Chapter 2 Taken

Lillian's heart pounded violently in her chest, fear gripping every inch of her body. She couldn't bring herself to turn around. She remained frozen, paralyzed by the terror that had dawned on her.

She didn't need a soothsayer to tell her that God had forsaken her. After all her prayers, fasting, and charity, how could He still allow this follower of Satan find her? And here of all places, just when she had come to church to pray for him to forget about her.

"Turn."

The deep command sent a shudder through her spine. The fear of angering him forced her body into motion. Slowly, she turned around, gasping the moment her eyes met his with tears already pooling her eyes.

There he was. Jake Hernandez.

His cold, gray eyes bore into her, empty yet suffocating, making her stomach twist. But that wasn't what made her breath hitch, it was the scar across his face, the same scar she had left him with that night.

The one she had dragged across his skin.

With two steady strides, he closed the distance between them, and yanked off her scarf, her shades, and the nose mask she had used to conceal herself.

Lillian shivered, barely able to stand, and then just like in her nightmares, his hand wrapped around her throat. A sharp gasp escaped her, panic swallowing her whole with tears gushing out.

Jake watched her, drinking in every of her reaction, every flinch, every trembling breath.

"I didn't treat this..." he pointed to the scar on his face, his palm tightening slightly around her neck. "Wanna know why?"

Lillian could barely breathe, let alone speak. His grip wasn't tight, just firm enough to keep her close, to make sure she felt every word that left his lips.

"Because I wanted to be reminded of you every single day until I find you again," he murmured darkly, his eyes gleaming with something sinister. "And now that I have?" He let his words lingered. "I'm going to return the favor."

Lillian shook her head desperately, her body trembling like a jellyfish caught in a storm.

"I-I... w-will scream," She managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She thought it would make him let go. But instead, a slow, wicked grin curled onto his lips.

"And what?" he asked, tilting his head like he was actually interested in her answer.

"People... wi..will come."

A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest this time. He abruptly released her, but the amusement in his eyes vanished in an instant. He stood tall before her, exuding dominance, the air around him suffocating.

"I dare you, puta." [whore] His voice dropped an octave, "But just so you know... no one is on your side anymore."

"Your little friend didn't even hesitate to give you up. You have absolutely no one."

Her heart stopped. Was he talking about Evie?

His smirk deepened as realization crashed over her.

"She's been spying on you since the day you moved to this country. You really thought everything would work in your favor because you've been praying to a faceless God?" He mocked, his tone dripping with venom.

Lillian felt like the ground beneath her had been ripped away. Evie... they both met on the plane and their connection was instant.

How stupid of her to chose an absolute stranger as a best friend in this foreign country?

Jake had been waiting for this moment to come. For six long months, he had let her believe she was safe. And today, she had finally made a mistake.

His fingers suddenly tangled into her hair, yanking her forward. "Your punishment starts now, puta."

Terror struck her hard. She tried to step back, but his grip tightened, jerking her closer.

"P-please, just let me go," she choked out through her sobs, begging desperately.

But Jake remained unfazed.

"You should have thought about that before daring to cross the Mafia King himself."

Before she could plead further, his hand moved and landed a swift, brutal strike against the side of her neck.

Lillian felt her world spun. Darkness seeped into the edges of her vision, consuming her entirely as she slumped to the ground.

Jake stared down at her crumpled form, his expression resembling that of a stone. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel.

"Take her away," he ordered coolly, walking out of the church.

A man walked in, scooping Lillian's unconscious body into his arms before carrying her toward the black car parked outside the church.