Chapter 3 Call from hell

Kataliya's fingers gripped the edge of the small ledge as she pulled herself up again, her breathing loud and uneven. The stone walls were cold and rough beneath her skin, and the dim lighting in the hallway offered no help.

She had discovered the hidden passage an hour ago-an old root tunnel behind a large wooden cabinet in one of the side rooms. It smelled like dust and rot, but something in her screamed this is a way out.

But it wasn't.

Every time she tried to climb, she slipped.

Her hands were scratched. Her legs bruised. Her body trembling.

And now, her left arm hung limp, aching sharply. She'd landed on it hard during her last fall. She didn't have to see it to know it was bruised badly-maybe worse.

Tears ran silently down her cheeks as she limped toward the nearest window. She didn't care anymore. If they caught her, they caught her. If Santiago hit her again, so be it.

She just wanted someone anyone to know she was here.

She forced open the narrow window and screamed.

"HELP! I'M HERE! SOMEBODY, PLEASE!"

Her voice cracked.

"PLEASE! HELP ME!"

But all that answered were the echoes. They bounced off the high walls, empty and cruel. No one was outside. She realized no one could ever come to her rescue when she noticed she was in the middle of an island. She couldn't tell how she got here, last thing she remembered was drinking with Bella and a sting on her neck, that was all.

She dropped to her knees, her body giving out. Her injured arm pressed against her ribs. She leaned forward and wept-raw, choking sobs she couldn't hold back anymore.

That was when the door creaked open behind her were approaching footsteps, slow but by bit

Her jaw dropped.

A man in black stepped into the room.

She turned sharply, still on the ground, eyes red and wide.

"Get up," he said in a low voice. "You have a call to answer."

"What?" she whispered.

He didn't answer. He just stepped aside and motioned with his hand.

Kataliya forced herself up. Her legs shook, but she moved. Anything, anyone was better than being alone again.

She was led into another room-a cleaner one, with a large screen and a table. A single chair sat facing the monitor.

The guard pointed. "Sit."

She did.

The screen flickered.

And then-her father's face appeared.

She gasped.

"Dad...?"

Don Carter's cold, powerful voice was shaken. His eyes darted over the screen, taking in her appearance. The red dress. The bruises. The pale skin. The broken expression on his daughter's face.

"Kataliya," he whispered. "Baby girl... are you hurt...?"

Tears rolled down her cheeks again. She nodded quickly, but her lips trembled. She couldn't find her voice. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, she'd scream and never stop.

"Has he hurt you?" Carter's voice was tight with rage now. "Tell me. Has that bastard laid a hand on you?"

She cried harder.

"Please..." she whispered through sobs. "Just take me home... Daddy... please..."

Carter's face hardened. "You'll be home soon honey. I swear to you. I'm going to kill that bastard. I'll burn his empire to the ground."

"Do you know where you are?" he asked again, calming himself. "Anything you can tell me. Anything."

She sniffled. "I was blindfolded. I don't know. I don't know... I only saw marble and... guards."

Carter's jaw clenched, eyes darting off-screen-probably toward his men. But just as he opened his mouth again-

The screen glitched.

Then it cut.

Kataliya sat still, her breath frozen in her lungs.

Then she heard the voice behind her.

"I was standing here the whole time."

She turned, her heart dropping into her stomach.

Santiago.

He was leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, watching her.

She felt like a trap had just slammed shut around her neck.

"Please," she said quietly, her voice shaky but desperate. "Let me speak to him again. Just once. Let me say goodbye.... atleast... Please."

Santiago didn't blink. He walked slowly toward her, until he stood directly in front of her chair.

"Goodbye?" he repeated. "You think you're leaving so soon?"

"I'm begging you," she said. "Please give me five minutes. Privacy. I don't want you listening. Just five-"

He laughed. A cold, low chuckle that made her blood run colder.

"Privacy?" he said. " you're living in my house. Breathing my air. Wearing my clothes. You don't even eat unless I say so. And now you're asking for privacy?"

Kataliya looked down, ashamed, but still burning inside.

He bent slightly, until their faces were close.

Her breath caught.

But his eyes flickered-past her lips, past her eyes, down to her arm.

The bruise.

His expression shifted slightly. He straightened.

"You've been trying to escape," he said flatly. "I thought so."

She said nothing.

His voice dropped. "How many times?"

Her silence was answer enough.

He ran his tongue along his teeth, then turned to the guards behind the glass wall.

"Send her to the doctor, and then to the spa," he ordered.

One guard opened the door.

"The spa?" Kataliya repeated, confused.

Santiago's eyes never left hers. "It's still inside the building. But it has hot water. Oils, silk robes. You're a guest, aren't you?"

Her voice shook. "I don't want a spa. I want to go home."

"I didn't ask what you wanted."

He nodded once, and the guards entered.

Kataliya jumped from the chair. "No! Stop! Please! Don't touch me!"

But they didn't stop.

They grabbed her arms-gently, but firmly.

Her bruised one made her scream out in pain.

"Let me go! Santiago! Please!"

But he only turned his back.

As they dragged her down the hall, she kicked and twisted, tears pouring from her face. "You said if I behaved, you'd let me call him again! You said if I was a good girl!"

Santiago didn't reply.

The door slammed behind her.

And the only answer was silence and then a loud gun shot.