Taken By The Mafia Lord

Natalie's soul flew out of her chest the moment she heard that knock. She knew that sound; mastered the very pattern of Daniel's knocks, hence she could tell that he was standing right outside her door.

"Oh God," Her stomach lurched and she went deadly pale. All her fears had come true and Daniel was going to end Edward right in front of her. This was a nightmare. What was she going to do?

She whirled around,

"You have to jump," Natalie said to him.

"What?"

"You have to jump out of the window now! Anything to get out of here," She was already pushing him in the direction of the window.

"No, are you crazy?! I'll die from this height," Edward stared at her as if she had lost her fucking mind.

"Then what are you going to do!" She felt like pulling out her hair from frustration. Natale had aged ten years already, "He's here already!"

"I'll face him," Edward said confidently and while Natalie could have admired his bravery, right now he was asking for death.

"Natalie, open up!" Daniel's voice echoed from the outside while pounding on the door making her heartbeat skyrocket.

He knew!

Daniel knew that she was with Edward in her room!

Running away was not going to work anymore since he knew of Edward's presence. She had to open the door for Daniel and let it all play out. However, Natalie had made up her mind, she would do everything to make sure Edward leaves here safely - even at the expense of her own life.

Hence, she moved to open the door with Edward protectively at her side and although he wouldn't show it, Natalie knew that he was nervous as well. Who wouldn't be fearful when Daniel was unpredictable as hell and God knows what he would do when he sees them?

However, the moment Natalie was about to unlock the door, she heard her friend, Penelope's voice from the outside, and her brows furrowed, unsure. What now?

"Hi Daniel," Penelope said, and Natalie had no choice but to press her ear to the door to properly hear what was being discussed.

"Where is Natalie?" There was an irk to Daniel's voice and she knew that he was slowly losing his patience.

"You can open up now, Natalie, it's only me," Penelope announced, leaving her confused. Why does it seem like Penelope was expecting something from her? Was she missing something here? She was confused.

Penelope was oddly calm, which was unlike her friend. She was so scared of Daniel that she hated being in close space with him yet there she was conversing with her. Was this a secret sign or what?

Nonetheless, Natalie opened the door slowly, her breath hanging in her throat when she saw the oddly cool expression on Daniel's face, it was like the calm before the storm. She would survive this, Natalie told herself as she put on a smile, looking happy to see Daniel - when she wasn't.

"Hi," She was still saying to him when Penelope pushed past her and to her greatest surprise, hugged Edward right in front of her, and that slightly shocked - and angered - her. Even Edward was confused as to what was happening.

"Who is he?" Daniel was quick to ask and Natalie's heart began to pound in her throat. What was she going to say?

"He's my boyfriend,"

Yeah, wait - what?!

Natalie was dumbfounded when Penelope said those words instead, turning around to watch as she threw her arms around Edward and pulling him to her side. Penelope acted so close to Edward that for a moment there, Natalie thought her friend had betrayed her until it hit her. It was all a lie, Penelope was acting. Her best friend was trying to save her ass.

Best friends were lifesavers, Natalie finally realized that. And having been around Penelope for a long time, Natalie was able to quickly catch on to the script. She said immediately,

"Yes, Edward here is Penelope's boyfriend. However, because her mother forbids her from having a relationship without her approval while away, I have no choice but to cover up and lie to my mother that he's a friend. Both of our mothers are close, so mom can't know, else the secret is out."

"Is that so?" Daniel asked with his brows perfectly arched in suspicion and Natalie slightly panicked, thinking that Daniel had seen through their acting. But that was until Edward wrapped a possessive arm around Penelope's waist - and Natalie pretended not to have seen that nor was she jealous. Edward stretched his hand towards Daniel,

"Hi, I'm Edward,"

"Daniel," He accepted his handshake, enveloping their hands together with their eyes meeting. Unlike Daniel who glared at him as if they were going off to war, Edward was surprisingly docile which was a good thing. If he was hostile to him, then Daniel would know undoubtedly that something was up.

"Thanks for saving my ass again, bestie, but I got to go," Penelope said while dragging Edward along, "Thanks once again for covering up for me," She waved as they left.

It wasn't until they successfully left through the door that Natalie was able to release the breath that she had been holding in. Edward was safe. He was finally safe, Natalie took one long, deep, breath. She then moved her gaze, only for it to connect with Daniel's intense ones and she gulped.

"You're here," Natalie finally acknowledged his presence without interruption, trying hard to hide her nervousness.

"So he has been here with you the entire time?"

"W-what?" She croaked, noticing the change in the atmosphere. The temperature had significantly dropped.

"The two of you have been alone in this room all this while," He said dryly, looking around the room as if trying to find evidence of her cheating on him or something.

"Nothing happened, we just talked. That's all." Natalie tried to clear the air, never expecting that Daniel would move, and grabbed her jaw so tightly it hurt.

"Who is he?" He growled at her face.

"He's just a friend,"

"Just a friend?" He sneered, "Don't try to lie to me, Natalie,"

"I am not lying to you! Why would I even lie to you?! God, you're hurting me, Daniel!" She tried to loosen his grip on her jaw but it was too strong.

It wasn't until the tears began to flow down her cheeks that Daniel suddenly withdrew his hands, the realization of what he's just done, dawning on him.

"Natalie… " He tried to touch her but she flinched away from him.

"No, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just so angry -"

"Get out!" Natalie yelled at him

"It won't happen again,"

"I said get out!" She bellowed at him and with an apologetic look, Daniel left her alone knowing she'd come around with time while Natalie was gripped with fear. Was this going to be her life from now on?

End of flashback.