“Please,” I gasp. “I need help. I need to go to the police.”
“Then get in.” His tone is cold. No questions. Why isn’t he asking for more information?
That makes me stop in my tracks. “Do you have a phone I can use? I would feel safer if I could fall for the police.”
“I can take you to the police.” There’s something about this man I don’t trust. After the way Leo deceived me, I can’t trust anybody.
“That’s ok,” I whisper. “Thanks though.” I pick up my pace but the man only follows me with his car. The hairs on my neck stand up.
“You should really get in. Your father wants to meet you, Emma.”
That makes me stop once again. “You… you know who I am?”
“Your father sent me to keep an eye on Leo Detti’s house, hoping you would be there. And imagine my luck when you stepped out. So let me take you to your father. He wants to meet you.”
“Alessandro Greco is truly my father?”
“Yes. So get in. Don’t make me force you to get in.”
I step away from the car. “I don’t know my father. Why wasn’t he in my life all this time? He’s a stranger. A mafia man. I don’t trust him and I don’t trust you.”
“Get in, Emma,” he says in a much colder tone.
“No,” I gasp before breaking out into a run. The man gets out of his car and chases me. With his longer legs, he reaches me in no time, grabbing me around the waist. I let out a scream but he slams his hand over my mouth, cutting me off. I kick and fight but the man is too strong for me.
“Hey!” A male voice shouts. Leo. I would recognize it anywhere. He comes running down the street. I’m not sure whether to feel more afraid or relieved.
Leo punches the man in the face, forcing the man to let me go. I slump to the ground.
The man pulls out a knife from his jacket and swings it at Leo but Leo grabs the man’s wrist, twisting it. A snap is loud in the air. The man cries out as Leo takes the knife from him. I watch in horror as Leo stabs the man in the stomach before pulling it out. It’s covered in blood. Just like his finger was when he placed it inside of me.
The man grunts and drops to his knees.
Leo punches the man once more, knocking him out. It’s scary how Leo doesn’t hesitate to go into action by picking the manup and placing him back into his car. Leo then calls someone, telling the other person to come clean the mess up.
Leo throws the knife into the backseat with the man and shuts the door. No sweat on his face. No breathing heavy. He’s acting like it’s just another day at the office.
That is until he turns his eyes onto me.
I scramble away but Leo picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. I’m too stunned to say anything or fight.
Without a word, Leo brings me right back to the cage but instead of shutting the door, he gets into the cage with me.
“Leo?” I whisper.
“How did you escape?”
“You didn’t lock me up.”
He bows his head, shutting his eyes. “You’re right. I didn’t. And you escaped. Who was that man?”
“You don’t even know? You just killed him.”
“Because he was attacking you!” Leo shouts, making me gasp. “Of course I killed him. You are mine now, Emma. I married you so no one else could take you from me. Who was that man?”
“He worked for my father. That’s what he said.”
He scoffs. “Your father? So you admit that you were trying to return to him?”
