Protected by the Ruthless Mafia king

She heard a loud thud and crash upstairs. Mean voices yelled loudly, echoing through the house. She trembled, covering her mouth with her hand and closing her eyes tight.

She hoped they would leave if she ignored them. "There's nothing there, there's nothing there". She chanted as if it would make the sounds magically stop but the noises got louder.

She tried to listen harder, despite the clanging and breaking sounds. Then, she made out what they were saying.

"The money, Frazier. I need my goddamn money. Where is it? You're taking me for a fool, aren't you? I was lenient. Have more time than you'd asked for and I still don't have it. Bring me my fucking money!"

Goodness! It was another one of her father's creditors. She thought of how much her father might have gambled away this time. It wasn't cozy where she was in her underground room. Not one bit but she had to stay. For the twenty two years she'd lived, she'd spent it in there.

She wanted to leave, she wished she could but she couldn't. It was forbidden for her to step out. No one knew she existed. Heck! She didn't even know she existed. She had asked her parents countless time the reason why she been locked up all her life but they never gave her any good reason. They only said it was for her own good.

"I beg you, let him go. He'll die." She heard her mother's teary voice plead. They must be very dangerous for her mother to be this afraid what if they killed her father.

The thought of her father dying made her shiver and brought goosebumps to her pale, milky skin. It was true that her father was addicted to gambling and never left the tables till he had lost everything, and it was also true that he had caused her and her mom a lot of pain. But he was still her father, and she couldn't let anything happen to him. But what was she supposed to do?

The voice was like a cold wind, sending shivers down her spine. "That's enough. Bring him to me." The boss's tone was laced with menace, and memories came flooding back. The face she couldn't forget resurfaced in her mind, like a ghost from her past.

Her father's words echoed in her mind: "I'll repay the loan, I promise. Just give me a chance." But it was too late. The boss's words were followed by a brutal punch to her father's face, causing her mother to shriek in horror. The sound of her father's jaw cracking and his blood spitting out was a sound she would never forget.

She covered her ears, trying to block out the violence, but her mind was racing with questions. What had her father done with the three million pesos?

Her mother pleaded with the tormentor, "Please, have mercy! He'll pay you back, just spare his life. He won't be able to pay you back if he dies."

But the boss was unmoved, his voice cold and calculating. "He has to return it now, or he'll die here today."

Her father's desperate promises were met with a harsh laugh, followed by bones cracking. She knew if she didn't do something, she might lose her father. She searched frantically for anything that could we've as a weapon and she found a ballpin.

Jane's mother worked as a pastry chef in a little bakery downtown, where she sold cakes, pies, bread, and croissants. Jane often assisted her in shaping and flattening the dough. They were in the midst of preparing the batter when a group of men arrived at their house, prompting Jane to retreat to her room immediately.

With her weapon in hand, Jane ascended the stairs that led to a rooftop opening above an empty room used for storing her mother's equipment. After emerging silently and closing the small door behind her, she crouched down and tiptoed towards the living room where the commotion originated.

"I beg you, take whatever you want and keep it. We'll repay you, I promise," Jane's mother pleaded.

The men burst into uncontrollable laughter, playfully nudging each other.

Curious about the laughter, Jane mustered the courage to advance toward the living room. Peering from her concealed spot, she saw the stark emptiness of the room. Aside from a few worn-out chairs and an old television, there was nothing of value in the house. The house itself was in poor condition, but Jane's mother had done her best to make it habitable.

The man sneered at Jane's mother. "You have nothing of value, woman. What on earth can you give me? Look at that," he said, pointing to the roof with brown patches from past rain damage. Termites had ravaged the ceiling, and many of their nests were visible on the roof.

Jane knew her father never had enough money to repair the roof but always managed to find money for gambling. She felt a pang of shame and avoided making eye contact with the men. Even though she couldn't see them clearly, she could sense their opulence through their attire and expensive scent that filled the room.

"I have a... land," Jane's father began.

"We sold it last month, Marcus," her mother interjected.

"My... my bakery."

No, Jane thought. The bakery was their only means of survival; they would struggle to make ends meet without it. Determined to protect her family's livelihood, Jane listened intently as the man scoffed at the bakery's worth.

"How much does your little bake shop make in a month? That's some scrappy little place. I don't need it," the man remarked, reaching into his pocket.

Jane's eyes widened, and her mother gasped in horror at the sight before them.

"No-please-don't do this-" Jane's father pleaded desperately as he saw the gun being brandished. A 9mm pistol was aimed straight at his head.

"No! Please, don't kill him, I beg you! I'll do anything," Jane's mother cried out, tears streaming down her face as she fell to her knees and clung to the intruder's leg. "Please don't hurt him. Give us a little more time. We'll pay you."

But the intruder remained stoic, his gaze cold and unwavering. Ignoring Jane's mother's pleas, he callously kicked her aside and prepared to pull the trigger.

"Stop!" Jane shouted, leaping out of her hiding spot and swinging a weapon at the assailant's head. In the scuffle, he dropped the gun, but quickly recovered and deflected her attack with one hand. With a swift motion, he pushed Jane against the wall, pinning her hand above her head.

Feeling overpowered, Jane realized the intruder was stronger than she had initially thought. Struggling to free herself, she felt a sharp pain as he struck her hand, causing her to release the rolling pin she had been holding onto. Both her hands were now trapped by the intruder's grip above her head.

As their eyes locked, Jane met the gaze of the assailant's vibrant brown eyes. Initially filled with anger, shock, and annoyance, the emotions in his eyes slowly shifted, leaving a perplexing expression that Jane couldn't decipher.

And in that moment, as time seemed to stand still, Jane saw a flicker of recognition in the intruder's eyes.

It was him.

It is him. It definitely was him.

It has been six long years but she would recognise that face anywhere, it was forever teched on her heart.

She was In a hurry to save his life so he wouldn't die so she didn't bother about knowing his name. She had no idea who he was.

Sometime six years ago, she had been left alone in the house. Her mother had gone to deliver some pastries and her father had been out gambling as usual. She saw it as a once in a lifetime opportunity and snuck out of the house

All my life, she had never had contact with the real world. All she knew, she learnt from the time she spent watching people through the window in the living room, peeking through close curtains. She knew all the neighbors and what they had going on but never force had she spoken with them. They looked happy and contented with their lives.

She was lonely. She had no brother, no sister, no friends to talk to. She was sixteen and the only friend she had was the television.

One of those days, she had gotten curious and had snuck out of the house. She made sure that no one saw her though.

She had experienced many new things that day, but what stuck with her was the encounter with the young man lying by the sea.

He was bruised, breathless, and bleeding all over, his body lifeless on the sand. It was evening, and she needed to head home before her mother returned from the bakery, unaware that she had left the house with a stolen spare key.

But her conscience wouldn't let her leave him to die. She walked towards him, the wet sand slowing her down, and finally stood beside him.

"Hey," she called out with a shaky voice, wondering if he was dead. But then she saw him move slightly, and his chest rose with a shaky breath.

He was alive.

She crouched beside him and gently patted his cheek. "Can you open your eyes? Are you okay?" But he didn't respond, his eyes remaining closed.

She examined him and found bruises all over his body, likely from a gang assault. She lifted his head, knelt beneath him, and cradled it in her lap. She needed him to wake up so she could move him, but he was too heavy for her to carry alone.

"Open your eyes, sir! Please wake up!" she yelled, slapping him harder. His eyes fluttered open, staring blankly at the sky before focusing on her. Those vibrant brown eyes - she knew them well, having dreamed about them every night since they last parted ways.

Now, they locked onto hers, and for a few seconds, everything else faded away, leaving only the two of them.

She wondered if he recognized her, if he remembered their time together, and why he was now threatening her family. His voice, stronger than she remembered, broke into her thoughts. "Who are you?" he asked, his grip on her hair tightening as he pulled her head back.

She winced in pain, struggling to free her trapped hands. "Let me go!" she screamed.

"Jane!" Her mother yelled, her voice choked with tears. "Please, let her go."

Her father, still recovering from the beating, struggled to his feet, begging him to spare their daughter, who was innocent and shouldn't be involved in this.

"Is your name Jane?" he asked, releasing her wrist but keeping hold of her hair. "Were you going to hit me with that rolling pin?" he asked, pointing to the floor.

Her mother apologized for her daughter's actions, saying she was naive and didn't understand the situation.

"You didn't just expect that I'll sit back and watch you kill my father, did you?"

He laughed and said, "I'm not evil. Your father owes me money, and he was supposed to pay me back three months ago. I've been patient, but he's taking advantage of me."

She replied, "You won't get your money back if he's dead."

She wondered if he truly didn't recognize her, and maybe it was for the best. He wasn't the same man she had met six years ago; his smile now sent chills down her spine.

He tightened his grip on her hair, and she whimpered, which seemed to excite him. "You're a smart woman, aren't you?" he said.

Her father pleaded, "Look, I'll give you your money, just give me a little more time. Please, don't hurt my daughter."

He let go of her hair, but she wasn't fast enough, and he grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her into his arms, his long strides easily keeping her in place.

"Nope! Not so fast Princess."

"Don't call me that!" she screamed, struggling against his grip. She tried to escape, but he held her firm, his hands wrapping around her waist and shoulder, keeping her still.

"Shhhh, hold still, feisty. I'm not going to hurt you," he said, his voice calm.

Her mother pleaded, kneeling, "Oh Jane! please, sir, let my child go, she's all I have!" He sneered,

"So you do have something of value after all. And I thought you had nothing." He pointed at her father, "You said you'd do anything to keep your life, and I can hold onto anything in this house until you pay what you owe. Today's your lucky day, and I'm in a good mood. None of you will die today. Instead, I'll hold onto this precious thing," he said, referring to her, "until you return my money."

No one spoke for a few seconds, stunned into silence. Then, her mother found her voice and yelled, "No! You can't take my daughter! Please give her back to me!" She ran towards her, oblivious to the gun pointed at her, her only focus on reaching her child. "Mr. Black, please let her go!" she pleaded.

Jane screamed at the top of her voice, "Mum, stop! Stop moving right now, he'll kill you!"

Kaius Black stood before the small, shabby house, a stark contrast to the mansion he grew up in. The aroma of freshly baked bread or pancakes wafted through the air, enticing his senses. However, he wasn't there for the pastries; he was there for business.

Kaius had a mission to prove to his father, Jacob Black, that he was a worthy son and capable of handling the family business. His father, a ruthless and feared loan shark, had been incapacitated in an accident, and Kaius saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate his skills.

As he stepped out of the Chevrolet suburban SUV, Kaius gave a nod to his men. One of them kicked the door open, and the old hinges broke from the impact. A scrambling sound came from within, indicating that the occupants were home and frightened.

Kaius's father, Jacob Black, was a legendary figure in the underworld and business world. He owned J&A wineries and numerous casinos across the globe. Kaius, as his only son, was groomed to take over the family business and continue his father's legacy.

A shaky voice asked, "Who are you people? What do you want?" Kaius chuckled, surprised that the man didn't recognize him. Santiago, his secretary, walked over to the man and landed a punch on his jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.

A loud shriek sounded from behind Kaius. A woman, likely the man's wife, had been hiding behind the couch.

Santiago dragged Jacob Frazier towards Kaius, forcing him to kneel. "Look at me," Kaius commanded. Jacob slowly raised his head, revealing his bruised lips. His teeth had sunk into it, leaving a deep cut.

"Do you know who I am?" Kaius asked, a small smile on his lips. Jacob's eyes widened in surprise as he realized who Kaius was. Kaius had met Jacob at the casino with his father. Jacob was a regular gambler and had lost everything that day. He was also very drunk.

Kaius remembered how pitiful Jacob had looked, begging his father for money. Everyone at the casino had been amused by Jacob's behavior. His father had summoned Jacob and ridiculed him even more.

"Kaius Black," Jacob muttered under his breath. Kaius smiled. "I see you're sober this time. You haven't been to the casino recently. Are you running away?" Jacob shook his head. "No, I'm not running away. I would never do that."

Kaius laughed. "You couldn't even if you wanted to." His boys joined in the laughter, causing Jacob to bow his head in shame.

Kaius reminded Jacob of the day he begged his father for money. Jacob had confessed that the money he lost was his wife's savings, meant for her business. Kaius's father had offered to loan him money, giving him ten months to pay back with interest. But it had been over a year, and Jacob still hadn't paid back. His debt had grown to three million pesos.

Kaius's family had been focused on supporting his father after his accident. His father was crippled but could improve with time and therapy. As soon as his father could sit, he became furious with Kaius and the executives for putting everything on hold.

Kaius had overheard his parents discussing his role in the business. His father wanted him to take over, but his mother was against it. She knew the dirty side of the business and didn't want Kaius involved. She wanted him to have a normal life, find love, and settle down.

But it was too late for that. Kaius had done many bad things trying to impress his father, and he knew he'd have to do it again to convince his father he was ready to take over the company.

Kaius's father had given him a task to prove himself. He had to collect debts from people who had borrowed money from his father. Jacob Frazier was one of them, but he was dirt poor and couldn't pay back the loan. Kaius knew he couldn't go back empty-handed, or his father would be disappointed.

As Kaius pointed his gun at Jacob, a woman rushed towards him. His quick reflexes allowed him to stop her, and he pinned her against the wall. Suddenly, he found himself staring into the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. Eyes that he had seen before.

It was her - the woman who had saved his life six years ago. She had found him beaten and left for dead by a rival company. She had nursed him back to health, treating his wounds and bruises. Kaius had searched for her everywhere, but she had vanished.

Now, here she was, and Kaius couldn't believe his luck. But he pretended not to recognize her, staying distant and cold. Despite this, he couldn't deny the strong attraction he felt towards her.

"You do have something of value after all," Kaius said, looking at the woman. "I'll hold on to this precious thing until you pay back what you owe." Kaius pulled her along with him, dragging her out of the house despite her parents' pleas and her resistance.

As they struggled, Kaius's men held back her parents. Kaius lifted her and threw her over his shoulder. "Hold still!" he commanded, hitting his palm on her bottom. She gasped in surprise and suddenly lost her speech.

Kaius threw her into the car, sitting beside her with one of his men. "Where to?" the driver asked. "My place," Kaius replied. As they drove away, Kaius couldn't help but wonder if he really meant to let her go once her parents paid back the debt. Had he really found her again, only to let her slip away?

Kaius's mind was filled with questions and doubts. He had been searching for her for so long, and now that he had found her, he wasn't sure what to do. He knew he couldn't let his feelings get in the way of his business, but he couldn't deny the strong connection he felt towards her.