Dario opens the door next to me and sits beside me.
“Hey, Orlando.” I greet my cousin, hoping for some kind assurance. He glances in the rearview mirror at me and gives me a stern, curt nod. Lovely.
He’s bigger than I remember, taller and more heavily muscled, his chin lined with a dark beard and those eyes of his as uncompromising as ever. I haven’t seen him since we were invited to The Castle for his father’s funeral services years ago.
“Vivia.” There’s no warmth in his greeting, not even the slightest hint of familiarity as Dario’s large hands grab mine in his. I go to pull away, but he holds fast as Orlando reaches in his glove compartment and something metal clinks. He tosses cuffs over his shoulder and some kind of soft fabric.
No.
Dario snaps the cuffs on, tightens them, then in one swift motion, tugs me down so my head’s on his knee. My struggle’s laughable in his strong grip as he slides fabric over my eyes and ties it behind my head, then follows with a gag. I scream and swear but every sound I make’s muted.
Fuck.
The car moves quickly and nearly silently as Dario keeps my head on his leg, keeping me out of the sight of anyone who might look in here. They talk in low, concerned voices.
“Called one guy Ace, was the only name I heard.”
I mumble against my gag that I heard a Shark, but they wouldn’t know that since I’m gagged, when Dario’s hand claps down on my ass. “Lay still and stop fighting.” I’m so stunned I don’t move at first.
“Vivia.” Orlando’s voice rises, directed at me. “You’ve been taken into custody for attempted murder against my sister. Sergio’s been notified and he’s on his way to our family home, where all members of both the Rossi and Montavio inner circles have been called.” The car slows down. Traffic? “You’re in Dario’s custody until further notice. Do not fight him. He’s been given free rein by Romeo to use whatever means of restraint or force are necessary to both hold and question you.”
A chill slides down my spine. They think I’m a traitor.
Once, when I was ten years old, my father discovered a traitor among them. My father made no pretense of hiding the man they found from anyone, even his children. We all heard his screams when he was ordered to be beaten. I heard the pleas for death when they burned the tattoos marking him Montavio from his skin with a blowtorch, his flesh sizzling like roasted meat. I heard my father’s cold voice order him killed as an act of mercy when he’d almost died by the torture alone.
Betraying the mob is one of the most serious crimes one could commit. Internal betrayal is the worst of all.
I feel cold and numb. I don’t realize I’m crying until the blindfold’s wet against my skin.
I didn’t try to hurt Marialena. But if I tell him the truth, my brothers will know I snuck behind their backs. They’ll know I’m “damaged goods,” that I broke the rules. And once they find that out… what will become of me? Other women have been exiled and disowned for what I’ve done. My father’s no longer here, but I’m not sure Sergio will be any more merciful.
Orlando keeps talking.
“Until we sort things out… until we know who was after you and why, you and Dario have gotten into a car accident. And you didn’t survive.”
What?
I stop breathing. He’s going to tell my family that I’m dead? I know now why he gagged me. I wouldn’t accept any of this without a fight.
“This will give us a chance to do several things. First, Dario will question you, and if you value your life, you’ll answer him as honestly as possible. Remember what I said. Dario has free rein. He will not answer for anything he does that hurts you in an effort to bring justice and seek truth. Do you understand me? Nod if you understand me.”
No, no, no. I start to shake.
But I nod my head. Dario’s hand is on the side of my head to keep me in position.
Pathetically, I imagine that he’s comforting me.
He isn’t. He’s going to hurt me.
“As Dario questions you, we’ll deal with Sergio. When Sergio found out you were complicit in the attempt on Marialena’s life, he wanted to come for you himself.”
I shake my head, but I can’t defend myself.
“He would’ve killed you himself if you weren’t already dead. His exact words were, ‘she’s dead to us.’”
My stomach clenches as if I’m going to be sick. I shrink inside myself and wish I could lift my hands to my ears to block all of this out.
“While you’re in hiding with Dario, whoever kidnapped you will think you’re dead. We’ll do what we can to make it seem that way.”
My family will mourn my loss and think I’m gone. I can’t imagine what my mother will go through under this plan.
“Whoever took you now knows you were with a Rossi. They’ll expect that you’ll be brought to us. We’ll have to secure The Castle and prepare for an attack. They also may look for you at your family home. You aren’t safe anywhere but in hiding.”
Safe in hiding with my captor who’s going to interrogate me.
Sounds lovely.
I close my eyes and wish I could sleep, that I could block all this out forever. That I could wake up and this whole nightmare was only a dream I could blink away.
* * *