For our winter vacation, my roommate and I signed up for an international group tour.
The trip started off oddly. As soon as we landed, we were herded straight into a shopping center. I refused to buy anything, annoyed by the blatant pressure to spend money. But my resistance didn’t sit well with the tour guide. Furious, she tore my passport into pieces right in front of me. Before I could even process what had happened, I was dragged off to some shady compound.
“If you’re not willing to spend money shopping, then you’ll spend it here learning a lesson!” the guide spat, her voice dripping with malice.
I stood frozen, staring at the burly men watching over me. They had matching emblems on their jackets and suddenly, recognition dawned. That symbol—it was from the Leland Gang, a criminal organization tied to one person I thought I’d left far behind, Ethan Leland.
Ten years. I had wasted ten years of my life wrapped around Ethan’s little finger. After breaking free from his grip, I thought I was finally free. And yet, here I was, right back where I started.
——
“You’ll stay here,” the guide hissed, her eyes cold. “Do as you’re told, earn your keep and maybe, you’ll get to go home. Refuse? You’ll stay here forever.”
The men around me loomed closer, their glares like daggers. My stomach sank. This wasn’t just a bad trip—it was a trap.
No wonder there were only four of us on the tour. I’d been foolish enough to think it was some exclusive boutique package. Instead, I’d paid a small fortune for a one-way ticket to hell.
“What about my roommate? Where did you take her?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“Don’t worry about her,” one of the men growled. “Worry about yourself.”
“My roommate’s boyfriend works for this agency,” I blurted, grasping at any shred of hope. “Was he in on this?”
It all started coming together. If it hadn’t been for Clara insisting I book through her boyfriend’s agency so he could get his precious commission, I wouldn’t even be here. I should have trusted my gut when I realized I’d never heard of this company.
“You’re here because of his recommendation,” the guide sneered. “He said you had money. Too bad you’re a miser. Well, since you’re so stingy with shopping, we’ll make sure you pay in other ways. Boys, keep her in line.”
Before I could argue, one of the men tossed two stacks of paper at my feet.
“This is your script,” he barked. “And this is a list of numbers. You’ll call these people and follow the script exactly. You don’t eat until you bring in money.”
I stared at the papers in disbelief. “This is a scam! I’m not doing it!”
The words had barely left my mouth when a sharp slap landed across my face. Pain exploded in my head and I tasted blood.
“You don’t get to say no,” he growled. “Show her what happens when she disobeys.”
Another man kicked me hard in the stomach. I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air, sweat pouring down my face.
“Please,” I whimpered, clutching my abdomen. “I’ll give you all the money I have. Just let me go.”
The leader laughed cruelly. “You think we’re stupid enough to let you call the cops the second you’re out of here? No. Once you’re in, the only way out is in pieces.”
In my haze of fear, my gaze fell on the emblem again. Something about it nagged at my memory. Then it hit me like a lightning bolt. This wasn’t just any gang—this was Ethan Leland’s gang.
The Lelands were infamous, their power extending through both the legal and illegal worlds. When I’d left Ethan years ago, he had promised me he’d leave the criminal side of his life behind. Clearly, that promise had been a lie.
“You’re with the Lelands,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The men exchanged amused glances. “Well, aren’t you clever? Recognizing the Leland emblem.”
I seized the only card I had left. “Your boss, Ethan, is my fiancé. If he finds out what you’ve done to me—”
Their laughter cut me off. “You? Ethan’s fiancée? Don’t flatter yourself. Everyone knows there’s only one woman for Ethan and her name’s Celeste. You’re nothing.”
“I am Celeste!” I shouted. But the men weren’t listening. They rifled through my bag, confiscating my ID and any personal belongings.
My heart sank as I realized how deep I was in. I had no passport, no phone and no allies. And now, my only hope of survival was to outsmart a den of criminals who thought they owned me.
