I hoped that was true. Women and children were supposed to be off-limits in any mafia conflict, but I would never forgive myself if either of my sisters were harmed because of me. “Convince Papà to honor his word about allowing you each to go to college.”
“Go,” Emma urged. “It’s dark enough now that you won’t be seen.”
She was right. I needed to get going. The guards were eating dinner for only another twenty minutes.
I looked at my phone on the dresser. Not taking it with me felt very strange, but it would be too easy to find me if I kept it. I needed to leave it behind, as I always did when I snuck out.
After opening the window, I took the rope I kept under my bed, secured it to the bedpost, and unrolled it over the windowsill. I tossed my satchel to the ground and then climbed down into the yard. My sisters watched me safely descend before pulling the rope back up. I blew them a kiss then sprinted for the trees. Papà had no idea David existed, so I’d start there tonight. In the morning I would come up with a plan. Perhaps I’d go to Vancouver. Or Colorado. Somewhere I could hike and ski. I couldn’t stand being cooped up inside, not since I’d accidentally locked myself in a closet as a girl.
It had taken four hours for someone to find me, and I was nearly catatonic with fear by then. After that I hated the indoors, and Mama used to let me follow her outside to her gardens. She grew vegetables and flowers, and it always seemed like everything around her was beautiful. Ever since then, I’ve loved dirt and rocks and fresh air.
First I had to escape the estate. Then I would need to stay hidden, change my name, and never contact my sisters. I couldn’t allow Papà to find me, not until the threat had long passed. Still, I could do it. No, I had to do it. I had to leave all this behind and become my own person. Find happiness for myself, as my mother had urged me.
Never settle, Francesca. Be your own woman.
She said those words when I was a young girl, and I hadn’t understood them at the time. But I did now...and I would heed her advice.
I followed the well-worn path to the wall and into the trees, where the cameras couldn’t see. I chucked my satchel over the wall first, then I used the footholds to climb up. At the top, I threw my legs over and held on with both hands so I could jump the rest of the way down.
Except fingers wrapped around my legs, startling me. They didn’t let go.
I kicked—hard. But it did no good. The hands only tightened. “Stop it! Let me go.”
“Not a chance, Francesca.”
No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. How had Ravazzani found me here? It was impossible.
I struggled to get away but my arms weakened and I was quickly forced to let go of the wall. I fell into a hard, male chest, arms folding like steel bands around me. “Get your hands off me. I’m not going with you.”
He didn’t budge. “You are coming with me. Even if I must drug you to do it.”
I gasped. “Drug me? Is that what you Italians do to unwilling women?”
His lips met the edge of my ear. “I could not say. There are no unwilling women in my life, Francesca.”
Was that...sexual? My mind remained confused, but my body must have been on board because it went up in flames. I was close enough that I could smell him—lemon and mint and maybe green apple—and my nipples tightened. I shut my eyes, humiliated. Why was I having this reaction, especially when this man wanted to kidnap me and force me to marry his son?
Using all my strength, I bucked against him. “Get off me, you dick.”
He gave a soft chuckle. “Drugs it is.”
I tried to push away to see his face. “No, please. Don’t—”
A sharp prick in the back of my neck was followed by a cold rush in my veins. “What was that? Are you seriously….?”
And the world went black.