Emilia's POV



The soft murmur of voices drifts through the haze of sleep, tugging me back to consciousness. My body feels heavy, my limbs sinking into the plush mattress beneath me. The familiar scent of fresh linen and the faint trace of lavender fill the air, and for a brief moment, I forget everything that happened.

Then it hits me.

The dark room. The rope burns on my wrists. Valeria's voice telling me to trust her and my eyes snap open.

I blink against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, my gaze landing on familiar faces-my father, Dani, and Claire.

"You're finally awake," Claire says, offering a small smile. Dani, sitting beside her, watches me closely, her expression unreadable.

My father moves closer, his brow furrowed with concern. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

I swallow, my throat dry. "I... I'm okay." But the truth is, I don't know how I feel. Everything around me feels surreal-too safe, too clean, too different from where I've been.

My father sighs in relief, placing a gentle hand on mine. "You've been through a lot. You need to rest." He turns to Claire and Dani. "She's been through a traumatic experience. Let's not overwhelm her."

Claire nods understandingly, but Dani shifts in her seat, her eyes never leaving me.

I sit up slowly, the blanket falling from my shoulders. My father's words buzz in my head, but all I can think about is her. Did she make it home safely? Did she-

A sharp knock on the door interrupts my thoughts, and a uniformed police officer steps inside, his clipboard held tightly in his grip. "Miss Hayes," he says with a polite nod. "If you're feeling up to it, we need to take your statement."

I stiffen, my fingers clenching around the sheets. "Of course," I murmur, forcing myself to sit straighter.

He takes a seat across from me, flipping through his papers. "First of all, I wanted to inform you that we've already arrested the person who handed you over last night."

My heart drops. My stomach churns. "W-what?"

The officer glances up at me, confused by my reaction. "The person who brought you here. We have them in custody."

"No," I whisper, shaking my head. Panic swells in my chest. "Why? She isn't one of them! You have to let her go."

The officer frowns. "Miss Hayes, are you sure? This person is from a very dangerous neighborhood." He leans forward, his voice laced with skepticism. "You seem to be slightly confused ftom the entire experience. It happens a lot to victims of kidnapping."

I straighten, my hands trembling. "She's a good person," I say firmly. "She helped me escape. She was not handing me over. They were going to kill me, and she saved my life."

Dani, sitting stiffly on the other side of the room, scoffs. "Oh, come on, Emilia. You don't know anything about this girl, you just have a kind heart, must be the artist in you."

I turn to her, glaring. "I know she saved my life."

Dani crosses her arms. "She's probably after something. Maybe she thought she could get a reward or some cash out of you." Her voice drips with bitterness. "Rich girl lost and found-must be her lucky day."

"Shut up, Dani," I snap, my patience gone. "You have no idea what you are talking about."

Claire watches the exchange silently, her lips pressed into a thin line, while my father watches me with growing concern.

I turn back to him, my chest rising and falling with unsteady breaths. "Dad, you have to do something. She's in danger."

He hesitates, rubbing his temple. "Emilia... why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

I drop my gaze, guilt creeping into my voice. "I... I thought I was protecting her. I thought if no one knew, she'd be safe. But now... now she's in that police station, and they're going to find out she helped me." I look up, my eyes pleading. "Please."

My father sighs and nods, pulling out his phone. "I'll see what I can do."

The officer watches me carefully. "Miss Hayes, are you certain about this person?"

I nod, holding his gaze. "I'm certain. She's the only reason I'm here right now."

The officer doesn't look convinced, but he jots something down on his clipboard. "Alright. We'll look into it."

I watch him leave, my heart still pounding in my chest. Dani lets out an irritated sigh, but I ignore her.

All I can think about is Valeria, trapped somewhere, believing I abandoned her.

I pace the length of my bedroom, chewing on the inside of my cheek as my father speaks into his phone. His tone is calm, measured-he always knows how to handle a crisis. But I'm not convinced this will be as easy as he thinks.

"Yes, I understand," he says, his eyes flicking to me. "I just need this handled quietly. No processing, no paperwork. She needs to be let go."

I stop pacing and watch him anxiously. The chief of police's muffled voice leaks through the phone, and my father sighs. "Yes, I realize that's against protocol, but I have my reasons. She saved my daughter's life, and if she stays in custody, I have no doubt that her life is at risk. You know how these things work."

A pause.

"She could also be useful in understanding what happened to Emilia. Just let her go. I want her safe."

Another pause, and my father nods. "Thank you. I owe you one."

As he ends the call, I step forward. "Well? Is he going to let her out?"

He nods, running a hand through his hair. "They'll release her, but she'll be under police observation. It's the best I could do."

Relief floods through me for a second-until a nagging doubt creeps in. "When?"

My father shrugs. "Soon. They just need to confirm a few things."

I don't believe it. Not for a second. I glance out the window, my stomach twisting. Something doesn't feel right. "I want to go there," I say firmly. "To the station. I want to see her."

"No, Emilia," my father says, his voice leaving no room for argument. "We're handling it."

"She saved my life, Dad," I say, my voice sharp. "I can't just sit here."

He exhales slowly, setting his phone down. "Emilia, I already called the chief of police. We're handling it."

"No," I snap, stepping closer. "You're not handling it. I don't trust them."

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I see the cracks in his carefully composed demeanor. "I know you're upset, sweetheart, but you have to trust me. I've done everything I can."

I shake my head, the frustration bubbling over. "I'm not sitting here while she's locked up! I have to go see her."

"No." His voice is firm, absolute. "You're staying here."

I glare at him, my fists clenching at my sides. "No one is going to stop me."

"Emilia," he warns, his voice laced with frustration. "You don't understand how dangerous this is."

I square my shoulders, meeting his eyes without hesitation. "I do. And I don't care."

Before he can respond, I grab my coat and march towards the door, my heart hammering in my chest. I hear Claire shift awkwardly in her seat while Dani huffs in irritation behind me, but neither of them says a word.

"Emilia, wait-"

I pause for only a second, turning my head slightly. "If you won't help her, I will."

Without waiting for an answer, I step out into the hall, determination coursing through my veins.



Valeria's POV



The clanking of the cell door jolts me awake from the restless haze of pain and exhaustion. My muscles scream in protest as I push myself up, blinking against the dim flickering light overhead. A figure looms in the doorway-Officer Morales, the one with the cold eyes and the cruel smirk.

"Get up," he orders, his tone laced with urgency.

I hesitate for a second too long, and he steps forward, grabbing me roughly by my hair and yanking me to my feet. "Where are you taking me?" I manage to ask, my voice hoarse.

He doesn't answer. he just drags me down the silent corridor. The further we walk, the colder it gets, the air thick with dust and neglect. My stomach sinks as I realize we're heading to a part of the station -forgotten, unused.

A door creaks open, and without warning, Morales shoves me inside. I stumble, my knees hitting the cold concrete floor. The cell is damp, the walls cracked, the faint stench of mildew curling in my nose.

I spin around just in time to see him leaning against the bars, that same smirk curling his lips. "Welcome to your new home," he sneers. "Not exactly the Ritz, but hey, you'll get used to it."

I glare up at him, swallowing down the rising panic. "What the hell is this? What do you want from me?"

His smile widens, and then the words hit me like a gut punch. "You really thought she'd keep her mouth shut, huh?"

I freeze. "What?"

Morales chuckles, shaking his head. "Your rich little friend? Emilia? Yeah, she told us everything. Told us how you were the one who helped her, how you took her right to her daddy's front door."

My heart stutters in my chest, disbelief mixing with an all-too-familiar bitterness.

No. She wouldn't-would she?

I knew it. I should've known. She's one of them. Rich, pampered, looking out for herself.

I swallow hard, my fists clenching at my sides. "I don't know who you are talking about."

Morales' face darkens. "Still acting dumb?" He steps closer, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You think a girl like that would risk everything for someone like you?" He scoffs. "She threw you under the bus the second she got back to her mansion."

The weight of his words crashes down on me. I did this to myself. I should've minded my business and stayed in my lane.

"You threw your life away for the wrong person." he adds with a sneer. "But don't worry, you're not gonna have to regret it for long."

Before I can react, his fist slams into my stomach. Pain explodes through me, knocking the wind from my lungs. I double over, gasping, but he doesn't stop.

Another hit-my ribs. I hear a sickening crack.

I collapse onto the floor, my vision swimming.

"You'll stay here nice and quiet," Morales mutters, crouching next to me, his voice low and menacing. "No one's ever gonna find you. You'll rot here until Dominic's men come to pick you up. And trust me, they'll make you wish I killed you first."

I bite down on my lip, forcing myself not to cry out.

Morales stands and dusts off his hands like I'm nothing more than an inconvenience. "Sleep tight, sweetheart," he says with a mockery in his voice before slamming the cell door shut behind him.

As his footsteps fade into the distance, I curl up, clutching my ribs, trying to drown out the pounding in my head.

I stare at the damp ceiling, the flickering light casting eerie shadows on the wall. Emilia's face flashes in my mind-the way she looked at me, desperate, grateful. And now, the sharp twist of betrayal in my gut.

I should've known better.



Emilia's POV

The police station is nothing like I expected. The walls are a dull shade of gray, the air thick with the scent of old coffee and worn leather. Officers move in and out, their gazes sharp and indifferent. I grip the edge of my coat tightly, my heart hammering in my chest as my father strides ahead of me with his usual commanding presence.

"We'll get her out," he mutters under his breath, more to himself than to me.

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, but doubt gnaws at me. We shouldn't have waited. We shouldn't have trusted them.

The chief of police, a stout man with tired eyes, stands by his office door. He greets my father with a curt nod. "Mr. Hayes, Miss Hayes. Follow me."

We step into his cramped office, but I barely register the cluttered desk or the stale air. All I can think about is Valeria.

The chief gestures for us to sit, but I remain standing, arms crossed tightly. "Where is she?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intended.

He sighs. "Let's find out."

We walk down the fluorescent-lit hallway to a desk where Officer Morales sits, leaning back in his chair with an infuriating smirk. The sight of him makes my stomach churn.

"Where is she?" my father asks, his tone leaving no room for nonsense.

"Who?" Morales replies in a defiant tone.

"Morales, where is the girl that was detained last night?" the chief of police asks in a strict tone, but Morales doesn't seem to care.

"Oh, right... wait, what was her name again?" He looks at me, and something twists inside me.

"I don't know," I stammer, my voice trembling. "She gave me a ride after I managed to escape on my own, and I didn't exactly ask for her name." The words feel bitter on my tongue, but something about this officer seems too familiar.

Morales shrugs casually. "She's gone."

"What?" I snap, stepping forward.

Morales leans back, arms behind his head. "Turns out she had nothing to do with your little accident. We let her go."

I shake my head. "You're lying."

He raises an eyebrow. "Am I? She was just a nobody in the wrong place at the wrong time. No reason to keep her. Isn't that what you just said?"

"So you let her go? Just like that?" I argue, my voice trembling with barely contained rage. "You did something to her."

Morales smirks and leans back in his chair lazily.

"Let's talk in private," the chief of police says, his voice low and measured.

My father and I exchange a tense glance before following him into his office. The door shuts behind us with a heavy click, sealing us away from the chaos outside.

The chief leans against his desk, arms crossed, his tired eyes scanning the floor before meeting mine. "Listen, I won't sugarcoat this," he begins, rubbing a hand over his face. "Dominic's influence runs deeper in this department than you realize. There are people here-officers-who can't be trusted."

My father straightens. "How deep?"

The chief shakes his head. "Deeper than I'd like to admit. Which is why I know there's no way someone was released without the proper paperwork. That means Morales didn't let her go-at least not officially. He's likely working for Dominic."

My heart plummets. "So you're saying he-"

"He's definitely handing people over," the chief confirms, his jaw tightening. "And he'll be fired immediately. Releasing a detained person without paperwork is enough to end his career."

"But that won't solve anything," I interject, frustration bubbling in my chest. "If Dominic has more people inside, getting rid of Morales won't make Valeria safe."

The chief nods grimly. "You're right. But this could be our best shot at identifying the others who are compromised. If we move carefully, we can flush them out."

I shake my head, my voice trembling. "But what about Valeria? What happens to her?"

The chief's expression softens, but his words cut deep. "Emilia... it's probably too late."

I stare at him, my chest tightening. "No. No, I don't believe that." I take a step forward, desperation creeping into my voice. "We have to do something. I don't care what it takes-I will find her."

My father places a firm hand on my shoulder, his voice calm but unyielding. "We'll do whatever it takes to find her." He turns to the chief. "Alive or dead, I need to know where she is."

The chief lets out a heavy sigh. "We'll review the surveillance footage-inside the station and from the street cameras. If she was moved, we'll find out where she went."

"Do it," my father says without hesitation. "Whatever resources you need, you have them."

The chief nods, pulling out his radio and barking orders to start reviewing the tapes. I clutch my hands tightly, forcing myself to stay calm, but my mind is racing with possibilities.

Valeria is out there somewhere, and I'm not going to let her disappear.