XXV. That's Unfortunate.
. . . . .
"The time is up Ms. As per orders of the boss, you will be captured by the patrolling men after an hour if you're unable to escape the parameters."
Is that so? Hahaha!. . . Haha. . . Haah. . .
I could care less anymore. "Your boss is a real douchebag."
". . ." He paused for a moment as he looked down on me. "He'll be here any minute now. . ."
'Gee. Thanks, Sherlock. That sure made me feel somewhat better.' I rolled my eyes. "I can already guess what he planned. . . He made me run through the forest, making sure that my energy is exhausted so I won't have any strength left to knock you out cold. Isn't that right? Besides, you're a brigadier, aren't you?"
"You're sharper than you look. . ." He replied, crossing his arms.
"What can I say, I recognize the mafia hierarchy from Russia. To think that jerk will assign a avtoritet to hunt me down and not shestyorkas. I must admit, that was a smart move from the jerk."
Tsk.
Avtoritet is another term for brigadier and shestyorkas is for associates. There's also warriors, which they call the boyeviks or boevik.
Mafia hierarchies in Russia are no different than the usual. A boss will always have a right-hand man, which is the underboss. Then the consiglieres. Then capos. Then lastly, the soldiers and associates.
Each mafia factions have their own terms of those in their own area.
"Tell me, what is your name?" I asked the man who no longer stood before me but is also now leaning against the wall, arms still crossed over his chest.
"Lev."
"Lev. . ." I repeated, letting the name linger in the air. "Interesting choice. Does it suit you?"
He didn't respond and remained silent. 'It seems like our friend here is not one to always talk. Pfft— To think that the name 'Lev' meant 'Lion' in Russian. How fascinating.'
"Your boss must really think highly of himself to send a 'lion' to fetch me."
Yet again, he only remained silent.
We waited for 7 more minutes before a car slowly decelerates in the area.
Alas, the damned devil got out with a passive look on his face. His tailored suit contrasted sharply with the wildness of the forest, and he surveyed the surroundings with casual indifference.
"Lev," he called out, his voice smooth and commanding. "Have you found her?"
"Yes, sir," Lev replied, straightening up as he acknowledged Dakari's presence. "She's right here." he stepped out of view, revealing my sorry state.
Dakari's gaze shifted to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. His blue eyes seemed to pierce through me, assessing and calculating. "Ms. Lucrezia Viviana. . ." he said with a hint of mockery in his tone. "I see you've been busy running into the wild."
Oh the audacity.
"Busy trying to escape your clutches." I shot back.
He did not respond and suddenly kneeled before me, eyeing my bloodied foot, which was muddy from the dirt when I ran.
"What are you looking at?" I demanded, irritation flaring within me.
Dakari's gaze remained fixed on my ankle, the smirk on his face fading slightly as he assessed the damage. "Just making sure you're in one piece," he replied, his tone laced with a mix of sarcasm and genuine concern. "Wouldn't want you to be too injured to enjoy the hospitality we have in store for you."
I scoffed, pulling my foot away from his gaze. "Hospitality? Is that what you call it? Kidnapping and confinement?"
"Call it what you will. The fact remains that you're still here, you lose the wager, and I have no intention of letting you go."
Despite the pain from my foot I slowly stood up, no longer leaning against the wall. "You think this is over? You think I'll just give up?"
Dakari's expression shifted to one of cold amusement. "Oh, I know you won't give up easily." His gaze following every subtle movement of mine.
I knew it. This guy is a sadist!
As I stood, he too rose to his full height, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me.
I casted him a glare and I prepared to fight him.
"Feeling brave, are we?" he asked, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You should know by now that bravery can be quite. . . painful."
As if I care anymore. This will be round two. I may have lose when we fought back in the manor but this time. . . I will fight till death.
Dakari's smirk widened. "You really think you can take me on? You're still injured, darling. And I have the advantage of knowing this terrain."
"I don't need to be at my best to fight you," I shot back, taking a step forward. "I've faced worse than you."
What I said is of course a lie. I never fought someone like him before, only now when everything goes awry.
He doesn't need to know that.
He chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with excitement.
Before he could make a move, I lunged at him, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and fury. My foot throbbed with pain, but I pushed through it, focusing entirely on the fight ahead.
Dakari sidestepped my attack with surprising agility, but I quickly pivoted and swung again, aiming for his midsection. He caught my wrist mid-swing and twisted it, forcing me to stumble forward.
"Is that all you've got, my dear?" he taunted, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer.
I gritted my teeth against the pain and managed to break free from his grasp. "Not even close!"
I darted to the side and grabbed a fallen branch from the ground, wielding it like a makeshift weapon.
"Now this is more like it," he said, his expression shifting to one of genuine interest. "But do you really think that will help you? And is it because of your injury? You seem to have gotten weaker. Let's go back home, I don't want you to get hurt."
Weaker?! This devil—. . . That's because I was only able to move freely now! How about you try cooping up in a room for weeks! Won't your body feel sluggish and weaker than the usual?!
Ugh!
"Better than nothing." I replied with distaste. Ignoring the rest of the word he said. Getting riled up because of a little provocation is not good.
I may only have a damn twig on my hands, but. . . Anything that is in my grasp can be a weapon. No matter what it is. It will be deadly.
With that, I charged at him again, swinging the branch with all my strength. He dodged to the side but not without receiving a glancing blow to his shoulder.
Dakari's eyes narrowed, and I could see the shift in his demeanor as he prepared for my next move.
He lunged forward, attempting to close the distance between us, but I was ready this time. I sidestepped and swung the branch again, aiming for his legs.
He jumped back just in time, but I followed up with a quick jab aimed at his midsection. This time he caught my wrist again, but I twisted out of his grip and brought the branch down toward him.
He blocked it with his forearm. "You're stronger than you look. How fascinating. And here I thought you've gotten weaker. . ."
"I've had to be," I replied, panting slightly from the exertion. "You don't know what I've been through."
I took a moment to catch my breath, scanning the area for any advantage I could find. The forest was dense around us, providing plenty of cover and potential escape routes.
"Looking for an escape, my dear? Lev will catch you, so don't even try."
Fuck! I forgot about Lev.
My eyes landed on the man still leaning on the wall, nonchalantly observing without a care to stop us both from fighting.
Lev just smoked in silence.
Tsk.
"I will try and try, even if it kills me." I spat.
My head was dizzy but I shrugged it off. I slowly moved towards him again, however, I know I won't last long before I lose consciousness from exhaustion.
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you? You're clearly already spent. It's surprising to see that you still have the strength to even fight me." he said, tilting his head slightly as if studying me. "Don't push yourself too hard, darling. I don't want to see you in pain. Come here, let's go back home and bandage you up."
"Home?" I echoed, my voice laced with sarcasm. "You mean your prison? No thanks. . ."
I can already feel my chest tightening as I inhaled and exhaled. Gasping for air.
"Lucrezia. . . Just come." Dakari urged.
"Fuck. . . Off." I managed to utter weakly.
I lunged forward once again, delivering a kick directed at Dakari's head. The movement was fueled by adrenaline and desperation, my muscles straining as I aimed for a decisive blow.
He managed to evade.
Annoying.
I don't care anymore. I fucking don't care anymore! Who cares if I'm losing?! I held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to escape from him.
Is that so wrong?? It shouldn't be!
Anyone in my position will try whatever they can to escape!
Even if I failed now, I have a different plan that might as well work in my favor.
I continued delivering attacks toward him. But Dakari defended effortlessly, sidestepping or blocking my blows with a casual grace.
He remained silent. His gaze transfixed with mine. But as I panted, trying to catch my breath, I felt the world around me begin to blur. My vision slowly turned hazy, the exhaustion finally catching up with me. Each breath felt heavier, and I struggled to keep my focus.
I wobbled with my attacks, each swing of my fists becoming more sluggish than the last.
"Still trying?" he asked, his voice smooth and mocking. "You're a brave little fighter, but even the bravest can't last forever."
It was annoying how he always said the most sensible thing in certain situations.
I wanted to retort, to push back against his taunts, but my body was betraying me.
And it's fucking humiliating. I don't care if I'm being crude with my language right now. I just want to— arghh!! He's so annoying.
So. . . So annoying.
". . ."
I wasn't able to utter anything before darkness enveloped me, and I lost consciousness. But even as I slipped away, I could still feel a presence nearby, someone catching me as I fell.
Warmth enveloped me as strong arms wrapped around my body, cradling me gently.
And I don't remember anything else after that.