The room was freezing, but Marco didn't feel the cold. He had been staring at the same street camera footage for four hours. His eyes were red, and his hands were clenched into fists. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Eimi's smile from the morning, and it felt like a knife in his heart.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated on the table. A message appeared from a blocked number. It was a video file.
With shaking fingers, Marco pressed play.
The video was dark and shaky. At first, Marco could only hear the sound of heavy breathing and water dripping. Then, the camera turned.
There was Eimi.
She was sitting in a wooden chair in a room with gray stone walls. Her beautiful white coat was dirty, and her hands were tied behind her back. She looked terrified, her eyes wide and filled with tears. A piece of black tape was over her mouth.
Behind her, a man stood in the shadows. He was wearing a mask, but his voice was familiar. It was deep, cold, and full of hate.
"Hello, Marco," the voice said. "You look worried. Did you think you could just take your little princess to Paris and forget about the blood on your hands? You destroyed my family's business in Italy. Now, I am going to destroy the only thing you love."
The man reached out and touched Eimi's hair. She flinched away, a muffled sob coming from behind the tape.
"Don't touch her!" Marco roared at the phone, his voice echoing in the empty hotel room.
"You have six hours," the man in the video continued. "I don't want your money, Marco. Money can't bring back what you took from me. I want you to come to the old shipyard at the edge of the city. Alone. If I see a single police car or a single guard, the princess goes into the river. And this time, there won't be a rescue."
The video cut to black.
Marco threw the phone against the wall, but it didn't break. He stood up, his chair falling over. He felt a level of anger he had never known before. This wasn't just business anymore. This was a man trying to take the light out of his life.
"Sir?" his lead guard asked, rushing into the room. "We can track the signal. We can send the team—"
"No," Marco snapped. his voice was like a cold blade. "He wants me. And he's going to get me. But he doesn't realize that he isn't locking me in a room with him. He's locking himself in a room with a monster."
Marco walked over to his suitcase and pulled out a small, heavy black box he had hidden at the bottom. He opened it. Inside was a sleek, silver weapon. He hadn't used it in years, but today, he wouldn't hesitate.
The old shipyard was very dark and scary. There were big metal boxes everywhere. Marco walked into the middle of a large, empty building. Only one small light was on.
"I am here!" Marco shouted. his voice was loud in the quiet room. "Where is Eimi?"
A man with a black mask stepped out from the shadows. Behind him, two big guards pushed a chair. Eimi was tied to the chair. When she saw Marco, she started to cry. She tried to call his name, but there was tape over her mouth.
"Let her go!" Marco said. He reached for the gun in his belt.
"Stop!" the masked man yelled. He pointed at Eimi. "If you use that gun, my men will shoot her. Drop it, Marco."
Marco looked at Eimi. He loved her more than his own life. He slowly took the gun and dropped it on the floor. It made a loud clink sound as it slid away.
As soon as the gun was gone, the two big guards ran at Marco. Marco was fast, but the men were very strong. He punched the first guard, but the second guard grabbed Marco from behind and held his arms.
The first guard hit Marco very hard in the ribs. Marco felt a sharp pain. He thought his bones were breaking. He could not breathe for a second. But he did not stop. He hit the guard behind him with his head. The man's nose broke, and he let go of Marco.
Marco was free. He kicked the first guard in the chest. But then, the masked man joined the fight. He had a heavy metal pipe. He swung it and hit Marco's shoulder. Marco fell to the ground. He saw blood running down his arm.
Eimi watched the fight from her chair. She was shaking and crying. She saw Marco getting hurt for her, and she felt terrible. She tried to break the ropes on her hands.
Marco looked at Eimi. Seeing her crying face gave him new strength. He forgot about the pain in his ribs. He forgot about the blood on his arm. He stood up. His eyes were dark and angry.
The masked man tried to hit him with the pipe again, but Marco caught it with his hands. He took the pipe and threw it away. Then, he hit the man with many fast, strong punches. He was fighting to keep Eimi safe.
With one last punch, the masked man fell down and did not move. The other guards were also on the floor. Marco was the only one standing.
Marco walked slowly toward Eimi. His hands were shaking because he was hurt. He took a small knife from his boot and cut the ropes.
As soon as she was free, Eimi pulled the tape off her mouth. She jumped into Marco's arms and hugged him tightly. "Marco! You are bleeding! You are hurt!"
"I am okay," Marco whispered. He held her very close. "I have you now. I will never let you go again."
Even though his body was in pain, Marco picked Eimi up in his arms. He carried her out of the dark building. Outside, the morning sun was starting to rise. He saw the lights of the police cars coming to help.
Marco sat on a car and held Eimi. He was covered in bruises and blood, but he was happy. He had saved the woman he loved.
"Let's go home, Eimi," he said softly.
"Yes," Eimi said. She kissed his hurt cheek. "Let's go home."