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“I hate you,” I say. He lifts his head up.
“Nina? You don’t get to speak to me like that.” His voice is strained. It’s clear he’s still in pain from what Antonio did to him, which makes me happy.
“You don’t get to get away with all you’ve done.”
He smirks, though it’s distorted in his swollen face. “What are you going to do? Kill me? You don’t have it in you.”
“Maybe not. But I do have the power to take your family from you. I’m taking Mom and Anna, and we’re leaving. You’ll never find us again. I wanted you to know that.”
He tries to stand up but can’t. “You’re not taking my family.”
“We’re not your family. I learned what it’s like to have a family that loves you. Antonio would do anything to protect his family. You married me to him because you wanted me to kill him. But you never thought I’d learn something from him. I now know what it’s like to fight for what you want. And all I’ve ever wanted was to be far away fromyou.”
“I have power you can’t even dream of. You won’t get far.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not,” someone else says. I recognize the voice. Turning around, I come face to face with Franco Moretti.
I stumble back as he scans me. “What are you doing here?” I ask, some of my bravado disappearing.
“Your father called me to come. Antonio is making his move, and I can’t let that happen. We’re going to discuss plans, but now that you’re here, I have a better idea.” Franco grabs my arm, pulling me in roughly toward him.
I try to wrench free, but his grip is too strong.
“From what your father told me,” Franco says, his lips turning up into a sneer, “Antonio cares for you. You’re going to be the thing I use to make sure he doesn’t hurt me.”
“What are you talking about?” My heart constricts with fear.
“If you’re my hostage, he won’t risk you getting hurt by trying to kill me. You’ll be my shield. Antonio won’t attack if you’re with me.”
“You’d use a girl to fight your battles?” I snap back, then look at my father. “And you’re ok with this?”
Father shrugs. “You’re the one who just said we’re no longer family. So, why do I care what happens to you?”
“No!” I scream as Franco grabs me around the waist and drags me out of my father’s office. Father just watches, a small, content smirk on his face.
Franco grips down on my arms so I can’t use them. But I still have my legs. I remember one of the parring moves Antonio taught me. I kick back with my foot, landing a solid hit to Franco’s shin. He stumbles, his arms loosening. That gives me enough time to jam my elbow back into his stomach and make a run for the door.
But then footsteps come running down the hall. Light ones. Not those of a grown man. I turn to see Anna run into the living room. She must have heard all the commotion.
Franco looks between my sister and me and makes a grab for Anna. Anna screams and tries to run, but Franco nabs her around the waist.
“Let her go,” I say, standing tall.
Anna struggles in his grip. “Only if you come with me,” Franco replies.
“Nina,” Anna whimpers.
I let out a rough breath. “Ok. Ok. Let my sister go. I’ll go with you.”
Franco releases Anna, and she goes running back down the hallway. I stand still as Franco takes my arm and walks me out of my family’s house.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask.
“Back to my house. If there’s any place Antonio knows where I’ll be, it’s there.”
I think back to the house Antonio took me to. His childhood home. “But he wouldn’t risk his family by going back there.”
