Taken By The Mafia Lord

216 Time For Negotiations

Marcel stiffened as soon as he heard the sound of that gun going off. Call it instinct but he knew at that moment that the shot had something to do with Arianna. His men wouldn’t just shoot unless they perceived a threat. And when a threat appears, it wouldn’t just be one shot, but numerous enough to eliminate it.

But it was one shot.

Something was up.

“What was that?”

The fact that Clara heard that as well meant that he was not dreaming. No way, it can’t be.

Marcel stood abruptly.

“Babe!” Clara was surprised at his reaction. Right now, he looked like a taut yarn of tension. Something didn’t seem right with him.

However, Marcel didn’t respond to her, instead, he pulled out his phone and called Samuel. His call connected yet rang on with no answer, Marcel balled his hands into a fist. The restlessness in his heart increased as he tried his phone the second time and no one picked up.

When no one answered, Marcel’s expression turned grim. This could only mean one thing; whoever released that shot either took out Samuel or the man in question just betrayed him. He handed Arianna over to him earlier. Had Elijah gotten to him?

.....

Without a second thought, Marcel went over to his desk and pulled out the lower drawer, picking up the gun and checking the chambers. Seeing it was full, he took off the safety and was set to leave.

“Marcel....?” Clara changed her title at once having noticed the tension in the air. So she no longer called him baby, but his first name. The mood was ruined.

“What is going on?” She asked, fearing for the first time since she came here. This place has been relatively safe so far that she hasn’t thought of something like this happening until now.

“Just stay here,” Marcel commanded her gruffly.

But then, would Clara listen? She would rather stay with Marcel who could protect her if the need arises than all alone in that room where anyone could take her out – as if she was someone of importance. Clara didn’t stop to think about the fact that she could end up being a deadweight to Marcel.

“No, I’m with you!” She stood her ground stubbornly, puffing out her chest in such a way that told Marcel he stood to gain nothing if he ended up arguing with her except wasted time.

Marcel said nothing and left his office with no care whether she followed after him or not. Almost immediately, he ran into Victor who was heading in the direction of the gunshot as well.

“When did you return home?” He asked seriously while striding ahead. Marcel was tall in the first place so when he strode, his steps were so massive that Clara had to jog up to him to match his pace.

“Your girlfriend didn’t tell you?” Victor tilted his head in Clara’s direction, “I guess she doesn’t like me that much?” he joked as usual and all the while, keeping up with Marcel’s stride.

Clara glared at Victor so intensely that if her eyes were bullets, Victor would have the tag, “RIP” on his gravestone by now.

Marcel noticed the animosity between the both of them yet didn’t say a thing. Victor has a thing for disliking the women around him.

He asked, “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know but there’s a report that someone get shot and a hostage situation,”

Marcel’s heart skipped a beat, he couldn’t help but worry. He had this feeling Arianna wasn’t the one shot – she was brave and strong. If anything, she would be the one...

Marcel’s eyes widened at once and as if confirming his fears, he saw that glint in Victor’s eyes that told him he was having fun.

Oh shit.

————

Arianna could tell the moment her back fell on the bed because her consciousness returned. Perhaps, because she had slept the entire night or her stubborn will to survive, sleep released its clutches much faster than usual.

She knew Marcel wasn’t the one in charge of her anymore, had known the entire moment this new caretaker had her over his shoulder and walked down the endless hallways. Just how large was this place?

Maybe it was the endless jostling along the way that woke her – that position was not romantic at all. With every move, his hard shoulder blade dug into her stomach – and he wasn’t gentle at all. Well, big fat thanks to him, the sleep’s over.

Arianna considered striking now that he was ignorant of her being conscious, but she shoved the idea away. If she falls from his shoulder, the height would hurt her gladly. She needed every strength she could summon.

So she pretended to be asleep until the moment he was leaning over her, cuffing her right to the headboard, she struck.

The moment she rose, he instantly tried to reach for his belt but she already had his gun in her hand. Perks of being a thief, skills could come in handy anytime. So their fight began.

Truthfully, Arianna didn’t mean to shoot him but she was currently at a great disadvantage with her right hand cuffed to the bed. So she fired at him, the bullet going cleanly through his shoulder. She couldn’t forget the shock on his face when the bullet seared through his flesh.

Samuel stumbled back, falling to the ground, his hand on the shoulder with a grunt and grimace of pain. Well, on the bright side, he wasn’t dying anytime soon. Neither was she going to be merciful till she was out of here.

Pressing down on his injury so he has no chance of retaliating, Arianna snatched the key from his pocket and freed her hand . She cuffed both of his hands instead and forced him up to his feet using his body as a shield.

Having learned from her previous “failures”, Arianna knew she was not getting out of here – this place was a fortress – so it was time for negotiation. Let’s see how much Marcel treasures his people.