Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Their love is enough for me.
Honestly, it’s more than most people in my position ever get.
Climbing to my feet, I walk to the door and bang on it while shouting, “Some of us need the toilet.”
I bang my fist against the door again, and when I hear footsteps, I move to the other side of the room.
Everleigh quickly gets up and comes to stand next to me, her side pressing against mine.
When the door opens, Prodi’s henchman steps inside.
I tip my head in Everleigh’s direction. “She needs the toilet.” When the man hesitates, I say, “Unless you want us stinking up the place. It’s up to you.”
With his gun drawn, he gestures for us to come, which I take as a good sign that they intend to keep us alive for a while.
The henchman’s shorter than me. I’m pretty confident I could take him, but then I see the other armed soldiers as we walk down the hallway.
I memorize the layout of the building as we pass four shut doors before we reach a restroom with three stalls and sinks. There’s a tiny window that’s been welded shut.
Vincent could be in any of those rooms.
The henchman presses the barrel of his gun to the side of my head and nods toward the stalls. “You have one minute, principessa.”
Everleigh rushes into a stall, and a couple of seconds later, it sounds like a waterfall is unleashed.
When she doesn’t come quick enough out of the stall, the henchman snaps, “Time’s up, principessa.”
Seconds later, the door opens, and Everleigh comes out, her cheeks burning red.
“Drink water,” the henchman instructs.
I watch as she relieves her thirst, and only once the barrel of the gun is directed at her head do I get a nod to use the toilet.
I couldn’t give two shits about a girl being in the restroom while I take a leak and go about my business.
I rinse my hands and drink my fill before I push Everleigh to the side to stand between her and the gun. The poor girl is shaking like a fucking leaf.
My calm demeanor has the henchman glaring at me, and I’m shoved toward the doorway.
We’re not taken back to our room but instead shoved into another room where Prodi is sitting on a chair, and Vincent is on his knees in the middle of the concrete floor.
My brother’s been beaten, and near him lies one of his molars. Unlike us, he’s restrained with handcuffs.
Fuck.
There’s a camera standing on a tripod. Probably to send our father recordings of our torture.
If Prodi thinks this will make the mafia and bratva cut ties, he’s stupid as fuck.
Forcefully, I tear my eyes away from Vincent, and with a blank expression, I look at Prodi.
Let the fun begin.
Chapter 6
Everleigh
My body aches from all the anxiety and terror I’m feeling.
At least my bladder’s no longer going to burst, but standing in the room with our captors, my relief is quickly forgotten.
Are they going to kill one of us?
All of us?
My eyes land on the tooth near Vincent, and I feel the ache in my jaw.
God.
This is horror. Pure freaking horror.
My gaze flits all over the room, my breaths already rushing over my lips.
How am I going to survive this?
“Uncuff Vincent,” the one in charge orders.
The other guy unlocks Vincent’s cuffs, then another order is given. “Get up, Vincent.”
I watch as Alek’s brother climbs to his feet. He has the same emotionless expression on his beaten face as Alek.
Riccardo gestures to his guard or soldier. I’m not sure what to call him.
“Dario will shoot one of you unless…” Riccardo gets up and looks at Vincent. “You have to choose who will get tortured next. If you refuse, Dario will kill one of you.”
Oh, God.
No.
My eyes flit wildly between all of the men because I know what’s coming. There’s no way Vincent will choose Alek. I’m a stranger to him.
Vincent locks eyes with Alek, and as the seconds crawl by, my heart beats out of my chest.
“The girl,” he mutters.
No. Oh, God. No!
“That was an easy choice,” Riccardo chuckles. “I’m surprised, though. If she’s dating your brother, he’s going to be pissed off with you torturing his girl.”
Vincent doesn’t know about the lie!
Vincent’s eyes flick between Alek and me, but he doesn’t say anything.
Riccardo takes a seat again, then snaps, “You heard me, Vincent. Torture the girl.”
Vincent’s hands fist at his side, and when he steps toward me, I take one backward.
There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll kill me to save Alek.
The man, who I now know is Dario, points his gun at Alek.
“You have three seconds before Dario kills Alek,” Riccardo mutters as if he’s bored with us.
My eyes are still wildly flitting around when Vincent darts forward. His fist connects with my cheek, and as agonizing pain radiates through my entire skull, I go down like a sack of potatoes.