Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Alek lets out a chuckle. “Riccardo Prodi.” I hear him move, and shooting a glance at Alek, I watch as he climbs to his feet. There’s a hate-filled expression on his face that makes him look just as terrifying as our captors. “Does Luca know what you’re up to?”
The man, who I assume is Riccardo Prodi takes a step closer to Alek. “Until the mafia and bratva cut ties, we don’t report to Cotroni.”
Alek lets out another chuckle that sounds more like a warning. “Viktor and Luca will kill you for this.”
Riccardo gestures toward me, and the other man comes to grab my arm.
I’m yanked to my feet and exclaim, “No. Wait.” Panic and terror swirl in my stomach, making me feel queasy.
I give Alek a pleading look, hoping he can stop whatever’s about to happen, but he doesn’t even look in my direction.
I struggle against the hold on my arm while crying for them to wait as they drag me out of the room.
I’m taken down a narrow hallway, where I notice four armed guards before I’m shoved into another room.
Riccardo takes a seat on a chair, and crossing his legs, his eyes slowly sweep over me. He seems to be in his late twenties or early thirties, and wearing a suit, he looks like an ordinary businessman.
The other man still has a biting hold on my arm, and all I can do is tremble, my fear too intense to try and think straight.
“Who are you?” Riccardo asks.
“I’m American.” I have the futile hope that my nationality will keep them from hurting me.
Or worse.
My mind slams up a wall, refusing to think of death.
A frown forms on the man’s forehead. “How are you affiliated with the bratva?”
My tongue darts out to wet my lips. “I’m not. I don’t even know what the bratva is.”
He tilts his head, his dark eyes staring at me until I fear that I’ll wet myself. “What’s your name?”
“Everleigh…Adams.”
“Never heard of you.” He glances at the man holding my arm and orders with a bored tone, “She’s worthless. Get rid of her.”
An eerie sensation ghosts over my skin, and a feeling I’ve never felt before rattles me to my core.
I’m not ready to die.
Honestly, I’m terrified of dying.
Maybe if I explain the situation that I just swapped clothes with Svetlana, he’ll let me go. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but something tells me not to divulge the information. Instead, I beg, “Please. Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone.”
The man gripping my arm says, “She was in the back seat with Alek. They looked cozy before we rammed into their vehicle. We could use her to break him.”
I almost divulge that I don’t know Alek but bite my bottom lip to keep from talking.
Riccardo again just stares at me, then asks, “What’s your relationship with Aleksandr Aslanhov?”
Lie!
“Ahhh…” I wet my lips again, my anxiety level through the roof. “I like him…love him! We…we’re dating.”
They will ask Alek, and if he tells them the truth, I’m good as dead.
At least I’m buying myself a couple of minutes.
“Take her back to the room.”
I’m manhandled, and when I’m shoved back into the small room, my eyes lock on Alek.
Instead of asking Alek to verify what I said, the door is locked again, and we’re left alone.
“Oh, God,” I whimper, goosebumps spreading over my body. I sink to my knees, and wrapping my arms around my middle, a horrible sob escapes me.
“What did they do?” Alek asks, his tone too calm for my frazzled mind to handle.
“T-they wanted t-t-to know who I am,” I sputter. I give Alek a pleading look. “I-I told them we’re dating. They were going to k-kill me. I panicked and lied. Please don’t tell them the truth.”
When I’m done rambling, Alek just stares at me.
“Please,” I beg again. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
When I start to cry, ugly sobs bursting from me, he says, “Calm down. I’m not telling them shit, so your secret is safe with me.”
Intense hope washes through me, and I feel dizzy from relief.
“T-thank you,” I whisper, uncontrollable sobs shuddering through me.
“It’s the least I can do for kidnapping you,” he mutters. He rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes.
All I can do is stare at the guy who’s way too calm in the nightmare we find ourselves in.
Chapter 5
Alek
It’s getting hard to tell how much time has passed since Prodi paid us a visit.
I was caught off guard that Prodi was the one who ambushed us instead of Ivanov.
Riccardo Prodi is the eldest son of Ignasio Prodi, who’s been loyal to the mafia all his life. It’s no secret the Prodi family isn’t happy about the ties between the mafia and bratva, but I didn’t think they’d go this far.