Chapter 2 Invaders

Valentina's eyes snapped open at the sound of a deafening bang. Her heart raced as she struggled to make sense of the situation, only to find a gun barrel aimed directly at her face.

"Get up," commanded a rough voice. Her gaze shifted to the man holding the gun. He was a stranger, someone she'd never seen before.

What was happening? She thought silently, trembling with fear.

She scrambled out of bed, clutching the sheet to her chest. The rose-colored satin nightgown she wore offered little protection against the cold and fear creeping in.

Her eyes stayed locked on the intruder as she processed a flood of questions. Had she stepped into some nightmare?

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the man waved the gun toward the door. "Move," he barked, circling her but keeping his distance. She grabbed her robe, wrapping it around herself hastily, and obeyed.

As she exited the bedroom, the sound of a painful grunt froze her in place. Lorrel, she thought, her breath catching and a lump forming in her throat.

She struggled to control herself guarding words from escaping her mouth, so she didn't pissed the no mercy man behind her, still in her confused state Valentina had a million and more questions as to what was going on.

Could this be the reason why her brother came back to stay with her after two years of ghosting her? Is she going to die? Her feet trembled with fear and her heart pounded so fast in her chest at the thought of a gun pointing at her.

"Keep going!" The cold metal against her neck compelled her to move. Hands raised in surrender, she took shaky steps forward. Each step accompanied by the sounds of her brother's agony and the sickening thuds of blows landing mercilessly on him.

In the living room, she found Lorrel battered and bloodied, fear tightening her chest. Two men, similarly dressed, aimed their weapons at him. One wore brass knuckles, glinting ominously.

"Lorrel," she whispered, hoping none of those men heard her.

"Leave her out of this, she knows nothing about this," Lorrel pleaded, his voice strained. "She's innocent!"

A brutal kick to his face silenced him. Valentina stifled a scream with her face covered into her palms, knowing any outburst would be dangerous.

Who were these men? What did they want with Lorrel? She thought silently trying to process the whole event and give it a meaning, since no one was explaining anything to her, and it didn't seem like an explanation was coming anytime soon.

The few words they had said didn't give her any information good enough to set their lives at gunpoint.

"You tried to escape," one of the men sneered, pressing his boot into Lorrel's face. Blood pooled beneath him. "Now you pay."

"Escape?!" She mouthed silently, what did you know Lorrel? She added, with hopes that answers will come out of him.

Without warning, darkness enveloped her as a bag was forced over her head. Panic surged as rough hands lifted her off the floor.

She lost track of time and place until the rumble of an engine brought her back to reality. She was in a car, Lorrel's groans filling the air.

Tears welled up as regret consumed her. Why had she taken Lorrel in? She had sensed trouble but never imagined this.

"Oh Lorrel, what have you done?" she whimpered.

They were in deep trouble, and there seemed to be no way out.

Fear gripped over her, until the car stopped and she was roughly handled out of the car, pressed into a seat with the blindfold taken off, she grasped for air hastily, struggling to get enough air with her heart pounding heavily in her chest.

Meanwhile, Druid got off from his luxurious car after his driver opened the door for him. He walked into the abandoned warehouse with so much authority in his step.

He was wearing expensive clothings from head to toe, a suit made with the finest material, a rolex laced with diamond and pure leather shoes.

The driver bowed as Druid walked past him and into the warehouse.

The warehouse was filled with dozens of bulky and scruffy looking men, these were just a few of his subordinates.

They stopped whatever it was they were doing during their leisure time when they spotted their boss and stood up to greet him.

However, he couldn't care less about them, his sight was set on the bruised and bloodied man on the floor.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk." Druid clicked his tongue repeatedly before kneeling in front of the man.

"Lorrel Gadot. You're a hard man to find, I'll give you that. But you forgot one crucial thing, there's no task above Druid Steel."

"Don't do this, please..." Lorrel begged.

"Haha, you're a funny man alright." He turned to his men. "Leave us."

"Yes, Boss," came the unified response, tinged with relief. They filed out swiftly, leaving Druid alone with his prey.

Druid smirked at Lorrel, who recoiled instinctively.

"Lorrel Gadot," Druid said smoothly. "I've waited far too long for this moment."

"Please," Lorrel groaned, his voice trembling. "I can repay you. Just give me a chance-" His plea was cut short as Druid drew his weapon, his eyes filled with contempt.

"I could, but why would I want a liability like you?" Druid replied coldly.

"Please! I have a wife! She's pregnant! Spare me!" Tears streamed down Lorrel's face as he begged.

Druid's expression remained indifferent until he heard a gasp behind him. He turned to see a woman kneeling in the far corner, her disheveled appearance suggesting she had just been dragged from bed. Who was she? Lorrel's lover?

Before Druid could speculate further, she spoke.

"Let him go," her voice carried through the silence.

Druid raised an eyebrow. "You're brave to make demands of me."

"Please," she implored. "He's my only brother. I don't know what he did to you, but..."

Druid cut her off. "Your brother brought this on himself. He knows what he did and now must face the consequences."

Lorrel whimpered, but a threatening glare from Druid silenced him.

"Please," the woman continued to plead. "I'll do anything. Just let him go."