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“Good.” With that, his whole tone changed from taunting to business. “In ten minutes, a reputable news team will arrive at the hotel. You will hold a press conference to announce that you will no longer be involving yourself in politics from here on out. That way if you go back on that, you’ll seem wishy-washy, and no one will trust you anyway.”
“And if I do this, how do I know that you’ll let Aurora go?”
“She will be accompanying one of the news teams that’s composed of our people. The moment you begin your speech, they will allow her to walk toward you, but she won’t be allowed to approach until it’s done. And they won’t hesitate to put a bullet in her head right in front of you if you deviate in any way. Do we have an understanding?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Good. Better get going. The news vans should arrive shortly." His taunting tone was back, and it was enough to make me want to strangle him with my bare hands.
Chapter 23
Aurora
Two of Domenico’s lackeys came into the room where he and I sat in uncomfortable silence. Both men were large, muscled, and tall. The shorter of the two was still nearly a foot taller than me. The taller one nodded to Domenico.
"Time to go, pet. We wouldn't want to miss your fiancé’s speech," Domenico said in a mocking tone as he yanked me up from the chair by my bicep and led me toward the door. The smaller of the two men pulled Domenico aside and whispered something in his ear.
“Really?” Domenico’s eyes widened at the man before looking at me curiously.
He nodded at me as if coming to some conclusion before motioning toward the door and dragging me toward the exit.
His men followed behind, climbing into the front seats of the car while Domenico shoved me into the back seat and joined me.
My hands weren't tied. I wasn't bound in any way, but I was completely under their control. Even though my confines weren't visible, they were there. All three men were heavily armed not to mention twice my size. They made it clear that if I tried anything, they would kill me and Enzo.
We'd been hiding out in an abandoned building only five minutes from the hotel, so it didn't take us long to get back to where I’d so naively climbed into Domenico’s car, thinking he was a nice guy offering me a ride. I was a fool.
We parked on the street just in time to see Enzo walk out to greet the small group of reporters.
"Members of the press, thank you for being here today. I have an announcement that I need to make. Enzo paused, scanning the area, no doubt looking for me. Domenico pulled me from the car. The moment Enzo’s eyes landed on us, they widened with recognition and his body leaned forward as if he were fighting the urge to rush to me.
A look of determination flashed in his expression, and he gave a quick, almost indiscernible nod.
“It is with great regret that I am announcing today that I will no longer be pursuing a place on the Regional Council."
"Don't listen to him,” Ludovic interrupted and stepped up on the platform with Enzo. "Of course, he will continue to be in the running. With my support."
The whole group of reporters erupted into a flurry of questions directed at Ludovic. Enzo looked over at me, worry covering his features, as the situation quickly slipped out of his control.
He stepped forward and raised his voice in a desperate attempt to redirect the press back to him, but I was sure that he was speaking more to my captors.
“I will always strive to do what is best for my city and my region that I love but for personal reasons I will not be able to serve in this capacity.”
Just then, a large explosion erupted from nearby as car fragments were projected through the air from just down the street. The ground rumbled from the force of the blast. Everything sounded muffled as if there was cotton in my ears and while I watched everyone rushing around me, I couldn’t hear anything but a roar like I was underwater.
Enzo rushed toward me, yelling something I couldn’t hear as he fought through the chaos.
Suddenly screams and the sound of panicked chatter rushed in. I glanced around to see where one scream was coming from. A woman with shrapnel in her leg laid on the road, two men and a woman crouched beside her to help while someone else guided a man with a bleeding head wound to the sidewalk.
I glanced back to look for Enzo, but the crowd had moved closer and blocked my view. A hand grabbed my arm, and I whirled around as Domenico’s man forced me toward the car.
“No. Let go. He said he’d let me go if Enzo followed through with the deal.”
“And he didn’t.”
“He did, it was the president. He didn’t know...” I was shoved into the backseat of the car with Domenico and the other man hurried into the front seat. “You said you’d let me go.”
He didn’t answer. Maybe it was having been so close to freedom, to Enzo, or the adrenaline rushing through my body at that moment, but I had to fight back.
