BILLIONAIRES VENDETTA

CHAPTER 3: CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

NATALIE'S POV (EXTENDED SCENE)

My shift at the hospital had finally ended, and the only thing on my mind was collapsing into bed. My feet were sore, my back ached, and my head was pounding from dealing with patients and their endless demands all day. All I wanted was the comfort of my apartment, a hot shower, and maybe some mindless TV to numb my thoughts.

But as I trudged up the staircase to my apartment, something felt… off. A shiver ran down my spine. I paused for a moment, listening to the unsettling silence that had settled over the hallway. Usually, I could hear the distant hum of my neighbor’s TV or the creak of floorboards from above. But tonight, there was nothing.

When I reached my door, my heart dropped. The door was slightly ajar, a sliver of darkness visible through the crack. I knew I had locked it before leaving for work this morning. Panic began to claw at my chest. Was it a break-in?

Taking a deep breath, I nudged the door open slowly, wincing at the soft creak it made. I stepped inside cautiously, my senses on high alert. The familiar scent of my vanilla candles was overpowered by something else—something metallic. Blood? My stomach churned.

That’s when I heard it. The harsh, guttural voice of a man I vaguely recognized from a few days ago at the hospital.

“You really thought you could betray Luca and walk away, Daniel?” The voice was low, menacing, filled with a chilling kind of finality.

I froze in place, my mind reeling. Adriano Ricci. How did he find his way here? And what was he doing with Daniel? My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I was sure they could hear it from the other room.

I tiptoed closer to the living room, pressing myself against the wall as I peeked around the corner. The sight that met my eyes sent a jolt of terror through me. Daniel, my twin brother, was on his knees, his hands bound behind his back. His face was a mask of fear, his usually confident demeanor shattered.

Adriano loomed over him like a predator, his eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure. “You sold me out to the Russians, you rat,” he hissed, grabbing Daniel by the collar. “Now, you pay.”

Daniel’s voice trembled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—” His words were cut off as Adriano slammed him against the floor, a sickening crack filling the air. I had to bite down on my lip to stop myself from crying out.

I had to do something. But what? Calling the police was out of the question—I knew from my brief encounter with Luca and his men that these weren’t ordinary criminals. These were the kind of people who could make bodies disappear without a trace.

As I fumbled for my phone, my hands shook so badly that I almost dropped it. But before I could dial, the floorboard creaked beneath my foot, and Adriano’s head snapped in my direction.

“Who’s there?” His voice was a low growl, filled with the promise of violence.

I stepped out into the open, trying to steady my trembling hands. “Let him go,” I said, forcing my voice to sound strong. “He’s my brother.”

Adriano’s eyes widened with recognition. “You… the doctor?” A cruel smile curled his lips. “Well, isn’t this an unexpected treat.”

Before I could react, two of his men lunged at me. I managed to whip out the pepper spray Daniel had given me for emergencies, aiming it at Adriano. But the bodyguards were too fast. One of them knocked the spray out of my hand while the other slammed me against the wall, pinning me there with a force that knocked the breath out of me.

“Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing against their iron grips. But it was no use. They were stronger, and I was quickly running out of options.

Adriano sauntered over, his eyes raking over me with a mix of amusement and something darker. “Feisty, aren’t we? Luca will enjoy breaking that spirit of yours.”

“Please,” Daniel’s voice cracked as he tried to crawl towards me, his hands still bound. “She has nothing to do with this. Let her go. I’ll go with you willingly.”

Adriano tilted his head, pretending to consider Daniel’s plea. “A touching display of sibling loyalty. But here’s the thing…” He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. “Your brother’s debt is now your debt too.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for a way out. But before I could speak, one of the guards forced a black hood over my head. The smell of chloroform was overwhelming. My vision blurred, and the last thing I heard was Daniel’s desperate scream before the world faded to black.

UNKNOWN LOCATION

When I finally came to, I was greeted by the harsh glare of fluorescent lights and the stench of damp concrete. My wrists were raw and bruised from the tight ropes binding them. I blinked, trying to clear my vision. Daniel was lying next to me, unconscious but breathing.

The door to the room swung open, revealing Adriano and a man who made my blood run cold—Luca De Rossi. I recognized him immediately from the hospital, but the gentle concern he had shown for his mother was nowhere to be seen. Now, he had all hard edges and icy glares.

“Welcome back, doctor,” Luca drawled, his voice as smooth as silk but carrying the edge of a knife. “I must say, your brother’s betrayal was… disappointing.”

My heart thudded painfully. “Please, let him go,” I pleaded, my voice barely more than a whisper. “He made a mistake. I can help you... I’m a doctor, remember? It can be useful.”

Luca’s eyes narrowed. “Useful, you say?” He seemed to consider my words for a moment, a dark glint in his eyes. “Fine. You will prove your worth. But your brother…” His gaze shifted to Daniel, who was slowly coming to. “His life is mine. One wrong move from either of you, and he’s dead.”

“No!” I screamed, thrashing against the ropes that bound me. “Please, Luca, I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him.”

Luca tilted his head, a cruel smile playing at his lips. “Oh, you will, doctor. You’ll learn that loyalty is a currency, and you’re about to pay with everything you’ve got.”

Adriano leaned in closer to Luca, whispering something I couldn’t hear. Luca nodded, his expression softening for just a fraction of a second before hardening again.

“Take them to the holding cells,” Luca ordered. “We’ll see if the good doctor can prove her loyalty by sunrise.”

Before I could protest, Adriano’s men dragged us away. The cold, damp air of the underground cells hit me like a punch to the gut. The metal door slammed shut behind us, sealing our fate.

As I slumped to the floor beside Daniel, tears I had been holding back finally spilled over. “What have you done, Daniel?” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“I’m sorry, Nat,” he muttered, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. But now… we have to survive.”

And as the darkness closed in around us, I realized that survival was our only option. Whatever Luca had planned, I had to be ready. For Daniel. For myself. For a chance to see another sunrise.

To be continued...