9. Mine Now
CHAPTER 9
MINE NOW
S erena – Present Time
The limo speeds down Fifth Avenue and for once in my life, I wish we were stuck in the typical traffic of Manhattan. Instead, we zip eastward, the quiet streets blurring by through the tinted windows. My heart is a mad drumbeat in my chest, but I ignore it, breathing slowly to force the calm.
“Get your fucking goon off me!” The guy who just shoved me into the car yanks my arms behind my back, and I grind my molars to keep from crying out. That motherfucker is trying to break my damned arm.
“Say please, tesoro , and I’ll think about it.”
Tesoro ? Treasure, really?
“Fuck you, Antonio.”
He slides to the end of the seat, nods at the guy holding me down and the asshole releases me. A feral smile kicks up the corners of his lips. “Oh, good, you remember me, then?”
I snap my jaw shut, pressing my lips into a hard line. Like I’d ever admit that dark gaze has starred in more than a few naughty dreams. Well, that’s the end of that. “Sure, you’re the less attractive Ferrara brother.”
That smirk flips upside down, and the groove between his dark brows deepens. “Ah, so of the Kings’ heiresses, you’re the funny one?”
“Among other things.” I’m also lethal as fuck.
“Put on your seatbelt,” he hisses.
“So kind of you to care.” I pull the strap across my shoulder as I search the floor, praying for some miracle that the guy who snagged me grabbed my purse before jumping into the car behind me. No such luck. I almost cry at the thought of losing Dolce. I hazard another quick peek out the window. We’re on the FDR now, heading out of the city. That’s not good. “So what the hell do you want from me? Or are you really just looking for a quick fuck?” I suck my bottom lip between my teeth and bat my lashes, offering a sexy smile. My gun isn’t my only weapon, and I’m more than willing to use whatever it takes to get out of this situation. “If you promise to bring me home, I might be willing to overlook the kidnapping and give you a night you’ll never forget.”
A dark chuckle parts his lips, and he seems as surprised by the warm sound as I am. “I wish it were that easy.”
“It can be. I’ve been told I’m a sure thing.” I slide to the end of the supple leather seat and cross my legs. My sexy romper hikes up my thigh. Thanks, Mom and the endless hours of yoga, for the killer legs .
His piercing gaze traces down my body, over the plunging neckline revealing my cleavage and scorching a fiery trail until it reaches the scandalous hem of the shorts. “If only we’d met under different circumstances, I would have been more than happy to take you up on the offer. You shouldn’t have run off so quickly the first time we met. Perhaps things would have turned out differently between us.”
The man beside me shifts, and I catch his hungry gaze on my upper thigh.
A beastly growl vibrates Antonio’s throat as his eyes follow the man’s gaze. “ Smettila di guardarla così o ti cavero gli occhi .”
Wow. Possessive much? Stop looking at her like that or I’ll gouge your eyes out … Damn, someone doesn’t like anyone else playing with his toys. I play dumb, pretending I don’t understand a word. Taking on the role of ditzy blonde has proven invaluable more times than I can count.
“Anyway, who says we can’t make up our own rules?” I offer.
“I’ll be the only one making the rules, tesoro .”
That’s what you think. “So what’s the play here?” I glance out the tinted windows as the city grows farther away. A hint of nerves scrapes at my insides, but I ignore the sensation. Freaking out won’t help anything. I have to stay calm and come up with a plan. Clearly, he doesn’t want me dead, or I’d already be nothing more than a blood splatter on Fifth Avenue.
This is a hostage situation.
The question is: what does Antonio Ferrara want?
As if he’s read my mind, he finally responds, “You’ll find out soon enough. For now, just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
I pretend to follow his commands and slide as far away from the guard sitting beside me as possible until I’m pressed up against the door. He has a gun at his hip, and I fully intend to snatch it from him as soon as I figure out a plan. A complete bar is stretched out in front of me, crystal tumblers and every top shelf liquor one could ask for. Alessandro would be in heaven with all the alcohol.
I tick my head toward the bottle of Grey Goose, impressed by my coolness despite the turn we just took onto Grand Central Parkway. I took this exact drive yesterday. We’re heading toward the airport and nothing good can come of that. “May I?”
“ Prego .” He motions to the thug next to me. “Otto, make her a drink.”
“I’d rather make it myself, thanks. I don’t need your hired help slipping something in my beverage.”
“I’m insulted you think so little of me.”
“Well, you did resort to kidnapping so there’s that…”
With an exaggerated eyeroll, I unbuckle my belt, lean forward and grab a tumbler, slowly filling it with ice. The tongs have pointy tips and in a second, I’m going to jab them into Otto’s eyes. But before that, I need to solidify my next move. The slider between the front and back seats is closed, and in my experience, generally pretty soundproof. The limo slows, pulling toward the off ramp to LaGuardia, and I thank Dio for the perfect timing. Seems like someone up there is looking out for me .
Here goes everything. I drop the tumbler, and glass shatters across the floor. The next part happens so quickly, it’s nothing but a blur. With both men distracted, I whirl around and stab Otto in the face with the tongs. He lets out a shriek when the jagged end scrapes across his eyeballs, and I lunge for his gun.
Before Antonio can release his weapon from inside his jacket, I have the muzzle pointed at his head. “Now, I’m in charge, bastardo . Tell your driver to unlock the door.”
Otto is whimpering beside me covering his eyes and cursing up a storm. From my periphery, I can see the blood dribbling down his face.
“Do it!” I shout at Antonio, who’s staring at me wide-eyed. “Or I’ll shoot you in the face.”
“We’re on the highway, you can’t just jump out of the car.”
“We’re not actually.” I tick my head at the street ahead. Not only is there a stoplight but also a narrow sidewalk I can sprint down if I can just get the asshole to unlock the door.
He slides to the edge of the seat, and my finger tightens around the trigger. “Not an inch closer, Signor Ferrara. I’d hate for Raf to become an only child.” I throw him a cheeky grin. “Now, tell the driver to unlock the damned door,” I growl.
His eyes narrow as he regards me for a long moment before his knuckles tap the divider. It slides open, and he hisses at the man upfront. “Unlock the back doors.”
“But—”
“Just do it,” he roars.
The unmistakable click ignites a flare of hope, and my smile grows wider. With my fingers closing around the door handle, I twist my head over my shoulder. Antonio’s glare is murderous, and I barely restrain a giggle. “Next time my profile pops up on Tinder, do me a favor, and don’t swipe right.”
I jerk the door open and leap out with the limo still moving. As sure of myself as I sounded, I’ve never actually jumped out of a moving vehicle, and I did not account for the intense momentum from the car, even going less than thirty miles per hour.
I hit the asphalt and my right ankle twists, sending shooting pain up my leg. “Fuck!” I grit out as I attempt to run across the street to the sidewalk in my sky-high heels. Adrenaline from the blinding pain courses through my veins, compelling my legs to keep moving. The sharp blasts of horns and angry shouts provide a steady symphony, but I ignore them all and weave between the vehicles.
I pause in front of a beat-up old van and wave wildly. “Help!” The man, who looks shadier than shit, drops his gaze and presses his foot on the gas, nearly running me over as he weaves around my stumbling form. Son of a bitch ! The light turns green, and I’m shit out of luck as not a single car stops to help me. Which isn’t entirely surprising since it’s almost one o’clock in the morning and definitely not the best part of town. With this outfit, these drivers probably think I’m a freaking puttana looking for a lift.
The slap of heavy footfalls behind me only escalates my pulse. I stagger between two more fleeing cars and finally hit the safety of the sidewalk. Hazarding a quick glance over my shoulder, I find Antonio racing after me, on two good legs. Dammit. I should have just shot him when I had the chance. I clutch the gun in my fist, but it’s not like I can just turn around and shoot the guy in the middle of the streets. Or should I?
The moment of indecision costs me valuable seconds, and by the time I start running, or more like, hobbling, he’s almost on me. My breath comes in ragged gasps, the balmy night air squeezing my lungs as I push myself into a sprint.
The sound of Antonio's rushed footfalls echoes behind me, a haunting rhythm to the chaotic pounding of my heart. I glance back; he's too close. Fear propels me forward, my mind racing as fast as my feet. I need to find cover, disappear into the shadows before he can reach me.
Merda ! There’s nowhere to go. Only trees line the streets, stretching endlessly ahead, the sidewalk dotted with closed shops and darkened windows. With every step my ankle throbs in protest, but I can't stop. Not now. Not when my freedom is just within reach.
I can feel Antonio’s presence looming behind me, his ragged breaths nearly at the back of my neck.
“There’s nowhere to go, tesoro .” His shout is taunting, a hint of amusement in his tone.
I’m sure I look ridiculous, limping along the street in my stilettos. There's nowhere to go, nowhere to hide, but I have to keep moving. The pain in my ankle is becoming excruciating. I grit my teeth, biting my tongue not to scream with each step.
I’m hobbling now, nowhere near a jog even, and his footfalls slow, growing ever closer. The hair on the back of my neck rises, every sense on high alert.
“If you keep trying to run, you could break that ankle.”
“What the fuck do you care?” I shout back over my shoulder.
“It would be a shame to retire those red heels. They’re sexy as hell.”
An odd mix between a laugh and a sob bursts through my clenched teeth. I whirl around, clutching the gun in my fist, my finger on the trigger. “Too bad you’ll never get to see them again.”
I level the muzzle at his head and at this distance, just over a yard, I know I won’t miss. Velvety midnight orbs sear to mine, the piercing intensity just as powerful as the first night we met outside his nightclub in Rome. A tiny pang of regret squirms its way into my chest as my finger skims the trigger.
And I squeeze.
My heart stops as I wait for the earsplitting bang, for his body to crumple, for the crimson bullet wound to bloom across his forehead. Only none of that happens. Instead, he simply stares at me, a savage grin curling the corners of his lips.
It wasn’t loaded…
“You were never going to get away, tesoro . Don’t you see? You’re mine now.”