He directed me toward a counter, telling me to hide underneath. “Stay here and don’t come out, understand?”
I nodded, fear grabbing hold of my throat and making it hard to even make a single noise.
What just happened?
The fire alarm went off just as I heard shots fired. I covered my ears with my hands, hating how much noise there was all of a sudden. There was just too much going on.
More footsteps came in, and I knew Leo was outnumbered.
And sure enough, a familiar grunt sounded.
I held my breath, trying not to inhale the smoke and not give away my hiding spot.
“We have to find her quickly. The cops and firefighters are on their way,” one voice said in Italian.
I froze.
Had my father found me?
Someone moved around the corner where I was hiding. My fist tightened around the wood. Shoes came into view, black wingtips under black dress pants.
I bit my lip to keep from saying anything, only letting out a small sigh in relief when the man turned and walked away.
Oh, God.
Leo.
I started counting to ten, wanting to make sure they left first. The smoke was getting almost unbearable.
I got to eight when arms reached in and grabbed me.
I screamed and struggled in the man’s hold, but he only tightened his grip around my arms.
My legs swung back, and I got in one lucky kick.
The man grunted but didn’t let me go. He carried me out of the burning bookstore. I looked around for Leo and found him lying in the middle.
I didn’t know if he was dead or unconscious.
I struggled harder, trying to get to him.
“He’s not dead,” the man told me. I stopped moving. “But he will be if you don’t do as I say.”
A sob burst free, and I stopped struggling.
“Good girl.”
I gritted my teeth to keep from making any noise.
They quickly brought me out to a waiting black SUV, seating me in the middle between two large men.
One other man sat behind me.
I looked around at the faces. I didn’t recognize any of them, which told me they weren’t Father’s men.
They didn’t say anything.
They didn’t smile, didn’t tell me they were going to hurt me or use me.