Chapter 4

Michael

My thoughts were cut off by the door creaking open. I glanced up and saw this tall, intimidating guy walk in. He had on this perfect dark suit, hair slicked back, looking all powerful and in control. My heart was racing, and I couldn't help but feel scared. I grabbed the curtain with shaky, cold hands, looking down immediately. But despite the fear, I couldn't ignore the weird, unsettling pull I felt when I caught a glimpse of his cold, calculating eyes. There was something about him that was hard to look away from, even though I really wanted to.

"Hello, Michael," he said smoothly. "My name is Vincent Salvatore."

I recognized the name Salvatore from my brother's conversation, and I cowered against the wall, expecting the same brutal treatment I'd received from his hitmen.

Instead, he walked slowly and stayed at a distance. "May I look at your face?"

Frozen in place, I kept my head down, unable to make eye contact.

When I didn't move, Salvatore took a couple of steps forward, grabbing a blanket from the bed and crouching next to me to carefully place it over my shoulders. I instinctively wrapped myself with it, letting go of the curtains and curling into an even tighter ball. He gently lifted my chin, sighing in disapproval at what he saw.

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. "What do you want from me, Salvatore?"

Salvatore's thumb brushed over my broken lip as he glanced at the injured side of my head with concern. "Please, call me Vincent. First, I want to apologize for the way my men have treated you. It is unacceptable and they will be reprimanded for that."

Reprimanded? Your men beat me, kidnapped me, and almost raped me and you are gonna "reprimand" them? I felt the heat of anger and frustration creep on me but, just as strongly, I felt an absurd surge of gratitude for his consideration.

He walked over to the bathroom, coming out with a wet hand towel.

"Please, come." He sat on the bed and motioned for me to sit next to him.

I stood up with hesitation, wrapping the blanket tighter around my body, and sitting by his side with unease. As he reached over with the cloth, wiping some of the dry blood from my face; I flinched. "I won't hurt you, Michael. Relax."

"Why are you doing this to me? What have I done?" I whispered.

Vincent smiled, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It's not about you, Michael. It's about your brother. He owes me a substantial amount of money, and he refuses to repay me."

I felt a surge of anger and fear. "He's not refusing…. We don't have the money!"

Vincent's smile widened. "Your brother made a foolish decision, and now he refuses to work with me on a solution. So, you, my dear, are the leverage I need to make sure he complies."

My blood ran cold. "Leverage? What are you talking about?"

Vincent walked over to the window, looking out at the sprawling estate. "Ryan has twenty-four hours to decide whether he will do the work I need him to do, or your stay here will be permanent."

"What kind of work is that?" I shook my head, knowing that Ryan would not decline an opportunity to see us both safe.

Vincent looked at me right in the eyes, calm as he could be. "The dangerous, illegal kind. The only kind that will get him to walk away from a debt like his."

Tears stung my eyes as I realized the gravity of the situation. "Please, don't do this. Ryan will find a way to pay you back, but don't put him at risk, please…."

He turned to face me, his expression hardening. "This isn't up for negotiation, Michael. I have nothing personal against either of you. Now get some rest."

Vincent left the room as I sank onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. How had our lives come to this? And how was Ryan going to get us out of this mess?

The hours ticked by slowly, each one more agonizing than the last. I had no idea what was happening outside the confines of my luxurious prison, until the door opened again, and I looked up to see Ryan being shoved into the room by one of the men and followed by Vincent. He looked disheveled and desperate; his eyes filled with fear.

"Michael!" he exclaimed, rushing to my side. "Are you okay? Oh, my God, what have they done to you?" He tried examining me under the cover, his eyes wild and blood rushing to his face in a rage. "You're… naked… "

Ryan turned to Vincent like a madman. "You sick, mother fucker…! Did you…. Did you- ? I'm gonna fucking kill you!"

"Stop, Ryan! I'm not hurt, alright? I'm okay…. Don't make things worse for the both of us," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "What are we gonna do?"

Ryan turned to face Vincent. "I'll do it! I'll do whatever you want, just let ‘im go, okay?"

Vincent's smile was cold and triumphant. "I knew you'd see it my way. Now, as for your brother, he will stay here with me as leverage until you pay off your debt and that little outburst you had will cost him ten straps by my own hand. Every job I give you, you will complete. If you refuse, Michael will suffer the consequences."

"Ten…. straps ?" My brother laughed nervously; incredulity written all over his face. "What the fuck are you talking about? You wouldn't do that!"

"Ryan, stop!" I yelled, believing every word the man said. "You don't know what they are capable of doing…. What they already did!" This time I was the one with a touch of hysteria in my voice.

Ryan looked at me in agony as tears ran down my face. "What they did….? What did they do?" "Please, Ryan, no more." I begged.

"I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt him." My brother got down to his knees, burying his face in his hands. "Please, Salvatore… Please don't do anything to him."

"Apart from the punishment you've earned him, your brother will be well taken care of, as long as you do exactly as I say."

My heart was aching with the pain of seeing my brother like that and the fear of what was to come for the both of us.

Ryan's shoulders slumped in defeat, and he looked at me with tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Michael. I never wanted this for you."

I shook my head, my own tears falling freely. "It's not your fault, Ryan. We'll get through this together."

As Vincent's men led Ryan away, I felt a deep sense of dread settle over me. Our lives had been taken away from us, and there was no telling what the future held.