C44 I Promise

...A Month Ago...

The night air outside the dingy bar reeked of alcohol, sweat, and despair.

Neon lights flickered over the grimy entrance, casting an eerie glow over the cracked pavement.

Jose leaned against the car, his fingers tapping nervously on its hood. His friend stood nearby, swiping at his phone.

Inside the car, Cathy sat quietly, her wide eyes darting around, clutching her dress as if it were a lifeline.

"Where the hell is she?" Jose muttered, his breath fogging in the cool air.

"She said five minutes," his friend replied distractedly, not looking up. "We need to be on our way to Montaine, you know. I won't lose that job just because your sissy couldn't keep her word. My cousin is expecting his car soon."

"Just shut up, will you? She will be here soon." Jose said while looking down the street of the red-light district.

But five minutes soon turned into ten.

Ten became fifteen.

Jose called the number again, and it rang and rang. No answer

His friend looked up as a group of rough-looking men stumbled out of the bar, their drunken laughter carrying over the loud music.

One of them, a wiry man with a crooked nose, pointed at Jose.

"Nice ride," he slurred. "You boys wanna lend it to us for a spin?"

Jose straightened, his nerves tightening. "Back off," he said, his voice firm.

The man's grin widened, revealing yellowed teeth. "What if we don't?"

One of the other men knocked the phone out of the hand of Jose's friend, and Jose threw the first punch.

The fight erupted quickly.

The men were mean drunks. Still, the sober friends could probably have stood their ground.

But then one of the men suddenly pulled out a knife and slashed at Jose's belly.

He stumbled, clutching his stomach as blood seeped through his fingers.

"Jose!" his friend yelled without getting too close to the gleaming knife.

The man with the knife bared his yellowed teeth as he raised the bloodstained knife again and his friends held Jose against the car.

They gutted him with brutal precision, and his friend ran as life poured out of Jose.

Inside the car, Cathy screamed, her high-pitched wails blending into the bar's raucous noise.

The men dragged Jose's lifeless body to the side and turned their attention to the car.

"Let's get outta here," one of them said, climbing into the driver's seat.

"What about the girl?"

"She's not our problem. Drag the chit out!"

"Wait." One of them said, "We could sell her. She'd fetch a nice price."

The men exchanged greedy smiles.

Two of them climbed into the back where she was, and they squashed her in between their sweaty, bloodstained bodies.

They ignored her flailing struggles and desperate cries.

Her screams faded into the noise as the car sped off.

Just as the car left, and some passersby started noticing the body on the floor, a scantily dressed lady rounded the corner.

Impatience was etched on her face as she looked around as if searching for someone.

She ignored the gathering crowd around the bloodied figure on the pavement as she scanned those standing with her expert eyes.

Her nose wrinkled in distaste as she pulled out her phone to call.

********

Present Day

Eighteen miles away from Acadia, a warehouse loomed in the dark like a forgotten relic, its corrugated metal walls streaked with grime and rust.

Outside, several men armed with clubs and rifles patrolled, their boots crunching against the gravel.

The air was stale and heavy, carrying the faint scent of motor oil and mildew.

Angelo and his team arrive in a black van, parking just out of sight.

The men they were meeting waited near the loading dock, their eyes sharp and movements edgy.

Angelo's calm demeanour gave nothing away as he stepped out, flanked by his team.

He waited as they approached him.

"You got the money?" one of the guards growled, fully believing that Angelo and his men were the buyers they had been waiting for.

Of course, they had no idea that those men had been discarded already.

Angelo gestured to one of his men, who opened a briefcase stacked with neat rows of cash.

The guards relaxed, eyeing the money greedily.

"I want to see the goods first," Angelo said, his voice smooth but commanding.

The guards hesitated, then gave Angelo a once over as if debating if they should listen to him.

Then, finally, the one leading them nodded, before motioning for Angelo and his men to follow.

****************

Back in the car, Annabelle sat stiffly, her eyes darting between Dante and the small device in his ear.

She knew he was staying out here with her more to keep her in line than for any other reason.

She also knew the device was connected to Angelo and his men, and every second of silence felt like a blade twisting in her gut.

"Let me listen," she begged, her voice trembling.

Dante didn't even look at her, his expression impassive.

"Dante, please."

"Took you a damn long time before you used my name, and now it seems you can't get enough," he said without acknowledging her plea.

Annabelle's frustration boiled over.

Before she could think, she snatched the device from his ear, and she turned to reach for the door.

Dante grabbed her before her hand could touch the door.

He effortlessly lifted her off her seat and she landed on his lap, clutching the device as if her life depended on it.

"Give it back," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

"No!" Annabelle struggled, wriggling against him.

Dante swore under his breath as his body tightened.

Annabelle had no idea that her movement only made the situation worse as her body pressed against his.

His grip on her waist tightened, and his jaw clenched.

"Stop squirming," he hissed, his voice dangerously soft, "Or I'll make you regret it."

Annabelle froze, her breath catching in her throat.

Then she shoved the device into her ear, her defiance returning.

Voices crackled through the device. "The goods are in the back," one of the guards said.

Annabelle turned her head sharply toward Dante, her green eyes wide. "The goods...do they mean Cathy?"

She suddenly realised that her face was mere inches from his, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted.

Annabelle felt her pulse tripped as his gaze lingered on her lips.

The intensity in his dark eyes made her pulse race, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

"Yes," he said through gritted teeth, releasing her waist. "But it's not just her. There are others. Children."

Annabelle's heart twisted. "We have to get them out."

"Angelo will see to that," Dante said before he reached over and pulled the device from her ear.

"You don't need to hear what comes next," he said firmly.

"But..."

"Stay here." His voice left no room for argument.

She had no idea that her eyes were shimmering with tears as she said, "Are you...are you sure she will come out of this fine?"

He nodded as he gave her that intense look of his, "I promise."

She believed him.