gun.

"Oh my gosh!" The words came out of my mouth instinctively and I brought the attention on me without meaning to.

"You saw nothing."

Manuel's voice sounded threatening when he turned fully towards me, but my eyes were only focused on the body that fell as soon as Manuel let go of it.

This was the second time I was seeing someone lying lifelessly like that on the ground. This couldn't be good.

"Did you hear me?"

My eyes shot up and I flinched as a pair of hands grabbed my shoulders. I just then realised I've been backing away and some huge guy took a grip on me.

Come on. Speak. It's not like he just killed a person. Except he did.

"Take her to the room, Beppe."

Manuel motioned with his hand before turning with his back towards us and looked like he was examining the corpse.

"Jesus Ch-"

My words got caught in my throat when the tall guy spun me around and I was pushed back into the club, except we took a turn towards the dark hall with the forbidden rooms. I was thinking that, because we didn't have access to them as far as I knew.

"What room was Manuel talking about?" I tried to get him to talk, but his mouth kept being a straight thin line. He took a hold of my wrist to make sure I wouldn't escape while he was unlocking a black shiny door.

"Is this some torturing room? I swear I won't tell-"

"Save your words for Caputo."

His voice startled me when combined with the force he put to drag me into that room.

I looked around and to my surprise discovered this was an office room. Except it didn't have any windows and the lighting wasn't a lot. From what I could make out on first glance, there was a wooden desk, leather couches, glass table and dark cabinets full of fancy alcohol bottles.

Before I could ask anything else, the door was shut closed.

"Hey! Let me out!" I shouted and then banged on the door but it seemed like the person left.

After 20 minutes of silence on the other side, I decided to take a seat on the couch. I didn't even have my phone with me. At least I was still in Basque so once the door was opened again I would escape.

Suddenly Manuel walked in with his usual scowl and didn't even acknowledge my existence.

"Was it necessary to lock me up here?" I asked with frown on my face.

"Yes." He said without even facing me. He took out couple of glasses and a bottle of whiskey and placed them on the desk. I crossed my arms in front of my chest and pouted like a kid.

I would be freaking out if it wasn't for the circumstances. I've just seen too many crazy things this past weeks.

"I swear I'm not going to tell anyone."

"That doesn't mean that someone wouldn't try to take all the information out of you."

What information? Was he referring Nathan now?

"He hasn't contacted me at all."

I tried to sound calm as I stood up and carefully made my way to the door while Manuel was opening a whiskey bottle and wasn't looking at me.

Wait..what if he fired me?

I stopped just in time to not crash into someone's chest. Their arms went to catch my elbows by instinct. I looked up and screamed mentally at the sight of those piercing blue eyes. He was looking down at me, but I just now realised it wasn't a friendly gaze.

"You can't even keep the girl in the room, cousin." He said mockingly as he walked around me and my jaw fell open. I've never heard someone talking like that to Manuel.

"No one is going to hurt you." Nico said as he urged me to sit again. For some reason I listened and took a seat down.

"So, what are we supposed to do with her?" I could hear them talking about me.

Excuse me?

"She is right here." I added which made them all look at me.

What? Was it so unexpected for me to talk against their disrespectful behaviour?

"Let's get rid of her once and for all before they lay their hands on her. We'll still manage to find Nathan without her." Manuel said loud enough for me to hear and I gasped.

"We can't kill her, idiot." Nico joined in and I sighed in relief.

At least he's defending me. Wait no. I didn't need anyone to defend me. I could speak up for myself.

"I-"

"She's been no help for us. There's no reason to keep her."

Now it was Antonio to interrupt and that completely took me by surprise.

First of all, they were talking as if I wasn't in the room.

Then they treated me as some property that could be thrown out any second they got tired of it. And last but not least, they're completely delusional.

"Are you out of your minds? I'm leaving." I shouted and got up fast in my rage, but before I could make another step, the door swung open.

"What are you shouting about, kiddos?" A guy entered and when his eyes landed on me, I noticed the bright green orbs I've seen before.

That day when Nathan was at the hospital and I had to go with them. That guy was in the car too.

Great. More mafia members.

"Watch your words, Max." Manuel barked towards the bright eyed man that eyed me up and down shamelessly.

"Antonio and Manuel for once agreed on something together, but it's ridiculous."

Seems like only Nico cared for my life in this room among all the men.

"Max is going to agree with us."

"Agree on what?" That Max guy asked in confusion and put his hands on his hips.

He wasn't that tall, but he was definitely making it up for being muscular. The sleeve tattoo on his left arm was taking your attention to his well formed biceps.

And I was here wondering...why was everyone in this room so good looking and fit? It's making me feel like some jelly.

"To get rid of this one here." Manuel pointed at me and I felt betrayed. I worked so hard in his club and for what? To be stabbed in the back.

Max stared at me and made me feel uncomfortable again. There was something about him that made me feel uneasy.

"I think we still need her." For some reason he defended me and Nico smiled in relief.

Huh, how ironic. I didn't feel calm at all. But I couldn't even speak because they interrupted me on purpose.

They started discussing over again and I felt like laughing and crying at the same time. This made no sense. We lived in the 21st century and no one could control your own fate.

"Then you'll be watching over her!" Manuel raised his voice suddenly and everyone went silent. Antonio seemed unfazed while he was taking a gulp from his glass of whiskey. He dropped the bomb by agreeing with Manuel and now he's enjoying how his cousin went mad.

And what the fuck happened with "I won't let anyone touch you"? He sucks at keeping his promises.

"I'm not a babysitter." Max broke the silence and that was the last drop for me. I was so done.

"And I don't need one so leave me alone."

"You don't understand."

"I can take care of myself for gods sake! You're all just a group of children so deal with that first." I said mockingly before leaving.

I spoke before I could think it over, but it's understandable. I probably lost couple of brain cells back in that room.

But I also insulted my boss so I didn't know what the consequences would be. It was worth it though. He was being a total jerk.

I got back to my stuff and when I picked up my phone, I noticed missed calls from Hazel. She usually knew I was at work and didn't call me. This must have been urgent.

I pressed on her name and lifted the phone to my ear while trying to calm my breathing. I didn't even realise how much they got on my nerves.

"Hey Haze, is something wrong?" She picked up on the other side, but I couldn't hear anything. I waited for couple of seconds, but still nothing.

Until I heard someone crying in the background.