by Ella Miles
I make it to the kitchen and start pouring myself a cup of coffee when I hear Matteo’s voice ringing through the hallway before it drops to barely a whisper.
I frown. That’s weird. He’s working in his home office instead of the warehouse.
I decide to go give him a kiss, bring him a cup of coffee, and let him know I’ll be out on the balcony if he wants to join me when he is finished with his phone call. I pour another cup of coffee and then carry them both down the hallway to Matteo’s office.
“I have them. I know where Nina and Arlo are,” Matteo says.
I freeze outside the door, my heart sinking.
“Yes, I remember our deal. I’ll be ready to bring them to you by the end of the week.”
I try to calm my breathing and heart, but both are beating so speedily I’m sure that Matteo can hear me lurking outside his door.
“Yes, father. You can do whatever you want with Nina and Arlo. I’ll even help you kill them if you want. But you have to keep your end of the deal. I expect to be paid well for this, and you promise to leave Italy and never return. I don’t want you messing with what is mine now.”
I can’t listen anymore. He’s making me sick. I thought he had changed. I thought he cared about me, loved me. I didn’t think he was ready to give up his entire life and I never asked him to. All I asked was for him to give up Nina. That’s all I wanted. To keep her safe.
He told me he loved her once, but it was never about love. It was always about revenge and money. That’s how he and his father both think. That’s why Nina chose Arlo.
I need a phone.
I run through the house, needing to find a phone to call Nina. The thing that I’ve spent my entire time trying not to do, I now have to do. Matteo figured out where Nina and Arlo are. He might already have men there, ready to take them. I have to warn them.
The problem is there are no fucking phones in this house. I know because I’ve looked countless times.
I see Maximo round the corner. He must be on duty this morning. He’s not my favorite. He doesn’t usually want to help. But today, I’ll force him to help me.
“Maximo,” I shout.
He stops.
“I need to use your phone,” I say, panting heavily.
He stares at me a moment, and I think he’s going to say no. He’s going to revert back to the slave talk and say I don’t get such privileges.
Instead, he pulls out his phone and hands it to me.
“I need to go patrol outside for a bit. I’ll make sure to buy you your own phone after I get done with my patrol. I’m sure Matteo meant for you to have a phone but hasn’t gotten around to getting you one yet,” he says.
Even Maximo thinks highly of Matteo. Matteo has fooled everyone, his trusty employees included.
“Thank you, Maximo,” I say. I don’t tell him that the new phone won’t be necessary because I won’t be staying. I need to warn Nina and then get out of here as fast as I can.
When Maximo has walked outside, I pull up the keyboard and begin typing the number I memorized that Nina gave me for emergencies only. I wait impatiently, pacing back and forth in the hallway hoping that Nina answers. If she answers, she’s still alive.
I hear the phone click over, “Nin—”
The phone is snatched out of my hand, and Matteo speaks, “I have Eden. I’ve had her for the past year. If you want to save her, I suggest you and Arlo get to Italy. Fast.”
“No,” I shout, hoping she hears me before he hangs up the phone.
“She won’t come. You won’t get her.”
He shakes his head, and I swear I see tears in his menacing eyes.
“Nina will come. She loves you. She will do anything to protect you,” Matteo says.
He’s right. And I hate him for it.
“You won’t hurt her. You promised. You won’t turn her over to Enrico. You can’t.”
He swallows. “I’m sorry.”
I back up, sick and tired of his apologies.
“If you do this, we are done. I won’t forgive you for this. I’ll run. And I’ll take our baby with me. You’ll never get to see her.”
“If that is what you think is for the best, then I will let you go. You won’t have to run; I won’t come after you or our daughter. You can be free.”
I narrow my eyes, not understanding him. He’s fought so hard to get me back only to let me go now? It doesn’t make sense.
“When this is all over, I’ll let you go.”
I see the syringe in his hand too late. I feel the sting, and then my eyes grow heavy. If this fucks up our baby, I’ll kill him. He catches me in his arms, and the last thing I remember is him saying, “This is for the best. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
He could have said those words. Or my brain may have imagined them because I was too desperate to hold onto the thought that he still loves me and we can be a happy family someday. He could have said those words. He could have been protecting me. Or he could not have given a fuck at all.
22
Nina
She’s been gone a year. And I did nothing. I didn’t even know she was gone.
I don’t know why Matteo took Eden. The only thought I can come up with is because he is pissed at me and looking for revenge. He wants to hurt Arlo and me for what we did to him.
He’s had Eden this whole time. Tortured her. Raped her. And now he might kill her if we don’t do exactly what he wants.
I swore I would never go back. That Arlo and I had started fresh. We would run forever if it meant we would never have to go back. But I would do anything for Eden.
I’ll go back to her in a heartbeat if she can be free.
“Can you drive any faster?” I ask Arlo, who’s barely breaking the speed limit as we drive through the curvy roads of Italy.
He rests his hand on my lap trying to calm me. “Dying in a car crash won’t help Eden. Besides, he won’t touch her until we get there. He wants us to suffer,” Arlo says.
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I was a horrible friend. I was living this amazing life with you, while my best friend was suffering in agonizing pain.”
“No, you didn’t know. And from what you’ve told me, Eden’s tough. She will get through this. Just like you did.”
I nod. She’s made it a year. That’s a lot longer than I was locked up for.
Arlo speeds up, and we finally pull up in the driveway of the Carini house. It’s long and dark and equally as hauntingly beautiful as I remember.
But we aren’t here to admire the beautiful architecture. We are here to do whatever it takes to get Eden back.
Arlo takes my hand as we pull up in front of the house, both of us knowing that the security team already knows we are here.
“Ready?” he asks.
I pull the gun he gave me and taught me to use, out of my purse.
I nod.
He pulls his gun out, and then we step out of the car ready for an attack at any moment.
Arlo still has hope that he can negotiate with Matteo. Get him to talk to us, and we will get out of here without a scratch. I don’t think we will be so lucky.
Arlo also thinks that the men that now work for Matteo will still show him some loyalty because he used to work with them. Was friends with them. They were like family.
He’s delusional. I remember what family does to each other.
We step into the house and don’t hear anything. Not a person talking. Not the TV or radio on. Not even a deep exhale of breath. Nothing.
We hold onto each other’s hands as we slink through the house, trying to hide in the shadows, but it quickly becomes apparent that there is no one to hide from. No one is here.
“Why would Matteo call us here and then not be here?” I ask.
Arlo gives me a dark look, and I know what he’s thinking.
Dungeon.
He’s in the dungeons waiting for us. I don’t want to go back to the dungeon. It holds too many mixed memories for me. It’s
dark, and Matteo will have the upper hand. But we didn’t exactly get to pick the place where the fight will happen.
It will also be harder for us to talk calmly with Matteo.
We don’t have a choice. We have to go.
So we slink down to the dungeon. Trying to be as quiet as possible.
But when we open the unlocked door and it creaks loudly, we know that it was the wrong approach.
I scream as Arlo is knocked out from behind before he even has a chance to fight.
“Seems you’ve lost your touch brother,” Matteo says.
“Matteo, please. Just let us go. I’m sorry I chose Arlo. We never meant to hurt you.”
“It’s been a long time. You don’t understand the trouble you have caused,” he says.
I drop the gun, knowing it’s useless against him. My only hope is to find his weakness.
“Let Eden go. She doesn’t deserve to be here. Take me instead,” I say.
“No!” I hear Eden cry behind me.
I turn and see Eden locked away in one of the cells behind me. She’s still alive. Her eyes are still full of fight. I exhale a little seeing her, but I don’t run to her as much as I want to. I need Matteo to make the trade first.
“You’re right about one thing. Eden doesn’t deserve to be here.”
He grabs me by the arm, and he motions for his men to pick up Arlo’s lifeless body that I can barely look at. I know he’s still alive, but I still hate seeing him like that.
I hear Eden continue to scream behind us, but I tune her out as Matteo walks me away from the dungeon.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“To make you good on your end of the deal. Eden will go free, in exchange, I’m turning you and Arlo over to Enrico.”
Everything stops. I would die for Eden. Do anything for her. But I will do anything not to be taken by Enrico again. He raped me. Did unspeakable things. I will not let him be the one to torture and eventually kill me. I’ll die before I let him touch me again.
23
Matteo
I have Maximo take Nina in one of the cars. I can’t be near her and do what I need to do.
I sit in the back of one of the SUVs while Dierk drives with Arlo tied up next to me.
He slowly wakes up. I knew he would on the way to the warehouse.
“You asshole. Nina gave you all this power, and this is how you choose to use it, by turning us over to Enrico?” Arlo asks.
“It beats running,” I say.
Arlo glares. “Running kept us alive.”
I smirk. “For how long. I was able to track you within a month. Even with Enrico weak and with limited resources, he wouldn’t have taken much longer to find you even without my help. You were dead anyway.”
“So that makes this better? We were going to die one way or another so you might as well make some cash off of this and get on Enrico’s good side?”
I shrug. “You know me. Only looking out for myself. You aren’t worth much to me after you abandoned me.”
“Why wait so long? Why not turn us over the second you found us?” Arlo asks, struggling against the ropes, but it’s useless, he isn’t getting free.
“I thought it would be more enjoyable if you and Nina had a chance to bond. Fall in love truly and all that shit. It also gave me plenty of time to have my own fun with Eden. Now Nina will die knowing that I have her best friend who also faces her same fate.”
“If you love Nina, let her go. She’s yours. I’ll back off. You can have her. She loved you once; she can love you again. Just don’t turn her over to Enrico. Keep her alive and safe,” Arlo begs.
I stare at him, my brother who has no idea who I am or what I want. I laugh. “You really are clueless.”
“I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt Nina.”
“Then you should have stayed. You should have been loyal to me. Instead, you ran. Now deal with the consequences.”
I pull out my cell phone and dial the number. “I have them. We are making the trade tonight. At the warehouse.”
Arlo’s eyes grow big as he realizes he’s lost. That soon I’m turning him and Nina over to Enrico, and there is nothing he can do.
Welcome to my life brother. How does it feel to have no power and know there is nothing you can do to protect the woman you love?
24
Eden
Nina and Arlo came. Nina was feet away from me, and there was nothing I could do to protect her.
Matteo took them, and I’m afraid it was the last time I might ever see either of them ever again.
“Dierk!” I shout to the man standing guard outside my dungeon cell.
He casually walks over to the door that has bars and a small window at the top.
“Where is Matteo taking them?” I ask.
He looks at me sadly. “To the warehouse. He’s turning them over to Enrico. But if it makes you feel any better, I really think he will let you go free when this is all over. He told me not to hurt you no matter what. He wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t going to let you free.”
What is it with everyone thinking that Matteo is a good man? He’s a cruel, manipulative, monster. He wants power and money. He doesn’t give a shit about anyone else.
I sink down on the floor terrified Nina is going to die, and it’s my fault. I should have protected her. I should have called her and told her what was happening when I was free. Now I’ll never get the chance.
My body shakes and trembles as I sit on the floor, sobbing. My voice cracks, a high-pitched cry that encompasses everything I’m feeling. Heartache. Terror. Fear. Love. Useless.
“Eden, are you okay?” Dierk shouts through the bars.
I open my mouth to say yes, but an idea forms.
“No, I think…god, my stomach, I think something is wrong with the baby…”
I don’t know what instructions that Matteo gave Dierk, but if Dierk thinks that Matteo still cares about the baby and me then Dierk will think he has to do everything he can to protect me.
Dierk pops the door open and runs to me holding me in his arms.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” he says, helping me to my feet. “Can you walk?” he asks.
I nod as he puts his arms around me and starts leading me to the garage. He walks me to the car that is parked nearest to the exit of the garage. Just as he’s lowering me into the car, I say, “I’m sorry,” and elbow him hard in the nose.
Dierk falls to the floor, and I grab the keys, race around to the driver’s side, and speed off. I may not be able to save Nina, but I have to try.
The warehouse is dark when I pull up, but there are dozens of cars scattered around the parking lot. I know they are here.
I don’t have any weapons. Nothing to get Nina back or protect myself with. I have no idea how I’m going to get her back. But I have to find a way.
I rub my stomach reminding myself that I’m not just risking my life when I try to save Nina. I’m risking my baby’s life too.
It just makes me more determined.
I choose the back entrance to enter, hoping that I can sneak in without being noticed. I do, but I hear a man’s voice that brings fear to my soul.
Enrico Carini, I assume.
I slink down the hallway to the large room that serves as everything; weapons hold, meeting room, office, and now as a trading place. A place to trade my best friend for money and the promise of Enrico to leave Matteo alone.
I duck down behind a desk when I see Matteo. He’s standing in the center of the room across from a man that looks twice his age. He’s shorter than Matteo, but also somehow crueler looking. It’s Enrico.
Behind Enrico is a dozen men on his side.
At least a dozen stand behind Matteo as well.
I search, but it doesn’t take me long to see Nina and Arlo with their arms tied behind their back, standing behind Matteo with a gun pointed at their heads by Maximo and Paul.
My fingers tremble, and my legs ache as I squat down. I
want to jump over the table and demand Matteo to release Nina and Arlo, but I know that won’t happen. All I can do is stay here behind this dusky desk and hope that an opportunity presents itself to save them.
“You brought them. I didn’t think you had it in you, Matteo, to betray your own brother, but maybe you are my son after all,” Enrico says.
“I did. Now you need to hold up your end of the deal,” Matteo responds.
Enrico nods to one of his men, who brings forward a large briefcase. He opens it presenting it to Matteo. Matteo flips through the cash quickly and the nods, accepting the cash.
The man closes the briefcase and sets it next to Matteo.
“And the second half of our agreement?” Matteo asks.
“You won’t see or hear from me again. I won’t return to Italy. I’ve been staying in Northern Ireland setting up a new turf there. That’s where I’ll be returning,” Enrico says.
Matteo nods. “Good.”
“Now one last thing to meet my terms,” Enrico says.
“You didn’t have any other terms,” Matteo says, the corner of his lip twitching, upset.
Enrico cocks his head to the side as he smirks. “I always have additional terms when needed. You brought me Nina and Arlo so I could get my revenge. I’m still not convinced you’ve completely turned on your brother and are now on my side, however.”
Matteo narrows his eyes, clearly annoyed with his father’s requests. He doesn’t argue though. Instead, he turns and walks toward Nina first. He grabs her chin as she struggles against the ropes, which keep her from lashing out at Matteo.
“I love you, and you betrayed me. You deserve what’s coming to you,” Matteo says. He tightens his grip on her chin and then kisses her lips. It’s not like a kiss he’s ever done with me. It’s all tongue as he slobbers over her lips and forces his tongue into her mouth. Suddenly, he ends the kiss, as quickly as he started it, and then slaps her, knocking her to the floor.