Secrets Leave Scars [EDITING]

22 - Loyalty

I wake up in a dark room, barely able to feel the rest of my body. My eyes feel heavy as I blink, slowly regaining consciousness.

The sound of a large metal door scraping across the floor, jolts me awake. I can see but my body is still weak. I scan the room for indications of my location.

The room is built of metal. It's completely empty other than me and the metal chair I'm sitting on. My feet are tied to either leg of the chair and my hands are wrapped behind my back. There's faint blood stains splattered across the room.

A tall man enters, two guards on either side of him. His hair is going grey and his face is wrinkled. He approaches me slowly, a dark hatred in his eyes. My first instinct is to fight, but my body is still so tired.

"Hm," the strange man grunts. He crouches down, meeting my level. His dark eyes examine my face, an evil smiling growing.

My breathing quickens when he grabs my chin roughly. His grimy fingers caress my face, observing my reaction. I pull away with what little strength I have left, earning another evil smile from the man. He was feeding on my fear.

"I'm sure you've heard of me," he says, walking to the back of the room. My stomach twists when I hear the distinct Russian accent. "But in case you forgot, my name is Ivan Lukin, leader of the Russian mafia." He stands tall, watching me from across the room.

Feeling slowly comes back to my legs as I struggle to sit upright. I look down at my once beautiful dress. It's stained with blood and torn. I grunt, trying to free myself but it's pointless. Ivan roars with laughter while he watches. Anger runs through my veins.

"What do you want with me," I growl. He points at himself, looking around innocently.

"Oh me?" He chuckles. "Well, actually it has nothing to do with you sweetheart." I groan in disgust.

"Then what the h*ll am I doing here!" I yell out. He steps forward and in one swift motion, grabs ahold of my neck. His grip is tight, causing me to gasp for air as he stares into my eyes. His other hand grabs ahold of my hair roughly.

"Wait your turn to speak you slut," he spits, with gritted teeth. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of winning this fight. I desperately build up saliva and spit. He jolts back, stunned by my actions.

I cough, gasping desperately for air. I look up and watch as rage takes over him. He slyly wipes his face before brushing aside his suit. It reveals a pocketknife sitting in his belt. He grins evilly, inching closer.

His sadistic laugh echoes throughout the empty room as he lodges the knife deep into my thigh. I scream in pain as his laughter grows. Involuntary tears stream down my face as the blood pours out of my leg. "Now will you shut the f*ck up?" He snarls, leaving the knife in place.

I take deep breaths, trying to remain calm. Ivan steps back again, sighing before he continues. "Originally, I had planned to take someone from the Veil family, seeing as they have a strange alliance with the Steele's, however, after that little performance, I just knew it had to be you."

"What are you talking about," I ask, still groaning in pain.

"You two looked pretty close," he continues. "He clearly cares for you."

"We...barely...know..each other," I gasp. "I'm.. just a...recruit."

"Oh I know who you are Ms. Isobel Pierce," he chuckles, clasping his hands behind his back. "You're the whore who ruined my first attempt on Steele's life. Impressive for a recruit."

"Thanks," I grunt, sarcastically. I glare back at him with hatred. He circles me like a shark circles it's prey.

"Anyways, you'll be a good trading piece." He grabs my hair, yanking my head back as he whips out an old burner phone. He snaps a picture of my bloodied body giggling with pleasure. I gag, longing to vomit up the sickening feeling in my stomach. "If he wants you alive, he'll turn himself into me."

"He won't do it," I yell. "He doesn't care about me I'm telling you we barely know each other!" He pushes my head upright, continuing to circle around me. My breathing slowly becomes more shallow, blood still leaving my leg. "I'm...I'm bleeding...bleeding out," I groan.

"I won't let you die just yet princess," he whispers into my ear, kissing my neck. I let out a cry of disgust, ripping my head away from him.

He chuckles evilly as my eyes get dark. My body feels weak again as I pass out.

Marcus's POV:

"I don't care what you have to do, just find out where the bastard took her!" I howl, knocking the drinks off my desk with rage.

I've gathered as many members as possible, and still it doesn't feel like it's enough. We have no way to trace her, and absolutely no idea where Lukin could've taken her. I've always been good at keeping calm under pressure, but this was a strange exception.

My blood boils with rage when I think about the disastorus scene left in the bathroom. How could no one have heard her? How could no one have seen her leave? Why didn't I go after her after we danced? I could've easily prevented this.

"Boss," Omar rushes in, holding a crappy cell phone. "We have a lead." I sigh a breath of release as I snatch the phone from his grasp. Kol rushes up behind me, looking over my shoulder as I stare down at the phone screen.

"Turn yourself in to me or your pretty princess dies." Attached is a photo of Isobel, bloodied and bruised. Anger seeps out of me as I crush the phone in my hand. I chuck it across the room as I kick over the chair in front of me.

"How the h*ll did this happen?! Where were you while all of this was happening huh?" My screams echo through the room as I turn to face Kol. His eyebrows furrow as he processes my words.

"How is this my fault?" He shouts back, throwing his arms in the air.

"You were her date were you not?!" I growl back, getting up in his face now.

"Shut the h*ll up you idiots," Dimitri chimes in. I turn to see him lounging in a chair across the room. A glass of beer sits in his hand as his legs rest on the table in front of him.

"What are you doing sitting around," I snarl, disgusted by his behavior. "When I order my men to find her, YOU DO IT!" I rip the glass from his hand, smashing it against the wall.

"This isn't helping," Kol grunts, burying his face in his hands. "What's the plan here?"

"We're going after her right," Axel speaks up, nervously. "You're not gonna let her die."

"We can't go after her!" Dimitri bellows, rising from his chair. "She's one person! Barely even a member! It's your life or hers and I'll gladly choose you Boss." Kol rolls his eyes in disgust, along with the other recruits. "I don't know why you've taken such a liking to her, but you-"

"She's one of us," I stop him. "This is not about who I've 'taken a liking to.' This is about loyalty."