1 Chapter one

 Nataly Andrews

I groan in pain as I struggle to open my eyes. Everything seems foggy. I try to bring everything into focus but my eyes don't make it easy for me. The brain wants to. 

After a little struggle between the brain and  eyes, I am finally able to open them wide. I feel a little pain, but one that I can sustain. Which is much better than the one in my head. Trying so much as if it wants to burst open.

Scanning the area, this is clearly not my apartment and I'm definitely not on my bed. It's not one of those chilly mornings,where I jump out of bed and prepare myself for work. 

I'm not having a migraine either. I try to touch my head, but my hands, tightly tied at the back of the wooden chair I'm sitting on, make it impossible. 

"What the hell?" I mumble in anger trying to set myself free from whatever ropes or iron chains the devil might have captured me with.

This is definitely a hell hole. 

"Help! Help!" I scream to the top of my voice with a tiny bit of hope that somebody might be out there, to hear my cries. "Is anybody out there?" I insist. 

I can't move my legs, they are tied too. Leaving me entangled to the small wooden chair, which is not the only furniture in the room. 

Beside me, about  three meters away, is a small wooden table. I can't actually tell what's on it. There's another wooden chair right next to it, which seems just like the one I've been tied to. My captor must have been watching me from that one. He must  have gone out for something to eat or a call of nature. I assume. I study the room closely. The walls are painted white. Not the color I like to see. Black is the thing. It's the color I like to see considering the bitterness I've had in my heart for like a decade now. It's a heavy burden that I really want to offload sooner, rather than later. 

This cold room  isn't about to waste my precious time. 

As I keep scanning the area, I notice a giraffe painting on the wall. 

"Who's this thug?" I keep on asking myself. 

Next to it is a lion painting. This is getting more mysterious. 

The floor is tiled-white. Not again!.. 

I'm able to notice this with the help of a small bright light through what seems to be a  wooden window.

I wouldn't call that a  window though, I'm used to huge windows for houses in the city,unless it's a cell room. But, 

Am I in a cell room?  

Holding me captive like this would be against the law and I would definitely sue any officers or whatever agents involved. 

This is definitely something illegal or someone is playing with me. 

They should know better than that. 

I wouldn't mind playing a little death game.

Tell me about taking risks.. My life itself is a risk. 

I'm taking features of the house for an escape route. I see none.The  walls wouldn't let me break through them. 

 My petite body wouldn't fit through the tiny window, if only it was a little larger..

I must have  lost count of time. What I know, it's not night time.At Least not yet. I can see the sun's rays penetrate through the window. I have to find my way out before darkness falls. 

I don't hear any sign of life outside. Maybe because the door is locked.  I can't hear moving vehicles or  sirens. Not even sounds from factories at least . I must  be far away from the city. 

"Where the hell am I?" I ask myself for the fifth time, I think, but who's counting. 

I've never been this blind sided. 

How could my one step ahead policy let me down this time?

This one must be a smart one.. I don't even know who he is. He's male, that I know, I could hear it in his voice when he called me yesterday claiming to have something of great importance to me, asking me to meet him at Wings cemetery. 

What he wanted in exchange was a little bit heavy and I needed time,which clearly he couldn't give it to me. A magical hard drive with all the answers I need, one that would Make my work easier, in exchange for the Delavegas only son and legitimate heir-David Delavega. 

I can't tell if that exchange seemed fair enough. What I know now is that I would do anything for that hard drive. And exchanging it for David, I would not hesitate. Not for a second. I have never met him, though I've been working for their company for two months now. From what I've heard, he's been studying overseas, his father must have wanted a different path for him. But what do they say about the apple? 

He was to be picked up at the airport the night I was mugged or rather caught off guard. He's a Delavega nonetheless. My feelings for all of them are still the same. My hate  and spite can spare none of them. I dread working for them but I have to pretend and force a smile each minute. 

It's my personal secret, not even my best friend Liz, knows about it and I intend to keep it that way, for their safety. Hers and her six year old adorable son. 

I couldn't take any  chances…

Now I'm here all tied up. My kidnapper  definitely has the upper hand on this one. I don't have my gun, he  must have taken it when he knocked me out.That gun is not just an ordinary gun. I have to find it when I'm out of here, before the Delavegas find out it's missing. They will surely put a bullet through my brains with zero hesitation. From the instructions that Antonio Delavega - the syndicate master -dictated to me before handing it over, it's seems  something more important than it looks. I don't have my phone either. But again what did I expect after finding myself in this situation. 

I hate being messed up like this. 

It ruins each plan by the day and I have to make some adjustments to my every move. 

This guy seems to have a lot of Intel. 

He must have rear ended me. 

I only remember driving into the cemetery. And I didn't make it to the middle of the graves. 

How could someone know so much about me? It hits me that I must be in danger. Like real danger. 

He must want something else from me.

What frightens me till now is the fact that he must have known what that place, wings cemetery, means to me.This nails me being in more danger than I could ever imagine. My exposure is my death. I just can't ignore the red flags. But first, I need to get out of here. 

I can't get my answers while tied up. 

I must have been missing for hours and the Delavegas must be worried. 

Not worried, really, I don't think so. They could never  have the heart to be worried about my well-being. Especially Carmen. She has had one for me since I became a Delavega legaliser. I'm sure she's longing for the day I'll screw up and she'll be the one to blow up my brain or whatever torturing schemes she might be having in her evil brain. Gosh! I dread this family. And I don't want them to occupy my brain this much.. Not at this moment. 

Though my absence would affect their legal matters, and some of the illegal ones,of course. Being among the largest syndicate families in the city, they  would definitely need someone like me. They use my brains sometimes to conduct their businesses. I would count myself a little important. 

Thinking about it, there's a legal deal to be closed and I'm missing. They'll surely kill me without thinking twice. I try harder to free myself as if it would make any difference. I don't even know what time it is. 

Maybe one, Cole , must have been looking for me. He at least seems to have some humanity in him.He could be the different one. But I care less. God knows I am incapable of having any affection for any Delavega member. 

What for? 

Besides crime syndicate situationships end in one way, mostly. I can't be a victim of pain.

Where the hell is my kidnapper? He should have been here the minute I opened my  eyes. I've seen this in movies, the bad guys we used to see. By we I mean my sister and I. Oh how I miss.. No no I don't want to think about it at all. Not at all. Except this is a real life situation. 

What if my kidnapper comes in and shoots me right there. Can't be. If I'm still alive till now, he still  needs me and maybe I'll use that to my advantage. 

I'm still thinking about all these when the door cracks open. 

Boom! 

Is he finally here?