Chapter 11: Rescue in the Shadows
The world turned pitch-black for Janet and Lisa the moment Asher's men appeared. Janet's scream echoed through the deserted street as they were shoved into a black van, its windows heavily tinted. Her heart pounded in terror, her wrists restrained tightly with coarse ropes. Lisa's eyes were already filled with regret. She hadn't meant to betray Janet. She never imagined it would go this far.
The van halted in front of what looked like an abandoned slum—a broken-down complex, eerily silent, drenched in shadows. Graffiti sprawled across the crumbling walls, and the only sound was the cawing of distant crows. It was a place that screamed danger.
The guards yanked Janet and Lisa from the van, dragging them into a small, dark building, where the smell of rust and dampness suffocated the air. They were forced into chairs, their hands tied behind their backs with zip ties.
Lisa looked at Janet, guilt pressing down on her chest like a stone. Tears spilled from her eyes as she whispered, "Janet, I'm sorry. I didn't want this. I didn't know he would—"
"Lisa," Janet whispered back, breathing heavily, "I know… I know he must've threatened you. Don't blame yourself."
The sound of heavy boots echoed through the room. Asher appeared, his expression twisted in cold fury. Behind him were three more armed men—his personal guards.
"Well, isn't this touching?" he sneered, walking slowly toward them. "Two best friends reunited in the most dramatic way."
Lisa, with a renewed spark of courage, shouted, "You don't have to do this! Let Janet go, take me instead!"
Asher's eyes narrowed, then he laughed cruelly. "You'll both die. Maybe I'll get extra satisfaction killing you first."
He raised his gun and aimed it at Lisa.
"No!" Janet screamed, struggling against her bindings. "You bitch! Don't you dare hurt her!"
Asher's patience snapped. He stormed toward Janet and gripped her face tightly in his hand, tilting her head up until their faces were inches apart.
"You should've shut up long ago," he hissed. "You were never anything but a pretty pawn. A toy. I tolerated you because you were profitable. But love? Care?" He scoffed. "All fake."
He leaned down and kissed her forcefully, the act filled with nothing but dominance and cruelty. Janet cried out, trying to pull away, but the ropes wouldn't budge.
Lisa screamed in agony, "Let her go! You monster!"
Asher turned to silence Lisa when suddenly, a thunderous noise shook the ground. The walls rattled, and a swarm of black-suited men burst through the entrance. Luca's guards.
The room exploded into chaos.
Gunfire erupted. Asher's guards scrambled to protect him, but they were quickly overwhelmed by Luca's highly trained men. Janet ducked instinctively, her chair tipping slightly as bullets flew above her head. Lisa screamed as one of the guards shielded her.
In the chaos, Luca appeared.
He moved with icy precision, walking through the battlefield like a storm in human form. His eyes locked onto Asher.
Asher turned, caught off guard.
"You again," he growled.
Luca raised his gun without hesitation.
"No more chances," he said coldly. "You crossed the line."
Bang.
The sound echoed like thunder in the slum.
Asher's body jerked violently and fell to the ground, his gun slipping from his grasp.
Janet's heart stopped. Everything froze.
Lisa was sobbing uncontrollably.
Luca rushed to Janet's side, cutting the zip ties with a flick of his knife. She collapsed into his arms, shaking, her eyes wide in horror.
"Are you okay?" he asked, brushing her hair back.
Janet looked at him, her lips trembling. "You came… You saved us."
He held her tightly. "I'll always come for you, Janet."
Lisa, still crying, was helped to her feet by one of the guards.
Luca turned to his men. "Secure the perimeter. Get rid of the rest. And bring the girls back to the mansion. Now."
As the sun began to rise behind the slum, casting orange light over the destruction, Janet held onto Luca like he was the only real thing in a world built on lies.
She wasn't safe yet.
But she was no longer alone.