Chapter 56 

Clipboard pulled out his phone, pressing a few buttons. A second later, the sound of ringing filled the space. 

I held my breath. 

Then- 

A click 

“Well, well, well.” 

Mikael’s voice slid through the speaker like oil. 

I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt. 

Clipboard smirked at me before turning his attention back to the phone. “She’s here.” 

A pause. 

Then- 

“Put her on.” 

Clipboard grabbed my face again, shoving the phone against my ear. 

*Aria.* 

I didn’t say a word. 

Mikael sighed dramatically. “Come now, tesoro, don’t be rude.” 

I refused to give him the satisfaction. 

He chuckled. “No smart remark? No insults? You wound me.” 

I stared straight ahead, my jaw locked. 

“Let me guess,” he mused. “You think Dominic is coming to save you, sì?” 

A pause. 

Then, his voice dropped lower. 

“I wouldn’t be so sure.” 

A chill ran down my spine. 

Mikael was playing with me. 

Trying to get into my head. 

I refused to let him. 

I forced a smirk onto my face. “You talk too much.” 

Clipboard’s grip tightened, but Mikael just laughed. 

“Ah, still so sharp–tongued. I like that.” 

I wanted to spit at him. 

Mikael sighed. “Enjoy your stay, tesoro. I’ll be seeing you soon.” 

Then- 

The line went dead. 

Clipboard pulled the phone away, tucking it into his pocket. 

Scarface stood. “Boss wants her locked up.” 

Clipboard nodded. “Yeah, yeah.” 

He grabbed my arm, yanking me upright. 

I stumbled, my bound ankles making it nearly impossible to balance. 

“Move,” he ordered. 

Scarface shoved me forward, and I had no choice but to walk. 

Or rather–stumble. 

I gritted my teeth. 

But deep inside, one thought burned through my mind- 

Chapter 56 

He will. 

And when he does? 

Mikael is fucking dead. 

But right now, I was alone. 

And these bastards wanted to make sure I felt it. 

The cold bite of metal dug into my wrists, the chains so tight I could feel my circulation struggling. The room was dim, the concrete damp beneath my bare feet. The air was thick, almost suffocating, but not as bad as the weight pressing against my chest. 

They had dragged me here, into this empty, miserable excuse for a prison. 

1 glared at Scarface as he smirked, circling me like a vulture, Clipboard stood nearby, arms crossed, watching 

“You really think he’s going to come running?” Clipboard mused. 

I didn’t answer. 

I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. 

Scarface chuckled, stepping closer. “I think she needs a little reminder of where she is.” 

Something in his tone made my stomach turn. 

I braced myself- 

Then- 

Cold. 

A wave of ice–cold water crashed against my body, shocking me to my core. 

I screamed. 

It was instant, the way it stole the breath from my lungs, the way my muscles locked up from the sheer freezing shock 

I gasped, trying to inhale, but the cold sent a sharp pain through my chest. My body trembled violently, my clothes now drenched, clinging to my skin. 

Scarface let out a laugh, shaking the bucket. “That wake you up, sweetheart?” 

1 clenched my jaw, my teeth chattering. 

But I wouldn’t break. 

I refused to break. 

Clipboard sighed dramatically. “You people are so stubborn.” 

I lifted my chin. “You people are so fucking predictable.” 

His smirk faltered for a second before he forced it back. “You should really be more polite.” 

I spat at his feet. 

His jaw ticked. “Fine.” 

Another bucket. 

Another blast of freezing water. 

I gasped, my entire body shuddering violently. My skin burned from the temperature shift, my muscles cramping, my breathing uneven. 

Scarface crouched beside me. “What was that about being predictable?” 

I forced a smirk despite my body betraying me. “You don’t scare me.” 

His expression darkened. “No?” 

He leaned in, his breath hot against my frozen skin. “Let’s see if we can change that.” 

Clipboard checked his watch. “Boss wants her alive.” 

Scarface clicked his tongue. “What a shame.” 

They stood, watching me for a moment before Clipboard nodded toward the door. 

“Let her stew in it,” he said. “We’ll be back.” 

Scarface grinned, tossing the empty bucket aside. 

Then, without another word, they left. 

The door slammed shut 

Chapter 50 

And I was alone again. 

Drenched Shivering 

But still me. 

Still Aria Montel. 

Still alive 

And as long as I was breathing? 

I wasn’t done yet. 

Dominic’s POV 

Something was wrong. 

The second we pulled into the estate, a suffocating silence filled the air. 

No guards at the front gate. No men stationed where they should have been. 

Nothing. 

A pit formed in my stomach. 

“Stop the car,” I ordered. 

Matteo hit the brakes before I even finished speaking. 

I was already moving. 

Before the vehicle had fully stopped, I shoved the door open, stepping out, my heart hammering. 

Then I ran. 

Straight into the house. 

Straight into the silence. 

“Aria!” My voice thundered through the space. 

No response. 

I sprinted through the hallways, my breath short, my pulse wild. I checked room after room, each one empty. 

“Aria!” 

Nothing. 

My chest tightened. No. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. 

I stormed toward the security room, my steps heavy with rage, with fear. 

Matthias was already there, flipping through the surveillance footage. His face was pale. His jaw tight. 

He didn’t need to say it. 

I knew. 

My fingers curled into fists. “Show me.” 

Matthias swallowed and hit play. 

The screen flickered- 

And there she was. 

Aria. 

In the entrance hallway, speaking to two men in suits. 

I leaned forward, my eyes locked on the footage. 

Her body language was tense. Suspicious. 

Then she turned slightly–looking around–probably noticing the lack of guards. 

Smart girl. 

I clenched my jaw as she hesitated, but then, slowly, she let them inside. Fuck. 

I watched as the men set up, moving around as if they belonged there. And then- 

The gas. 

Chacter Se 

I saw the moment she realized 

Saw the panic. 

And then- 

She fought 

Goddamn, she fought 

Kicking Swinging. Clawing. 

I watched as she elbowed one of them in the ribs, making him stumble. 

I watched as she twisted, trying to run. 

But they were too fast. 

One of them caught her. 

A rag to the mouth. 

I gritted my teeth, my entire body shaking with fury. 

Her movements slowed. 

She collapsed. 

They caught her, carried her out like she was nothing. 

And I saw red. 

The room around me blurred. My breath came out sharp, ragged, my fingers gripping the edge of the desk so hard it groaned under the pressure. 

“She fought, Matthias said quietly. 

I closed my eyes. 

I knew she did. 

Of course, she did. 

But they still took her. 

I inhaled sharply. “Find them.” 

Matteo was already making calls, barking orders. 

I turned to Matthías. My voice was deathly calm. 

“Trace every goddamn step they took.” 

He nodded, his fingers flying across the keyboard. 

I turned back to the screen, watching the footage again. 

Watching them take her. 

Watching my worst fucking nightmare unfold. 

Then, I exhaled slowly. 

Mikael just made the biggest mistake of his life. 

Because I was coming. 

And I would burn the entire fucking city to get her back. 

Chapter 57