The Mafia boss and his captive

"Kat! Come on! We're gonna miss the sunset!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Kataliya laughed, her heels clicking fast across the rooftop floor as she joined her friends. Her black curls bounced around her shoulders, and her cheeks were flushed from dancing earlier.

The rooftop was lit with fairy lights and cheap wine bottles. The city below sparkled like a million tiny stars. It was the last Friday before graduation, and for Kataliya, it felt like the last night of being a teenager-young, wild, and free.

Bella her best friend, shoved a plastic cup in her hand. "To us!" she shouted over the music.

"To freedom!" Kataliya added.

They all clinked cups, laughter echoing into the night. Music thumped through a small speaker. Someone started singing terribly. Someone else popped open another bottle. For a moment, the world was perfect.

Kataliya leaned over the railing, letting the wind brush her face. She closed her eyes. Everything in her life had been controlled-her father's rules, her bodyguards, the limits, the expectations. But tonight felt different. It felt like hers.

Bella came up beside her. "Are you sure your dad's cool with you being here? I mean you alone, no security men guarding you this time...."

Kataliya rolled her eyes. "He thinks I'm at a sleepover. Besides, I've got one more week of high school. I deserve this."

"You do," Bella said with a smile. "You deserve a life that isn't guarded 24/7."

"I know, right?" Kat sighed. "Next week I'll be in college, maybe even out of the country. Away from all this mafia drama."

They laughed again, clinking cups.

But just as the laughter faded, the rooftop door slammed open.

Three men in black stormed through. Their faces were hidden under black masks. Guns raised.

For one second, everything went still.

Then-screams.

"Get down!"

"Call 911!"

The music died. People ran. Bottles shattered. One man grabbed bella and threw her aside like a rag doll. Another reached for Kataliya.

"No!" she screamed, trying to run.

But he was too fast.

A thick arm wrapped around her waist. A sharp sting on her neck.

Something cold spread through her veins. Everything blurred.

Voices shouted. A gun fired. The city lights looked blurry. Her body felt like it was floating.

Then-

Nothing, no sound, no locomotion, just stillness.

She woke up to pain.

Her head throbbed. Her wrists was hurting so bad. Something cold and hard was under her back.

She blinked. The ceiling above her was gold, with a chandelier hanging like a spider.

Kataliya gasped.

She sat up too fast. Her body swayed. Her arms were tied at the wrists, the rope thick and tight. She was in a room-no, not a room-a palace.

The walls were dark marble. The curtains, blood-red velvet. There were no windows. Just two guards by the door, both silent, both armed.

She was no longer in her city, she was no longer home.

Panic rose like fire in her throat.

"Where the hell am I?!" she shouted.

The guards said nothing.

"Let me go! You don't know who I am! My father will kill you-do you hear me?! He will kill every last one of you!"

But no sound came in, her only answer was silence and echoes.

Suddenly, the door opened.

A man walked in.

Tall, broad-shouldered. Black suit, no tie. Dark eyes, sharp jaw like real cold ice.

He didn't smile. He didn't blink.

Kataliya froze.

He was younger than she expected but his presence made the whole room feel like it was holding its collapsing..

He looked at her like she was not a girl, but a weapon.

"You're awake," he said calmly.

Kat's voice shook. "Who are you?"

The man took a slow step forward. "My name is Santiago."

She blinked. "San...santiago..... Salvatore.

He tilted his head, and then lit on his cigarette on his mouth and sent out the smoke carelessly.

"Familiar right?"

She almost threw up.

"You're the man my father's at war with," she whispered. "You're the one who-who bombed our port. Who kidnapped women. Who traffics guns. Who murders......-"

"Careful, Santiago snapped in, his voice smooth, but with a blade underneath. "You don't know enough to speak."

"I don't want to know anything about you!" she snapped. "Let me go! I don't have anything to do with your sick games!"

Santiago stared at her for a long time.

Then he chuckled. Just once.

"You're right," he said. "You don't, well you can't put those words to my face whereas your father is the boss in the game too."

"Then why? I also have no business in what ever you have with my father, I'm on a verge of graduating and have my freedom and life....."

"But your father does."

Kataliya swallowed hard.

"This war has taken blood from both sides," Santiago said. "And your father refused to listen. So now, he'll listen to me."

She stared at him. "You kidnapped me... to

send a message?"

"No," he replied. "I kidnapped you... to take control."

Kat tried to stand, but her legs gave out. She collapsed on the floor, the ropes biting into her skin.

Santiago didn't move to help her.

"I'm not a toy," she yelled. "I'm not part of this."

"Shut the fuck up," he screamed and everyone went still.

"You're a monster."

He finally stepped close enough for her to smell his cologne-something woodsy, expensive, terrifying.

"I've been called worse."

He chuckled, then turned and walked toward the door.

"Wait!" she cried out. "You can't just leave me here!"

He paused. "You'll be treated well. As long as your father behaves."

She screamed as the door slammed shut behind him.

Somewhere miles away, across the city...

Don Carter was already on his knees.

Not from pain but rage boiling within.

His men had searched every street. Every camera. Every alley and still-nothing was found.

His baby girl had vanished.

"Who?" he growled.

A trembling body knelt before him, blood pooling around broken teeth. "We don't know. Black SUVs. No plates or military style. No tracks. We...we think..."

"Say it!" Carter roared.

"We think... it was Santiago's people."

Silence passed, then a gunshot.

The body slumped.

Carter turned to his second-in-command. "Find him. Burn everything he owns. I want eyes in Mexico, Spain, every port, every damn forest. I want that bastard bleeding before the sun comes up."

"Yes, boss."

"And if he touches her..."

Carter's voice dropped to a whisper.

"I will skin him alive and feed him to the dogs."

Back in the dark palace, Kataliya lay curled on the floor.

Time passed, but she didn't know how much.

Minutes? Hours? Maybe a day?

She didn't sleep. She didn't eat. The tray they left her stayed untouched. The guards didn't speak. The lights never dimmed.

Her world had become silence and fear.

She hated Santiago. She hated his calm voice. His cold eyes. His complete control. She hated him so much it made her chest burn.

But more than anything, she hated how alone she felt.

And how no one-not even her father-had come for her.

Suddenly, the door opened again.

Kat sat up fast, heart racing.

Santiago walked in but alone this time, no guards.

He stared at the untouched food. Then at her pale face.

"You haven't eaten yet...."

She said nothing.

"You need to stay strong, this hasn't started....."

"For what?" she whispered.

He didn't answer.

He took the tray, walked closer, and sat in front of her. He picked up a spoon, filled it with rice, and held it out.

"Eat."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You're feeding me now? Like a child?"

"I'm giving you a choice."

"Then I choose to starve."

Santiago's eyes narrowed.

"Eat," he repeated.

She spat at him.

Santiago froze.

The next second happened too fast.

He stood and a slap landed on her face.

Hard.

The sound echoed in the marble room.

Kataliya hit the floor. Her vision blurred. Her lip bled. Her cheek throbbed.

She didn't cry.

She just lay there, stunned.

Then-

"Take her to my room," Santiago said darkly to the guards behind him.

They hesitated. His voice dropped lower. "Now."

Two men stepped forward and lifted her by the arms.

She didn't fight this time. She only followed calmly.

As they dragged her out, Santiago followed behind, his shadow stretching long over the marble.

And the door to the dungeon closed behind them.