"Hello!" Jessica called out, gently rapping on the door.
"Can someone please bring me some food? I'm famished," she added politely, tugging at the unyielding doorknob.
"Quiet down in there," a gruff voice responded, igniting a spark of hope within her that she wasn't alone.
"Can you hear me? Could you please bring me some food or at least open the door? I think someone locked me in here by mistake." Her pleas were as innocent as a child's, leaving the guards outside exchanging confused glances.
The New York syndicate mafia's primary function was to eliminate threats while expanding their territory. Enzo Romano headed this operation while his father managed affairs in Europe. Crime ran deep in Romano blood, a heritage Enzo inherited when he took over his father's business, granting him the opportunity to control larger territories in Europe.
This was why Enzo was determined to ascertain that Jessica wasn't a spy. He needed to tie up all loose ends to ensure smooth operations. He had dedicated his life to securing his empire for any criminal activity. For him, it wasn't about the money; it was about proving himself to his father.
Though the guards positioned at Jessica's door despised her whining, they couldn't act without their boss's command. They had received strict instructions that the captive was to be given neither food nor water. This tactic, taught to Enzo by his father, was the initial step in severe interrogation. Enzo showed no gender bias when he perceived a threat to his empire. He had pledged to safeguard the criminal underworld, tasked with ensuring the secrets of New York's underbelly remained concealed.
"Please, if you can hear me, open this door," she implored once more.
When Jessica was first placed in that room, confusion overwhelmed her. Unable to remain still, she paced incessantly. Jessica's coping mechanism had always been to keep busy. At home, she would occupy her mind by reading romance novels, cooking, or watching action movies that never failed to entertain her. However, yesterday's events seemed more real than any movie, and the gravity of her situation was slowly sinking in.
It had taken Jessica this long to realize that the men she encountered yesterday meant her harm. She had already exhausted herself rearranging furniture and trying to redesign the room's interior. Upon inspection, she recognized that she was in a type of guest bedroom. Its setting was incredibly luxurious, even more opulent than the home she had designed for her mother back in New York. While Jessica couldn't fathom her location, she understood how she got there. She had resolved that when the "bad guys" came in, she would convince them to change their ways and become good.
"Maybe they aren't bad men after all. But why did the other man die?" Jessica pondered, the image of the lifeless man on the tunnel floor etched in her mind. She couldn't shake that picture, trying to conjure a thousand possibilities for what might have ended his life, but only concluding that her captors might know something.
She recalled the events that transpired between her and her mother before she decided to take that fateful walk away from the hotel. Jessica felt betrayed because her mother had intended to sell her into marriage to a man far older than herself. For the first time, Jessica felt an internal relief at being caught up in a different place, away from her mother's supervision.
Her innocent mind couldn't comprehend that her current location was far less safe than home. Exhausted from banging on the door and pleading with whoever was on the other side to open it, Jessica allowed herself to slide down the wall and sit on the floor, her hands resting on her folded knees. She had already seen enough of the ceiling, and nothing spectacular caught her eye anymore. Jessica perceived no danger in her surroundings, innocently believing that someone had mistakenly locked her in the room.
The girl still held immense faith in humanity. She had lived her entire life, or at least the eight months she believed to be her life, thinking that life was just like in the movies. Jessica had never encountered any real danger, and this was her first interaction with the real world away from her mother's presence. She hoped that the handsome man who resembled her favorite TV character would provide good food and at least give her something to eat. Jessica had felt an attraction towards him similar to those she read about in her romance novels. All of this was new to her, but she hoped the man felt the same way about her.
If only she knew!
Eventually, Jessica closed her eyes and allowed her mind to drift to the memories she still had of her mother. She recalled just three days ago when her mom was regaling her with stories about their life back in London. Jessica's mother had explained to her daughter that they had moved away from London because they had no family left there.
All that Jessica understood was that her father had died in a tragic accident, leaving no family for either of them. She never questioned her mother because her mind had never been one to conjure up doubts. Jessica fully trusted her mother and couldn't fathom the idea of Mrs. Hayman lying to her.
However, the events of two days ago had caused Jessica to begin doubting her mother's intentions. She wondered why her mom would try to pair her off with that older man and deceive her about their supposed past relationship. Even with only eight months of memories, Jessica could sense that something wasn't right.
The name "Nick Thomas" still echoed in her ears, mentioned by her mother. She pondered who he might be, whether they were related, or if he was someone she had dated before losing her memory. Jessica wondered why her mother would be so determined to keep her away from her past life.
Were there secrets that Mrs. Hayman was hiding from her daughter? Was there something Mrs. Hayman wanted Jessica to completely forget and leave behind? These questions plagued Jessica's mind, occupying her thoughts even in the silence of the room.
She was attempting to connect the dots, to understand what her mother would gain from her marriage to Mr. Gonzalez. Jessica recalled how familiar the two had seemed when talking. She felt as though Mr. Gonzalez and her mother had known each other for some time and had only met up for the purpose of this union.
She felt betrayed.
Betrayed by the only woman she knew.
Betrayed by her own mother.
Jessica began singing the little chorus that her mom always sang to her while braiding and combing her hair. It was in Russian, and Enzo Romano, who was watching her through the CCTV, was shocked to hear the American girl speak Russian so fluently.
"She has to be a spy," he muttered to himself, anger brewing inside him like a pot about to boil over.