Chapter 16 - The Steel Cell|
When Fay regained consciousness, her head was throbbing with a agonizing, blinding pain.
She was tied securely to a heavy wooden chair in the center of a damp, cold concrete basement. The air smelled of rust, stale mildew, and salt water—a clear sign she had been taken to one of the abandoned warehouses near the old industrial docks.
Standing in front of her was Salvatore Moretti, flanked by four heavily armed guards.
"Ah, the maid is awake," Salvatore said smoothly, leaning on his silver-topped cane.
Fay blinked through the pain, forcing her chin up despite her trembling frame. "Vincent will kill you for this."
Salvatore laughed—a dry, rattling sound that held no genuine humor.
"Vincent Cross is young and reckless," Salvatore replied coldly. "He thinks he can disrupt forty years of syndicate balance because he caught feelings for a servant girl. By capturing you, I am going to force him to relinquish his control over the eastern shipping routes."
"He won't give them up," Fay spat, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"Oh, I think he will," Salvatore smiled wickedly. He pulled a satellite phone from his coat pocket and dialed a number, pressing the speakerphone button.
The line connected on the second ring.
May you like
"Salvatore," Vincent's voice came through the speaker, so cold and sharp it seemed to freeze the damp basement air. "You have five minutes to return her unharmed before I wipe your family name off the map."
"I have the girl, Vincent," Salvatore said calmly. "If you want her back alive, you will meet me at Dock 17 alone in thirty minutes with the signed deeds to the harbor territory."
