My body quivered as I slowly woke, every muscle aching beneath the duvet.
I shifted, only to wince at the soreness that ran through me.
“Dang it,” I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut.
Footsteps echoed from somewhere beyond the room.
I immediately went still and didn’t move.
The door creaked open, followed by another set of approaching footsteps.
“Wake up, Savannah.”
That cold, authoritative voice made my eyes snap open.
Wait… It’s Keegan doesn’t it?
I turned toward him, and my heart hammered when I confirmed it was really him.
His expression was unreadable it was cold, almost disgusted as he reached down and gripped my wrist.
I flinched as he pull me awake.
“Get dressed and make it fast.”
My brows pulled together as I tried to understand his sudden change in attitude.
Carefully, I lowered my feet onto the cold floor.
The moment I tried to stand, pain shot through my legs, making my knees buckle.
I caught myself before falling completely.
Keegan didn’t even move to help and his towering me with his annoyed expression.
He remained cold and distant.
He didn’t even tried to look my way and the cigarette smoke spread all across the room.
“Make it fast,” he repeated.
Before I could ask another question, the door slammed shut behind him.
I stared at it, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?
Was he angry because of what happened last night?
I swallowed hard, pushing the thought away as another wave of soreness reminded me of everything I couldn’t remember clearly.
I made my way toward the bathroom, one unsteady step at a time.
My legs felt weak, and standing for too long was becoming unbearable.
The bathtub was the first thing I saw.
I let it fill with warm water as I took a bomb bath where I can immerse and calm myself.
I lowered myself into the warm water and let out a tired breath as it eased some of the tension in my aching body.
╰┈➤
My legs wobbled as Keegan pulled me along.
“Where are you taking me?”
He didn’t answer nor look and check on me.
I stumbled after him, frustration building with every unanswered question.
It was still dawn when he dragged me outside the mansion.
The cold breeze hit my skin, making me shiver.
As my legs keep shaking that can’t stood nor walk for too long.
“What are you doing, anyway?” I snapped.
“Can’t you see I’m sore and can barely walk properly? Have you lost your mind, Keegan? Hey! Answer me!”
Nothing.
Anger burst into me, his been like this since earlier.
He continued toward the fountain directly in front of the mansion.
When we reached it, he finally let go and motioned for me to sit on its edge.
I dropped onto the stone, glaring at him.
Keegan stood before me, his gaze fixed on my face.
I raised one leg, intending to kick him, but pain immediately shot through it.
“Aah! Damn it!”
I watched him but he didn’t even flinch instead he exclude a disappointed look.
He simply watched me struggle.
I lowered my leg and glared at him.
“How dare you?” My voice shook with anger.
“After everything that happened, you’re just going to act like nothing and didn’t even care?”
He scoffed and slowly rolled his sleeves up to his elbows.
I stared at him.
“So, What? Is that all you can say!” I snorted eyeing him angrily.
“Besides, you enjoyed yourself too, didn’t you?” His tone was laced with sarcasm.
“What’s with that behavior? Does it feed your delusions? Do you think I cared more than anything? You’re pathetic Savannah”
“What?”
He lowered himself onto one knee until we were at eye level.
For a second, I searched his face for an explanation.
There was none.
Only that same coldness lingered into my spine as his cold, and calculating gaze keep mocking me.
His hand suddenly closed around my neck, forcing my attention back to him.
“I bought you for a billion,” he said, his voice dangerously calm.
“Only to end up disappointed.”
My breath caught.
His eyes held nothing but disgust.
“You’re useless to me now. Don’t ever show up again.”
The words sank deeper than I wanted them to.
For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.
Then a laugh escaped through me.
It wasn’t amusement.
It was disbelief over the thing’s I heard him say.
“FUCK YOU, CIFFARELLI!!”
He released me and stood.
I watched his back as he walked away from me.
My hands curled into fists.
“Fine!” I shouted after him.
“If that’s what you want, then fine!”
He didn’t turn around.
I forced myself to stand despite the pain.
“But I can’t assure you we won’t cross paths again!” I added.
Still nothing.
I was expecting for some genuine reaction but only to disgust him even more.
Tsk.
What did I expect?
They killed my mom in front of me and it just prove that I wasn’t wrong.
Keegan disappeared back toward the mansion, leaving me standing alone outside its gates.
The cold wind swept past me.
I pulled my jacket tightly around myself and started walking.
Only one problem remained.
I had no idea where I was nor where I can go.
“Damn you, Ciffarelli!” I muttered, scanning the unfamiliar road.
“You couldn’t even tell me where the hell I am?”
I kept walking, searching for a telephone or anything that could help me figure out where I had been taken.
Then the memories of the previous night came rushing back.
I stopped.
My fingers tightened around the jacket.
“Ahhh…”
I dragged a hand through my hair.
“I’ll kill you.”
╰┈➤
I walked toward the telephone booth.
I had nothing with me.
No phone, no gadgets, and barely any cash.
Luckily, I’d managed to grab a few dollars at Caspien’s pocket before leaving that damn mansion.
I slipped the coins into the machine and searched for Inferno’s residence number.
The call connected after a few rings.
“Hello?” An elderly woman’s voice answered.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“Give this to your boss. I need to tell him something.”
“Sorry, ma’am. Sir Lazarus isn’t here at the moment. You can call him on his personal number instead.”
She dictated the number and I quickly memorized it before dialing.
While the phone rang, my eyes scanned the empty road.
I glanced left to right.
Still, I kept my guard up.
The call was busy and I dialed again.
Still there’s no answer.
I tried for the third time but still no one answered and my patience grew shorter.
On the fifth attempt, someone finally picked up.
“What has gotten you so busy?” I asked impatiently.
Before he could answer, several gunshots cracked through the line.
BANG!!!
BANG!!!
My body stiffened as my face went pale.
I knew that sound.
It was definitely a gunshots, my hand started trembling.
My teammates.
They were under his protection and my face went into berserk and terror thinking he might’ve hurt them.
“What the hell is that noise, Inferno?”
Another burst of gunfire erupted through the other line.
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Lazarus!”
The line went quiet.
I heard a slow exhale on the other end.
“What did you just call me?”
His voice had changed.
It was deep, cold and serious.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Everyone who worked with him knew one thing his real name wasn’t something you simply threw around.
“Who told you that, kid?” he asked.
“And how did you contact me?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Are you ruining our agreement?”
“Tsk.”
I leaned my back against the huge tree beside the booth.
“I thought you’d be more vigilant and intelligent than I gave you credit for.” I paused.
“But it turns out you’re a complete fool.”
Silence erupted into us for a moment.
I could almost picture his expression on the other end.
“About what I promised you,” I continued.
“Meet me at your underground dungeon.” I stated.
“And release my friend.” I added as my voice trying to warn him across the line.
“In exchange, I’ll give you the information.”
I didn’t wait for his response and hung up immediately.
I stepped out of the booth and leaned against the tall tree.
My chest rose and fell as I tried to steady my breathing.
The road remained quiet.
No noise, no cars, no footsteps.
Just silence that feel ease.
I stared at the empty road ahead.
Now I only had to wait and see if Inferno would take the bait.
If someone bought you for a billion.
What would be your stand?