AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sleep tugs on me. I try to open my eyes, but I can’t. In my mind, my sketch is smiling with its wolf’s head.“Now another monster has captured you, hmm?”I disappear into the dream, lucid-flowing images of wolves and dogs until I snap awake.
It’s later. It’s colder. I pull the blanket around myself, sitting up. The light has changed quality. My head aches. I feel like I’ve slept for at least a couple of hours.
Sitting up, I spot something on the bedside table. It’s a blocky, old-school cell phone with a note beside it.This phone can only text or call me, Mia. I’m sorry to have to do this. There’s food in the kitchen. I’ll be by soon to check on you.
I grab the phone and then leave the room. The open-plan apartment lets me look across the whole thing. It’s empty, almost like a school gymnasium with the lights hanging from overhead. I go to the windows. They’re tall and thin and don’t open. There’s no balcony. There are no nearby buildings on this level to see me and call for help.
I go to the elevator door. It opens right onto the apartment. But when I press the button, nothing happens. There’s a small iPad-looking thing next to it. I click that, but it just asks for a password.
Sitting on the couch, I use the old phone. The keyboard is slow, but it’s not like I’ve got anywhere to go.
So you’ve officially locked me up. Where are you?
I go into the kitchen to get a glass of water and then drink three. I didn’t realize how dehydrated I was. My mind flashes with images of Vito, the blood, so much of it. The phone makes an alert noise from the couch.
I’m sorry, Mia. I’m about to meet with Luca, Elio, and Colt. They’re curious as to what happened. Vito has been discovered.
What are you going to tell them?
I could tell them the truth, and my sick mother would have to wake up to find her son has been killed. Or I could lie.
I swallow, emotions gripping me when I read the bit about his mom.You didn’t tell me your mom was sick.
She’s in the hospital,he replies.It doesn’t make what I did right, but I need to be there for her.
He’s right. It doesn’t make it okay, but somehow, I wish he’d led with that.
What am I supposed to do?
I shouldn’t be long.
I guess I’ll have dinner waiting on the table for you like a good kidnapped wife, hmm, honey?
That sounds good, but somehow, I don’t think you’re serious.
I laugh, even if I’m pissed at myself for laughing.Yeah, Dante, obviously, I’m not serious. I don’t text him back. Instead, I lie on the couch, trying to figure out how this will all end. What the hell can he tell them? What is Dad going to do?
Fear tries to twist in my belly, but then I remind myself—not a princess, a wolf. That’s so cheesy it hurts, but sometimes, the cheesy stuff is the truest.
The apartment feels so empty. I sit up and look around. I’ve never been much good on my own. Being around people, talking, even texting, it’s like I can use their voices to block out the ones inside.
I pick up the phone again.
Leaving me with only one number is a smooth way to ensure you’re the only person I speak to. Another girl might call that possessive.
Being a kidnapper automatically makes me possessive, doesn’t it? By definition?
I love how you’re already joking and getting lighthearted about it,I type.This has been the most terrifying day of my life.
I’m guessing that’s sarcasm? Sorry, Mia.
“Sorry” doesn’t really help me,I tell him.
If it wasn’t for my ma, I swear I’d let you go, but it’s more complicated than that.
Explain it to me, then. It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do.
But I have, he replies.I just got word from Elio. Another man is going to be at the meeting. Tony Marino.
