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C H A P T E R S I X T E E N

Leah's POV

I was frozen in place. I couldn't move, I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't do anything as I stared at Vincent's motionless body on the ground. The bullet pierced his side and blood was making a small pool around him.

I could hear foot steps racing down the hall, most likely Vincent's men coming to inspect where the shot came from. I guess the man who shot him noticed too, because he jumped into action and started rushing us towards the window.

"W-Wait, what are you doing?" I asked, struggling to get away as his men started forcing me through the open window. I tried my hardest to untangle my hands from the ropes to try and grab onto something, but it was too late. I felt myself falling and tried my best to brace myself for the impact, but it never came.

Instead, I landed in a pair of strong arms. I pried my eyes open and stared into the face of Leonardo.

"Leo?" I ask as he starts to run towards the opposite end of the house where I can faintly see a black SUV waiting on the curb.

"Hold tight Leah, it might get a little rough." Right as I'm about to ask what he means, a gunshot rings out. A window to the left of us shatters and I cover my head. I can't believe I'm going through this. Out of all things, this is what the universe chose for me. Not a simple life with a loving husband and maybe even a few kids, a life of terror, deception, manipulation, and the feeling of never being safe.

Another gunshot rang out and this time Leonardo stumbled, and quickly fell on the ground. I quickly got out of his hold and kept running towards the SUV.

I'm close, I'm so close. Right as I reach out to grasp the handle, I'm tackled to the ground. My face was smashed into the grass and my arm was twisted behind my back as I was held down.

"Take her to the warehouse. We don't want her getting away again."

******

I'm in a car; a car trunk to be exact. I don't know how long we've been driving or where we're going, but I could feel my body starting to shut down. I was so sore from being thrown around and stuffed in this trunk, and the lack of clean air was starting to make me woozy.

After at least another hour of driving, the car finally stops. Two men open the trunk and roughly pull me out; barely giving me a chance to regain my balance before shoving me into the direction of an old warehouse.

Once we enter, I'm tied to chair and left alone. The warehouse was scary to say the least. It was dark, cold, and had guns and knives covering the walls.

"Make yourself comfortable Leah, you won't be going anywhere soon." I turned my head and saw the man who captured me standing in the doorway, with a disgusting smirk on his face.

"How do you know my name?"

He smirked even deeper and shook his head as he walked toward me.

"Well, you see Leah, my boss is quite...infatuated with you. And he made sure that I knew everything about you before bringing you here. So don't try anything; I know everything. Every weakness, every fear, every nightmare. And I will not hesitate to use any of them against you."

He runs his hand along my jaw before smirking once more and leaving. His words run through my head and immediately turn my blood cold.

How can his boss know everything about me? How can someone be so infatuated with someone they've never met?

The door suddenly slams open, revealing the man from before and the two others that tied me up.

"What the hell do you want from me?" I glared at them as they moved closer.

"Tsk tsk tsk, such language. I think we might have to punish you for it. But if you stay quiet and obey, we won't. Got it?" Them asked, with absolute hatred dripping from voice.

I looked around at the walls and at all the different weapons lining them, and nodded my head. He smiled and clapped his hands together.

"Good choice. Now, we want answers." I scrunched up my face at his demand. Answers? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

"I don't know what you mean. I don't know anything." He glared at me and shook his head.

"Lying won't get you anywhere, Leah. Of course you know, you're his one weakness; he must have told you something." By the end of his rant his voice no longer sounded rude and demanding; it almost sounded desperate. Almost like he needs answers or something will happen to him.

"Well you're wrong; he hasn't told me anything." I watch as his face comforts into pure rage. He raises his arm and slaps me across the face. The impact of his hit was enough to force my head to the side.

I don't know what to do. There's nothing I can do. I want to get up; fight back, but I can't and who knows what'd happen to me if I did.

I'm slapped again, only this time the many rings on his right hand dig into my skin. I immediately feel blood trickle down my face.

"Tell me!" He screamed. "You must know something; anything!"

"The only thing he's told me was that he believes my father is the leader of the Tallios. But I shut that idea down right away." The man smirks and nods his head, satisfied with my answer. But as soon as he opens his mouth to speak, a loud banging resonated through the warehouse.

All three men paled at the sound and the one who slapped me walked towards the door nervously. He opened it slowly, but kept whatever was on the other side shielded with his body.

"Where is she?" A man asked. As soon as I heard that voice, my entire body tensed. I know that voice. I know that voice so well. That was the voice that used to read me bed time stories as a child, the voice that used to tell me cheesy jokes to get me to laugh when I was upset, the voice that used to tell me he loved me.

The voice of my father.

"Over here, sir."

He leads him over to me and as soon as my father catches my eye, I look away. I can't bare to look at him now that I know what he's done. He's killed people, he's ruined so many people's lives; including mine.

"Hello, Leah. I've missed you."

"Oh fuck off, don't try to be considerate now. Don't think I don't know about all the skeletons in your closet." He narrows his eyes at me and balls his fists.

"You better watch your tone. I'm still your father."

I scoff. "You are not my father. Not anymore."

"I would advise you to change your attitude, Leah. We don't want to make this anymore difficult than it already is, do we?"

I scoff at him again. "You just wait till Vincent gets here."

He laughs at me then, shaking his head. "And what's he gonna do? I killed his father, and I won't hesitate to kill him too."

*******

Guys, honestly I kinda feel bad that Leah's father had to turn out like this but...

Anyway we have reached over 20,000 reads!!! Thank you guys so much! And to those of you who comment, you guys crack me up, your comments seriously make my day.

Happy reading!