THE RUTHLESS MAFIA KING AND HIS FEISTY HOSTAGE

Maya POV

"Please, please, please come to the mall with me?" Alice begged for the thousandth time in the last ten minutes. She is kind of obsessed with shopping, and apparently, there are some really good sales she can't miss.

"Fine! If I go, will you shut up?" I snapped, and her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Alice squealed.

Alice and I have been best friends since we were five years old. She's the shy one until you get to know her, and I'm the loudmouth smartass. We balance each other out perfectly.

"You're the best, Maya!" She beamed..

"Yeah, Alice, you've mentioned that once or twice," I chuckled as we left my house and headed to my car. My parents got me a white Lexus SUV when I turned eighteen, and I helped pay for it with the money I earned working at their law firm. It's like my baby!

We jumped into my car and raced to the mall, singing and dancing to whatever songs were playing on the radio. When we arrived, I found a parking spot and we headed inside.

While shopping, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I glanced around but didn't see anything unusual.

"Earth to Maya!" Alice snapped her fingers in front of my face. I shook off my paranoid thoughts. I watch too many crime shows.

"What?" I asked, returning to our conversation. She looked at me like I'd grown another head but continued talking.

"I asked what you wanted to eat, but you zoned out!" she laughed, linking her arm with mine and leading me to the food court.

"Like you even have to ask," I snorted sarcastically. We always eat at the same place.

"Chick-fil-A it is!" She laughed and practically dragged me up the escalator.

Once we finished eating, we decided to visit one more store before leaving. As we headed downstairs, the feeling of being watched came back. I stopped and saw two men in expensive suits following us. I grabbed Alice's arm and we started sprinting.

"What's wrong?" she asked as we turned a corner, both panting for air.

"Shh, we're being followed," I whispered as we hid.

Suddenly, someone grabbed me tightly and pulled me up, covering my mouth. I bit his hand hard, drawing blood.

"You bitch!" he cursed, letting go of my mouth and slapping me across the face, making my cheek sting and my lip bleed.

"Let go of me, you bastard!" I yelled, but he squeezed tighter, making me whimper.

"No can do, bitch. You're coming with us," he spat.

Alice looked terrified, and I was scared too.

"You can't take her!" Alice cried, trying to run to me, but the other guy pulled her back.

"Don't touch her! I'll go with you if you leave her alone," I negotiated. They agreed, but Alice clung to me, crying.

"I'll be okay. I promise," I reassured her, though I was terrified myself.

"Can you let go so I can give her my car keys?" I snapped, but the guy holding me just grunted.

"Nope," he replied in a raspy voice that sent shivers down my spine.

"Can she grab them from my pocket?" I asked, annoyed. He had such a tight grip on me, like I could go anywhere.

"No," he snapped back rudely.

"I drove her here. She'll be stranded if I can't give her my keys, you moron!" I yelled, struggling against his hold, which only made him squeeze harder.

Then he grabbed both my hands with one of his and searched my pockets until he found the keys, tossing them to Alice.

"Take care of my baby, or I'll kick your ass, Alice!" I warned, tears streaming down my face. She smiled and picked up the keys.

"I will, I promise!" She hugged me tightly, and the guy released his hold so I could hug her goodbye. I whispered comforting words in her ear.

"It's going to be okay. Go to my house and call my parents. Let them know that I was taken and try to find me before they kill me and leave me in a ditch somewhere." I tried making a joke but honestly I wasn't sure what they planned on doing with me.7

Alice looked terrified, but I gave her a reassuring smile and urged her to leave before they changed their minds. She hesitated at first, but eventually ran off.

My heart raced as the guy holding me hooked his arm with mine and forced me to walk with him and the other guy. I wished it was the other guy handling me; he seemed less aggressive and wouldn't have hurt me.

Outside, I was shoved into a fancy Tahoe with tinted windows so dark I couldn't see anything outside. I was stuck in the backseat between the two guys from the mall.

During the ride, I learned that the driver's name is Diego. He has blonde hair and light green eyes, and a soft smile. He didn't seem like the others. The other guy, Ricardo, has jet black hair and chocolate brown eyes. He looked tough but also regretful about kidnapping me. His soft smile brought some comfort, but I wasn't sure if I'd be okay yet.

The guy who slapped me is named Carlos. He has black hair, grey eyes, and stubble on his face. He's good-looking, but I wouldn't say it out loud.

"Yeah, she bit me and earned herself a slap," he smirked, making me scowl.

"You busted my lip, you prick!" I argued, knowing I was outnumbered and powerless.

"You slapped a lady?" Diego asked, turning from the road to look at us.

"The bitch bit me!" Carlos whined like a child. It was almost funny, but I wanted to slap him.

"Carlos, you need to learn to talk to women. Slapping and name-calling only makes things worse," Diego scolded, shaking his head as he turned back to driving.

"Shut up," Carlos snapped, leaning back in his seat. I felt him relax beside me.

"Damon won't be happy about you slapping her or the bruises and busted lip," Ricardo added, making Carlos tense up next to me.

"I know," Carlos sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. Damon must be a big shot if even tough guys like Carlos are scared of him. I was definitely doomed.

Before I could ask about Damon, the car stopped and I was yanked out. The sight before me was breathtaking.

As I was pulled out, I shot Carlos a glare. He smirked, almost making me fall, but his grip kept me steady.

"I can walk! Stop manhandling me, you moron!" I snapped, trying to free myself from his tight hold, but it was no use. He said nothing, just pulled me towards the mansion.

The house was stunning, at least four or five stories high. The front was made of different colored stones with wooden pillars and a big brown door. There was a porch with patio furniture and blooming flowers. A long sidewalk led up to the mansion.

Before I could take it all in, the door opened and I was pulled inside. Carlos let go of me once we were indoors, but I still felt trapped. Even if I escaped Carlos, I couldn't get out of this house with its tight security and different codes for every room.

Inside the house was even more stunning than the outside. To my right was a living room bigger than my entire house. There were three large couches, a huge 70" flat screen TV, and an Xbox with every game imaginable on the entertainment center.

As Carlos and Ricardo led me through the house, I got a tour of the giant place. The kitchen was amazing, with dark marble countertops, light brown floor tiles, and stainless steel appliances. I'd kill to cook in a kitchen like that-I love cooking, thanks to my mom who taught me everything.

We went up four stories, and on each landing, there were beautiful family photos. Some showed a man and a woman who looked married, gazing lovingly at each other. Others had pictures of three young boys-Carlos, Ricardo, and another boy I didn't recognize. The photos looked like they were taken about ten years ago.

There were also pictures of Carlos, Ricardo, and the other boy with a few other guys I didn't know. But what caught my eye was a little girl in some of the photos. She had long brown hair and electric green eyes, and she was stunning-enough to make any girl feel self-conscious.

I was led down a long hallway to a room on the fourth floor. Carlos opened the door and pushed me inside. The room had no windows, just four dark brown walls. There was a twin bed against one wall and a small dresser with three drawers. No mirrors, pictures, or TV-just the bed and dresser.

Carlos took out handcuffs and chained me to the headboard, causing discomfort as they dug into my skin.

"Is this necessary? What do you want from me? Let me go!" I yelled, panic coursing through me.

"You'll find out soon enough," Carlos snapped, tightening the cuffs before leaving. I heard the beep of a keypad, signaling that I was locked in.

Alone in the empty room, I curled up on the bed, sobbing until I fell asleep. When I woke up, I momentarily forgot where I was. I searched for a clock or any clue about the time, but found nothing.

A few seconds later, I heard the keypad beep, and panic surged through me. I jumped up and stared at the door. Ricardo walked in with a tray of food, and I relaxed a little, relieved it wasn't Carlos. I couldn't handle any more of his aggression right now.

"Are you hungry?" Ricardo asked softly. I wasn't in the mood to eat. I'd been held hostage for who knows how long with no clue why I was kidnapped.

"No, thanks," I replied with a fake smile, sitting back down on the bed with my legs crossed. Ricardo froze when he saw the deep purple ring around my wrist. He cursed in Italian and stormed out, leaving the door open.

I would have left the room, but I was still cuffed to the bed. I huffed and leaned back, closing my eyes. I had no idea where Ricardo had gone.

Then, I heard light footsteps in the hallway. I opened my eyes to see a girl about my age with long brown hair and deep green eyes-Camilla.

"You're the girl from the pictures on the walls!" I exclaimed, feeling like I'd solved a mystery. She smiled and walked into the room, sitting beside me on the bed.

"That's me. I'm Camilla," she giggled, offering her hand to shake my free one.

"I'm Maya," I said, offering a small smile and shaking her outstretched hand. Camilla gave off good vibes. She was about my height, with naturally curly brown hair that reached her belly button. She was in great shape and had a tan I envied.

"I'm sorry they have you handcuffed. I don't usually get involved with my brother's business, but this is wrong," Camilla said, irritation in her tone. Who was her brother?

"Your brother is Carlos?" I asked, my voice dripping with distaste. She laughed as if I'd told her a joke, which left me staring at her until she finally calmed down.

"No! My brother is Damon," she said, still giggling. Again, who was this Damon guy?

"I don't know who the hell Damon is!" I snapped, suddenly aware that I was kidnapped because of him, without anyone filling me in.

"I'm Damon. Watch your mouth," a sultry voice spoke from across the room by the door. His voice alone sent chills down my spine.

DAMON'S POV

I was in my office when I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I grunted, setting down the file I had in my hands. Ricardo walked in, looking uneasy. He's been one of my best friends since birth. My parents took over the family business, the Morello Mafia, passed down for generations. Ricardo and Carlos's dads were part of it but retired a few years ago. Being born a male in my family means knowing your destiny: the family business, aka the Mafia. At 18, I took over, and my dad retired. Ricardo and Carlos joined at 18 too. The rest is another story.

"What can I do for you, Ricardo?" I asked sternly.

"The girl you had us bring to you, well, I'm afraid she's hurt..." He trailed off, sparking my interest.

"In what way?" I asked, and he almost seemed afraid to answer.

"You know how aggressive Carlos can get..." I stood up and walked around my desk. Carlos has always had a temper.

"Let's go," I ordered, leading us up to the fourth floor. When we got to the room, my sister was sitting on the bed next to Maya. Seeing her for the first time, with a bright red handprint on the side of her face, a busted lip, bruises covering her arms, and her wrist cuffed to the headboard, put me in a rage.

"Get Carlos up here. Now," I ordered, and Ricardo left to find the moron who disobeyed me. I took a moment to study her features: sandy blonde, wavy hair that reached just below her chest, eyes a striking blend of blue and grey. Dried tears streaked her cheeks, and she looked utterly broken. I at least wanted to free her from the handcuffs.

Ricardo and Carlos entered the room, drawing my attention away from the girl in front of me.

"Camilla, leave," I softened my tone, and she glanced at Maya for confirmation. Maya nodded, and my sister exited the room. I turned to Carlos and Ricardo. They looked terrified, as they should. We've been friends for too long, and they know I don't mess around, especially when they disobey orders.

"Give me the keys to the handcuffs," I ordered. Carlos fumbled in his pockets, fishing out the keys. He placed them in my hand, then stepped back to his previous position.

"Why the hell did you handcuff her in the first place?" I asked sternly.

"Because the girl fucking bit me!" Carlos yelled, thrusting his hand out to show me the bite mark with dried blood around it. Maya let out a giggle, but stopped abruptly when she saw our attention shift towards her. I narrowed my eyes at Carlos, not in the mood for his games.

"Look at her wrist, you dumbass! I told you to bring the girl to me unharmed, but of course you manage to mess that up! Not only did you slap her, you busted her lip, and covered her arms and wrist in bruises!" I shouted, growing angrier by the second.

"Where the hell were you when this was happening?" I turned to Ricardo, but his eyes widened with fear.

"I'm sorry, Damon. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on her. It won't happen again. You have my word," Carlos apologized, head low in defeat.

"Leave us. Both of you. Shut the door on your way out," I ordered, and they all but ran out of the room. I turned to Maya, noticing her nervousness.

"If I undo the handcuffs, are you going to behave?" I asked her. Her expression shifted from nervous to angry in seconds.

"I'm not five. I'm an adult I think I know how to "behave." She snapped. This girl definitely has an attitude.

"Yes an adult who bites totally knows how to behave." I sarcastically replied. My patience with her attitude was growing thin.

"Sorry, you had two big guys kidnap me. I wasn't going to come without a fight, and in the process, I was slapped and gripped so hard that I'm covered in bruises. Why did you have me kidnapped in the first place?" Maya's feistiness was a turn-on, that's for sure.

I didn't say anything. I just sat down and unlocked the handcuffs. Gently, I picked up her dark purple wrist and rubbed circles around the bruise. I got lost in the moment until her sighing forced me out of it. Standing up, I fixed my suit.

"Don't mistake my gestures for kindness or weakness. You'll find out soon enough why I've had you taken away from your family, but for now, you'll stay put," I warned her. Her face fell from a content look to shock.

"Yeah, because it would be abnormal for at least one of you guys to be a decent human being," she spat so disgustingly that I almost felt bad for everything that's happened to her. But I quickly dismissed that thought as quickly as it came.

"You aren't meant to be treated like a queen if that's what you're expecting. You're not special. You will not be receiving special privileges or treatment. You will stay here until I say other wise. Might as well get comfortable "princess." I spat with so much venom. She stared at me for a moment before laying down and rolling over into a ball. She brought her knees up to her chest and started to cry. I stood torn between trying to comfort her or leaving the room so I just turned around and left not knowing what else to do. After I left her in the room, I did not see her again until weeks

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Maya POV

Days passed while I stayed cooped up in that room. I lost track of how long I'd been there. Since Damon left, I hadn't seen anyone. They dropped off food three times a day, but I was always asleep. At first, I barely ate, but eventually I started eating because it didn't seem like I was leaving soon and hunger is no small matter. I kept on telling myself that I had to eat in order to survive.

All the crying took a toll on me. I felt weaker than ever. There were no mirrors in the bathroom, just a toilet and a shower. I wore the same clothes since I got here. The bruises healed, and so did my lip. I stretched my body, trying to shake off the stiffness.

Then, the keypad stopped beeping, and I turned to see Ricardo walking in with a small smile.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here," he said, motioning me to follow. I was grateful, even if I didn't know where we were going.

"Where to?" I asked, my voice hoarse from disuse.

"We have a new room for you," he muttered, and my hopes plummeted. We walked down three flights of stairs and stopped at another bedroom door. I expected it to be like the last one, but it was much nicer. A king-size bed, a dresser with a mirror, a huge flat-screen TV, and an incredible bathroom greeted me.

"Wow, I'll be staying in here?" I whispered, almost afraid they'd change their minds.

"Yep. Damon got everything set up for you. There are new clothes in your size, from undergarments to pajamas and more," Ricardo said with a bright smile. I couldn't help but feel a bit excited about showering and changing clothes.

"That's amazing! Thank you," I replied with a small smile. I was confused about the sudden change from prisoner to having this fully loaded room, but I wasn't going to question it.

"In the bathroom, there's shampoo, conditioner, razors, and whatever else you need," he added. This place wasn't home, but it was better than the room upstairs. There was no keypad, so I wouldn't be locked in. There was even a window and a mirror on the dresser. You really take things for granted until you're in a situation like this.

"I'll let you freshen up. We eat breakfast at 7:30 and dinner at 6:00 sharp. Damon wants you to join us for meals. See you later, Maya," Ricardo explained as he walked out of the room.

"Thank you, Ricardo," I said as he closed the door behind him. I hurried across the room and into the bathroom. Flipping on the light, I froze at the sight of my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a tangled mess, my eyes lacked their usual brightness, and my skin looked paler than ever. Dark circles under my eyes made me appear even more tired. I looked sickly, like I'd lost weight.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I turned on the shower, setting it to the hottest temperature. Grabbing a razor from the counter, I stripped down and stepped into the shower. The hot water turned my skin red as I washed my hair with coconut shampoo and conditioner, shaved everywhere, and scrubbed my body twice with strawberry body wash before stepping out, turning off the water.

Steam filled the bathroom, making it hard to see. I found a towel in the closet and wrapped it around myself before exiting the bathroom and locking the door. Surprisingly, the door had a lock, which I appreciated.

Digging through the drawers, I found a variety of undergarments from Victoria's Secret. I chose a pair of leopard silky boy shorts and a plain black bra. Satisfied with the fit, I then picked out black jean shorts and a three-quarter length baseball shirt. After dressing, I brushed my hair and applied some mascara and eyeliner.8

Damon might have been a huge jerk, but he made sure to stock up on everything I needed – clothes, underwear, makeup, shoes, shower stuff. I was grateful for that. Finally feeling like a person again after days of feeling like crap was a relief. I found a pair of black gladiator sandals in the closet and slipped them on.

Walking over to the window, I was greeted with a breathtaking view of the forest outside. Tall trees with bright green leaves, birds chirping and flying around, bushes filled with beautiful flowers – it was a nature lover's dream. My mind wandered to my parents. Were they looking for me? Did they miss me? What would happen if they found me? Thoughts raced through my head, none of them ending well. I wanted to call them, but Carlos had taken my phone when he brought me here.

Deciding to find Damon and thank him, I stepped out of my room into the hallway. Feeling like I was in a maze, I eventually found the living room and kitchen I'd seen before. A few girls were sitting in the living room, watching TV. They all stared at me, giving me strange looks. I would've done the same if a stranger had just barged in and sat down without saying anything.

"Hi, I'm Maya," I introduced myself.

Maya POV

"Hi, I'm Maya," I smiled as I introduced myself. The three of them stared at me, looking shocked and confused. I mean, who wouldn't? They don't know me, and here I am, sitting on their couch.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before anyone said anything.

"Hello, I'm Elaine," she spoke, sitting in the middle of the three. She had long red hair and dark brown eyes. Her fair, freckled complexion complimented her hair.

"I'm Carmen" the next one smiled, showing off her perfectly straight teeth. She had jet black hair and emerald green eyes. She was tan and had long, model-like legs. She looked like a supermodel. I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of how pretty she was.

"And I'm Scarlet," the last one waved. She had blonde hair with blue eyes, looking like a surfer. Her skin was tan, and her body was athletic and petite.

"So, where did you come from?" Elaine asked softly. She seemed to be the quiet one of the three, her voice soft and sweet.

"From New York. Where the heck am I, anyway?" I asked, but none of them answered me. Figures.

"Do you work out?" Carmen asked, observing my body.

"I used to, I haven't lately. I probably should start again though," I joked as I pinched some fat on my stomach.

"Please! I would kill for your body!" Elaine gushed, quickly covering her mouth from embarrassment, which caused us all to laugh.

'We have a gym down in the basement if you ever want to work out. We would love to have you join us," Scarlet smiled sweetly, and I nodded.

"I would love that!" I don't know how long I'm going to be here. I might as well make the most of it instead of being stuck up in my room. Honestly, at this point, I would rather do anything than be in my room. It was nice seeing people and communicating.

The front door opened, and Damon, Carlos, Ricardo, and Diego walked in. Elaine ran up and hugged Ricardo and gave him a peck on the cheek. I totally didn't picture them together, but seeing them canoodling was kind of sweet. His eyes softened when he looked at her.

Carmen walked over to Carlos and placed a big kiss on his lips, catching him off guard. He wrapped his arms around her small waist, and they started making out. I didn't picture them together either. It was weird seeing Carlos being nice to someone instead of being an asshole.

Scarlet remained seated on the couch, but her eyes roamed over to Diego, who was stealing glances at her. He must be too shy to ask her out. They looked like a couple of school kids, blushing and smiling. It was so sweet. I would definitely have to talk to him and give him some tips.

"Maya, can I see you in my office?" Damon's voice boomed off the walls, causing everyone to stop and focus their attention on us, which made me fidgety.

"Sure," I gave him an awkward smile and followed him into his office. When we were inside, he shut the door and walked over to his desk. Instead of walking around and sitting on the chair, he halfway sat down on the top of his desk.

"How are you settling into your new room?" He asked after a few seconds had passed.

"Good considering the circumstances. Thank you for all the stuff you bought me by the way," I thanked him. I wasn't really sure what to say or how to say it. An emotion I didn't recognize flickered in his eyes briefly before his stern gaze reappeared.

"It's not a problem. Consider it all as an apology for the way I spoke to you the last time we spoke," The way he spoke to me made me squirm in my seat. His dazzling teeth and deep green eyes made me melt to the floor, okay not literally but you get what I mean.

"I have some answers that you've been looking for since you've arrived," He stated in the 'are you sure you want to know' kind of tone. This quickly brought attention from drooling over him to 100% focused on what he was going to say.

"Okay," I quickly answered him, waiting for him to continue. He took a few breaths and stood up, starting to walk around to the other side of his office. He appeared to be having an inner battle with himself. He picked up a manila folder from his desk and held it tightly in his fist.

"Maya, your dad isn't who you think he is..." He started, but I quickly interrupted him, which fueled his short temper.

"Where are you going with this?" I snapped. How dare you try to use my dad as some kind of excuse as to why he had me kidnapped.

"Don't interrupt me or I will not continue. One thing I do not tolerate is interruptions, you will learn that quickly, princess." Oh, not only is he going to scold me like I'm a child, he is going to call me a word that brings me so much hatred.

"Okay, please go on," I waved my hand, signaling him to finish what he was saying.

"Do you know what group I run, Maya?" He asked me with a gleam of mysterious pride in his eyes.

"From the looks of it, I would say a real estate agency, but I'm probably wrong, aren't I?" I joked, and surprisingly, he smiled. Granted, it was a half-smile, but it still was more breathtaking than I imagined it would be.

"Wrong indeed. Miss Marquez, what would you say if I told you I'm the leader of the Morello Mafia?" He asked me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I would say that you're full of shit," I answered as I stopped laughing. He stared at me and didn't smile nor laugh. He was being serious. I didn't know if he was trying to pull some kind of joke or what his deal was, but suddenly something felt off. My panic alarms were going off inside my head, and fear was rolling off of me in waves.

"Y-yo-you're serious?" I asked as my voice slurred. He didn't reply; he just nodded his head.

"Relax, Maya. I nor anyone else will hurt you. You are safe. You are here because of financial reasoning. Once the debt owed to me is paid, you will be free to go," His voice was soft and somewhat comforting, which brought me some relief.

"What do you mean?" I was confused beyond belief. I was kidnapped because someone owed him money? Who? How much?

"Your father is a part of The Martino Mafia. Before you interrupt me, let me finish. Yes, the Mafia is real," he explained, and I listened to his every word.

"Your dad is running the gang with two other men you might recognize. Their names are Stefan Martino and Nico Martino," he opened the Manila folder and showed me the two men.

"They're my uncles," I whispered, feeling breathless. Stefan and Nico are my mom's brothers. I knew they were businessmen, and that my father and them all worked together at what I thought was a law firm, but based on the pictures, my information was once again wrong. Damon flipped through the pictures and showed me pictures of my dad and uncles with guns in their hands, doing what I would guess is something illegal based on how suspicious they looked.

"Breathe, Maya. I know this is a lot to take in. Do you want to take a break and finish this later?" He asked me softly, but I quickly shook my head, afraid that if I didn't find out everything right now, that I possibly never would.

"No, just continue. Please," I begged desperately, wanting to know the truth.

"Your dad and uncles' gang stole from me. They hacked into my bank account and wired 5 million dollars from my account to their own," he explained, and the more he spoke, the more confused I became.

"But how did they hack into your account?" I wondered out loud.

"With the right computer system and a smart computer guy it's not that hard." He waved his hand as if it were no big deal.

"Are you positive it was my dad and uncles who did it?" I asked him and he nodded.

"I'm 100% positive. My guy tracked the transaction and it led him straight to your dads account. The money was stolen 6 months ago, I have spoken with your father and uncles about getting my money back but they refuse too. I warned them that they wanted to pay their debt quickly or else it would get ugly but they didn't believe me. Hence why you are here." He half smiled and I couldn't help but return the smile.

"My dad is in the Mafia instead of being a lawyer like I thought he was my whole life. My uncles are in the Mafia as well. My family stole money from you, for what reason I'm not sure. You had me kidnapped and will continue to keep me here until my family pays you the money that they stole from you, and once they pay you, I'll get to go home. Am I missing anything?" I quickly ran through the details calmly, but on the inside, my head was spinning. I felt like my entire life was a lie. I couldn't help but question everything about my life. Suddenly, I started to feel lightheaded, and I gripped the edge of Damon's desk to prevent myself from falling forward.

I could hear him calling my name, but I couldn't bring myself to answer him. He stood up and walked around his desk, then knelt down in front of me. He took both of my hands into his large, warm hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"Maya, breathe. In and out. I know it's a lot to take in, but trust me, what I'm telling you is true. Would you like to call your parents?" I slowly caught my breath and nodded. Hearing him call me Maya made my heart flutter. The way he said it was soft and sincere, like he actually cared. I know I was wrong, but I couldn't help but feel butterflies when he looked at me.

"Okay, I'll call them," he said as he stood up and walked over to the phone, punching in a phone number. He put the phone on speaker, and the dialing rings bounced off the walls of his office.

"Hello?" My dad's deep voice boomed over the phone. Damon looked at me and gave me a single nod, telling me to talk.

"Hi, Dad," I answered, keeping it simple as I didn't know what to say or how to feel.

"Maya? Is that you? Are you okay? Where are you?" He bombarded me with questions.

"I'm okay. I'm with-" I was cut off by Damon, who had stepped closer to the phone.

"She's with me, Andres," Damon interjected with so much hatred it sent a chill down my spine.

"Damon Morello?" My dad asked nervously. I hoped Damon was wrong about my dad, that he was who I thought he was my whole life. But this wasn't a fairytale; instead, my life had taken a turn for the worse.

"Mr. Marquez, I don't have time to play games with you. I'll get straight to the point, and then I'll give the phone back to your daughter. You are in debt to me. You owe me 5 million dollars. I will keep your daughter with me until that debt is paid," Damon spoke business-like, while I sat there quietly.

My dad exhaled loudly before speaking.

"I don't have the money," his voice was dull, and my heart broke a little for him. I hated hearing him like this.

"There's no deadline on when I need the money. I will simply keep her here until it's been paid," Damon shrugged, and I started to wonder how long I would actually end up staying here. The past week hadn't been pleasant, and honestly, I just wanted to go home and sleep in my own bed.

"I'll get you the money, I promise. Maya, just know that I'm going to save you, my angel. Don't worry. I love you," I could hear his sobs through the phone.6

"I love you too dad." I was suddenly on the brink of a full blown meltdown but I quickly shook it off and wiped the tears that had escaped. The phone went dead after my dad hung up. Damon was staring at me and I was staring at him, then he moved by a few steps to the point where he was standing directly in front of me. I inched closer and he leaned in and then our lips met.