He leans back over me, putting our faces nose to nose. Gabriel would be handsome if he wasn’t so terrifying. It’s a shame. “I do want you, Susanna. There’s no one else to take so you will have to do. Now, get out of bed, don’t scream, and leave with me. Your mom will be all right then. I don’t need to kill her if I don’t have to but I will if you or she gets in my way.”
The utter coldness in his voice shocks me to my core. I’ve never heard someone so devoid of emotion like this.
Slowly, I nod. “Ok.”
“Good.”
The urge to run and scream is strong within me but I tamp it down. My mom and I may not always get along but she’s still my mom and I don’t want to be responsible for her death.
Gabriel holds onto my arm as he leads me out of my room. His other hand holds a knife. A clear signal that he will hurt me if I don’t comply.
I glance at my mom’s bedroom door where she’s sleeping peacefully, not knowing her daughter is being kidnapped. Willshe assume I ran away when she finds me gone in the morning? Will she even care that I’m gone? Surely she will… right?
I know I can be difficult but I’ve tried to change over the years. But maybe I haven’t changed enough.
Gabriel takes me out to a car in the driveway and makes me get in the back. He places a blindfold over my eyes and a rag in my mouth. I try to spit it out but before I can do it, he ties the rag around the back of my head, locking it in place.
I can’t see Gabriel but I can sense him as he gets in the front seat and starts the car. Then he takes me away from my home. From my mom. From my safety.
And I’m not sure I’ll ever get it back.
Gabriel eventually stops the car but he doesn’t take my blindfold or gag off. I try to whimper but he snaps at me to be quiet. His hand clamps on my arm as he takes me out of the car and into a room of sorts. I can tell since it’s a lot warmer in here than it was just a moment ago.
Before I even know what’s happening, Gabriel throws me over his shoulder. I try screaming but the gag muffles me too much. And chances are, Gabriel has taken me somewhere that no one can hear me.
His footsteps clang on something as he walks forward and then I sense that we’re going down, down, down. Into the depths of hell perhaps?
Then he drops me onto something soft. A mattress. Even though it cushions my fall, it still takes all the air out of me, making me gasp.
That’s when Gabriel finally takes my blindfold and gag off. “There. I don’t need to quiet you anymore. No one will be able to hear you.”
Looking around, I see that I’m in a basement. A cold, dingy cement basement. There’s a tiny window high above on one of the walls but I’ll never be able to look out of it. I may be on the slightly taller side for a woman but even I can’t reach it. There’s nothing else in the room except for the mattress I’m on and a bucket. Nothing I can use as a weapon. Nothing I can stand on to reach the window – not that I would be able to fit through it anyway.
“What is this place?” I whisper.
“Your new home. Get used to it. You’re going to be here for a while.”
“How long is a while?”
“Until I don’t need you anymore.”
I go still. My lips can barely move but I have to ask this next question. “Do you mean… until you kill me?”
“Yes.” He doesn’t sugarcoat it at all. “I need you for right now, Susanna. I’m trying to make a mark. Let Luca know I’m back. Let him know that I’m a threat. Maybe then he’ll play ball with me. But for now, I need you alive. When that changes, well… I’ll be nice and make it quick for you.”
With those ominous words, he leaves the basement and I’m left all alone in my terror.
Chapter Three
Susanna
The basement is cold and gross and smelly. I know I’ve been rude before but I don’t think I deserve any of this. To be kidnapped. To be treated like a pawn in a game. It’s all bullshit.
With all of my might, I try to reach the small window high on the wall but I just can’t. I wouldn’t be able to fit through anyway.
With nothing else to do, I slump onto the disgusting mattress and wait. Maybe I can convince Gabriel to let me go. I’ll do whatever it takes. Gabriel is a handsome man. Dark hair and a strong jaw and broad shoulders. He rivals Luca in terms of looks. I could seduce him into letting me go… even though I’ve neverseduced anyone before. But I’ll learn. For the sake of my life, I’ll learn.
The door opens and footsteps descend down the stairs. I brace myself for Gabriel but it’s not Gabriel I see.
