"Come on, Ellise. You should eat something. Stop starving yourself like this" Ellise's mother said to her.
She turned away from her mother, wiping away her tears furiously.
"Mum, why can't you and Dad drop the charges against Alexandre?" She queried.
Mrs Sumner sighed.
"I've tried to persuade your father, but he wouldn't listen."
"Mum, Xandre didn't kidnap me. He saved me from a drunk man who'd tried to rape me. Mum, if Dre spends one more night in police custody, I'm going to leave this house and never come back" Ellise said.
"I'll try to convince your dad, but you have to eat. Alexandre wouldn't like to see you like this" her mum said. Gritting her teeth, she started to eat the sandwiches.
"Mum?" She said, her gaze meeting her mother's.
"Yes, honey"
"Can you do me a favor?" She asked.
"I really want to see Dre right now. Can you cover up for me?" Ellise asked.
"El..."
"Please, mum. He could be ill or going through something worse... Please"
"Fine"
"Thanks, mum" she said, rising to her feet. She left the dinning room and went to get dressed. Thereafter, she left the house. Mrs Sumner was worried about her daughter. She truly seemed to love Alexandre a lot. But, Mrs Sumner was worried that her daughter would end up suffering as a result of her love for the young man.
....
It was noon already, and Dre had just been released by the police. This was because there was no reasonable evidence of him kidnapping Ellise. He didn't know who had bailed him out. But, the cops had informed him that someone was waiting for him at the park. Dre sighed, running a hand through his slightly greasy hair. He had dark circles under his eyes, from staying up all night, worrying about Ellise.
When he got to the park, he noticed that other people were making snide comments about him. He ignored them because he just didn't care.
After waiting for a few minutes, Dre realized that there was actually nobody waiting for him at the park. So, he pulled out his phone to call Dominic to pick him up. A sharp pain attacked his chest and he doubled over for a moment, trying to catch his breath as he clutched at his chest. When the pain finally passed, he straightened. Suddenly, someone hit him on the back of the head with a club and his vision went black for a split second
His knees gave out and he sank to the ground with a groan. The pain was so awful, it made him feel nauseous. Before he could recover from the first blow, he received another blow to the back of his head. This time, everything went black.
....
"What do you mean by 'Alexandre has just been bailed out?'" Ellise asked, a confused look on her face.
"Miss, he left a couple of minutes ago"
"Who bailed him out?"
"It was a ginger haired lady. She said she's his family. She told us to inform him to meet her at the park. I suggest you go home" the sergeant said.
Ellise left the police station, her mind in turmoil. She knew that it was Lacey who had showed up at the station. The question was, why did she do that?
What if it was a set up?
Ellise swallowed hard, praying and hoping that her Alexandre was alright.
Ellise dialed Dominic's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Ellise?"
"Yeah, it's me. Is Alexandre home?" She asked.
"No. Why do you ask? His dad is going to bail him out today"
Hearing that, her heart broke.
"No, no. Lacey bailed him out already"
"Wait, what?! He isn't in police custody?"
"Yeah"
"Stay where you are. I'm on my way"
Tears filled Ellise's eyes at the thought of Alexandre being hurt. Why couldn't things just remain like they'd always been? She was frustrated and was almost sick with nerves. She sat down on a bench in the park, feeling miserable.
An hour later, a silver car pulled up right close to the park. Dmitri and Dominic stepped out and walked up to Ellise with worry in their eyes.
"We couldn't find Alexandre, it can only mean one thing" Dmitri said, his jaw clenched.
"He's been kidnapped" Dominic said and her whole world shattered into crumbs.
....
Alexandre slowly opened his eyes, his head hurting like bitch. He was tied to a chair in the middle of a room which looked like an old basement. He tried to move his hands, but the ropes were so tight, it stung his skin. The door opened and four men walked in with one of them wearing a skii mask. Dre didn't need a soothsayer to tell him that he was going to have a rough ride to inferno, knowing that Valentino was the person behind the mask.
Valentino took off his mask with a grim look on his face.
"Such a pretty boy" he smirked.
Dre stared at him, wanting to wipe the smirk off his face. Valentino grinned, tearing off Dre's hood, leaving his upper body bare.
Cold invaded his skin, but he didn't flinch. His eyes were cold and emotionless as he watched Valentino switch off what seemed to be, the heater.
"Let's see how well you can handle cold" he said.
"What do you want?" Dre spat, annoyed.
"Oh, I just need you to sign a couple of papers, handing over everything in your possession" Valentino responded and rage shot through Dre's veins like molten lava.
"You have quite the nerve, I see" Dre hissed.
He would rather die than comply with Valentino. Dre wasn't the type to cower so easily, especially when he had mafia blood running in his veins. It would take a lot to bring down a man like him.
"I'll be back" Valentino said and left the basement. Dre didn't know how long he was in there, but it was long enough for him to become numb from the cold. There was just one problem. He was starting to wheeze. It was a bad sign. He already had enough on his plate. He definitely didn't need to add an asthma attack to it.
The door opened again and Valentino walked in.
"You're freezing to death, aren't you?" he said, mockery dripping from his voice. He switched on the heater and ordered his men to untie Dre. Being the smart bastard he was, he brought in six extra men to guide the entrance. Dre was chained to the two pillars, unable to do anything since he was too numb. By the time, the cold completely vanished, the chain was digging into his skin, blood gushing out.
It was at this point that the awful pain stung his back. He gritted his teeth as Valentino whipped him over and over again with a horse whip. "Scream! You idiot! Scream!" He yelled at him.
Dre wouldn't scream. He couldn't give him the satisfaction. The pain was extreme, but he wouldn't let out a sound. Screaming was not an option.
Dre felt faint and dizzy from all the blood he was loosing. "Oh no, you don't. You're not allowed to pass out" Valentino said, punching him in the stomach. Another whip to the back sent white hot pain lancing through him.
"Thirty strokes. Yet, you have refused to scream. What the hell are you?" Valentino spat, his eyes blazing with fury.
Dre stared at him through half open eyes. "I am something you can never be" he said, his voice hoarse. Slowly, he slipped into unconsciousness.
...
"Please find my baby. Find my baby for me" Alicia cried, looking distressed.
"Honey, we'll find him" Alessio said.
"You don't understand. I don't know what they could be doing to him. Valentino is relentless!"
"Mum, we'll find him. I promise" Xanthis said, embracing her.
"I'm coming with you" Ellise said. "That's settled, then. Let's go" Dominic said.
Suddenly, Dmitri entered the sitting room.
"I've been able to track down his phone. I've found his location" he said. Ellise sighed with relief.
'I'm coming to get you, my love. Stay strong for me, because I am willing to stay strong for you. We'll be okay' Ellise thought.