Chapter 3 She's collateral

VINCENT

I stood in front of the old, run-down house. Its walls were faded, and the windows looked ready to fall apart. This was a big difference from the fancy lifestyle I was used to. I could smell the warm scent of freshly baked bread in the air. It was a nice smell, and for a moment, it almost made me forget why I had come here. But I reminded myself that I wasn't here to enjoy baked goods or friendly morning chats. I was here for business.

I stepped out of my shiny black Chevrolet SUV and gave a small nod to my men who were with me. One of them jumped into action right away. He ran up to the weak door and kicked it so hard that the hinges broke. The door flew open and crashed inside. I could hear people inside making scared noises, which told me they knew we had arrived.

As I walked through the narrow hallway filled with clutter, I couldn't help but think about how different this place was from the grand mansion where I grew up. My childhood home was filled with marble floors, beautiful chandeliers, and art that was worth a lot of money. My father, Magnus Steele, was a tough and feared loan shark. He had created a huge empire that included fancy casinos and international shipping businesses. But now, after a terrible accident left him unable to move, it was my turn to show that I could take over his empire.

Suddenly, I heard a frightened voice ask, "Who... who are you people? What do you want?"

I couldn't help but chuckle softly at their confusion. "You should already know," I replied, feeling a sense of power.

At my signal, Adrian, who was my loyal but tough enforcer, stepped forward without saying a word. He swung a strong punch right into the man's jaw, and the impact sent the man crashing down to the dirty carpet. Just then, I heard a sharp gasp in the room. A woman peeked out from behind a worn-out couch, her face filled with fear. She was probably the man's wife.

"Get him up," I commanded.

Adrian grabbed the man, whose name was Jackson Harris, and pulled him up to his knees. His lips were already cut and bleeding. His eyes were wide and frantic, darting around as if he was desperately looking for a way to escape. But it was clear there was no way out.

"Look at me," I said firmly. Finally, he lifted his head, and for a brief moment, our eyes connected. I could see his panic turning into recognition.

"Vincent Steele..." he whispered, my name shaking on his lips.

"Good, so you do remember me," I replied, letting a cold smile form on my face. "I remember you from one of my father's casinos. You were a desperate gambler... almost begging for one last chance to win."

Jackson's face turned pale as he looked down at the floor. He looked so pathetic that I almost felt sorry for him, but then I reminded myself why I was really here.

"You borrowed money from my father-three million pesos, to be exact. He gave you ten months to pay it back, but that was a year and a half ago," I said, leaning in closer, my voice sharp and unforgiving. "And yet, here you are, hiding in this dump, acting like you've forgotten about your debt."

"I-I didn't forget! It's just... things went wrong. The business-" he started to explain.

"Save the sad story for someone who cares," I interrupted. "Do you think I care about your failed business? My father doesn't care. And neither do I."

I felt a little flicker of something in my mind-an old argument between my parents came rushing back. My father was determined to make me tough, to force me to fit into the dark world he lived in. On the other hand, my mother was desperate to protect me from that darkness. She believed I could be more than just a weapon. But in my heart, I knew it was too late for that. I had already made my choice.

I pulled out my pistol, letting the cold metal shine in the light as I pointed it right at Jackson's forehead. He whimpered, and I could hear his wife crying behind him, fear in every sob. Just then, in her panic, she rushed forward, acting impulsively.

I quickly grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. Our eyes met-hers were a bright, shocking blue, as clear as a summer sky. My breath caught in my throat for a moment. I recognized those eyes. I had seen them before, many years ago. Seven years ago, in fact, when I was just a bleeding mess in a dark alley. I had been abandoned by men who wanted to take down my father. I should have died that night, but she found me-this same woman-she had been my savior.

And now, fate had brought her back into my life.

But I couldn't let her see that I recognized her. I fought to harden my face, pushing down any hint of the feelings stirring inside me. "Looks like you have something of value after all, Jackson," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"No! Please, not my daughter!" Jackson pleaded, but my mind was already made up.

"I'll take her as collateral. When you pay what you owe, you can have her back." I didn't wait for him to argue. I grabbed her roughly, ignoring her desperate struggles, and tossed her over my shoulder like she weighed nothing.

"Take care of them," I ordered my men, and they moved in close around the crying couple, making sure they wouldn't try to interfere.

"Let me go!" she screamed, hitting my back with her fists, but her resistance didn't do any good. I was much stronger than her.

"Enough," I growled, and then I gave her a swift smack on her bottom. She gasped, and for a moment, her fight seemed to vanish.

I pushed her into the backseat of the SUV and climbed in next to her. Adrian, one of my men, sat across from us, watching her intently with his cold, hard stare.

"Where to, sir?" the driver asked, breaking the tense silence.

"My place," I answered without even a moment of thought.

As the car began to pull away from the scene, I did my best to keep a cool and calm expression on my face. Yet, inside me, everything felt like a storm. I had been searching for her for such a long time, and now she was right here with me again.

But what was I supposed to do with her now? My mind raced with questions. I felt a mix of emotions I hadn't expected. I needed to figure out my next move.