Natasha was tied to a chair, her body stiff. On the other side of the room, an older man held her cell phone, a smug smile emerging as he analyzed the contacts.

"Mom." He read aloud, arching his eyebrows. "Interesting. Let's see if mom can save you, Romanoff." He pressed the button to turn on and waited.

On the other side of the line, her voice sounded firm, but worried: "Love? Where are you, Natasha?"

The discreet smile on Natasha's face did not go unnoticed. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and relief.

"Be careful." *She murmured, sarcastic, even arrested * "You're playing with the wrong person."