My head buzzes as I come round. The last thing I remember is being punched and, it appears, knocked unconscious. My hands are free of their bonds and I try to stand but knock into something metal. As my eyes open and adjust, I move my body around to feel my surroundings.
Small bars.
A cage.
I’m in a cage with little room to even stretch my legs out. I shake the front side but it’s solid.
“Gabriella,” a low, hoarse voice calls in the dark.
“Yes! Yes, Andreas? Gracias a diosse, I didn’t know if you were still alive.”
“Just about alive. Are you okay? I can’t see you?” his voice wheezes as he speaks like he has something trapped in his throat.
“Sore, but not like you. What’s happening? Why are they after us both? They found me in Antwerp, Andreas. They came for me.”
“Shh. Shh. I know. I know. And I’m still working it out.”
“Working what out? These are Yakuza. What have you done?” I hiss the words as my anger returns.
“Nothing. The deal was with Mortoni, not them. I’m not fucking stupid, hermana.”
“Well, excuse me. You’re tied to a chair, bleeding half to death and I've been dragged halfway around the world and beaten up. There must be something.”
“Keep your voice down, Gabriella.”
“Andreas, I swear, if we get out of this, you’re done. No more of this. Look what it’s led to.”
“And who’s to say this isn’t about your little hobby. Don’t think I don’t know that you go off all over the world, happy to steal from whomever you choose if the diamond’s big enough.”
His comment slices through me like a knife.
No. This isn’t about me. Nate was worried. He was worried about it being Yakuza. It was the Yakuza who stole and messed up the deal with my brother. I’m here because of him. Not the other way around.
“And to think I felt sorry for you when I found you unconscious. For once in your life, take responsibility for your actions.”
We both remain silent for a while. We’ve always squabbled, but I hadn’t ever thought we’d fight in a situation like this.
“I’m sorry, Gabriella. You’re right.”
“Well, I’m sorry, too.”
“Are you done now?” It’s the guard from before, the one with the American accent. “It appears your brother doesn’t like to talk to us. Maybe he just needs the right…motivation?”
“No,” Andreas shouts. His chair scrapes along the ground as I hear him struggle. The light is only enough to make out shadows, adding to the terror of the situation.
The door to my cage opens, and I’m dragged out.
“No, no, no…please. Stop.” My head whips back from the first hit across my face.
“Stop it!” Andreas booms into the room.
As my head rolls on my shoulders, another slap to my face catches my lip this time. I stumble, falling free of the arms that held me up. My arm takes the brunt of the fall and I roll onto my back. My mind fades to black before Andreas’ screams pull me around, keeping me conscious.
Only to be met by another punch.
