“Mom?” I ask, going back to her in the kitchen, where she’s busy putting dinner together. “Susanna isn’t even in her room. Where is she?”
Mom frowns. “That girl left? God, Susanna. Where did she go? Why is she always causing issues for me?”
“Did she go out to a club? Or… I know she doesn’t have a boyfriend. I have no idea where she’d go. To Alek’s maybe?” She likes to use his private pool all the time.
I call Alek and he answers right away but when I ask him if Susanna is at his house, he tells me she’s not.
“Is everything ok?” he asks.
“We just can’t find Susanna. She’s not in her room and usually if she’s not here, then she’s at your house.”
“Did she sneak out? That girl is going to get herself in trouble, I swear.”
“After Gabriel sent that hand, maybe you should go out looking for her, just to be on the safe side. I would hate for something to happen to her.”
“I will and when I find her, I’ll make sure she’s given a scolding and knows not to leave at a strenuous time like this.”
After we hang up, I turn back to my mom. “Did she leave a note?” We spend time looking around the kitchen and living room but there’s nothing.
“Typical Susanna,” Mom mutters. “Always giving me a headache because of her antics.”
My gut flares with nerves. Something is not right. I know it. If there’s anyone I know as well as myself, it’s my sister. She would sometimes sneak out when we were younger but she’d always come back home. And she’s been trying to act more mature lately ever since I almost died a couple of years ago. She hasn’t really been reckless.
“Mom, I think something is wrong.”
She stops pacing around the kitchen. “What? What do you mean?”
“Gabriel sent that hand to your house. We all assumed it was a threat for Luca but… he sent that hand here. Not to Luca’s house.”
Mom’s eyes widen. “You don’t think…”
“I think you haven’t seen Susanna all day. And you don’t have any guards around this place. How hard would it have been for someone to sneak in and…” I can’t say the words. They hurt too much to even think.
“No,” Mom breathes out, slumping onto a chair. “No. Susanna has not been kidnapped. She’s most likely out somewhere, pouting over her ruined birthday.”
“She could be and I hope she is. But… that hand was no coincidence. It was sent here for a reason. I’m worried she’s been taken, Mom. That…” I have to force the words out. They need to be said. “That Gabriel took her as revenge against Luca.”
“But Luca doesn’t care for your sister.”
“But does Gabriel know that? She’s an easier target than I am. I’m too well guarded by Luca. Who better to strike than Susanna?”
“If you’re right about this then… my daughter is gone.” She breaks into tears and I wrap my arms around her, holding her so tight, I can feel her heartbeat.
Chapter Four
Susanna
I’m not sure how much time passes before Gabriel shows back up but it’s not enough time. I never want to see my kidnaper’s face but here he is, waltzing into the basement with an ease that isn’t fair.
“We’re going to have fun today,” he says. That’s when it registers: it’s the next day. I can see the light coming in from the window. My stomach rumbles in hunger but Gabriel doesn’t comment on it. He probably intends to starve me in here.
“Fun how?” I ask warily, even though I know I shouldn’t. Nothing good can come out of Gabriel’s ‘fun.’
He steps right up to me so we’re toe to toe. I can smell his warm scent, like cinnamon and vanilla mixed with pine.Christmas. Except, this isn’t a fairytale wonderland I’m in. No. It’s a walking nightmare.
And what Gabriel says next doesn’t help matters. “You’re going to get naked for me.”
I gasp and reach out to slap him but he catches my wrist before I can make contact with his face. “How dare you! I am not going to get naked for you.”
