-
I retreat until my back hits the wall.
"Please, please don't hurt me," I stutter. "Just settle it with my dad and find an agreement, but don't touch me."
"You don't know anything about the mafia, right?"
"Just… just what I see in the movies."
They share a laugh.
"Why do you have a mask on?" I ask in a shy murmur.
"Because I couldn't be seen by the cameras. And I don't want you to see me."
"Didn't you see that in the movies too?"
My mind lights up and I suddenly recall the masks. I had seen hundreds of news reports on TV about crimes committed by men wearing masks — robbers, drug dealers... I couldn't imagine my dad had a connection to that.
Now I understand why he always turned off the TV when those kinds of news came on.
My skin crawls.
"What do we do now? Ugo will probably hurt our parents or kidnap them in exchange for me."
"I already considered that, and no, he won't. He's too scared. I have him in my palm of the hand."
I stare at the kidnapper, trying to decipher anything from their masks.
All I see is that the man in the lead is very muscular. His arms are toned and defined, his shoulders broad. I wonder when he finds time to hit the gym if he's that busy committing crimes.
He leaves a bucket near where I was sitting.
"This is to pee. And here is some water." He hands me a bottle.
"If you behave, you can have more—and some food."
"Behave?" I shake my head. "I can't pee here." I cringe, disgusted.
He looks me straight in the eyes.
"It's not my problem what you can or can't do. You can pee in your pants if you don't like the bucket."
Fucking asshole.
What did I have to do for that? I didn't do anything wrong. He was mad at my father? Then he could face him instead of taking me.
He spins on his heels and leaves, murmuring to his friend.
I hear the back of the door crash behind them and stay there as lonely as I am.
My head is fogged with all the news I have to contemplate.
I lay my head on the cold floor and check my surroundings. The room I'm locked in is empty. No objects, just some empty shelves and graffiti on the wall.
This was escape-proof.
If I'd known I might end up handcuffed to a radiator, I would have done some research on how to get free. But I know nothing about it.
I start to get nauseous as my mind drifts to the man. He didn't even ask who the men were. He knew. I can no longer believe he's the good man he pretended to be.
Was he really capable of killing someone?
According to what that Reeves boy said, things didn't go as planned, so maybe the shooting was a mistake.
But seven times? That surely wasn't a mistake.
I sigh.
I've never met anyone as scary as the man who kidnapped me.
He threatened terrible things, and I don't doubt he wouldn't keep his promise.
I swallow hard. I'm still young — all my life ahead of me — and I'd waste it all for some mafia man?
I wish my dad would do something. And soon. I don't want to spend one more minute with him.
I close my eyes and enjoy the silence, trying to breathe in a more controlled way, taking deep, long breaths.
Breathe in, breathe out.
One.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Two.
"Helloooo, darlinggg."
The door slams open.
Four masked men walk in before the man who kidnapped me.
"That's her? Oh, she did grow well."
I huddle against the wall with my knees on my chest and my arms wrapped around my ankles.
I start to tremble as I see them surround me.
It's over for me.