The cold, damp air clung to Jade’s skin as she sat against the concrete wall, her hands still bound tightly behind her back. The small sliver of light from under the door was their only connection to the outside world, and it barely cut through the oppressive darkness. She could hear Mia’s shallow breaths beside her, each one a reminder of how helpless they both felt.
“How long has it been?” Mia whispered, her voice trembling.
Jade glanced toward the door, though she had no way of knowing the time. “Feels like days,” she muttered.
Mia let out a shaky laugh, though there was no humor in it. “It’s probably only been a few hours, hasn’t it?”
Jade didn’t answer. She didn’t want to admit that Mia was probably right. Every second in this dark, suffocating room felt like an eternity.
The untouched tray of food still sat in the middle of the room, the unappetizing mush giving off a faint, sour smell. Jade’s stomach growled, but the thought of eating it made her nauseous.
“Do you think they’re coming for us?” Mia asked after a long silence.
“They are,” Jade said firmly, though doubt gnawed at her. “Milan, Enzo, and Thiago—they’ll find us.”
Mia nodded, but her eyes were filled with fear. “I just don’t understand why this is happening. Why us?”
Before Jade could respond, the metal door creaked open, and both women froze. The sudden light spilling into the room made them squint, and a shadowy figure stepped inside. As the figure moved closer, the dim light revealed a familiar face—Vivienne.
Jade’s stomach turned as she met the woman’s icy gaze. Vivienne’s red lips curled into a smirk, and she crossed her arms as she stood over them.
“I told you to leave them,” Vivienne said, her voice calm but filled with menace. “But you’re stubborn. You just had to stay.”
Jade frowned, her confusion overtaking her fear. “What are you talking about? I did leave them. I walked away.”
Vivienne let out a low, mocking laugh. “You think running off with your little friend was enough? It’s too late for that. You’re already in too deep, and now you’re facing the consequences of your choices.”
“I didn’t do anything to you!” Jade snapped, her anger flaring. “This is between you and them. Why are you dragging me into it?”
Vivienne’s expression darkened, and she crouched down so that she was eye-level with Jade. “Because, sweetheart, you’re their weakness. And the best way to destroy a man is to go after what he values most.”
Jade’s heart sank as Vivienne’s words sunk in. “You don’t have to do this,” she said, her voice trembling but determined. “Whatever you want, you can get it without hurting us.”
Vivienne tilted her head, feigning consideration. “Oh, I could. But where’s the fun in that? Watching them squirm, knowing they can’t protect you—that’s far more satisfying.”
Mia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, her voice shaking. “You’re insane.”
Vivienne turned her cold gaze to Mia, her smirk widening. “Maybe. But insanity gets results.”
Jade glared at her, a newfound courage rising within her. “They’ll come for us. You know that, right? Whatever game you’re playing, they’re going to end it.”
Vivienne’s laughter echoed through the room, sending chills down their spines. “Let them come. I’m counting on it.”
Jade’s chest tightened as Vivienne straightened, towering over them once again. “You made your choice when you decided to stay in their world, Jade. You should have walked away when you had the chance. Now, you’re nothing more than a pawn in their downfall.”