Chapter 6

Danielle

I woke up in a strange place, much nicer than all the warehouses of the last week, it was a big room with a coach near the bed, it looked like someone slept there. There was a TV on the wall and if you looked further into the room you could see a small lounge area I guess that’s where the coach should go, and a bathroom. The room was decorated in all white with a touch of pink. I didn’t know where I was but this person is definitely rich. I saw a glass of water and pills, next to it there was a note. ‘Please take these pills, it’s painkillers for your wound, not drugs. I promise. Damon’ Wound, I lifted the bedding and saw I was clean and indeed there was a bandage on my leg. Then everything came rushing back, me jumping overboard, being shot then being pulled out of the water by a very handsome guy. I think he called me angel, it might have been an illusion. I took a sip of the water and decided against the painkillers. I was in a lot of pain but I don’t know where I am.

The door opened slowly and a girl with long blond hair and blue eyes came in. “Where am I?” Was the first thing I asked her. She approached me like I was going to jump and run or bite her. “My name is Rachel and you’re in an apartment in New York City. Damon the guy whose apartment this is, got you out of the water and brought you to his apartment for the doctor to stitch you up, apparently, you were shot.” “What’s your name?” she asked me. The girl named Rachel looked very sweet and maybe like someone I could trust, but trust wouldn’t come that easily this time. I must have taken my time to answer her because so went on. “Nobody here is going to hurt you, I promise.” “Can you please tell me your name?” “Danielle,” I said “Can I come closer Danielle?” I nodded. If it’s her place why does she ask me?

“It’s nice to meet you, Danielle. Can you tell me what you remember?” I jumped up because I realized that Nikki and Hannah were still out there somewhere, but I quickly realized that it was not a good idea with the wound. “Danielle please don’t move you will tear your stitches,” Rachel begged me. “My friends, where are they?” “You had friends with you?” Rachel asked in utter shock “Yes, yes where are they, they were supposed to jump overboard with me.” “It was only you Danielle, they didn’t jump. Can you tell me what happened from the start, if you can?” she asked me “Why should I trust you?” “I can tell you what I know,” she told me. That sounded like a much better idea. I would have to figure out if this is also a place I should escape from.

“You and other girls were kidnapped and you got to New York, I don’t know from where you are or the other girls, but you were taken to the harbor. When the boat was near the dock you jumped overboard and the men on the boat shot at you. Damon jumped into the water got you out and brought you here.” Something smelled fishy and it wasn’t me. “You’re not telling me everything, why was this Damon there, was he there to buy one of us?” I asked her very skeptically. “No, he wasn’t there to buy anyone he was there to save you, girls. My boyfriend heard of this family that is bringing girls in. He sent his men and Damon with his men to get you girls, he also sent the FBI, but the boat came in earlier than expected.

Damon’s guys took the other girls to a warehouse where they waited for the FBI.” “That means you know where my friends are?” “Not yet” “What do you mean not yet.” “The family that kidnapped you and the other girls ambushed the vans with the girls in and took them again, a few FBI guys got injured and 2 died.” “Oo my God, so I’m the only one that got away.” I was in utter shock. “Yes, Danielle, and I know you don’t trust anybody and I understand that, but you’ll have to try to trust us because that family will be looking for you, you are the only one that can identify the men that took you.” “You keep on saying the family and I should trust you guys? Who is this family? And who are the people I should trust now?” “The family I refer to is a Mafia family going rogue and the people you should trust are Damon and his men and me and Massimo and his men.” She explained.

“Why does this Damon have men and your boyfriend Massimo, why does he have men.” I was very curious about all these people and their men “Jeez Danielle you have a lot of questions.” I fired back at her “If I asked more questions the night, we were taken we might not have been taken.” “I hear you, Danielle, what about a cup of coffee and something to eat, then I’ll tell you the rest.” “That would be nice I’m starving.” I must say the idea of proper food made me forget all my questions. “Can I help you,” Rachel asked. “I’m not wearing much” “I’m sure you were wet and Damon changed you, I brought you a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, we can see if it fits but I’m afraid we’ll hurt your wound. Stay here I’ll go and see what’s in Damon’s closet we can use.” She went to Damon’s closet and that gave me time to try and get up to use the bathroom. I was struggling with the one leg, I was actually in a lot of pain. “Danielle wait, let me help you, where do you want to go.” “Bathroom please.” Rachel helped me to the bathroom and gave me the pants to put on.

I could hear Rachel talking to someone but I couldn’t make out what she was saying. I tried to get out of the bathroom but I was dead tired, just from this little bit of movement, when Rachel approached me “Danielle, I’ll help you.” I was hanging onto Rachel when there was a knock on the door, if I could have I would have probably jumped out of my skin that’s how big of a fright I got. “It’s okay Danielle, it’s only Paul, he’ll help you to the kitchen, you are way too weak to walk and I can’t carry you.” “I can walk.” I insisted although I knew deep down I won’t make it. “Don’t be stubborn Danielle, you went through a lot the past few days, let him help you. Come in Paul.” Paul approached me like Rachel did scared I might try to run away. “Hi my name is Paul; would you mind if I help you?” I couldn’t believe this guy's manners, it put me at ease but I was still scared. I looked at Rachel. “I’ll be with you the whole time, Danielle you don’t need to worry.” Then I nodded my head, Paul picked me up and walked with me to the kitchen where another guy was already placing a soft chair near the kitchen. Paul put me down softly on the chair. “Danielle, I’d like you to meet my shadow, Marco. Marco, Paul this is Danielle” They both said, nice to meet you and then they left.

“Okay, Danielle what can I get you, coffee, latte, or espresso, unfortunately, that’s all I know how to make.” Coffee sounded divine, “Coffee, please. While Rachel was making the coffee she gave me a plate with some fresh fruit on. I started to devour the food not even chewing it, I just wanted something in my belly. “Slowly Danielle, you going to make yourself sick, I’m still going to make some eggs and bacon.” When Rachel said that I felt so ashamed of my reaction. I pushed the plate away from me. “No Danielle eat the fruit, just slower, I don’t want you to get sick if you eat so fast.” I pulled the plate back to me and started eating again but slower this time. Rachel brought a table closer to me and a chair then she brought our plates and coffee and we sat and ate. When we were done eating Rachel asked me that dreadful question again.

“Can you tell me how you were kidnapped?”