The Mafia and Her ✔

Chapter 25

A week later, every muscle in my body screamed at Izan. He made me train with him for hours every day, and I wanted to kill him. However, my punches and kicks were stronger and firmer than a week ago, so I couldn't complain much.

"What do you think of this dress?" Camila asked Vivian and me as she showed us a very beautiful blue dress. We were at the mall after I begged Izan to let us go. I needed a break.

Izan agreed but made Jose accompany us since he had a meeting with the Swedish Mafia in one of his buildings. I thought he needed my translation skills, but he told me that the person he was meeting knew English, so I wasn't needed.

"Henry will love it," Jose commented on the dress as he drank his iced coffee.

I nodded. "You look beautiful in everything you wear, but this one is perfect!" Vivian agreed. I wished Alvaro were with us, but he was in kindergarten. He had a lot of school years ahead of him.

May the force be with him.

"Okay, I will buy it," Camila finally decided on a piece after trying on dresses for two hours. I loved their company but was still sore from my training sessions and didn't expect us to walk that much. "You can beat me to the car. I'll be there after I pay for it," she suggested, and I almost jumped from my seat.

"Are you sure?" 

"Go, Verena. Jose, go with her. I'll wait for Camila," Vivian encouraged, seeing my exhaustion, and I loved her more for it. Jose and I walked out of the store and headed to the parking lot.

"Why do I always get creepy vibes from these types of parking lots?" I murmured as I examined each car in the dark. The lights were barely doing their jobs.

"Perfect for kidnapping," Jose joked in a low tone, and I punched his chest.

"Don't freak me out!"

He laughed, finding my fear amusing. "Sorry, but I had to. Your face was-" he didn't get to finish his sentence, and my eyes widened when I realized what was happening. 

I froze as I saw a long knife coming out of his stomach. His face was expressionless, but he swiftly grabbed his gun and shot the masked man who stabbed him from behind. The gunshot startled me. 

The problem was that there were more than three men.

Jose's and the man's blood was everywhere, and I almost fainted at the smell. "Jose?" I whispered, not daring to move. He looked at me, now sweating and looking pale. 

His blood was slowly drenching his shirt, and I could not steer my gaze from the knife in his body.

"Run." 

He shot another man who was about to grab my arm. "Verena, fucking run! Now!" Jose yelled as he held one of the men by the neck, buying me more time.

Time I was wasting.

"I can't leave you!" I was petrified. They were here for me, and they hurt my friend.

He groaned in pain as another knife went through his shoulder. "I said run." His eyes were screaming at me to escape, and I, like a coward, ran.

But I didn't make it far. A black van blocked my path, and two masked me and shoved me inside before I could make sense of anything. I heard Jose's screams, making my ears buzz with fear and terror. "No! Let me go!" I fought in their grips, but they were stronger than me. "Jose! Jose!" I shouted for help, but I knew he needed help more than me. 

I prayed they wouldn't kill him.

Before I could use my phone, they snatched it from my hand and threw it out of the window. The van started moving, and I thrashed harder in their hands. "No. Let me go, please! Who are you?"

"Shut up," one of the men yelled and brought the back of the gun to my head.

Please, don't die, Jose.

~~~

"What did you do to her? Did you kill her?" someone shouted near my ears, and I flinched at the familiar voice.

"We just knocked her out. She's a menace," a man replied, and the horrific events came crashing down on me. "Five of our men are dead. Her bodyguard is a beast. Now pay us so we can leave."

I jolted awake, feeling like I was out of breath after swimming for hours. I squinted my eyes at the bright lights, but they widened once I realized the familiar room. 

I looked at the men in my old room, who were watching me silently, and then I gazed at my dad. "Are you out of your fucking mind?" I yelled as I realized what was happening. Only Dad could make me curse.

"Heath will give you the money. He's downstairs." Dad didn't acknowledge me just yet as he dismissed my kidnappers. I seemed to attract these criminals like a magnet.

"Is Jose alive?" I asked when I recalled his bloodied stomach and pained expression. 

I caused that. 

It was all my fault.

Dad shrugged and said, "I don't know, and I don't care. You're home. That's what matters." I glared at him. This wasn't my home anymore. It never was—just a cage. "I've had enough of those stupid Spanish gangsters, so I had to get my daughter back."

"You're a nobody to me. If Jose dies, I'll personally kill you," I promised calmly, and what scared me was that I would end his life without regretting it. 

The Guerrero are my family, not this dumpster of a being.

Dexter scoffed. The word dad was a waste of the title on him, so no more calling him that. "Stop spouting nonsense. Get dressed in formal attire. We'll be on live television in an hour."

"Like heck we will!" I stepped back from his reach, ready to jump out the window if I had to. "I won't do what you want. Never again." I glanced at the window and started opening it.

He sighed. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." My glare intensified. "I hired men to keep watch on you twenty-four-seven from now on. It's about time you behaved and became Heath's proper fiancé," he spat like a dog. 

Though dogs are better than him.

I was appalled. "So this is all about being that prick's pet?" I looked out the window, and indeed, there were a dozen men with heavy firearms guarding every inch of the house. I couldn't escape them even if I ran fast. So, I was stuck here until rescue came. 

I trusted Izan to come and get me. I hoped I wasn't being delusional.

Dexter ignored me as he placed a piece of paper on the bed. "Memorize these words, and if you say something out of line, the Guerrero's little boy will die." 

I froze.

Alvaro...

~~~ 

24.01.2024 

Hey, how are you?

 I hope you liked this chapter! 

I'll try my best to post another chapter today, but no promises. Uni courses are killing me :(