by Ella Miles
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.
I was expecting him to hurt her. I knew he hated her, but I can’t stop the tears from flooding my eyes, seeing her drop to the floor in pain. And I can’t stop the ache in my heart from forming when I see Matteo kissing another woman. Even Nina. Even under these circumstances. I know that he loves her and hates her. Unlike me, who is nothing to him.
Matteo turns his attention to Arlo, who is writhing with anger after watching the woman he loves hurt by Matteo.
“You’re no brother of mine,” Arlo says growling.
Matteo stands expressionless in front of his brother. He stands s
till for a long time as he stares at Arlo. I don’t know what he’s doing. He doesn’t talk. He doesn’t move. He just stands there.
Suddenly, he pulls something shiny out of his pocket and quickly jabs the object into Arlo’s stomach.
I gasp at the sight of the blood pouring out of Arlo, not expecting Matteo to actually stab him.
Everyone’s eyes turn toward me. My gasp was far too loud not to be discovered, but they can barely see me as I’m still crouched behind the desk.
I have two choices. Run away. Or try to save Nina.
I choose the latter.
I run around the desk and race toward Nina, hoping if I distract Matteo’s men long enough, Nina will be able to escape. I’m fast, but not as fast as I used to be, now that I’m pregnant.
I run straight toward Paul, who is holding Nina back, and I kick him as hard as I can in the shin. He jumps back, and I grab her.
“Shoot her,” Enrico says to his men.
I hear the shots and Nina and I both duck down instinctively.
Abruptly, I’m gripped by strong hands, and I know that my plan to try to free Nina is short-lived.
I glance up and see Matteo shielding me from the bullets. Not Nina, me.
I frown, not understanding. I thought he only had love-hate feelings toward Nina. I thought he felt nothing toward me.
“Stop,” Enrico says, and the bullets stop. He chuckles loudly.
“Now, this looks familiar. Fallen in love again so soon have we? I thought I taught you better than to get attached,” Enrico says.
Matteo glares at him as he slowly lets me go, realizing his mistake.
“I don’t love her,” Matteo says. “I was trying to protect Nina. I don’t want you thinking I planned this and to renege on our agreement.”
Enrico narrows his eyes and lets his lips fall as he studies Matteo and then each of us.
“Time to make the swap, then. You won’t mind throwing in the bitch then will ya? An old man like me doesn’t get many opportunities to taste two beautiful women in one night,” Enrico says.
“It will cost you more,” Matteo answers.
“Well, of course,” Matteo says, snapping his fingers and more money is brought to Matteo’s feet.
Matteo grabs both Nina and my arms and starts walking us toward Enrico, he glances to his right, and I swear I see Matteo wink.
And then bullets. I duck again, getting far too used to covering my head at the sound of bullets.
People start running, and my feet start moving instinctively.
Matteo’s hand falls from my arm.
“Eden!” Matteo screams, but I don’t stop running. He doesn’t love me. He won’t protect me. I can only rely on myself to keep my baby and me safe.
I run, trying to get as far away from the bullets as I can. I don’t wait for Nina. She’s smart, and I know that she’s running back to Arlo. Together, they will be able to escape now that all hell has broken loose. I have no doubt.
I have to worry about myself.
I dart around a lifeless body and then make it to the back door. I need to make it to the car and then drive straight to the airport and never look back.
I grab the handle of the door as I feel a hand grip my shoulder, jerking me back.
“Hello, beautiful,” Enrico says, tossing me into two of his men’s arms. “I came for revenge, and I got something better, a chance to ruin true love.”
“You’re wrong. Matteo doesn’t love me. He doesn’t want me.”
He laughs. “Of course he loves you. He did everything he could to protect you and keep you out of harm’s way, even giving up his brother and old fling for a chance to keep me far away so that I would never discover you.”
Matteo loves me. I try to search for him to see if it’s true. To see if I was the idiot that missed the signs, that this was somehow all an elaborate plan to save me. I can’t find him. Enrico’s men start dragging me away. And now I’m afraid I’ll never know.
25
Matteo
Shit.
Enrico took Eden. I felt it the second she was gone. The bullet fire slowly started to subside, and Enrico was nowhere in sight. He stole her from me. I won’t let him live.
I’m going to kill Dierk for not keeping Eden locked up where it was safe.
I race back to where Arlo lays on the ground, with Nina over him, trying her best to close his wound and undo the rope around his wrists.
I bend down and place my hands on him, but Nina tries to fight me off.
“Get the fuck away from him!” Nina yells.
“Calm down. I’m helping him.”
“Get away!” she cries again.
I turn to Arlo. “Will you tell her to stop so that I can help you?”
Arlo studies me a minute and then looks at Nina. She stops screaming, and I look down at his wound. I pull thread and a needle out of my pocket I always keep with me when we are going into battle, and I start closing his wound.
“You did this all on purpose, didn’t you? Why?” Arlo asks, finally understanding I was scheming this whole time.
“Because Enrico was alive after you left. And he wouldn’t stop until he got his revenge. You protected Nina by running. I protected her by setting a trap for Enrico.”
“By using us as the bait?” Arlo asks, his voice raised.
“Yes.”
Arlo head butts me. “You put Nina’s life at risk!”
“I had to; it was the only way to get Enrico to come to me. I needed to ensure that he was killed.”
“You stabbed me and didn’t include me on the plan.”
I roll my eyes. “I barely stabbed you, and you know I missed any major organs. You’ll be good as new in a few weeks.”
Arlo growls, and Nina crosses her arms with a pissed expression.
“Why did you steal Eden? Why keep her so long?” Nina asks.
I wince, not wanting to answer. “I found you guys within a few weeks of you leaving. I needed it to look like I hadn’t though so Enrico would think you were so off the grid, he wouldn’t bother looking. So I pretended that I needed Eden’s help to find you. I planned on using her to get him to think I was struggling to find you and keep you safe until I came up with a plan. But then…”
“Then you fell in love with her,” Nina finishes.
I nod. “And now she thinks I hate her.”
Nina places a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll earn her love back.”
She slaps me across the cheek. “But don’t ever hurt her or stab my boyfriend again.”
“I won’t,” I say, rubbing the spot that barely stings.
“He’s headed north. We think he has a cabin he’s renting about thirty miles from here,” Clive says as he jogs over to me.
Nina’s eyes grow big as she takes a step in front of Arlo, who still has his arms tied behind his back.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Arlo asks, looking at Clive.
Clive cocks his head to the side as he grins as Nina. “Matteo needed my assistance.”
Nina and Arlo turn their gazes to me.
“I needed more help to ensure that Enrico was dead. I’ve been busy with Eden and the baby—”
“Baby?” Nina squeals.
I smile. “Eden’s pregnant.”
“Oh my god! I’m going to be an aunt!” she screams.
“Baby, that’s great, and all but our lives are still in danger, and we need to get Eden back and kill Enrico,” Arlo says.
Nina stops squealing.
I turn to Clive. “I found out Clive and Erick were still alive after I almost killed them in an ambush. They have doubled the size of their team, and I thought I could use all the help I could get going against Enrico.
“Enrico thinks Clive and Erick would be the last people I would ever work with, so I knew if they planned this operation, it would mean Enrico would have no clue of the plan. I was afraid some of my men might still be loyal to Enrico.”
I grab Clive by the collar of his sh
irt. “But it seems that Enrico isn’t dead. And Eden is gone. Your plan didn’t work. You have one hour to fix your screw up, and we’ll be right behind you. Enrico needs to be dead, and Eden needs to be safe. Otherwise, we have no deal. Understand?” I say.
“Yes,” Clive smirks.
I release him, and he runs off.
“What deal?” Arlo asks.
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is killing Enrico and protecting Eden and our baby.”
I pull a knife out of my pocket and cut the ropes holding Arlo back.
“Thanks,” he says, as the ropes drop from his wrists.
Then he punches me in the jaw.
I close my eyes as the pain radiates through my entire head and down my arms.
“That was for stabbing me,” Arlo says.
“Seems fair.”
He laughs. “I’m not done yet. I still get a jab for risking me and my fiancé’s lives.”
“Fiancé?”
“I haven’t asked yet, but yea, I’m hoping,” Arlo says.
Nina gives him look that says ’yes’ and then jumps into his arms with a kiss.
I sigh. “It’s good to have you back. And as much as I’d love to watch you two make out, can we please go save Eden?”
26
Eden
My hands are tied in front of my body, and my mouth is taped shut as I sit in the passenger seat of Enrico’s car. He had one of his men throw me in the car so he could drive off alone with me.
He talks nonsense as he drives. Things about honor and what it means to be a man. How his sons have both disappointed him and just want him dead. But now that he has me, he will destroy Matteo, and then go back to obliterate Arlo by killing Nina.
I can’t listen.
I feel sick, and not just because he’s speeding around turns far too quickly. I’m sick that I left Matteo and didn’t have confidence in his love for me. He was trying to protect me in his own way. I’m sick he doesn’t understand that I trust him. I’m sick I’m going to die, along with our baby. I should have been thinking about our baby first, instead of trying to play the hero.