Eunice handed me a blanket and sweater for Mia in the kitchen, but Ettore refused to let me stop long enough to cover her. The pressure in my back, right underneath my kidney, was increasing. He didn’t like this part. Leaving. Because that meant, at some point, he had to turn his back on his enemies.
There was a strange feeling coming from him that I didn’t particularly like. Something had changed. He had made a decision at the last minute.
A car waited outside for him. A black SUV with tinted windows. The door was open.
Brando and his brothers, Donato and Guido, stood with their backs to the house, watching. I glanced back at Brando before Ettore pushed me along.
Mia waved to Brando. “Eye, eye,” she said. “Apa.”
Some of the men lifted their hands, waving back to her. Rocco blew her kisses. Romeo kept touching his heart, and then offering it to her. Dario did a mixture of the two.
“You’re not leaving me, my baby,” Brando called out, then cleared his throat. “You’re just taking a walk with mamma. You’re both coming right back to me.”
Cold wind surged up from the ground, so cold that it took her breath away. She had been warm before, but thrust outside without proper protection, she shivered. Covering Mia’s head with the blanket, no matter if Ettore wanted me to or not, I kept it tight against her.
A million things came to mind to say to this man. First and foremost,if you try anything funny, I’ll make you wish you were dead.My threats were dead in the water, though. Threats to a man like Ettore were the equivalents to ribbing. Unless I could deliver, I knew better than to open my mouth.
In the kitchen, I would have killed him. I would’ve grabbed the knife from Aunt Lola and did what I had to do. Now? No chance.
Two steps from the open car door, he came in closer to my ear. “We will not hurt you or the child.”
Before I could even turn around, he had lifted me off my feet and flung me in the car. Mia’s screams pierced the air, not liking the fact that we had both been jostled. For an older man, he was as quick as a strike of lightning. The door slammed a second later, the car sped off, rocks and gravel flying under its wheels as we raced toward the gates leading out to the main road.
“Shh.” I patted Mia’s back, kissing her, holding her as close as I could. She wasn’t hurt, just scared. “It’s all right, my baby. Shh. Mamma’s here.”
“Amma,” she cried, burying her face in my neck, holding on to my dress as though I might disappear, or try to put her down.
“She doesn’t even have a car seat!” I hissed. “You bastards!”
This time I made sure to look Vincenzo in the eye. He was driving the car. After my stare became too much, he adjusted the mirror so he wouldn’t have to look at me anymore.
Vincenzo was guilty. He knew what he had done.
He had let Ettore into the house. He had allowed him to take us.
I shoved those thoughts aside. They could wait until later. There were more important questions to consider. Such as. Why would Ettore take us? And, where the hell were we going?
8
Scarlett
Our captors made no secret of where they were taking us. I knew this because I asked.
Vincenzo answered without hesitation. “An estate located between Florence and Lucca.”
They were taking us into the hills. The Vincio di Brandeglio Valley.
A cold fist squeezed my heart in its palm. I knew why they were taking us there. The men had discussed the estate Vincenzo was referring to before.
It belonged to Luca Leone Fausti.
Rosaria had leaned over as the men discussed riding dirt bikes there, whispering in my ear, “You should see this place. It is a palace. With small kingdoms for each of his sons. Even a royal garden for his highness.”
I shoved the panic to a side corner. At that moment, I was frantic over the fact that Mia was not locked in her seat. She had fallen asleep, safe in my arms, but my arms couldn’t protect her if someone was to impale us. My entire body trembled with suppressed anxiety.
Finally, I couldn’t take another second.
“Vincenzo,” I said calmly. “She doesn’t have a seat. Please.”
