Captured by the Criminal (Taken)

“Captain.” He stands, grabbing a walkie from the band of his jeans. “Captain, she’s awake.”

No sound returns back from the walkie but the man looks proud of his action. I sit in the bed, unable to gain my bearings as the boat tilts back and forth.

The door opens and Costi steps into the room, wearing a white button down shirt and black pants like some modern-day pirate. “You’re awake. ‘Bout time.”

I rub at my head. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Twenty-four hours. You need food.” He turns his attention to the man by the door. “Charlie, get her some food.”

“Where are we going?” A light fog covers my brain, making it difficult to remember how I ended up on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

“We’re headed to my compound in Greece.”

I stand from the bed on shaky legs. My head whirls and I nearly lose my balance, but Costi wraps his arms around me, keeping me steady. “I can’t go to Greece.” I have shit to do. My life is in Miami.

Running one of the biggest crime organizations is a considerable amount of work. And I need to get home to do it.

“Well, we’re going to Greece on my ship, and there’s nothing you can do about it now.” He lets go of me, watching me to make sure I’m steady on my feet.

I feel like crying, pushing Costi away and rushing back to my house. I’m tired and he’s right, I’m famished.

The door opens again, and Charlie is back with a platter of food. Eggs. Bacon. Toast. Everything I could want at this moment.

My mouth salivates at the sight.

“Sit and eat, and then we can talk.”

Charlie sets the platter on the desk in the room’s corner and Costi helps me to the leather chair.

I pick up the fork and dig into the scrambled eggs, taking a sip of orange juice in between bites. I’ve never been this ravenous in my life. I need to eat, get my strength back, then worry about escaping. Because I will escape.

“That’s a good girl. Eat.”

I glare at Costi, wishing I could shoot laser beams from my eyes at him. “Leave me alone.”

He perches on the edge of the desk, chuckling. “Come on now, Bianca. You don’t want that, do you?”

“I have a job I need to get back to.” I take a bite of toast, my headache subsiding with each morsel of food.

“I don’t want you to worry about any of that right now. Just focus on eating and getting your strength back. We are going to be on the ocean for a while.”

I stand, tossing my fork onto the plate. “I have a life, Costi.”

“And that life you once knew is on hold until I’m done with you.”

“Done with me?”

“Yes, you’re mine,” he snarls.

Words I’d always wanted to hear from Costi fall on deaf ears. All I can think about right now is my father. How I’m needed to stand at his side as head of one of the Four Families. I’m important, dammit. And I won’t let Costi treat me as if I’m not.

“I’m not yours. I’m not anybody’s. I’m my own person, thank you very much.”

“You’re your own person, huh?” He says the words like he’s mocking me.

I don’t care.

“I am.” I hold my chin higher, defying him. And with this little power move, I am.

I’ve become a master at overpowering the opposition and not letting myself get manipulated by anyone.

But Costi isn’t just anyone. No, he’s my Costi. The boy I grew up with. But the man standing before me isn’t him.

I tried to look him up from time to time, to see how he was doing, but never found much on the man.

Just small tidbits of information.

“You’ll find clothes to wear in the closet.” He crosses to a white door and opens it. “I had a few things purchased for you until we make it to land.”

“How very kind of you to pre-plan my captivity wardrobe,” I snip. “Is it stripes? A Cartier ball and chain to accessorize?”

The corner of his mouth lifts and he holds up a scrap of material in red. “No stripes.”

“Is that dental floss?”

His eyes sweep down my body, leaving warmth in their wake. “A bathing suit.”

It’s the exact opposite of what I would wear around Gino, and he’d certainly never buy me something that flaunted my lack of a six-pack stomach. Maybe I’m still woozy because it looks like Costi would love nothing more than to see me in it.

“Hopefully, you can get your money back since I’ll be returning home.”

“Like it or not, you’re my prisoner now.”

“Prisoner?” He’s joking, right? Costi isn’t the type of man to take prisoners. But as I gaze around the opulent cabin, I realize I don’t know him at all. I almost forget for a second we’re at sea. The space is large, definitely a yacht and not just a cabin cruiser. There’s a queen-sized bed in the center of the spacious cabin, and a few colorful paintings of stars decorate the white walls. The modern decor is soothing with its beige and gray color palette, but I feel agitated as Costi moves across the plush carpeting.