Chapter 5 - The TrapBelieving that her presence was only putting Lorenzo and Matteo in greater danger, Maya made a desperate decision. Late that night, while the estate was quiet, she slipped past the guards using a service exit and hailed a cab back to Queens.
She wanted her old life back. But within hours of returning to her tiny apartment, she realized safety was already gone.
A knock echoed at her door. Reluctantly, she opened it—only to find Viktor’s men waiting. Before she could scream, a cloth was pressed over her mouth, and darkness swallowed her up.
When Maya regained consciousness, she was tied to a chair in an abandoned brick warehouse near the docks. The smell of salt water and rust filled the air. Viktor stood before her, smoking a cigar, a cruel smile on his face.
"A clever little bird," Viktor sneered, blowing a ring of smoke into the air. "Let's see if Lorenzo cares enough to walk right into a slaughterhouse to get his favorite barista back."
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Maya gritted her teeth, refusing to show fear. "You'll never win against him."
"We shall see, my dear. We shall see."
