Page 31 of Marco

She believes I can be more than this. More than a ruthless monster. And for her, I thought maybe I could try.

But now she's paying the price for my foolish dream. Locked away somewhere, afraid. All because of the man I am.

I should never have let things go so far. I should have protected her from myself most of all.

Tomorrow, I make this right. I’ll tear this city apart if I have to. I will find her. And I will bring her home.

After, if she still wants me, I'll spend my life making this up to her. I'll leave this darkness behind. I'll become the man she deserves.

But tonight, I need the monster one last time. To rip apart anyone who stands between us. No mercy this time. No more games.

A final reckoning is coming. My enemies wanted to ignite the fire inside of the devil? Tomorrow, I give them hell.

For you, Alessia, I will walk through fire. Just hold on a little longer. I'm coming.

thirteen

Alessia

The cold concrete floor bites through my thin dress as I wake. I blink in the harsh fluorescent lights of a tiny room. A bare mattress, a toilet, a sink—what appears to be my new home. A temporary one, I hope. It feels like whiplash, going from my cramped apartment to Marco's palatial villa, and now to this tiny, unrecognizable space. I've never been to jail before, but I imagine it looks a lot like this. The heavy metal door clangs open and a hulking guard steps in, face obscured by a black mask.

"On your feet," he barks. I shiver at the sound of his voice and stand slowly, steadying myself. I have no idea who this man is or what they want from me. But I won't show weakness, won't give them the satisfaction. The guard shoves a tray of food at me and slams the door shut.

Alone again, I sink to the floor and take a deep breath. I have to keep it together, stay sharp. My gut tells me that Marco will find me. But I can't rely on him. I'm not the naive cafe owner I was a week ago. If I want to get out of this alive, I need to use every bit of wit and grit I have. My own deep mafia roots must count for something, some kind of latent DNA that makes me good at being cunning and conniving like my ancestors before me.

I scan the room, cataloging potential weapons and weak spots. I've watched enough action movies to know what to look for. One of the eating utensils could be sharpened into a shiv, and the hinges on the door look old. I'll bide my time and gather anything useful—a stray nail, a piece of glass. And I'll watch the guards closely, learn their routines, and look for any lapse in vigilance. No matter how long it takes me, I'm determined to get out of here.

I choke down the stale bread and watery soup, fueled by determination. I will get out of this hell. I will see Marco again. I will see my grandmother and my café again. I cling to Marco's face in my mind—the warmth of his smile, his intense, brooding eyes. The thought of him steadies me. I just have to survive one moment at a time.

I pocket the spoon from my meal. It's not much, but it's a start. As the hours drag on in isolation, my thoughts drift back to Marco. I never wanted this criminal life, but now I'm in the thick of it. Marco tried to protect me, but I'm not some damsel. I've found reserves of courage I didn't know I had.

When we first met, I thought Marco was just another mobster thug. But he saw more in me—he quickly came to appreciate my spirit, my kindness. He opened up to me in a way he never has with anyone else. I fell for the man behind the mafia boss persona, his inner depths and softness visible only to me.

And now here I am—kidnapped, caged like an animal. But I refuse to break. Marco showed me my own strength, believing I could handle the truth about his dark world. Now I understand what he meant. My love for Marco has transformed me. I know that within I'm cunning, relentless, fearless. Traits I'll need to get out of this alive.

The door creaks open and I slip the spoon into my sleeve. The same hulking guard enters with another tray. As he turns his back, I make my move, striking him hard behind the knees. He crumples and I sprint for the door, bursting into a dingy hallway. Freedom awaits, if I can just make it outside.

The guard's shouts echo behind me as I race down the corridor. My bare feet slap against the cold concrete floor. I have no idea where I'm going, relying on instinct alone. All that matters is escape.

I round a corner and nearly collide with another guard. He grabs for me but I duck and keep running, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The hallway seems to go on forever, each locked door a dead end. I groan with despair each time I unsuccessfully tug on an unbudging handle.

Finally I come to a stairwell. Taking the steps two at a time, I emerge into a cavernous room filled with packing crates. A large bay door stands slightly ajar, sunlight streaming through the opening. My heart leaps—I'm so close.

I sprint for the exit, weaving between stacks of crates. The bay door is just ahead when suddenly two guards step into view, blocking my path. I skid to a stop, trapped.

The men advance toward me, cruel smiles on their faces. Adrenaline surges through my veins. I'm not going back without a fight. And it's like every self defense class I've ever taken is suddenly clicking into place, like I'm an unhinged American Ninja Warrior. Nothing can stop me. Grabbing a loose plank of wood, I swing with all my might. The makeshift weapon connects with a satisfying crack. One guard drops like a stone.

His partner lunges but I sidestep, bringing the plank down hard on his back. He crumples with a howl of pain. I leap over his body and make one final dash for freedom, throwing my weight against the metal door. It gives way and I tumble outside into blinding sunlight, gulping the fresh air.

I made it. Battered and breathless, but free. This is just the beginning though. Now to get back to Marco. Back to the man I love.

I take a moment to get my bearings and calm my racing heart. The area around me looks to be some kind of industrial yard or shipping facility. Stacks of containers and heavy machinery surround the warehouse I just escaped from.

In the distance I can see a main road, the promise of civilization. But between me and it sprawls a maze of buildings and equipment. I'll have to navigate carefully to avoid running into more of my captors.

Picking a direction, I start making my way through the complex. The midday sun beats down as I creep from cover to cover. It's eerily quiet. Where is everyone? Surely word has gotten out by now that I've escaped.

The sound of approaching engines shatters the stillness. I duck behind a bulldozer just as two black SUVs roar into view. The vehicles screech to a stop near the building I fled from.

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