“No… You got it all wrong.”
I stuffed my other leg in the jeans with a huff. Then, using my rage as fuel, I shot up to my feet, grabbed both cuffs, dragged her by the hair and tossed her on the bed.
“No. No! Leo, no!” She struggled, fighting hard, as I clasped the metal around her wrists, cuffing her to the bed. “You have to listen to me. The Lanzas didn’t send me. I’m here on vacation. My father is coming here in a few days to join me. I went to Taormina early to prepare for things to make the trip as comfortable as possible for him because he’s in a wheelchair. Check my messages. You’ll know everything.”
“I have checked your messages. Nicky used your fingerprint while you passed out to unlock your phone. You know what I found?”
Fear stained her face. “What?”
“You deleted your call and messages log. You have an extra password for your emails. And you never had any record of any flight bookings from America to Italy or a reservation for your stay.”
Her lips parted and pressed several times, and then she just rattled her chains. “I was never sent for you or anybody. Think. Your wound was fresh when we met, which meant you’d just managed to escape. How could they send me just in time to catch you the second you escaped? For God’s sake I was just heading for the farmers market under the church. I didn’t even know you were still alive until I saw you this morning.”
She might have a point, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t hiding so much more than she led on. It didn’t mean she wasn’t lying. It didn’t mean she wasn’t another pawn in the game. “So answer me this. Where have you been staying in Taormina?”
Tears sprang from her eyes as she squeezed them, sobbing. “Bianca Resort.”
“The Lanzas’ resort.”
“They own the city, Leo. Not everyone who stays in their hotels works for them.”
I’d heard enough.
“Please, don’t go!” she screamed after me while I dragged my wounds, physical and emotional and went to Nicky.
She was sitting in a corner, knees bent to her chest, a puddle of vomit beside her. Her eyes lifted to me, still full of disdain. “I heard everything.”
“Give me the burner. I have a plan.”
CHAPTER 15
Ravenna
The morning sun had dimmed, and the winter air bit at my bound body. My stomach convulsed with hunger. My lips begged for water. My fingers and wrists were burning with numbness, and for the first time since they took me I’d felt like a real captive.
They’d left me alone for hours, and if it hadn’t been for the occasional humming of their voices, I’d have thought they’d forsaken me altogether. Would he? Leave me just like that after…?
After what? After he used your body like a dirty prostitute to substitute for the urges he has for another woman?
My heart squeezed and then jerked when footsteps approached the room. “Leo?”
“It’s just me.” Nicole entered, a scowl on her face.
“Where’s he?”
She picked up the food bags and put them next to me on the bed. “In case you get hungry before youremployersfind you.”
Panic surged through me. “What?”
“This’s where it ends. We’re leaving, Doctor. But I’ll give them your location when we go back to Chicago to come get you.
“Leaving?” And he wouldn’t even come and say goodbye? “Where’s Leo?”
She rolled her eyes and snorted, heading for the door.
No, no, no. This can’t be happening.“You have to listen to me. You’re making a mistake. You think he won’t hurt your sister? You think he’s over her and all he cares about is revenge?”
She stopped, facing the door, but didn’t turn. This was my only chance to get to her.
