Jacqueline carefully peeked down to the first floor, but she saw nothing but the blue light of the television. She frowned, thinking about finding a way to escape this place without the kidnappers finding out.
Suddenly, strong footsteps sounded at the end of the stairs. Someone was going upstairs. Jacqueline's heart seemed to stop beating, she immediately hid herself behind the wall.
Footsteps sounded evenly. Jacqueline asked herself if she should go back to that room. But if one of her kidnappers found her, she would be in big trouble.
Jacqueline clenched her fist, realizing she was still holding the knife that had been used to cut the rope.
A bold thought flashed in her mind, she would use this knife to defend herself.
But when she thought she would have to kill someone, Jacqueline's hands shook. Killing, for Jacqueline, was a sin. Her father and what she was taught did not allow Jacqueline to think about murder.
Jacqueline heard footsteps more and more clearly.
However, this was the only way for her to return to her father.
That's terrible.
Mumbling pleas for forgiveness, Jacqueline was afraid of the future she faced. Her tears once again rolled down her cheeks as she imagined the scene where she stabbed this knife into some man's body and blood flowed out.
Jacqueline wanted to give up and accept her death, but the image of her father always appeared in her mind, reminding her not to be weak.
"Dad, I'm sorry!" Jacqueline thought painfully.
"Ding-dong"
The doorbell rang, startling Jacqueline. The footsteps also stopped, then a vicious voice rang out, "Sh*t, why is he coming back now?"
Then Jacqueline heard the footsteps gradually fade away and then disappear. The guy went downstairs, she slowly knelt down. Only then did Jacqueline realize that her legs were shaking all the time.
Gunfire suddenly rang out. Jacqueline screamed, then held her head. Then the gunfire rang out again, louder and more rapid.
Jacqueline was scared, covered her ears, and closed her eyes tightly.
Ten minutes passed until the gunfire stopped.
Jacqueline gingerly walked down a few steps and peeked down to the first floor.
She almost screamed when she saw blood flowing on the floor, the man with the scarred face was lying in a pool of blood. His stomach and chest were full of gunshot wounds. A foot wearing a leather shoe stepped on the beer belly of the unfortunate man. Jacqueline heard a cruel and cold-blooded voice like that of a wild wolf, "I told you not to bother the boss, but it seems you didn't listen. This is what you deserve."
Sarcastic laughter rang out. That foot kicked the body toward the bottom of the stairs, which was several meters away from her.
A few spurts of blood splashed onto the wall.
Seeing the horrifying face of the corpse, Jacqueline was so frightened that she almost screamed, but she managed to cover her mouth just in the nick of time.
However, the men still realized that someone was secretly observing them.
Footsteps sounded again, and another pair of leather shoes stepped into the pool of blood as their owner approached her." Jacqueline urged herself to flee, but her body froze when she witnessed the events unfolding.
And then, Benjamin's face appeared from the darkness, the handsome face with a friendly smile in her memory was now extremely cold-blooded and scary, with sharp and cruel eyes like those of a predator locking onto her.
As soon as he saw Jacqueline with wide-open eyes filled with panic, Benjamin was surprised and immediately changed his facial expression.
But it was too late. Jacqueline, who saw it all, shouted, "Don't come near me." Then she immediately ran to the second floor. Benjamin hurriedly chased after her, "Jane, I can explain everything to you."
Jacqueline returned to the room where she had been locked. As she locked the door, Jacqueline trembled when she heard Benjamin banging on it.
"Jane, open the door, I won't hurt you."
But Jacqueline's mind was invaded by shock. No one can trust the words of a mafia don, especially when you just saw him brutally kill someone.
Jacqueline approached the windows, trying in vain to open one, but her efforts were in vain.
In the hallway, Benjamin, after futile attempts to calm Jacqueline with words, kicked the door open. His eyes widened as he faced the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks from her… sparkling eyes.
"I'm sorr..," Jacqueline stammered.
Before Jacqueline could complete her sentence, Benjamin rushed to her and held her in his warm arms.
"It's over, Jane," Benjamin said as gently as he could. "I'm here, to protect you."
The scent of pine cologne from the man filled Jacqueline's nostrils. It was strange but comforting, that's how Jacqueline felt.
At that moment, she allowed herself to be enveloped in the man's tight embrace, closed her eyes to let the last tears fall, and nodded.
Feeling Jacqueline's nod in his chest, Benjamin had no reason to waste their time in a damn place like this.
Benjamin whispered into Jacqueline's ear, "Hug me," right before picking her up.
Jacqueline panicked for a few seconds because it happened so fast. But then she compromised, allowing herself to relax into Benjamin's strong, warm embrace.
Benjamin, with Jacqueline in his arms, walked down the hallway with steady and careful steps. He did not allow himself to make the girl in his arms feel uncomfortable.
Realizing they were going downstairs, Jacqueline shivered as she remembered what she had seen with her own eyes. Bright red blood and expressions filled with horror and pain sent shivers down Jacqueline's spine.
Benjamin sensed the slightest changes in Jacqueline and had no difficulty in finding the reason for them.
He stopped and whispered into Jacqueline's ear in the gentlest way, "Jane, close your eyes. Just keep your eyes open until you hear my voice."
Jacqueline gently nodded, her eyes closed tightly. But she couldn't stop thinking about what she had seen. In an effort to push those horrible memories away, Jacqueline remembers what the drunk who assaulted her told her.
"Is Benjamin really as trustworthy as he appears to be?" That thought lingered in Jacqueline's mind, its presence not strong enough to give her a headache, but enough that Jacqueline was unable to get rid of it.
Jacqueline never knew much about Benjamin, but she never felt like it was a problem. But when red flags appeared in what she was experiencing, she became confused.
She felt Benjamin stop and heard some whispers. That wasn't Benjamin's voice, probably his subordinate's.
She shouldn't try to hear what they were talking about, Jacqueline assumed. But she was surprised to hear someone mention "the lady's father" in the middle of the conversation.
Jacqueline wondered if they were talking about her father.
Jacqueline opened her eyes immediately. Benjamin also felt Jacqueline's small movement, he looked down at her but she promptly tucked her head into his large chest.
Benjamin thought that staying here any longer would make Jacqueline uncomfortable. He signaled his subordinates to stop and went out.
Jacqueline peeked from Benjamin's chest and saw a lot of men wearing black suits standing in line outside.
By chance, she caught one of them adjusting his tie by hand. On the back of that person's hand, there was a tattoo of a rose and a gun, an image that Jacqueline couldn't forget.
As they entered the car, Benjamin continued to hold Jacqueline in his arms.
Jacqueline wanted to move next to him but Benjamin held her in his arms.
He patted Jacqueline, "Don't worry, I'm already here."
Faced with Benjamin's gentleness, Jacqueline quickly let down her guard and fell asleep.
The car started moving. Benjamin never took his eyes off Jacqueline as she fell asleep.
As he looked at the bruises, wounds, and rope marks on her face and body, only God knew how much he restrained himself from seeking revenge on the people who harmed his girl.
But that did not mean Benjamin didn't blame himself. He thought he had to give her as much freedom and time as possible to come to him. But it was his letting down of guard that almost took away the girl he loved the most.