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To my left, Christy was fastened to an iron chair with thick ropes bounding her. Her head hung low, her long hair fell forward and her torn blouse was a feast for prying eyes. Her bare shoulders and bra were exposed, and so was her torso.
“Oh my God,Christy!” I whispered harshly, feeling hot tears sting the back of my eyes. It must have been one of those bastards. “Christy, wake up.”
I wiggled my hands but they lacked fluidity; my wrists were bound tightly together and my arms were wound around an iron chair, just like she was. But I wasn’t giving up. I moved my shoulders, jamming hers with mine. “Christy... Come on, wake up.”
Panic seized me and I’d begun to think she’d passed on to the afterlife when a small, strangled noise escaped her throat and she gasped for air, her eyes flying open.
“Where...” her chest rose and fell apace. Then, her eyes flickered to her bare stomach. She must have felt the hot, stuffy air brush against her skin and noticed she was half-naked. “My clothes...” her eyes teared up. “Mari, my clothes are torn. What is this? Where are we?”
“It’s a long story and I promise, I’ll tell you. But first, we have to think of a way to get out here.” I spoke slowly and in a low tone to ward off any suspicion. Christy was shaking like a leaf. She nodded and whimpered. Her lips were busted and bloodied and an ugly purple bruise patch surrounded her eye. My blood sizzled with fury but I knew the best thing to do was escape first before thinking of shooting ass.
“The ropes are on tight, Mariana. We’re never getting out of here.” A tear slipped out of her eye and dropped from her lashes. “We’re going to die, aren’t we?”
I glanced over my shoulder. More of the men were busy and distracted but the other few had their eyes everywhere. The scent of more chemicals, gunpowder, and alcohol traveled through the air. I scrunched up my nose and whipped my head around, back to Christy. “Being pessimistic is not exactly going to help us here. We have to think positive, okay?”
Her head bobbed up and down but I knew she wasn’t listening. Her eyes were trained on the thick ropes around her and her bra peeking through the torn chiffon fabric. “It’s Mr. Russo, isn’t it?”
I shut my eyes. A heavy sigh left my lips. “Christy...”
“He brought us here?”
She was asking too many questions and what we needed was more logical plans onhowwe could free ourselves from the ropes. I moved my arms again and cursed.
She was right; they were on too tight. It was crazy to think there was any way we could cut through when we didn’t even have an instrument sharp enough in our possession. I threw my head back, feeling the waterworks climb. I didn’t want to cry. Not in front of all those men who were waiting for the slightest glimpse of weakness to pounce.
I swiped my tongue over the seam of my lips and glanced at a trembling Christy. Before I could say a word, the rusty doors opened, iron scraping harshly against concrete, and a sudden hush fell in the room. His presence commanded it...demandedit. Nothing moved till he said so. No one spoke or uttered even a word, till he asked a question. I hated him. I hated him for beating Christy and for making my life a living hell.
A bored look rested in his eyes. Until those cold, piercing orbs settled on me. Then, like a matchstick dropped on fuel, fiery orange flames rose.
I smelled something. Gasoline? Was Vincent going to set this place on fire with both of us inside?
“You’re going to die, Mariana. Vlad won’t recognize your burned body if there’s anything left but ashes by the time he gets here.”
I was scared to the fucking bone and had never felt as small as I did in this man’s presence. If anyone could possibly squash a fly with just a glare, it was Vincent Russo. The most sensible thing to have done would have been to cower under his frightful gaze and surrender. But I wasn’t raised to be a coward. I was going to prove to him that it would take more than just a mob boss to break me. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the searing pain in my cheeks.
“Fuck you, Vincent Russo!” I yelled. “Rot in hell! We are going to leave this place, just you watch. We’re going to get out of here, and you want to know how? Vlad’s coming for me. He will find me, Mr. Russo, and then he will put a hole through your fucking head!”
He recoiled like he’d been bitten by a snake. Then, his lips pulled back and his teeth bared. He shared cryptic looks with his men and laughed like the maniac he truly was. “You’re a fierce one, aren’t you? I’d like to see that glare in your eyes as the fire consumes you.”
“You will. One thing you won’t see though is me writhing in pain.” A lump formed in my throat. I wasn’t scared of dying, but I’d die in pain knowing Christy would die because of me “You won’t hear me scream.”
Vincent smirked. “How about I shoot you instead? At least your little friend will show all the reaction I wanted from you. She’ll scream and her eyes will water.”
Through blur vision, I heard the cocking of a gun, and the silver was aimed at my head. I swallowed hard. Vincent Russo was going to shoot me just to torture Christy.
He wanted me to beg for my life because of her. I didn’t want to, because I knew nothing I did would make him free her.
Myeyes burned with unshed tears and memories ofhisblue eyes flooded my mind. I heard his voice, I saw his charming smile, and I remembered all of him. More pain wrapped its claws around my heart and squeezed at the thought of never seeing him again.“Vlad...”
It was a whisper, breathy, shaky, and raspy. But it was all I could say.
“Mariana!”
It was Christy’s voice. She was screaming my name and cursing and thrashing around. I tried to turn, to smile at her and tell her everything would be okay. But I couldn’t do anything, or cry, like I really wanted to.
“Time to say goodbye,” Vincent growled and placed the cold metal against my temple.
Then we heard a loud gunshot and the silver dropped. Another shot rang out as loud as the previous one and he teetered backwards, putting more distance between us.
