Daddy's Captive Prize

*

Ever heard of stranger danger?

More like cowardly freaks for concealing their identity. Freaks who pinned her petite body down to the cold, damp floor.

Lamia was abducted on her way back after long late shifts at the hospital which was a routine thing for her.

What made today's shift different was beneath her?

She'd been blindfolded, and her lips and hands were duct-taped. Lamia squirmed repeatedly while mumbling incoherent words.

She was petrified. So afraid as beads of perspiration trickled down her face, down to her neckline.

Just then long calculated footsteps were heard as two of the mysterious strangers if not more that were holding her captive stepped back. Everywhere went up in silence as a warm hand brushed across her disheveled, long hair.

"Promise me with just a nod that you'd cooperate once I remove the tape." The altered voice said, softly.

Lamia was perplexed, agitated, and scared out of her goddamn wits even as she nodded her answer.

It couldn't be the debt collectors. They gave her this month's ending to come up with the exorbitant prize to be paid. She drew an agreement with them so who the fuck is behind this abhorrent act? Lamia thought.

She felt a gentle touch brush across her lips before she coughed for a second, clearing her hoarse throat.

If only the voice could untie her eyes too. How grateful she would be.

"W-Who are you, folks? WW-What do you want from me? If by any chance you brought me here to steal from me then permit me to apologize since I have no pennies on me. I'm literally as poor as a church rat. I'm actually one of the less privileged... Forget the outfit." It's deceiving. Lamia said in a lamented tone, stressed out of her goddamn mind.

Silence followed.

A little shuffling before the same unrecognizable voice came again. "I'm even more convinced now that you're just the right person for the job, Ms. Lamia Torres. As far as the question goes... I am your master and savior."

Master. They were clearly onto some weird shit. She would never acknowledge a stranger as her master. This was awkward. They even know her name. Lamia thought, preparing her mind for the worst.

"Don't be surprised. I know everything there is to know about you. You're Mexican. Currently interning as a doctor." The voice said, listing off all her qualifications, starting from her age, down to the schools she attended. Her exes and hobbies. All the basics and attributes she never acknowledged she had in her.

At the end, she was pretty much flabbergasted that these freaks knew her more than she knew herself.

The voice concluded the narration with "Living with an unbearable drunk as a skunk asshole as a father. Putting up with him up till this point. It's truly worth the admiration."

This was no compliment, rather it sounded like she was being mocked. Suddenly infuriated, Lamia sniffled back the tears, clenching her hands.

"Forget about the damn job, you weirdo. That's seriously offensive. Running a one-sided background check and stalking me. I want out!" Lamia snapped before she could stop herself.

There she goes again with her sharp tongue. Lamia thought and bit her bottom lip till she tasted blood. Even if she was trying to act all strong and mighty in the face of her abductors she couldn't deceive herself for long. Deep within, she was nothing but a snivelling coward.

The voice ignored her.

As she tried to discern the person behind the voice but couldn't. Not that it mattered, anymore. In the worst-case scenario, she was about to die young.

"I-I'm sorry for raising my voice but could you please... Cut me some slack. I really want no trouble. I'm...I'm just a simple girl trying to make money in a way that pleases both God and the law. Life isn't fair." Lamia lamented trying to guilt-trip them into pitying her condition.

Silence.

More silence.

Then came the voice again. "We've dragged this out long enough. I will hit the point. I have an irrefutable offer." The mysterious voice slipped a photo into her hands that were tightly duct taped behind her back.

"Take a look at it when I'm gone. The gentleman in that photo is Demiexio Kirill Kutznetsov and he is the target. You will be posing as his long-time missing son. Get close to the man. Win his trust, find his weaknesses if there is one, and get him to transfer all his stocks to you." The voice said.

"That is definitely a lot of tasks but you seem to forget that I am a girl." Girl is the keyword.

"You will find a way around that. It's not your first rodeo. Play your part and you will be rewarded handsomely." Said the voice.

Lamia said nothing. She only listened. Even under the blindfold, her eyes lit up at hearing such a sweet declaration.

Like the old saying goes; Every labourer deserves their wages. Reward means money and that's the one thing she was in desperate need of.

So far the proposition was tempting but the question remained. Would she be able to pull this off?

Clearing her dry throat, poor, innocent Lamia began. "Even at that. I still don't think I'm the right person for the...,"

The voice slammed his fists against the wall that was opposite her, sighing as the woman gasped. Her heart jumped at the unceremonious flare-up.

"You underestimate your capabilities, little Ms. You have all the qualities. You're versatile taking as many jobs as possible to take care of your unhealthy brother and family's shortcomings. A girlfriend for hire by day. Street singer in the evening, a low-level actor who could easily win an Oscar award. Only to mention a few. You give yourself no credit." The voice said, dissatisfyingly.

Lamia did not comment at all. A part of her wanted nothing but to flee while another part of her that was almost sick at the jabs life was throwing at her wanted to grab onto such a golden opportunity.

"Like you said. Life hasn't been fair to you. I'm here to change that. Your student loan and every other debts in your name will be cleared. I'm in the process of getting my hands on a suitable donor for your brother's immediate heart transplant." Said the voice.

Fascinating. At last, her brother will live a normal life like normal people. Thank the heavens, she thought inwardly.

"Now here's the good part. You will learn every lie and everything there is to know about the man who would soon be your dear Daddy. You can ask questions if there is one. But remember one thing." The voice said.

"What could that be?" Lamia asked, still struggling to untape herself.

"Never get caught. Once your identity as an imposter is discovered... The deal will be cut off immediately and there will be consequences for your failure. Do you accept the offer?" The voice asked.

"Do I even have a choice at this point?" Lamia half-mumbled.

Everything was too good to be true. She'd been tirelessly working all kinds of side jobs for many years, skipping sleep while still interning just to fend for her family.

This is an easy way out so why not take it? No matter how creepy and stupid it all sounded, Lamia thought.

"There is always room for life choices, Ms. Torres. It's all up to you. But this preposition would change your life, entirely. There really is no turning back once the deal's sealed."

"I need time to think about it," Lamia said, trying to see through the blindfold but it was futile.

Everywhere was pure darkness.

"Time waits for no one. You can either take it now or kiss it goodbye. There are many fish in the pond or how does the saying go, anyway?" The voice asked nonchalantly. "The clock's ticking. Tick Tock."

At this point, they might actually do away with her if she refuses and find a replacement in her stead.

She still wants to live. She still has a purpose in life. The offer seemed promising. She admitted, inwardly, nodding her answer.

"Fine. I-I will do it." She agreed, torn between not knowing if this was really the right thing to do.

"Excellent choice. You must endeavor to feed your Daddy the contents of this liquid every night unfailingly till its last drop." The voice said, dropping the container on the floor.

The first thing that came to mind on hearing the instruction was poison potion. Her intuitive side took over as she hyperventilated, almost choking on her saliva.

As if guessing what was on her mind, the voice snarled. "For your own good... Do not try to find out more."

"O-Okay, however how can I reach you? In case of an emergency... Shouldn't there be a plan B?" LamTorresia asked, exhaling.

"My number is in this burner phone. We will be in touch. Never forget. You're being watched." The voice said and stood up. "Everything is in your hands. Good luck, Ms."

Lights out.

Once she stopped hearing any noise she let out a deep, exasperated breath. Sighing heavily as she uncovered her eyes, temporary blindness struck her for a second.

Her head spun as she stared at the handsome, surreal photo.

Demiexio Kirill Kutznetsov.

Who hasn't heard of the dangerous trillionaire Daddy who often made an appearance in early morning news every now and then?

By the heavens, what has she just gotten herself into?

****

A ruthless mobster.

A heartless criminal.

The sexy villain.

A monster hiding under an expressionless face. With his extremely calm demeanor.

Demiexio Kirill had been given many names since he took over his family's businesses. A third-generation Mafia leader who has only one care in the world at the moment. Which was locating his missing son.

Showing weakness of any kind in the world of organized crime was highly unacceptable. But not when the person involved was his own blood.

He would never give up in his search. He'd rather die trying.

"Any news, today?" Kirill asked his Capo secretary using sign language.

"I'm afraid not, sir." The secretary said sadly.

Kirill after reading Alexei's lips, slammed his palms hard against his office desk, yanking himself off from his luxurious swivel chair. With just a sweep of his arm, everything came rattling down with a shattering thud. He sighed exasperatingly holding his neck.

Secretary Alexei rushed towards him, holding him before he'd slump to the floor and die of hypertension.

"Find him, Alexei. You have to promise me. Even if you turn the world upside down... You have my permission." He signed the unspoken words with his fingers. His eyes filled with grief and hatred towards mankind.

How long has it been since his boy went missing? It's been so long that he'd stopped counting the years that have gone by.

How lonely would his boy be in whatever shithole he was curled up in? His poor boy, Matvey must be suffering.

The thought of his kiddo being buried six feet under has never crossed his mind although he couldn't cross it out at this point.

No leads.

No success.

All but bad news throughout the years.

Fuck it. It's not the time to be pessimistic. Kirill thought, clenching his jaw. He'd let the world burn and bury everyone alongside his boy's remains even if it's the last thing he did.

"I promise you, boss. I won't stop searching. The boys have been working on it for ages but nothing so far. The kids we found that was around Matvey's age turned out to be all crooks.

Is there a possibility that he isn't in our country, Russia, Boss Kutz? Perhaps... Just perhaps he might be de...," Alexei was still saying in sign language when he was cut off.

Kirill shook his head, pulling entirely away from his secretary turned friend. "Expand the search beyond our territory. Reach out to the Italian Don if you have to. Give them anything they demand. Matvey is my predecessor. My only joy in life was having him as my son. Admittedly, I lost a part of me that can never be restored the day I lost him." Kirill signed with his fingers, sighing heavily.

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To be continued...