"He has his reasons." Romeo's jaw tightens. "Trust him on this. Stay where people can see you. Don't go anywhere alone."
The same instructions Luca gave me, with the same intensity. "What's happening tonight?" I ask. "What operation is he?—"
"Nothing you need to worry about." But his eyes say otherwise. "Just be careful. Please."
The song ends, and Romeo releases me with a final squeeze of my hand. "Stay close to Savannah.”
I frown. "I will."
I rejoin Savannah at our table, and the evening continues. I make small talk with my father's associates and smile at their wives. I accept compliments on my dress, my marriage, my pregnancy. And gradually, I start to relax.
Nothing feels wrong or dangerous. It's just another charity gala, another performance, another night of playing the role I've been assigned. I'm even enjoying parts of it. The music is beautiful, and the food is excellent, and I seem to have gotten to the part of my pregnancy where I can enjoy it again. Savannah tells me stories about Romeo’s attempts to becomedomesticated, making me laugh. The evening actually feels somewhat good, which is a relief after weeks of tension and emotional devastation.
After a little while, I excuse myself to use the restroom. "I'll come with you," Savannah offers, starting to stand.
"I'm fine." I wave her off with a smile. "I'll be right back."
Vince and Tommas, my two guards, fall into step behind me as I leave the ballroom, maintaining their discreet distance. The restroom is down a hallway off the main corridor—elegant and private, and away from the noise of the party. I push open the door and step inside.
The space is empty, just marble counters, gold fixtures, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the other side of the stalls. I move toward the sinks, reaching for my clutch to check my lipstick. I slip it out and look up… and see another face reflected in the mirror behind mine.
Alessandro is standing behind one of the stall doors, and he's not alone.
There are four men flanking him, all armed. And as they move, everything happens so fast that I don't have time to scream.
The door opens behind me—Vince and Tommas are entering to check the space, hearing noise, and Alessandro's men are on them immediately. It’s brutal and silent, so coldly efficient that my knees go weak with fear and shock.
A hand over Vince's mouth. A knife to his throat. He goes down without a sound. Tommas reaches for his gun, but he's too slow. One of Alessandro's men slams his head against the marble wall. The crack is sickening as he crumples.
I open my mouth to scream, and Alessandro's hand clamps over it before any sound can escape. His other hand brings a gun up, pressing it against my ribs. I can feel the cold metal through the thin silk.
"Don't." His voice is soft and conversational, like we're discussing the weather. Like any one of the conversations we had when he was still my fiancé. "Don't make a sound, Giulia. Not if you want your baby to survive the night."
Terror floods through me, immediate and visceral, all-consuming. My hand flies to my stomach instinctively, covering the small bump where my baby is growing. I can't protect them. Not from this, not from the gun pressed against my side and the men blocking the door and the absolute certainty in Alessandro's voice.
"That's better." He removes his hand from my mouth slowly, watching my face. "You're going to be very quiet and very cooperative. Understand?"
I nod. I can't speak or breathe. I can't think past the terror screaming through every nerve.
"Good girl." The gun presses harder against my ribs. "Now, here's what's going to happen. You're going to walk out of here with me. You're going to smile and act like nothing's wrong if anyone sees us. And if you do exactly what I say, your baby might live to see tomorrow."
"Please." My voice cracks. "Please don't?—"
"Don't what? Don't hurt you?" He laughs softly, and the sound makes my skin crawl. "Giulia, I'm not going to hurt you. You're far too valuable. But your cooperation is required. And if you don't cooperate—if you scream, if you fight, if you do anything other than exactly what I tell you—I'll put a bullet in your stomach right here. Right now. You can survive that, but your baby won’t. Do you understand?"
I do understand. I understand that I'm completely helpless, that I'm outnumbered and outgunned, and that the men who were supposed to protect me are bleeding on the marble floor.
"I understand," I whisper.
"Excellent." Alessandro's hand moves to my arm, gripping it just above the elbow. The gun stays pressed against my side. "Now smile, Giulia. We're going to walk out of here together, and you're going to look happy about it."
Alessandro's men move to flank us, two in front, two behind, blocking any view of the bodies and creating a barrier between me and any potential help.
"Where are we going?" My voice is barely audible.
"Somewhere private." Alessandro's grip tightens on my arm. "Somewhere we can have a conversation about your family's future and the choices your father is going to have to make."
"Luca will?—"
