Claimed By A Criminal

CHAPTER 9

Emilia's blurry vision sharpened as consciousness flooded back. Disoriented, she found herself in a small, perfectly maintained room. Panic clawed at her throat as she realized she was a prisoner. Perfect order, devoid of warmth, characterized the space – an unsettling contrast to the turmoil within her.

A throbbing ache pulsed in her head. Reaching up, her fingers brushed against a strip of surgical tape concealing a hidden wound – a chilling reminder of her ordeal. The pain intensified as she attempted to rise, forcing her to cling to the bed for support.

With leaden steps, she shuffled towards the lone door, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Grasping the handle, she braced herself and turned it. The door swung open, revealing a vista that snatched her breath away.

The hallway stretched out before her, a masterpiece of luxury. Polished floors gleamed beneath intricate tapestries that adorned the walls, each a testament to forgotten stories. Exquisite paintings whispered tales of a bygone era, their subjects gazing down with enigmatic expressions.

For a stolen moment, Emilia's fear receded, replaced by a sense of awe. Leaving the confines of the room, she ventured into the hallway, her bare feet whispering against the cool marble. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic thudding of her pulse.

The grandeur of the place was overwhelming. This wasn't just a house; it was a palace, a labyrinth of wealth and power. Lost in its immensity, Emilia felt an unfamiliar prickle of fear crawls up her spine. Where was she? More importantly, where was her father?

Driven by desperate hope, she caught sight of a grand staircase cascading downwards. Each step gleamed under the soft glow of unseen lamps, beckoning her forward. Ignoring the gnawing fear in her gut, she carefully descended, each step echoing in the vast emptiness.

Reaching the bottom, she found herself in a hall that mirrored the one above – opulent, yet strangely devoid of life. Her eyes darted around, searching for an exit, a way to escape this gilded cage. The thought of being discovered sent shivers down her spine, but the urge to find her father was a fire that burned brighter than her fear.

With agonizing slowness, she navigated the seemingly endless hallways, her heart a trapped bird in her chest. Finally, she spotted a grand entrance door, its polished surface reflecting her pale, drawn face. Hope surged through her – a way out!

Relief flooded her as she grasped the handle and pushed open the door. But elation dissolved into dread as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. The view that greeted her wasn't freedom, but an extension of her gilded prison.

A sprawling garden, impeccably maintained, stretched outwards. A shimmering fountain stood proudly at its center, the gentle trickle of water a mocking counterpoint to the turmoil within her. A perfectly circular path, lined with vibrant flowers, snaked around the garden, leading to a towering black gate. Gleaming like a menacing predator, a limousine sat parked near the entrance.

Escape through the front door was impossible. Any attempt on the circular path would make her a glaring target, fear, sharp and cold, coiled around her heart. With a desperate glance around, she darted towards a towering oak tree, its thick branches offering a sliver of hope.

Just as she reached the sanctuary of the tree, a voice sent chills down her spine. It was a voice she knew, a voice laced with cruelty – the voice of the man who had inflicted unimaginable pain on her father.

She peeked through the leaves, her breath catching in her throat. There he stood, the embodiment of evil, bidding farewell to another man. As the limousine disappeared through the gate, the man turned and strode back towards the mansion, his arrogance a tangible presence.

Relief washed over her as the man vanished inside. But her moment of respite was shattered by a hand that clamped down on her shoulder. Stifling a scream, she spun around to face two burly men, their faces etched with grim purpose. Guns gleamed menacingly in their hands.

The world spun as they dragged her away from the tree. A new figure emerged, another man, this one younger, with a face as handsome as it was cold. Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. He scooped her up effortlessly, her struggles a mere annoyance.

Tears streamed down Emilia's face as she was thrown onto his shoulder. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest as he carried her back into the opulent prison, back towards the man who had caused her so much pain.

.........................................................

The tension crackled in the air as thick as the dust motes dancing in the dim hallway light. Daniel, his broad shoulders tense beneath his suit, lumbered up the grand staircase, each heavy step echoing against the opulent marble. He wasn't alone. Thrown carelessly over his shoulder, her body limp and lifeless, was Emilia.

From the other end of the hallway, a guttural roar erupted. It was Shane, his face contorted in a mask of fury. The sight of Emilia, seemingly unconscious, dangling over Daniel's shoulder, was a spark that ignited the tinderbox of his rage.

" Boss! " Daniel boomed, his voice barely managing to cut through the thick tension.

Shane spun around, his eyes widening in a horrifying mix of surprise and fury. The air crackled with a dark energy that sent shivers down Daniel's spine.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Emilia stirred, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal pools of terror. Shane's face, twisted with a murderous rage, was the first thing she saw. Her breath hitched in her throat, a primal scream clawing its way up.

Ignoring Daniel's wary presence, Shane thundered towards Emilia. His steps were predatory, each one echoing the thudding of her terrified heart. He snatched her from Daniel's grasp with a roughness that spoke volumes about his simmering anger.

A jolt of pain shot through Emilia's body. Her escape attempt, fueled by a desperate hope of finding her father, had left her with throbbing bruises on her arms and legs. But the physical pain paled in comparison to the terror that gnawed at her soul as Shane's icy glare pierced through her.

His grip on her arm was like a vice, the raw power evident in the way it effortlessly dragged her down the stairs. Tears streamed down Emilia's face, blurring her vision. Her pleas for mercy, a choked cry of " Please, I wasn't running away............., " went unanswered.

Shane's every step was a cruel reminder of her captivity. She stumbled, her bare toes scraping against the cold marble, leaving bloody streaks behind. Still, he dragged her on, a relentless force propelling her towards an unknown fate.

The basement, dank and smelling of mildew, greeted them with a chilling embrace. Shane threw her roughly towards the same room where Daniel had placed her earlier. A sliver of sunlight, filtering through a narrow window, illuminated the gruesome scene within.

Dried bloodstains marred the walls like grotesque art, each a silent testament to past atrocities. Skeletons, their bones bleached white by time, lay scattered in a macabre display at the corner.

The sight was enough to make Emilia's scream die in her throat. As Shane slammed the door shut, plunging her into a suffocating darkness, she could only whimper in terror.

A hand, rough and calloused, grabbed a fistful of her hair. The yank was brutal, forcing her head up to meet Shane's cold, unforgiving eyes. His voice, a low growl that sent shivers down her spine, filled the room.

"You're a traitor, just like your father," he spat. " I tried to show you some kindness, but you proved you don't deserve it. Now you'll rot in here forever! "

His words were punctuated by the sickening thud of a skull rolling across the floor, sending fresh waves of terror through Emilia. In a desperate bid for survival, she clung to him, her sobs echoing in the darkness.

" Please...don't leave me here...it's so dark...I wasn't running away...I was looking for my dad...please believe me! "

Shane struggled against her grip, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. Part of him recoiled from her touch, but another, a flicker somewhere deep within, felt a pang of something akin to pity. Emilia, with her tear-streaked face and desperate pleas, stirred something within him, he hadn't felt before.

But then, the image of her father, the man who had wronged him so deeply, flashed through his mind. The anger returned, a venomous snake coiling around his heart. With a rough shove, he flung her away.

" You're nothing but a pawn, " he snarled, his voice laced with venom.

As he turned to leave, a gruff growl, a sound distinctly different from her own sobs, filled the room. It was coming from Emilia's stomach. Hunger gnawed at her, a stark reminder of the two days she'd spent in this desolate place with nothing to eat.

Shane hesitated. He looked back at her, and for a fleeting moment, saw not a traitor but a young woman, her innocence a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them.

" You'll do anything for me, won't you? " A sly grin played on Shane's lips as he murmured.

Emilia, young and naive, couldn't decipher the hidden meaning that coiled within his words. Dread, clawed at her throat, but she found herself nodding mutely.

A slow, cunning smile stretched across Shane's face, crinkling the corners of his eyes in a way that sent shivers down Emilia's spine. It wasn't a smile that promised warmth or kindness, but one that hinted at secrets and unspoken desires.