She keeps talking, her tone almost conspiratorial, like we’re friends gossiping. “We can do the test now if you like. You bled so little when you got here, and you haven’t gotten a period since, but stress and malnourishment could play a role in that, so it’s not necessarily a sign of…”
Her voice is fading. I can’t follow. My mind is sludge. How long have I fucking been here?
Before I can try to ask again, there’s a sharp pain in my arm. I instantly start to relax, not because whatever it is that she gives me works that fast but because I’ve come to recognize that feeling as the precursor to my escape.
The warmth begins to spread through my veins, thick and heavy, dragging me back to the darkness, to the land of rocking boats, to my dreams of Tommy.
11
Tommy
Ididn’t sleep all night. Trying to figure out a way to get Aurelio to slip about Giovanna, I plied him with alcohol and listened to him tell his stories, hoping that something would slip. It didn’t.
He passed out, slumped over in his chair, and I spent the rest of the night and today out in the pool house rewatching the videos, frame by frame, searching for any clue that would help me find my girl.
When I walk into my father’s house through the back entrance and into the kitchen, I hear a loud bang and shouting coming from his office. I grab my gun and take off at a run.
When I step through the door, I assess the room quickly. Vin is trying to pull Aurelio out of harm’s way—out of Matti’s way—and I immediately join him in dragging our father to the leather couch and situating him on it as best we can.
He’s heavy, coughing, bloody. The place smells of iron and sweat combined with the fouler scent of fear and rage.
A woman I’ve never seen before is crumpled against the back wall, a naked rag doll shoved into a corner with a broken plank beside her. Matti calls her name, Siena, and I realize this must be Franco’s sister, the one who stole the flash drive from the crash site.
Her cheek is purpling; one eye is swelling. Bruises bloom across her ribs, and blood beads at the cuts on her wrists and ankles. I don’t have to be told what happened to know it was ugly. And at my father’s hand.
My stomach knots, not because I’m surprised but because the stakes are suddenly, crushingly clear. Matti’s face tells me everything I need to know. No one has ever survived after Matti looked at them the way he’s looking at my father. But no one can end Aurelio until I get what I need.
Vin squares off against Matti in front of our father like a wall. I stand right next to him. If Aurelio dies tonight, Giovanna will likely die tomorrow. I doubt Antonio will hesitate. Aurelio is a live line to where they keep her. Without him, the connection goes cold. I can’t risk it.
Matti explodes forward, teeth bared, diving at Vin. He tackles him, their bodies crash into the leather couch and my father, who shrieks in pain. I shove them off him, and they roll onto the ground and into the heavy claw-foot desk. Their fists fly into each other, breath ragged, thuds and grunts sounding off in the room.
I have no interest in being the voice of reason here, but I have to protect Giovanna’s interests. I grab Matti, but he won’t let go of Vin, and Vin kicks him squarely in the chest, throwing both me and Matti into the heavy desk.
Vin lunges to his feet, and I quickly stand, stepping in between the two of them.
“Stop! Fucking stop!” I have one hand on Matti’s chest and the other on Vin’s. They stare at each other, breathing hard. “Just take a fucking breath.”
I tentatively pull my hands away from them, turning first toward Matti and then Vin with a look that makes it clear that now isn’t the time.
From behind me, Aurelio laughs darkly. “Matteo, you disappoint me. Letting some stupid little cunt scramble your brain.”
I roll my eyes but step back so that Matti can see Aurelio, who coughs and hacks heavily into his hand. Vin glances at me and keeps a wary eye on Matti, who ignores Aurelio and stays locked on Vin.
Aurelio clears his throat and groans, holding his bleeding hip. He waves his hand toward the woman in the corner. “Kill the bitch. If only she knows where the flash drive is, then no one will ever find it, and we are done here.”
Matti lunges forward, baring his teeth, but Vin and I close ranks in front of Aurelio, blocking him.
“We’re not killing anybody today,” I tell Matti firmly, then turn to Aurelio. “She doesn’t have the flash drive. If she did, we’d have it by now.”
I raise my eyebrows at Matti, giving him the opportunity to confirm my statement, but he doesn’t. He just keeps staring at Vin.
Aurelio snorts. “Ha! Yes, I’m sure she was searched. By Matteo, whose mind was on finding where to put his dick next and nothing more. Her pussydoestaste good, Matteo. I’ll give you that.”
I feel the rage exploding through Matti before he shoves me hard enough that I stumble back onto the couch next to Aurelio, but Vin quickly blocks him.
Matti grabs Vin’s shirt, but Vin grabs his wrists and, keeping his voice low, growls, “Not now. You’ll get your chance. But we need him alive right now.”
I push myself up from the couch and lean into them, my voice low. “Take care of Siena, Matti. We’ve got this. We’ll catch up with you later, brother.”
