I’m sure Enzo is fighting for me right now. I have to do the same for him.
I finally come upon a street with a strip mall. An Italian restaurant. How fitting.
I explain to the person behind the counter that I lost my phone and I need to call someone for a ride. She gives me a confused look but offers me the restaurant phone to use.
It’s then that I realize I can’t remember my brother’s number. My brain is too rattled and has gone blank. But I do remember Francesca’s number so I call her instead.
“Francesca?” I ask after she answers.
“Gianna, is that you?”
“Yes. Send Enzo. I’m at a restaurant.” I rattle off the address. “He needs to come soon. I can’t wait forever.” I’m sure Will is out looking for me by now. I feel it in my bones.
“Of course. I’ll tell him. Are you ok?”
“I’ll tell you everything once I’m home. Just tell Enzo.” I hang up. “Is it ok if I stay here? I don’t have any money to buy anything.”
“You can wait outside but you can’t wait in here without buying something.”
That’s what I was worried about. With no other choice, I leave the restaurant but I remain close to the building to help hide myself. Time ticks by. Every second feels like torture. Surely Enzo will come any second, save me, and I can put this horrible experience behind me.
Finally, a car pulls into the parking lot. It’s not Will, I can tell right away. The car is different. It’s not my brother’s either though. In the driver seat is Nico.
He pulls up beside me. “Gianna?” I stare at him in shock as he rushes out of the car and grabs my arms. “I’m here to rescue you.”
“Where’s my brother?”
“Your aunt called me. Your brother is on the opposite side of the city. I was closer so I came. Come on. Let’s get you back home.”
“Ok,” I whisper. Nico is not my brother but he’ll have to do. Even though I don’t want to marry him, I know returning home will mean I’ll become Nico’s. At least I’ll have my brother in my life. Which is better than what Marco wants to do to me and my family. Nico is on my brother’s side, I remind myself.
Though, for some reason, I don’t want to get into the car.
“Get in,” he says in a tight voice.
“I just…”
His eyes darken and he tightens his hand on my arm until it hurts. “You belong to me, Gianna. You are my fiancée and you’ll do as I say. Now get in.”
“I belong to myself,” I snap before I can stop myself. I guess getting kidnapped has changed me. I don’t feel as shy anymore.
“We will be married. You will do as I say. Get in the car. I’m here to protect you. Why are you acting like this?”
I rip my arm away from him. “You want to control me just like Marco wants to control me. Just like everyone in this world wants to control me. But I’m tired of it. I just want to feel safe and I don’t feel safe with you.”
“You little bitch.” He slaps me across the face before I even see it coming. I gasp and clutch my hand to my face. “I came here to get you and this is how you treat me?”
“I don’t want to marry you. I just want to go home.”
“But you agreed to it. You can’t take that back now.”
“Things have changed. I was kidnapped. I only agreed to marry you because it was a good choice for my brother but I can’tdo it. Not now. Not after what I’ve been through. I’m sorry. But I know my brother. If I told him how you slapped me, he wouldn’t let you near me at all.”
“Is that a threat? I’ll take you and marry you right now before your brother even gets a say. And then you’ll be mine and your brother will have to work with me. Now get in the car.”
“No.” Before I even know what my body is doing, I take off running. Nico gives chase.
I make it down the sidewalk before he grabs me around the waist. I try to scream but he clamps his hand over my mouth.
