Chapter 3

Isabella had lost count of how long she had been held captive in this dark and musty room. Her wrists were already bruised from the handcuffs. Her stomach growled, reminding her of her hunger as she stared at the plain cement walls and the small window in the corner that barely let in any natural light. The only sound she heard was the constant hum of the air conditioning unit, which seemed to be the only source of comfort in this wretched place.

She knew they were still looking for her. Her father had hired the best investigators to find her, and the police were working tirelessly to crack the case, but Isabella had a nagging feeling that they were nowhere near finding her. Her captors had been too careful, too meticulous in covering their tracks, and Isabella felt like she was trapped in their clutches indefinitely.

As she lay on the cot, she wondered what was happening on the outside, if her family was going insane with worry, or if anyone had been hurt in the search for her. She regretted not heeding her father's warnings about the dangers of the city, and her naivety had resulted in her current situation. She thought what if what she heard earlier about her father might be true? What if my father doesn't give a fuck just like they said!

Suddenly, the door to her room burst open interrupting her thoughts, and two of Leonardo's men entered, one of them held a tray of food.

"Finally" she mumbled, her intestines starting to squeeze.

Isabella recognized them from when she was first taken, and she was surprised to sense a small amount of relief at seeing familiar faces.

"Did you bring me something to eat?" Isabella asked, grateful to take her mind off her predicament for a moment.

The man with the tray silently set it down on a table in the corner of the room, unlocked her cuffs making her groan in pain as the metal was freed from her wrist. After unlocking it he left, the other man standing by the door and watching her intently.

Isabella sat up, feeling weak from hunger, and approached the table. She was surprised to find that it was a full hot meal, complete with pasta and meatballs, bread, and a glass of water.

Isabella hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should refuse the food or if the food was poisoned. She thought twice. He could not poison her since she was his bargaining chip. Her hunger overpowered her reservations, and she began to eat. As she ate, she noticed the man by the door watching her closely, but she chose to ignore him, focusing instead on the taste of the food. It was clear that whoever had prepared it could cook well.

As she finished her food, the man by the door handed her a change of clothes, a simple outfit of jeans and a T-shirt. Isabella took them hesitantly, not sure if she wanted to change in front of them, but the man stepped out of the room, giving her some privacy.

Isabella changed quickly, grateful for the clean clothes, and returned to her cot. As she lay down, she felt a sense of exhaustion wash over her, tired from the emotional and physical stress of being held captive. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, letting the hum of the air conditioning lull her into a light sleep.

Suddenly, she was jolted awake by the sound of the door opening again, and she sat up to see Leonardo standing in front of her. He wore an ironed suit and a stern expression, and Isabella's heart raced at the sight of him.

“Leonardo,” Isabella said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Hello, Isabella," Leonardo replied, his tone unreadable. "How have you been?"

Isabella hesitated, unsure of how to answer. “I've been... okay, I guess. But I will be better if you get me out of this shit hole.”

Leonardo raised an eyebrow. “Just okay? You've been fed, given clean clothes, and a comfortable place to sleep. Surely that's not better than just okay? To remind you, this shit hole is your new home.”

“It would have been better than okay if you motherfuckers had left me to go back home instead of bringing me to this godforsaken place!" Isabella spat angrily ignoring what he just said.

“Feisty, I love it seems like you are enjoying your stay, I will come back when you are calmer and well-behaved. Stop being a spoilt brat then we can have conversations like adults.” Leonardo said.

“I... I am sorry, I promise to be well-behaved from now on. Just get me out of here.” Isabella said, trying to keep her voice level.

Leonardo studied her for a moment before speaking. “You know why you're here, Isabella. I need your father to agree to my terms, and you are the leverage I have to make that happen.”

Isabella's heart sank at his words. Her father was a powerful man, but she knew that Leonardo was even more so, and she wasn't sure if her father would be able to negotiate with him.

“Leonardo, please,” Isabella said, feeling desperation creeping into her voice. "You don't have to do this. My father will find a way to meet your demands without me being involved."

Leonardo shook his head. “I'm sorry, Isabella. You may be innocent in this, but you are also a means to an end, and I need to use you to get what I want. You don't know your father, Isabella. He is a very bad man and a tricky one too. You seem to be his most priced possession that's why you are here. But if he proves otherwise, I apologize in advance. Just pray your father loves you as much we think he does.”

Isabella felt tears prick at her eyes, “How could he refer to her father as a bad man!” she thought trying to hold back her tears, feeling helpless in the face of Leonardo's resolve. She wondered if she would ever be free again. She wondered if she would ever be free again. Was she just a possession, not worthy of rescue?