Chapter 1 Untitled Chapter
Roberto’s revolver never wavered.
Antonio Cobbler lay sprawled on the living room floor, face pale, sweat cutting tracks through the dust on his cheeks. Cheap whiskey hung heavy in the air, mixed with the smell of old carpet and damp rain from outside.
"Pay me my money,” Roberto said. “Or I blow your skull open and watch you paint this room.”
Antonio swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “Please. Just give me more time. I’ll pay you back, I swear.”
Roberto let out a low, humorless laugh. “I already gave you time. Too much of it.” He tapped the gun against his knee, the metal making a dull click. “You don’t get to waste my patience twice.”
Beside Antonio, Maya burst into tears, her hands trembling as she clutched the arm of the couch.
“Please! We’ll pay you back! Just give us an extension!”
“Shut your mouth,” Roberto said, eyes on Antonio. “Before I bury both of you tonight.”
The room went quiet except for Maya’s choked sob. He sat on the settee, leg crossed, gun still aimed at Antonio’s head. The leather creaked under his weight. He looked composed. Too composed, like threatening people, was breathing to him.
“Only stupid people make deals they can’t keep,” he said quietly. “But you… you’re worse.”
Antonio lowered his head, shoulders caving in.
Roberto’s smile faded. “You should’ve told your wife the truth before borrowing money from me.”
Maya froze. “What truth, Antonio?” Her voice shook. “What did you do with her before this?”
Antonio’s breathing turned uneven. “Roberto…”
But Roberto kept going.
“You promised me collateral if you failed to pay.”
Maya frowned. “What collateral?”
Antonio looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Before anyone spoke, the front door burst open with a crack that made everyone flinch.
A blond girl walked in with a sling bag on her shoulder, cheeks flushed from the rain outside.
“Mom, the rain outside is craz…”
Her words died. Her eyes hit the gun, then her father on the floor, then the strangers in the room. The color drained from her face and the smile vanished like it had never been there.
“Kendrix!” Maya gasped, pushing herself up. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at work!”
“What the hell is going on?” Kendrix demanded.
For a second Roberto forgot the gun.
Golden hair plastered to her forehead from the rain. Sharp eyes. Defiant posture. Most girls panicked, but she looked angry. Interesting. Very interesting.
Kendrix frowned at him. “Who the hell are you? And why are you in my house pointing a gun at my father?”
Roberto chuckled. “Roberto Tuzo.”
“Well, Mr. Tuzo,” she said, “start talking.”
One of the bodyguards snorted behind her, and she didn’t flinch.
Roberto smirked, tilting his head. “Your father owes me money.”
Kendrix turned to Antonio, jaw tight. “How much?”
“Six million dollars,” Roberto said before Antonio could open his mouth.
The color drained from her face completely.“What?”
“Dad, what the hell did you spend six million dollars on?”
Six million. It was their house, her college fund, everything they had.
Antonio groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh, try me!” Kendrix snapped. “Because right now this looks insane.”
Her voice cracked, but she forced it steady. Panic wouldn’t help. Not now.
Roberto stood. The playfulness left his face. Now he looked dangerous, like a predator that had stopped playing.
“Now,” he said. “I’m here to collect what belongs to me.”
Antonio shook his head frantically. “No.”
Kendrix frowned, glancing between them. “No, what?”
Roberto’s eyes drifted to her, slow and assessing.
Antonio’s breathing grew heavier, ragged. “Please…”
Something shifted in Kendrix’s chest. A cold, sinking feeling.
Roberto smiled slowly, and it didn’t reach his eyes. “You signed the agreement yourself.”
“What agreement?” Kendrix asked, voice dropping.
No one answered. Confusion turned to dread, cold and heavy in her stomach.
Antonio looked sick. Maya stared at her husband like she didn’t know him.
Then Roberto spoke, each word deliberate.
“You offered your daughter as collateral.”
The room went still. Even the rain outside seemed to be quiet.
Kendrix blinked. “What?”
Antonio shut his eyes, shame written in every line of his face. “Kendrix…”
“No.” She stepped back, shaking her head. “No. Tell me he’s lying.”
Antonio couldn’t look at her. That hurt more than the gun.
“You failed to pay me back,” Roberto said, voice even. “So now I’m taking what was promised.”
“You sick bastard!” Maya screamed. “How could you do this, Antonio!”
Kendrix went still. Like the ground had been pulled out from under her. “You sold me?” Tears filled her eyes, hot and sudden.
Antonio shook his head. “It wasn’t like that!”
“Then what was it like?!” she screamed, voice breaking.
Tears fell. Not for Roberto. For him. For the man who was supposed to protect her.
“I had no choice,” Antonio said, voice barely above a whisper.
“Don’t say that like you didn’t have another option!” She wiped her face angrily, not letting the tears stay.
Roberto watched the whole thing, silent.
When Kendrix looked at him, his jaw tightened for half a second.
“I’m not marrying you,” Kendrix said, voice low and final.
Roberto stepped closer, slow enough that she saw every movement.
“So stubborn,” he muttered, almost to himself.
Before she could move, he reached out and tilted her chin up with two fingers. Their eyes locked. His were dark, unreadable.
“You’re a man full of misery, aren’t you, Mr. Tuzo?” she whispered, not looking away.
For one second Roberto went still. His voice dropped low, almost a growl.
“Run,” he said.
Kendrix blinked. “What?”
“Get out of here before I change my mind.”
She didn’t hesitate. She ran upstairs, heart slamming against her ribs, feet pounding on the steps.
Behind her, Maya burst into tears again.
Antonio lowered his head, trembling.
Roberto's gaze didn't waver. His hands stayed in his pockets, like the outcome was already decided.
“Bring her back,” he ordered.
The bodyguards moved.
A scream echoed from upstairs seconds later.
“Let me go!”
Kendrix fought as they dragged her down. She kicked one in the stomach, bit another hard enough to make him curse.
“Crazy bitch!”
“Take your hands off me!” she screamed, thrashing.
One guard threw her over his shoulder while she pounded his back with both fists.
“Mom! Dad! Don’t let them do this!”
Antonio couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Shame sat heavy on his face, dragging him down.
Roberto clicked his tongue, annoyed.
“Take my wife home.”
“I’m not your wife!” Kendrix screamed.
Roberto smirked, cold. “We’ll see.”
They dragged her outside. She dug her heels into the driveway, screamed for neighbors, for anyone. The street stayed silent. No one came.
The guards shoved her into the black car. She pounded the window as it drove away, watching her house shrink in the distance.
Silence filled the house again, heavier than before. Maya collapsed onto the couch, sobbing into her hands. Antonio stood at the window, watching the empty street.
On the center table sat the contract he signed years ago. Roberto had left behind an engagement ring, the diamond cold under the living room light.