by Cala Riley
“Luca. My uncle is my last living relative. I want to see him before he dies. I think we can make an exception. Hell, give me a phone and I will call Bash myself.”
His eyes soften.
“Fine. Let’s go. Follow my lead.”
Luca leads me down the hall when Matt steps out in front of us.
“Where are you going, Sof?”
I panic. Was he going to stop me?
“Matt. You should be in bed. My uncle is hurt. On his death bed hurt. I need to go say goodbye. Please don’t stop me. I know Bash wouldn’t approve, but it’s the only family I have left.”
He grunts.
“I don’t like this, Sof. You should stay here. Call Bash. He would take you himself.”
“Bash left on business. Who knows where he is or when he will get back. I will regret this if I don’t go.”
Luca speaks up beside me.
“I will protect her. We will likely be back before Bash even knows she is gone.”
Matt glares at him and turns to me to take my hands.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“What if it was your mom or sister?”
His eyes flare then softens.
“Do what you have to, but check in with me when you get back.”
“I will.”
I lean in and kiss him on the cheek.
Luca leads me down the stairs and to the front door.
“Where are you going?” The man at the front whom I learned was named Fabio asks.
“Don Bastiano asked me to bring her to him. I am just following orders.”
He nods as he opens the door. That was easy. Almost too easy. Once we get in the car, he repeats the cover story to the gate then we are off. I am lost in thoughts of my uncle and parents, when I notice we take a turn off I don’t know.
“Where are we going?”
“The hospital.”
I realize then that I never told him which one to go to. Red flags are being thrown around every corner.
I look over at him and as he glances at me, he knows that I know. He pulls a gun and points it at me.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You will see soon enough.”
“Bash will kill you.”
He scoffs. “He won’t be a problem much longer. I know that will upset you seeing as you are fucking his brains out every chance you can get.”
He gags at the thought. I look around the car looking for anything that can help me out, but I don’t see anything. I consider jumping out of the car, but he is going too fast for that. I am stuck with the man who is supposed to protect me.
“Just don’t do anything stupid. I would really hate to have to shoot you.”
“Can’t make any promises.” I mutter under my breath.
“I could always tie you up and put you in the trunk.”
I force a smile.
“No thanks. I’ll behave.” For now.
“Good. I would hate to have to bruise that pretty little face of yours.”
I give him a cheeky smile. He doesn’t scare me.
After ten minutes of silence, I finally turn to him.
“Why are you doing this anyways?”
“Doing what?”
“Betraying your family. I thought you guys lived by a code.”
He snorts.
“We do. I didn’t betray my family. You are assuming you know who my family is. I don’t follow Bastiano Catalini. I follow the true leader.”
“Oh really, who is that?”
“I think that’s enough talking for now. We are here.”
I look ahead as we pull into the parking lot of a rundown warehouse. I start to look around and see nothing in the distance. My feel a pit in my stomach. Even if I was able to get out of the car and run, I wouldn’t get far before Luca caught me. I wasn’t delusional. I only run if I have to while Luca looks like he runs for fun. He stops the car and turns to me
“Listen. I actually really like you, Sofia. I don’t want to see you hurt. This isn’t personal. If you cooperate and don’t fight, then you most likely won’t be hurt. Okay?”
He looks like he is trying calm me down, but I don’t believe a word he is saying. Sad thing is, he looks like he does. He honestly thinks whoever it is that wants me won’t hurt me.
“Did you grab me because of Ryan? Because if you did, then I can guarantee I will get hurt tonight, no matter how much I comply.”
His eyes change and all of a sudden, he looks confused.
“Ryan? Your crazy ex? Why would you think I would be working with him?”
“Well who else would want to have me kidnapped and brought to some mysterious warehouse?” I pause. “Wait. Is my Uncle even hurt? Is Gina in on this?”
“Whoa. Calm down. I need to get you inside. Promise to cooperate and I will tell you about your uncle.”
I take a deep breath and let it whoosh out.
“Looks like I have no choice.”
“I am going to get out and come to your side. Don’t try anything. I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I will if it comes down to it.”
I just nod and look to my lap. How am I going to get out of this? I am mentally cursing Bash out for not giving me my gun back or getting me a new gun. He kept saying I didn’t need it in his house and that he would take me to the range, but he always was too busy or more accurately too busy screwing me.
Then I mentally kick myself. If I hadn’t gotten so caught up in fucking him then I wouldn’t have been so willing to let him distract me every time the subject came up. If by some miracle I get out of this, I am going to have to end it with Bash. It is obvious I don’t make good decisions with him around.
I watch as Luca walks around the front of the car with the gun still in his hands. I consider running again for a moment, but the gun reminds me that Luca isn’t afraid to shoot me, even if he claims he doesn’t want to. It’s the mafia for fuck’s sake.
I lose my chance to do anything when he finally reaches my door. He opens it and grabs my arm as I get out. He closes the door then pushes me into it face first.
“Hey!”
“I am just checking you for weapons, Sofia. Chill.”
He brings my hands behind my back and holds them there. After a minute, I feel something slide around them and hear what sounds like a zip tie being tightened.
“Shit that’s tight. You don’t have to do this you know.”
He starts to pat down my body.
“Oh yeah? What? I can take you back to Bastiano’s and be like ‘sorry man. I made a mistake.’ Yeah right, Sof.”
He pats up and down my legs, avoiding my private areas, which I am grateful for. Maybe he isn’t as bad as he thinks he is.
“I wouldn’t suggest you say that, but yes. Take me to Bash. I won’t tell him you tried to kidnap me. I will tell him I asked you to take me to my family. He doesn’t have to know.”
He finishes his search then turns me to look at him.
“You think it would be that easy huh? You don’t think he would punish me just for disobeying his orders? Lying to his men? You forget, I got us out of the house by lying to the guards. There is no turning back now.”
He’s right, but I was hoping he would fall for it.
“I guess you’re right. What’s going to happen next?” I sigh.
“I am going to take you inside and once Bash complies to our demands, we will release you. Like I said, just follow our instructions and you will be okay. We don’t harm women unless they give us a reason to.”
I cringe at his words. Who decides on what a good reason is?
If it was Bash, I would feel safe. He might get angry and threaten, but he would never actually harm a woman unless it was between his life and hers. I know that in my heart.
If it was my ex. I shiver as I think about the last time I gave him a reason to hurt me.
“Let’s go.”
He grabs my arm and escorts me to a side door. Once inside, I look around. Most of the wareh
ouse is dark, but I am able to make out some old machines lining the walls around me. There’s a bright light at the other end of the warehouse. I narrow my eyes to try and see better, but it’s too far.
Luca stops and throws the keys to a man.
“Get rid of it. Far away from here.”
The man walks past me, his eyes leering at my body.
“She’s a pretty one.”
“Too bad you leave much to be desired.” I smirk at him.
He lunges towards me.
“You little bitch.”
Luca pulls me back and steps in front of me.
“She’s off limits, Jay. Bosses orders. Now go.”
“You are one lucky bitch. For now.”
I just give him a shiny smile, like nothing he says bothers me. Truth is, the looks he was giving me while looking at my body did not give me confidence that I would make it out of here unharmed. If anything, it brought a host of new worries with it. I was just worried about being beat and killed. Now I have to add sexual assault and rape to that list.
Once he is gone, Luca pulls me forward.
“You should probably watch your mouth. I won’t always be there to protect you.”
I snort.
“You aren’t protecting me now?”
“Really? I am pretty sure I just stopped Jay from doing something stupid to you.”
“You are the reason I needed protecting from him.”
“Your mouth is the reason you needed to be protected. Had you just kept quiet, he wouldn’t have stepped up to you. Listen, stop being argumentative. Just keep your mouth shut.”
We make it to the back room and I try to take in everything around me, looking for anything that might help me in escaping. All I see are dozens of tables set up to my right and a set of stairs to the left.
“What are those for?”
“Mouth shut. Remember?”
I grumble. Seems nice Luca is starting to get annoyed with me. He drags me to the left and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, there is a long hallway with rooms lining each side. He walks down to the end of the hall before unlocking a door and pushing me inside.
“Sit down over there.”
He gestures to a bed on the wall with a bar behind it. I do as he asks and once I am sitting down, he brings another zip tip over and wraps it through my “cuffs” and links it around the bar before tightening it.
“I need to go check in. Are you going to keep quiet or do I need to gag you?”
“Oh, you mean I shouldn’t scream for help? Thanks for the helpful advice. I’m pretty sure the neighbors will appreciate me keeping it down.”
“That sass is what is going to get you killed one day.”
“So, I’ve been told.”
He shakes his head.
“I’ll be back to check in on you in a bit. Until then, stay out of trouble.”
“Sure thing, honey. I’ll even have dinner on the table waiting for you.”
I hear him let out a heavy sigh as he closes the door behind him.
With him gone, I can really look around the room I am in. It looks like it used to be an office of some sort. There is only the one door and no windows. The room is bare except the bed I am sitting on. I glance at the bar to see if there are any holes that might allow me to slip through.
No such luck.
I move my hands and try to wiggle out of the zip ties. Every time I move, I get a pinch of pain telling me they are on too tights. I try to pull against the tie holding me to the wall, but I am unable to get any movement.
“Fuck.” I breath out.
All I can do is hope and pray that Bash knows I am gone and is out looking for me. I hope that he cares about me enough to actually attempt to find me at least. Our relationship has been rocky at best from the very start. Half the time I am not sure if he wants to kill me or fuck me. Lately, fucking has won out, but that doesn’t mean that he cares about me. Yes, he provided protection, but that required little effort on his part. Would he really search the city and try to find me? Hell, he probably thinks Ryan took me. If that’s the case, then my chances are slim he will find me at all.
Above all the rest, I hope my Uncle Tony is okay. It is twisted to think it, but I really hope Gina lied and is in on this. If she’s not, then my Uncle is really lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life while I sit here, chained to a wall with no hope of escaping on my own.
∞∞∞
It seems like hours later before the door opens. Luca steps in with a bottle of water and a sandwich.
“How are you holding up?”
“Who, me? I’m just peachy. My shoulders hurt from being unable to move more than a couple of inches and I am stuck in this musty old room, kidnapped by the man who vowed to protect me, but honestly? I am doing great.”
He chuckles. “Glad to see you didn’t lose your sarcastic side. I brought you some water and food. If I let you lose, you promise to behave?”
“Yes. I will.”
He sets the water and food on the end of the bed before pulling out a knife and cutting the tie holding me to the wall. He helps me move off the bed then turns me around before cutting my “cuffs.”
I bring my hands around and rub my wrists as I turn to look at him.
“Thanks. Do you mind if I do some yoga to stretch?”
“Yoga? Really?”
“My shoulders really fucking hurt. It will take five minutes.”
“I suppose. Just don’t try anything.”
I roll my eyes.
“Yes, sir.”
I get onto the floor on my hands and knees. While sitting on the bed, I noticed the frame looked old. There doesn’t seem to be box springs underneath it either. I am hoping there might be something down there to help me.
I get into a cow cat pose first. I don’t want to make him suspicious and my body really does ache.
I hear him chuckle.
“I don’t understand why women do that. You look ridiculous.”
I take a deep breath in and out as I got through a set for that pose.
“It helps stretch your muscles and helps release toxins that are in your system.”
I move into the next pose, twisting my hips one way while I twist my head the opposite.
I watch as Luca settles on the bed watching me.
“I’m not going to lie. Watching you is pretty hot.”
“I’m off limits, Luca. Bosses orders.”
He chuckles.
“If you wanted me, I am sure I could change his mind. I don’t think he would argue if you gave your consent.”
“No thanks. I don’t usually like men who tend to kidnap me.”
“Well, you did get in the car willingly so did I really kidnap you?”
“Semantics. I am here against my will.”
I move into the third position, dolphin pose, which will give me a good look under the bed without being obvious.
“I think that’s my favorite pose. Your ass up in the air, perfect for me to look at. Damn, girl.”
I work past the bile rising up in my throat This fucker is really hitting on me. If I get a chance, I am going to knee him in the balls. Hard enough to make sure he doesn’t have kids in the future.
Finally, fully into the position, I look under the bed. I barely withhold a disappointed sigh when I see that other than dust, the floor is empty.
I finish that pose and stand to do some shoulder stretches before I sit on the bed and grab the water.
“Did you do anything to this?”
“I thought you would think so. I left it sealed so you would know it is okay.”
I examine the top and all around the bottle. It doesn’t seem like there is any holes or anything and that crack you hear when opening a bottle gives me comfort that it is safe. I take a tentative drink and feel a sense of relief that it tastes ok.
Truth is, I don’t know how long I have been here and I don’t know how long they will keep me here. While I would like to deny anything they o
ffer me, I am also smart enough to know that if I don’t keep my energy up, there is no way I will be able to break out when I get my shot.
I take another swig and eye the sandwich.
“I know you don’t trust me, which I understand, but you need to eat. I don’t want you to get faint from not eating or drinking.”
“Why are you being so nice to me, Luca? Why hasn’t anyone told me why I am here?”
“I told you. I like you Sofia. If you didn’t get mixed up with Bastiano, I would have pursued you. Hell, I still would if you showed any interest. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable or get hut. I am just doing what I have to. As for why you are here, I honestly don’t know. They just said they needed you so I brought you. That is also why I asked to be the one to keep an eye on you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
He reaches out and brushes my hair out of my face and I flinch. He sighs, but pulls his hand back. The look on his face says he actually believes what he is saying. He really thinks he cares about me. I want to call him out for being liar, but another part tells me to keep quiet. I might be able to use that in my favor later.
“I don’t trust you, but I will try to.” I give him my best flirty smile. “Thanks for taking care of me. If the circumstances were different… well let’s just say I only picked Matt because I didn’t think I could be good around you.”
His smirk tells me he bought my act. Thank God. Finally, something is going my way. I pick up the sandwich and take a bite. He is right. I need to eat. I don’t trust him, but I also don’t think he would drug me. If he was going to do that, he would have done so by now.
Once, I finish my sandwich, he takes the plate and empty bottle and stands to head towards the door.
“Shit.” He turns and heads back to me. “I need to tie you back up.”
I get on my knees and climb towards the end of the bed as he moves towards me. I grab his collar and soften my eyes.
“Please, Luca. Don’t tie me back up. You can cuff my hands, but please do it in the front. The other way hurts so bad. My muscles are still protesting.”
He looks like I am torturing him. Good.
“I can’t, Sof.”
“I’ll be good. I promise. Didn’t you say you didn’t want me hurting? Well, I am. You can solve it. Look at this room.” I gesture around him. “What kind of trouble can I really get into in here. There is nothing here. I don’t know how to pick locks. I will still be sitting here when you get back.” I pause and think. “Maybe laying down it you let me.”