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I should do something while he’s distracted, before the shooting gets worse.
But I’m frozen in place. I have no idea what I can even do.
Lucia catches my gaze. “Vanessa!” she hisses. “Get out of here!”
I don’t want to leave her here. I try to protest, but the words catch in my throat. I shake my head.
She scowls at me, not even bothering to try to pull away from the still-distracted Emilio Pavone. “Go!” she snaps. “Follow Mom. She’s getting the fuck out of here.”
I want to protest, but the gunshots are erupting all around me, and I’m scared to death. There’s nothing I can do to help. I don’t have a gun, kickboxing hasn’t prepared me for something like this, and Lucia has proven over and over that she can take care of herself.
Hiking up the skirt of my dress, drowning in utter shame and self-loathing, I turn and follow our mother as she flees.
Something comes over the sound system, and it takes me a moment to recognize it as Emilio’s voice. I don’t bother to try to make out the words, though, intent on running after my mother. I’m glad I’m wearing flats, at least; there’s no way I’d be able to run in heels. As it is, I’m not sure how our drunk mother is faster than I am. There’s an exit up ahead, and I think for a second that maybe we can get out of the church and figure out… something.
But up ahead are Giulio Pavone and Damien Rossi, blocking the doors.
I slow down, staring at them.
“Hi there, Vanessa, Eva,” Giulio says, waving. “Looks like we all had the same idea. Time to GTFO and leave my old man and your sister to fend for themselves.”
Guilt runs through me at the knowledge that I’m leaving Lucia behind. But she’d told me to go, and I know she’d meant it. “Get out of the way,” I say, pretending my voice isn’t wavering.
Giulio taps his chin, then inclines his head in Damien’s direction. “Who do you think set this up?”
“Victor Corvi. With help from Angelo Guerra, in the very least,” Damien answers steadily. “Given the recording we just heard, and the very public nature of this attack, I’d say Corvi is out to annihilate the Pavone Family.”
“Sounds about right.” Giulio crosses his arms and leans forward in my direction. “So, Vanessa, what’s going to stop Victor Corvi from shooting me the moment I step out those doors?”
I blink at him, uncomprehending. “What?” I ask. “I don’t… I don’t know?”
Giulio sighs and turns to my mother. “What do you think, Eva?”
The adrenaline of fear must have sobered her up a bit, because she isn’t as unsteady on her feet. She doesn’t sound drunk at all when she answers, “A hostage.”
Giulio smiles widely. “Oh, you get it. And it looks like we’ve got two very, very lovely hostages here.”
I look at my mother and hiss, “Mom!” The gunfire in the background has faded into next to nothing as my head starts to spin.
She shrugs. “What? A hostage would work. But you don’t need two hostages,” she says.
I realize where she’s going with this, and my stomach starts to churn. “Mom,” I whisper.
Giulio leans back against the door again. “What do you think, Damien? Do we need two?”
Damien stares intensely at me. “We need Vanessa.”
“N-no,” I protest. “You don’t… They’re not just going to let you go because of me. They’re not here for me. They won’t care about me.”
There’s a split second where everything seems frozen in place. Damien’s hand extends out to me. I need to run. I should run. I should fight.
But I do nothing, and Damien wraps his big hand around my wrist. I stare at that point of contact, at the hairs on the back of his hand, while he rubs his thumb in slow circles over my skin.
“You sure you don’t want to come with us, Eva? I could probably find a way for you to earn some money,” Giulio says, but he also steps aside.
My mother grabs the door handle, shaking her head. “Thanks. I like you more than your father. Or my husband. But I’ll pass.” Then she giggles, meaning she hasn’t sobered entirely yet. “Don’t worry, Vanessa. It can’t be any worse than what I went through.”
“Mom!” I can’t stop the tears from spilling, even as I try in vain to pull free of Damien’s grasp. It was gentle at first, almost, but it tightens when I start to struggle against him. “Mom, you can’t just leave me here with them!”
