Chapter 2 Vincenzo
As the leader of a mafia family, I can say with certainty that her boss is ripping her off. If she hadn’t kidnapped me, I would consider offering her a job myself. The way she picked me up was so casual. Honestly, one look at her and I wanted to get into the car without any prompting.
I’m too distracted with her nonsense to notice. I look up as she pulls over at Saint Mary’s. First, she threatens my daughter, and now she thinks I’ll let her get near her?
She’s a pretty girl, so I feel a little sad that I’ll have to splatter her brains on the windshield.
With her brown, shoulder-length hair and freckles across her nose, I might have thought she looked innocent if she wasn’t literally kidnapping me.
“You're not very smart if you think I’d let you hurt her.”
She turns to look at me with furrowed brows. “What?”
Looking down at the gun pointed at her, her eyes widen. I notice they’re a nice hazel color as her breathing stops. I cock the hammer back.
“You’re going to end up in a barrel of acid in the Warhorse District, just like everyone else who crosses my family. You think I’d let you touch my daughter?”
She sucks in a breath, glancing around like someone might save her. “Daughter? Wh.. What? Did you just threaten to kill me for doing my job?”
“When your job is kidnapping people, you kinda deserve it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” she demands, leaning away like those extra inches will protect her from a bullet.
Ding... Ding... Ding.
Her phone goes off again. Probably her boss. I grab it before flicking through the notifications. My whole body freezes when I see messages from my brother.
Niccolò Moretti
Where are you? The app says you were here, then you left.
Why are you heading to the school? You can’t pick up my niece without me!
That’s it! I’m canceling the ride. Thanks for making me late. My brother’s going to be pissed.
I glance at the terrified girl. “Oh shit,” I mutter, uncocking the gun and tucking it back into my waistband.
Now what? I can’t let her leave after telling her how we get rid of bodies.
I cannot get arrested like the rest of our family did nine years ago. I don’t have many options. I can kill this innocent girl, or I could kidnap her and make sure she can’t tell anyone. At least until we get rid of the warehouse and all the evidence.
“You’re coming home with me,” I decide, as I shoot a text to my brother.
Vin
I’m picking you up. Be outside.
Nic
I need to get Ava. I’m late.
Vin
I’ve got her. Be ready.
I shove the phone in my pocket, looking at the now-silent girl.
“What?” she whispers.
“This was a misunderstanding. But now you know too much.” I can’t help but watch her closely.
“So, you’re…”
“I’m kidnapping you,” I answer waiting for her to freak out.
Her eyes brighten. “So, I get to live with you?”
So not the reaction I was expecting, “Umm, I’m taking you to my home. Against your will.”
“Will I have to pay rent?” She asks with wide eyes.
My brows furrow at the thought of making a kidnapee pay rent, “No, you don’t get a choice.”
“What about food?” She perks up.
“Of course, I’m not going to starve you.” What kind of a monster does she think I am… Eh, considering I just held her at gunpoint, I guess I can’t blame her.
She smiles, “Okay.”
Okay? Who says okay to being kidnapped?
I check the time. I’m so fucking late. “Get in the passenger seat. I’ll drive. Behave, and I won’t shoot you.”
She hops out, and walks around to the passenger seat without argument. I slide out of the back, holding the door. “Ava! Let’s go.”
My daughter looks up from her phone. She looks so much like her mother when she was seventeen. I love her to death, but I wish she weren’t tied to that witch.
“Dad? I thought Uncle Nic was getting me.” She grabs her bag, sliding into the back seat.
I climb into the drivers seat, turning us back toward the office, “We’re picking him up on the way. Sorry I’m late.”
Ava leans forward, eyeing Harper, “Who are you?”
Harper turns to look at her, “I’m Harper.”
“Why are you here?” Ava questions looking between Harper and me.
Harper glances at me. When I don’t answer, she shrugs. “Your dad is kidnapping me. Think he’s more of a black-market organ-seller or a basement sex-slave kind of guy?”
Ava laughs, “Oh God! That’s so funny! Is she your new girlfriend?”
Pretty sure Harper was serious about that question. Ava knows about the family since one day she will be the one taking over for me. I’m honestly surprised that she didn’t believe what Harper said. She has always pushed me to start dating so maybe it’s just a bit of wishful thinking.
“No,” I grit out, side-eyeing the hell out of Harper, now hunched like she’s protecting her organs.
“Sure, Dad,” Ava smirks.
I grit my teeth as we pull up to the office. Nic is waiting, brows pinched, hands in his pockets. He hesitates before getting in the back with Ava.
It’s awkward as we drive quietly home. He knows that something is going on, but doesn’t want to say anything in front of Ava. He tries to shelter her as much as possible. Something about letting her be a kid as long as she can, since I’d never gotten the opportunity to just be a kid.
When we turn down the drive, Harper’s face is practically pressed to the window, staring at the brownstone.
I can’t see it the way she does. All I see is a mausoleum for the family sins that have lived here for generations before we were even born.
This is where our family plotted to kill our cousin.
Where they tarnished our name and burned bridges that we’ll have to fight, tooth and nail, to rebuild.
I look at Ava in the mirror once I park in front of the door. “Go start your homework.”
She frowns. “You’re acting weird. I might actually start to believe you’re kidnaping her.”
“Now please, Ava.”
She sighs and heads inside.
Nic immediately demands, “What happened?”
I glance at Harper. “I found your driver.”
Nic’s eyes flick to her. “Yes, I can see that. Why is she here? And with you?”
Before I can answer, Harper jumps in. “I thought he was you, took him to get Ava, then he pulled a gun and told me I could live with him rent-free.”
I frown. Why is she stuck on the rent thing?
“I kidnapped you,” I clarify.
“You what?” Nic snaps.
“Same thing.” Harper waves her hand dismissively.
I bang my head against the wheel.
“Why would you kidnap a random girl?” Nic demands.
“She told me to get in the car, said she knew where Ava went to school. I thought she was going to hurt her.”
Nic sighs. “What are you going to do with her?”
I look at Harper, who’s soaking all this in. “We’ll figure it out later. For now, take her inside and lock her in a spare room.”
Harper sits up her face finally showing the emotions appropriate for this situation. “I have work tonight.”
“You’re kidnapped. You. Don’t. Get. To. Leave.” I say it slowly, so maybe she’ll finally start to understand.
Her mouth drops, before she speaks, “I need to work, I can’t pay for school and everything else otherwise. I like the whole free rent thing, but I have to finish school, and I have responsibilities I need to pay for.”
I sigh. “Now you’re getting the idea. Welcome to being a captive.”
Nic mutters, “We can’t let her flunk out. This was a misunderstanding. She shouldn’t suffer for YOUR mistake.”
I look out the window as the town car pulls into the wide driveway beside us. I don’t have time for this. “Fine. You want her in school, you babysit her. But she doesn’t go to work.”
Nic clenches his jaw. “Fine. I will but don’t complain when my work responsibilities aren’t being met.”
Well, that’s not going to be good. He runs all of our legit businesses. I expected him to turn down the babysitting because of his job. He must be big mad if he’s putting off everything else to lessen the damage done to her life.
Harper snaps before I get an opportunity to say anything to my brother, “How am I supposed to pay tuition and other bills if I can’t work?”
I tilt my head back, exhaling. “Get Nic your expenses. We’ll cover them until this is sorted.” It’s my fault she’s here anyway. Guess I should take a hint from my brother and accept the responsibility of my actions.
Her eyes blaze. “I’m not a charity case. I liked the whole free rent thing, but I don’t need your money.”
I growl, “Yes, you do, because you’re not working. Non-negotiable. Get inside.”
Nic’s door slams. She looks at me, then follows him, closing her door softly behind her. I slide out of her car and into the back of the town car. Glancing back at the house, I don’t see any sign of Nic or my new ward.