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“This is a bad idea,” Adelina grumbles.
“I’ll go even if you two don’t want to join me.” Serafina pats my hand. “But I think you want to join me.”
She’s right. I do want to get out.
Finally, I nod.
“That’s the spirit.” Serafina winks. “Now, let’s go.”
Adelina shakes her head. “Something tells me this won’t end well.”
* * *
An hour later,we’re in the heart of the city on a busy shopping street. People walk all around us, going about their lives. It’s amazing how much commotion exists. It’s honestly a little intimidating.
But I’m not going to live in fear of it. I’m going to embrace it.
“That looks cute,” Serafina says, walking over to a shop window to look at a long black dress. “It would look great on me.”
“Black is your color,” Adelina admits. She keeps looking around, being the practical one of the group. “We should probably head back soon. We’ve already gone out to eat and been inside a few shops. Isn’t that enough?”
“Not nearly. Loosen up, Adelina.” She rubs her sister’s arm. “Even Pia is more fun than you are right now.”
I stand up straighter, feeling Serafina’s praise wash over me. Even though the compliment was a little backward.
“Fine,” Adelina grumbles. “One more shop. Then we’re going back home.”
“Fine by me.” Serafina turns to me. “Want to try on some outfits, Pia, instead of always wearing the clothes our brother bought for you?”
I self-consciously brush my hands over my dress. I thought it looked cute. It would be nice, though, to form my own identity. So I nod.
“Great.” Serafina links her arm through mine. “Let’s go, then.”
Everything after that happens in slow motion.
Serafina’s hand touches the door handle just as I feel something pressed into my back and a presence behind me. I turn and gasp when I see a man I don’t know. Then I look down. He’s holding a gun to me.
Adelina’s eyes widen, and she opens her mouth, but another man comes up behind her and covers her mouth. Serafina turns around and freezes.
“If you girls are smart,” the man behind me says, “then I would suggest you don’t scream and come with us now.”
I look around. People are walking down the sidewalks, but no one seems to notice what’s happening to us. I thought the daylight would protect us. I thought wrong.
The man presses his gun harder against my spine, and I wince.
Serafina holds up her hands. “Just let us go, and we won’t say a word about this.”
“Why would we let you go? We need you. To hurt Dario Santoro.” He sets his gaze on me. “Your dad’s been looking for you. I can’t wait to get my reward when I return you to him.” His eyes rake over me. “Maybe with a few bruises but nothing more serious. I promise.”
My lips part in fear. If I could scream, I would do it now. But as always, my vocal cords seem clenched shut.
“Get in the car,” the man holding Adelina says, jerking her toward a black sedan.
“Come on,” the man with the gun says, digging it harder into my back. “I don’t want to bring Tommaso a dead daughter. He wants to do that himself.”
The man’s words fill me with dread. My father will soon have me back in his clutches, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
I’m forced toward the car, my heart beating so fast I feel like I might die before my father gets the chance to do it himself.
