Chapter 33: Chapter Thirty Three.

Marco's office was thick with smoke, the pungent scent of tobacco clinging to the air like an oppressive fog.

The dim light cast long shadows on the room's dark, expensive furniture, amplifying the tension that hung heavy between him and the trembling man standing before his desk.

Marco exhaled another cloud of smoke, his sharp, dark eyes narrowing as they bore into the man. Slowly, deliberately, he stood, the chair creaking softly behind him.

“She’s missing?” he repeated, his voice cold and edged with quiet menace. Smoke curled from his lips, swirling into the already suffocating atmosphere.

The man, barely able to hold himself together, nodded quickly.

“Y-yes, sir.” he stammered. “W-we couldn’t find a trace of her yesterday. She didn’t show up at the restaurant, and no one saw her leave for home at her usual time.” His voice quivered as if each word was being dragged from him under the weight of Marco’s icy glare.

Marco said nothing at first, letting the silence stretch unbearably. He placed the still-burning tobacco into the crystal ashtray on his desk, the faint hiss of embers meeting glass echoing in the room.

“They tried to hide her from me.” Marco finally said, his voice as hard as steel. “For eight years.”

The man’s eyes darted to the shattered pieces of glass on the floor from Marco's earlier outburst.

He swallowed thickly, knowing his boss’s fury was like a storm—calm on the surface but deadly when unleashed.

Marco’s hand reached for his whiskey glass. He swirled the amber liquid, watching it catch the faint light, then took a slow sip.

His grip tightened around the glass as his anger simmered beneath his calm exterior.

“Not anymore.” he declared, his tone final and foreboding. With a sharp motion, he threw the glass against the wall.

It shattered on impact, shards and droplets scattering across the floor. The man flinched, visibly recoiling.

Marco stepped around his desk, his powerful stride making the other man take an involuntary step back.

“It’s time to take back what belongs to me.” Marco said, his voice low and menacing.

Without another word, Marco walked past him, pushing the office door open.

The man let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him like a wave. But he knew better than to relax for long. Marco’s wrath was not something anyone survived unscathed.

Quickly, he followed Marco, closing the door behind them as the sound of the boss’s heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor.

♧♧♧

Meanwhile, in a modest home on the outskirts of town, Nana paced back and forth in her living room, her brows furrowed in concern. Her phone sat on the coffee table, its screen dark despite her repeated attempts to contact Xena.

She let out a frustrated sigh, picking up the phone again and dialing for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.

Still no answer. Her worry deepened as she placed the phone back down, her mind racing with questions.

She had even contacted the people Xena was supposed to meet in the next state, hoping they might have seen or heard from her. But to her dismay, they claimed they hadn’t seen Xena at all.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. Nana looked up to see Diego, her twelve-year-old grandson, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he approached.

“Good morning, Nana.” he greeted with a sleepy smile.

Nana mustered a smile in return, trying to hide her concern.

“Good morning, my hero. How are you? Did you sleep well?”

Diego nodded, but his expression turned somber. “Xena hasn’t called?”

Nana sighed and ruffled his hair affectionately. “Not yet, my sweet boy.” she admitted, her tone gentle but laced with worry. “But don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll call soon.”

Diego’s face fell. “I miss her.” he said softly.

Nana pulled him into a warm hug, resting her chin on his head.

“I know, sweetheart. I miss her too.” she murmured. She pulled back slightly and gave him a reassuring smile. “But she’ll be back before you know it, okay?”

Diego nodded, though his eyes still held a trace of sadness. Nana, determined to lift his spirits, offered him a distraction.

“How about you go spend some time at Sister Anastasia’s café? She could probably use some help with the customers.” Nana suggested with a wink.

At the mention of Sister Anastasia, Diego’s cheeks flushed a bright red. He fidgeted nervously, but his lips curved into a small smile. “Okay.” he agreed, grabbing his jacket from the couch.

“Don’t forget to tell her I said hi.” Nana teased, watching him head toward the door.

Diego mumbled a quick goodbye before slipping out, his ears still burning. Nana chuckled to herself, shaking her head at his adorable crush. He was only twelve, but he was already smitten with someone twice his age.

Her smile faded as she glanced at her phone again. The worry crept back into her heart, but she refused to let it overwhelm her. For Diego’s sake, she needed to stay strong.

“Where are you, Xena?” she whispered to herself, staring out the window as a sense of foreboding settled over her.

Just a few minutes had passed when the doorbell rang, its sudden chime echoing through the quiet house.

Nana frowned, wiping her hands on her apron as she made her way to the door. Opening it, her eyes widened in shock.

"Leonardo!" she gasped, taking in his disheveled appearance. Bandages were wrapped tightly around his neck, and his arm was supported in a sling. His face was pale, his movements sluggish.

"Goodness, what happened to you?" she cried, quickly stepping aside to help him inside. She guided him to the couch, where he sank down with a pained groan.

"Nana..." Leonardo rasped, his voice shaky and strained. "X-Xena... she's been kidnapped."

The words struck Nana like a lightning bolt, and she staggered back, her hands flying to her mouth. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest.

"W-what? Kidnapped? Who? Did you see who it was?" she stammered, her voice trembling with fear.

Leonardo winced as he adjusted his position, his face contorting in pain.

"It all happened so fast... I was shot." he explained, gesturing weakly to his injured arm. "We were at the train station. Everything seemed normal until these men poured in out of nowhere. They seized the place, guns drawn."

Nana gasped, her face paling as she sat down beside him.

"You were shot? Oh, my goodness, Leonardo, are you okay? What did they want? What happened to Xena?"

Leonardo shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. "There was this man... I couldn’t see him properly through the chaos, but I heard Xena call his name. Viktor."

At the mention of the name, Nana froze. Her face went pale, and her hand trembled slightly as she clutched the edge of the couch.

"Viktor?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Leonardo noticed her reaction and frowned. "Yeah. Xena said his name. Viktor. Do you know him?"

Nana stood abruptly, her mind racing.

"The Russian Mafia." she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Leonardo.

Leonardo's eyes snapped to her, his frown deepening. "What? What are you talking about?"

She turned to him, her expression grim and serious. "The man who took Xena... Viktor. He's the boss of the Russian Mafia."

Leonardo’s jaw dropped, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. Then he exploded. "Wait—WHAT?! That man is a mafia boss?" His voice rose with disbelief and anger.

Nana nodded solemnly, her hands shaking as she clasped them together.

"Yes. Viktor is dangerous, Leonardo. He’s not just a criminal—he’s one of the most ruthless men alive."

Leonardo clenched his fists, his injured arm protesting the movement.

"We need to do something! We have to call the police, get someone to help!"

But Nana shook her head firmly, her expression even more serious. "That’s not my only concern right now." she said, her voice low and steady.

Leonardo frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? Xena’s been taken, Nana! We have to save her!"

"I’m afraid of what will happen if Marco finds out about Xena." Nana said quietly, her gaze distant and filled with dread.

Leonardo froze, her words sinking in.

"Marco? Who the hell is Marco?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger and desperation.

Nana hesitated, biting her lip, but before she could answer, a loud bang echoed from the front door.

Both of them froze, their eyes darting toward the sound.

"What could that be?" Leonardo whispered, his voice barely audible.

Nana’s gaze was fixed on the door, her heart pounding in her chest.

Another loud bang followed, this time more forceful. She and Leonardo exchanged a terrified look, then both turned back toward the door, dreading what—or who—might be on the other side.