Isabella had always known that her family's wealth came with a certain level of danger. She had grown up surrounded by security guards and cameras, always wary of the potential threat that came with her father's status as a successful businessman. But all she wanted was to be like other young adults and at least spend a day without security trailing behind her.

Finally, a little break from shaking off them one day! She was walking back to her apartment from a late-night study session at the library when she noticed a black van following her closely. At first, she thought it might be her father but she hadn't seen that car in their parking lot.

She gave it a run at first but of course, she couldn't outrun those skilled men. Her legs were giving up but she knew running was the only way to save her life right now. She regretted not going with the security men assigned to her by her father at that moment.

As she ran, she tried dialing her father's number but her phone tripped off suddenly leaving her with the option of either stopping and being caught by those angry-looking men chasing after her or continuing to run and run hopefully they would give up.

She ran for a while until she got to a dead end. She watched as they walked towards her soon. One of them holding a bag. They had thrown a bag over her head, bound her hands and feet, and tossed her into the back of a van like a fish caught and thrown away into the car. She had tried to scream, but a hand covered tightly over her mouth, muffling her protests.

Now, as she was shoved into the trunk of a car, she tried to calm herself down. She knew she had to keep a clear head if she was going to get out of this damn situation alive.

The car drove for what felt like forever, the sound of the engine and the hiss of the tires on the pavement were the only sounds in the dark. Finally, it came to a stop, and Isabella was dragged out of the trunk into a building.

As she stumbled along, trying to keep her balance, she heard some voices. Rough, male voices speaking in Italian. She didn't understand the words, but she knew from the tone that they were angry.

She was pushed down onto a chair, and the bag was ripped off her head. Blinking to adjust her eyes to the sudden brightness, she saw a man standing in front of her. He was tall, with broad shoulders and dark hair slicked back from his forehead. He wore a tailored suit that looked expensive, and when he spoke, his voice was deep and commanding.

"Isabella, I presume?" he said, the corners of his mouth curling upwards in a wry smile.

Isabella didn't answer. She was too busy taking in her surroundings. She was in a room with high ceilings and rough brick walls. There were no windows but only one door. She was surrounded by several men, at least seven or eight. All of them were dressed in suits or dark clothing like the man in front of her.

"I asked you a question," the man said, his smile turning into a scowl.

Isabella nodded, her voice caught in her throat.

"Good. I'm Leonardo," he said, taking a step closer, "And you, my dear, are going to be my guest for a while."

Isabella's heart sank into an immeasurable abyss. She knew exactly who Leonardo was. She had heard the girls in school talk about him and they never said anything nice about him. He was the head of the local Mafia, a powerful and dangerous man who ruled the criminal underworld with an iron fist. Everyone in their world knew the name. He was the head of one of the most powerful Mafia families in the city, with ties to organized crime that reached all the way to the highest levels of government.

But Isabella had never met him before, never glimpsed the face behind the rumors and the fear. She had never seen the sharp, dangerous intelligence in his eyes, the coldness lurking behind his handsome features. She had never known that he would be the one to kidnap her.

"Wha……what do you want from me?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Leonardo laughed a cruel sound that echoed around the room.

"Oh, Isabella," he said, shaking his head. "I don't want anything from you. It's your daddy I'm interested in."

Isabella felt a surge of fear. Her father was a successful businessman, a man who had made enemies everywhere over the years. But why would Leonardo be interested in him?

"What does my father have to do with this?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Leonardo leaned in closer, his breath hot on her face.

"He owes me a favor," he said, his eyes glittering with malice. "And you, my dear, are going to be the collateral."

Isabella felt sick to her stomach. She was nothing more than a bargaining chip, a means to an end.

“Just yesterday I was a college student and now I am a collateral for something I know nothing of.” she muttered as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You can't do this!" she protested, struggling against the ropes that bound her.

Leonardo laughed again, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek.

"Oh, but I can, Isabella." he said, his voice dripping with menace. "And I will. You are mine now, and your fate is in my hands."

Isabella felt another set of tears roll down her cheek as she realized that she was at the mercy of a ruthless man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

" Don't cry yet, baby girl. It's not yet time for that. don't ruin that beautiful face of yours with meaningless tears." Leonardo said.

The room spun around her as she struggled to come to terms with her new reality. She was a captive, a prisoner of the Mafia. And she didn't know if she would ever be able to escape.