39. Christina
Christina
39
My head is throbbing relentlessly. Actually, scratch that, my entire body is aching. I writhe in agony, my wrists and ankles stinging as I fight against the restraints.
A part of me hopes that this is all just a very vivid, very twisted nightmare. Maybe…I’m actually asleep and having a night terror. If I can just wake myself up, I’ll find out that I’m not being held hostage, I’m home. Safe and sound in my own bed with my men right next door.
I close my eyes and count to ten, exhaling and then opening my eyes.
Shit.
I try to calm my breathing again. This is happening, but maybe it’s just some kind of misunderstanding? Those happen, right? Mafia families are just like everyone else – they could get intel wrong and the wrong person gets taken.
It’s a stretch but I’ll believe anything that makes this not real.
If it is real then I’ll need to panic. Because I’m trapped. I’ve been drugged, tied up, and thrown into this dark space, at the mercy of those who would do me harm.
Me, and my baby. Oh, God.
My mind fights against the fog of drugs, trying to piece together what has happened and how I ended up here. But each time I almost grasp onto the truth, it slips away again.
This is no dream. And if I don’t keep my wits about me, it could end up being a death sentence.
First things first, I try to figure out where I am.
There’s an odd sort of humming noise outside and it’s hot. I try to kick out my legs – and I hit something solid. It sounds like tire against wet pavement. I hear the faint sounds of cars honking in the distance. I feel around me, although my hands are tied behind my back, I can feel rough carpeting.
It’s cramped. Dark. Hot.
I’m in the trunk of a car.
Panic beats through me, hard and violent. I fumble around for my wristlet, hoping that my purse somehow made it in here with me, but I can’t find it.
Each jolt and swerve sends waves of pain through my head.
I have no idea where we are or where we’re going.
Or why they took me.
The memory of Julia’s text flashes into my mind. Forgive me.
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach as I piece together the answer—I am important to Enzo and Nico, important enough for their rivals to go to great lengths to capture me.
Julia’s parents are Mafia. Could she have really sold me out? Why? My headache intensifies, making it hard to think clearly. I rest my head back against the trunk, trying to steady my breathing.
Survival is key. Not just for myself, but for those who are counting on me. I rub my stomach protectively as I strain to hear any noises beyond the ringing in my ears.
I swallow hard and think of Nico and Enzo. There’s no place I could go where they wouldn’t search for me.
I have to believe that as soon as they realize I’m missing, they’ll move Heaven and Hell to find me.
But, what if they don’t find me? What if they don’t realize I’m missing until it’s too late?
I’ll die. Or worse.
“Hold on for them, Christina. They’re coming for you.” I whisper to myself.
The car stops suddenly, and I hear footsteps on gravel outside. The noise jolts me out of my thoughts and my heart skips a beat with hope. Could it be them? My assailants? I strain my ears, trying to make out any sounds from outside.
A key turns in the lock and the trunk swings open, blinding light flooding in and forcing me to squint my eyes shut. Someone reaches in and yanks me out, throwing me roughly over their shoulders.
All I can see is a gravel driveway and the bottom of his pants. I struggle against their hold, but they only tighten their grip.
"Why did you take me?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
No response.
"They won't come for me," I say, trying to keep my voice calm and confident. I need to sound certain for what I’m about to say next. "I'm not important to them."
Someone backhands me, the pain searing through my cheek. My vision blurs and white spots dance behind my eyes as he strikes me again.
Tears well up in my eyes, threatening to spill over, but I bite back my scream. They won’t get that from me.
We enter a house and I crack my head on the doorjamb. It sends a wave of nausea crashing over me and I taste bile.
There’s a hum of conversation in this room. Several people are speaking Italian.
Mafia.
I send up another prayer that my men will find me, and soon.
Hands paw at me and my skin crawls.
“Put her over there,” someone orders. I’m dropped on a hard couch. I can’t prevent the small whimper that escapes me when I land on my bound hands.
No one notices me at first. I look around but I don’t recognize any of these people.
After several minutes, a woman crouches down at eye level. “You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you?” She says, touching my hair. “You’ll fetch a good price.”
Price? What?
Panic starts in my gut.
“Do you think your little boy toys will still want you after we’ve had you in the rotation for a couple months? You’ll be all used up!” She continues. Her green eyes glisten with cruelty.
I cringe away from her and it makes her laugh.
“I look forward to watching you break,” she whispers, standing up.
She starts to walk away, taking her friends with her and leaving me alone.
A loud crash in the other room draws her attention. Men raise their guns and the tension in the room explodes.
“Go see what that was,” she orders.
A gunshot sounds from inside the house, and I gasp.
Please be Nico and Enzo. Please.
Screams and shouts follow, and the woman disappears into the melee.
With an almighty bang, the door splits open, and a wave of gunfire erupts from the intruders.
The men in the room return fire. I quickly roll to the ground with a thud and try to wedge myself under the couch. The last thing I need is to get caught in the crossfire.
“Get down, now!”
My ears perk up at the familiar voice. I strain to look around the room and I see them.
Alec, Nico, and Enzo are holding the line at the doorway, guns drawn. At least six of the men in the room with me are down, presumably dead.
I don’t see the woman. I hope they got her too.
“Help me,” I call out. Nico and Enzo find me immediately. They take one step toward me but before they can move forward, the cold barrel of a gun presses against my temple.
A masked man stands over me.
“Step away from her, now,” Nico orders.
“Drop it or she dies,” he sneers.
I look frantically at Enzo and try to remember how to breathe. He’s not speaking but I can feel the love radiating from him.
“Close your eyes,” he mouths.
I do as he says. My entire body is shaking.
A loud crack sounds, followed by warm, wet liquid falling all over me.