Stolen
Aria's POV
I grabbed the kitchen knife and swung it at the first man through my door.
He caught my wrist like it was nothing. His grip was iron, but somehow soft at the same time.
"Easy," he said in a voice like warm honey. "We're not here to hurt you."
"Liar!" I tried to knee him in the stomach, but he stepped away. "Get out of my apartment!"
Three more men filled my tiny living room. They moved like predators - quiet, dangerous, fully in control. My heart hammered so hard I thought it might burst.
The first man had dark hair and kind brown eyes that didn't fit the situation at all. "My name is Luca Romano. We need you to come with us."
"Are you insane?" I backed toward the window, still holding the contract papers. "I'm calling the police!"
A man with golden hair laughed. His accent was thick and foreign. "Police cannot help you now, little dancer."
"Dmitri, shut up," snapped the biggest one. He had steel-gray eyes and a face cut from stone. Everything about him screamed danger. "Miss Cross, I'm Marco Romano. We need to talk your father's debt."
"My father never owed you anything!" But even as I said it, the papers in my hand felt like they were burning my fingers.
"Show her," said the fourth man softly. He was shorter than the others but somehow scary. His dark eyes missed nothing. "She deserves to know the truth."
Marco held out his hand. "The documents, please."
I clutched them tighter. "No."
"Aria." Luca's voice was gentle, like he was talking to a scared animal. "We know this is scary. But fighting won't change what's written on those papers."
My eyes darted between them. Four grown guys against one dance teacher. I couldn't win a physical fight. But maybe I could beat them.
"Fine," I said, trying to give up. "You want to see the papers? Here."
I threw them at Marco's face and ran for the bathroom. If I could lock myself in and climb out the window... I made it three steps before strong arms wrapped around my waist.
"Nice try," Dmitri whispered in my ear. His breath was warm against my neck. "But we expected that."
He carried me back to the living room like I weighed nothing. I kicked and scratched, but it was useless.
"Put her down," Marco demanded, picking up the scattered papers. "She's not a sack of potatoes."
Dmitri set me on my feet but kept his hands on my shoulders. Not hurting, just keeping me still.
Marco smoothed out the contract and started reading aloud. "'I, Professor James Cross, being of sound mind and desperate circumstances, do hereby pledge my firstborn daughter as collateral for the sum of five million dollars.'"
"That's not Dad's handwriting," I said, but my voice shook. It looked exactly like his messy writing.
"'Should I fail to repay this debt within one year of signing, my daughter shall serve the Romano family until such time as the debt is satisfied through her labor or other arrangements deemed suitable by the family patriarch.'"
The words hit me like physical blows. Labor. Other arrangements. I felt sick.
"He signed it in blood," the quiet man said. I think his name was Kai. "Your father cut his thumb and used his own blood as ink."
I looked at the dark red signature at the bottom of the page. It was definitely Dad's blood. I recognized the way he always made his 'J' too fancy.
"When?" I whispered.
"Two years ago," Marco said. "Your father was gaming. He owed dangerous people money. We gave him a loan to save his life."
"Dad didn't gamble!" But even as I said it, I remembered the casino papers I'd found. The strange phone calls. The way he'd acted nervous and jumpy those last few months.
"He was trying to pay for your college," Luca said softly. "He wanted to give you a better life."
Tears burned my eyes. Dad had sold me to pay for my schooling. The irony was so evil it took my breath away.
"This can't be legal," I said desperately. "People can't own other people anymore."
"In our world, blood debts are sacred," Kai stated. "More binding than any law."
"Your world? What are you, some kind of cult?"
Dmitri snorted. "Something like that."
Marco shot him a warning look. "We're businessmen, Miss Cross. Your father borrowed from us. Now the debt passes to you."
"I don't have five million dollars!"
"We're not asking for money," Marco said. "We're asking for service."
The way he said 'service' made my skin crawl. "What kind of service?"
"That depends," Luca said slowly, "on how cooperative you are."
I looked around my tiny apartment - at Dad's books still on the shelves, at the picture of Mom on the mantle, at the life I'd built from nothing. In one night, it was all being ripped away.
"I won't go," I said, lifting my chin. "You can't make me."
"Actually," Marco said, folding the paper, "we can. But we'd prefer your cooperation."
"And if I refuse?"
The four guys exchanged looks. Some silent conversation passed between them.
"Then we take you anyway," Dmitri said with a shrug. "But it will be much more unpleasant for everyone."
My phone rang, making us all jump. The caller ID showed my best friend Sarah's number.
"Answer it," Marco ordered. "Act normal. If you try to ask for help, we'll have to visit Sarah next."
Ice filled my blood. "You wouldn't."
"Try us," he said quietly.
With shaking hands, I answered the phone. "Hey, Sarah."
"Aria! Thank God. I just drove past your building and saw these scary-looking cars outside. Are you okay?"
I looked at Marco. He nodded once.
"I'm fine," I lied. "Just... having some people over."
"Are you sure? Your voice sounds weird."
"Really, I'm okay. I'll call you tomorrow."
I hung up before she could ask more questions.
"Good girl," Luca said approvingly.
The applause made me feel dirty.
"What happens now?" I asked.
Marco pocketed the deal. "Now you come with us. Pack light - just essentials."
"For how long?"
"That remains to be seen."
I stumbled to my bedroom and threw clothes into a bag with numb fingers. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.
But when I came back to the living room, all four guys were still there. Still waiting to steal my life away.
"One question," I said as Kai took my bag. "If this debt is so legitimate, why do you need four armed men to collect one dance teacher?"
The men shared another look. This time, I caught something in their faces. Worry? Fear?
"Because," Marco said slowly, "you're worth more than just five million dollars, Aria Cross. Much more."
"What does that mean?"
But before anyone could answer, Dmitri's phone rang. He answered it quickly, his face going pale as he listened.
"Boss," he said to Marco, "we have a problem. Vincent knows we have her."
Marco swore under his breath. "How?"
"I don't know. But he's organizing his entire crew. They'll be here in ten minutes."
"Who's Vincent?" I asked.
Luca grabbed my arm, suddenly frantic. "Someone who makes us look like choirboys. We need to go. Now."
As they rushed me toward the door, I heard Marco whisper to Kai: "How did Vincent find out she's his granddaughter so fast?"
The world turned sideways.
Granddaughter?
This can't be real.