Valentina
The cell was cold.
Damp.
The stench of mold and rusted metal was thick in the air, making it hard to breathe.
I could barely see Isabella in the corner, her figure slumped against the wall. The darkness swallowed everything whole, but I could hear her ragged breathing. Each exhale was a painful reminder of what he had done to her, and what be continued doing
Every day, they took her. And every day, she came back worse.
Broken.
I was next. I knew it, deep in my bones, but that want enough to stop the fear, the bone deep terror of what awaited me.
The door screeched open again, the sound grating on my nerves. My heart jumped in my chest.
No. Not again.
I scrambled to my feet, my legs shaky, but I forced myself to stand between the door and Isabella. I had to protect her. I had to do something.
The light from the hallway spilled into the cell, casting long shadows as Luca’s men stepped inside. Panic clawed at my throat as one of them grabbed Isabella by the arm, dragging her limp body up.
“Get your hands off her!” I screamed, rushing toward them, but the second guard blocked my path, his arm catching me by the throat.
I gasped, choking on my breath as he slammed me back unto the wall.
“Shut up, sweetheart. You’re not part of the plan today,” He sneered, tightening his grip. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll get your turn soon enough.”
“And with a body like that….” another one wolf-whistled. “I hope I’m the first one in.”
I clawed at his hands, trying to get free despite the fact that he was way stronger than me and weighed much more. My vision blurred as the pressure on my throat increased, and I could hear Isabella’s weak cries as they dragged her out.
“No! Isabella!” I gasped, finally managing to break free. I stumbled forward, but the door slammed shut in my face, leaving me alone in the dark.
Again.
They took her every single day.
And every single day, she came back like a broken doll, barely conscious, her body bruised and battered.
I collapsed to the floor, my hands trembling as I clenched them into fists. The anger was like wildfire in my veins, burning hotter with every second that passed. I couldn’t keep sitting here, helpless.
I had to do something.
But what?
Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them back, refusing to let the fear take over.
I couldn’t lose her. Not like this.
**
Hours passed.
Or was it even days.
Time didn’t exist in this hellhole.
The only thing that marked the passage of time was the sound of footsteps – the heavy boots that came every day to take Isabella or to give us the measly meals of the day.
I paced the small space, my bare feet scraping against the cold concrete as my mind raced, desperate for a way out, but every plan I came up with ended in failure.
There was no weapons strong enough to win in a fight.
I hardly had the strength to fight, and Isabella was unconscious most of the time.
The door creaked open again, but they weren’t dragging her… yet. Instead, Isabella was shoved through the doorway, her body crumpling to the floor like a ragdoll.
I rushed to her, my hands trembling as I tried to pull her into my arms. Her face was a mess of bruises from what I could see with the flickering light, lips split, dried blood crusted on her chin.
But what shattered me most was the vacant look in her eyes.
She wasn’t here anymore.
“Bella?” My voice cracked, hoarse and dry. “Bella, come on. Look at me.”
Her eyes fluttered open, but they were glazed over, unfocused. “Valentina…” she croaked, her voice raspy from whatever they had done to her. “I… I can’t…”
“Don’t say that. Don’t you dare give up on me,” I snarled, my voice cracking as I cradled her face in my hands. “You hear me? You’re stronger than this. You can fight it.”
She winced, her body trembling in my arms. “I… I tried, Val. I tried.”
I bit back the sob rising in my throat. I couldn’t afford to be weak, to cry.
Not now. Not in front of my sister.
“I know,” I whispered, brushing a lock of matted hair away from her face. “I know you did. And I’m going to get us out of here, okay? You just have to hold on a little longer. Please.”
Her eyes closed again, and for a moment, I thought she’d passed out. But then, she muttered something so faint, I almost didn’t hear it.
“Matteo…”
I couldn’t help the way my chest tightened at the mention of his name.
Matteo.
The man who had said he loved me, worshipped me with those blue eyes that lit up whenever I was close, and those dark curls I loved messing around with.
He had left me to rot in this cell while his brother tore us apart.
“He’s not coming, Bella,” I whispered bitterly. “He’s not going to save us.”
**
The next time they came for her, I didn’t have the strength to fight anymore. I watched helplessly as they dragged her away, her feet barely touching the ground. Her screams echoed through the hallway, haunting me long after the door slammed shut again.
I was losing her.
I couldn’t do this anymore.
My stomach twisted with guilt. I should have been the one they took. I was the one who couldn’t make a man love me enough…
The door creaked open again, but this time, Luca stepped inside. The sight of him made me feel like thousand of ants were walking on me. His smile as always was filled with cruel satisfaction.
“How’s my little guest doing?” He asked mockingly, his gaze sweeping the cell before landing on me. “You’re still in one piece, Valentina. I’m impressed.”
I glared at him, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “You’re a monster.”
Luca chuckled, stepping closer until he was standing right in front of me. “Monster? I think you’re mistaking me for someone else, darling. I’m not the one who abandoned you here.”
The reminder stung more than it should have.
Matteo had left me to his brother’s mercy.
“And what exactly is your endgame here, Luca?” I spat, my voice trembling with anger. “Torture us until Matteo comes crawling back? You think this will make him give up everything for you?”
Luca’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with sadistic amusement. “Oh, I don’t need him to crawl. He’ll come running when he finds out what I’m about to do to both of you. And when he does, I’ll have everything I want.”
I shook my head, disgusted by the sight of him. “You’re delusional if you think Matteo is going to hand over his empire for me.”
Luca’s gaze darkened, his smile faltering. “Don’t be so sure, Valentina. Matteo’s weakness has always been you. You may not see it, but I do. And that’s why this is going to work.”
Before I could respond, the door opened again, and they dragged Isabella back into the cell. My heart sank as I watched them throw her to the floor like a discarded piece of trash.
“Bella!” I rushed to her side, cradling her broken body in my arms. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, and her eyes… her eyes were filled with nothing but pain.
“I’ll give you both time to think about everything you’ve done to deserve this.”
He turned and was about to walk out, to leave me kneeling on the cold floor, holding what was left of my sister.
“I thought you loved her.”
“I thought I did too.”