Page 42 of Heartless Union

“Rocco, it’s ok,” I speak, surprising myself. His eyes flash when he looks at me. “You love your sister. Save her.”

“Lara, no,” Gabriella objects. She tries struggling against Dante’s grip, but he pulls her tighter against him, stopping her. “You can’t suggest he kill you.”

“It’s ok,” I say, keeping my eyes on Rocco. “I don’t have anyone.” He frowns. “Not for long anyway. Soon, no one will miss me. You can save your sister. Do it.” Rocco’s eyes flit over to Gabriella and back.

“No!” she shouts. “Don’t you dare even think about it, Rocco. Don’t save me if it means Lara gets killed. She doesn’t deserve that.”

Carlo chuckles. “It’s cute how much these girls are fighting for one another. I’d almost think they’re the ones in love. Maybe you need to keep them apart, Rocco. You don’t want to have an affair on your hands, do you?”

“Shut up,” Rocco growls. He hasn’t moved a muscle since Gabi and I were taken at gunpoint.

“We’re taking the girls,” Carlo says.

“Save her,” I tell him once again. “It’s ok.”

Rocco takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly … then takes a step back, raising his hands up. He’s not going to fight because he isn’t going to risk one of us getting killed.

“Coward,” Dante spits out.

Rocco looks like he’s going to lunge across the room and kill Dante with his bare hands, but he holds back. He’s going to let these men take us in the hopes he can save us at a later date. I know it. I may have conflicting feelings for my husband, but I know he wants to save us. He told me—he always protects family.

Carlo and Dante walk backward out of the house with Gabriella and me held at gunpoint. I see dead bodies in the hallway. Carlo’s men that Rocco must have killed. They shove us into a black van, then take off. The last glimpse I catch of Rocco is him leaving the house, running after the van. Eventually, he stops. No human can catch up to a car.

I slump down beside Gabriella in the back of the van. “Are you ok?”

She winces. “No. But I have no choice.” Her eyes darken. “Why were you willing to sacrifice yourself? I don’t want you to die, and neither does Rocco.”

“Rocco doesn’t love me. You’re his sister. I thought if I told him it was ok to let me die, then you’d be safe.”

“Lara, why do you think your life doesn’t matter? What did you mean back there that you had no one? You have Rocco and me. Your dad.”

“My dad is dying,” I finally say out loud. Gabi gasps. “If we make it out of here, you can’t tell anyone. He doesn’t want anyone to know. Not even Rocco knows.”

“Just because your dad is dying doesn’t mean he’d want to lose his daughter before then.”

“I know. But he only has a couple months left. Once he’s gone, no one else will miss me. Rocco definitely won’t. There’s no love between us.”

Gabriella’s eyes soften. “We’re friends, remember? I would care. We’re in this together. We can only rely on each other to get out of here. I’m not sure if Rocco will be able to find us. So, we have to escape on our own. Can you do that? I don’t need you trying to kill yourself in the process.”

“I promise.” Her words make my heart feel fuller. I’ve never had anyone be so kind to me. “I’ll fight with you, Gabi. You’re hurt, so you’ll need me.”

“They didn’t blindfold us, which means they don’t care if we see where we’re going.”

“Which means they don’t intend for us to leave,” I finish for her.

She nods. “I’m too young to die. How about you?”

I’m in complete agreement.

The van eventually stops outside a little house in Brooklyn. It’s pretty shabby and rundown. The paint is peeling, and the house itself looks like it’s sagging into the earth.

Carlo and Dante drag us inside and lock us up in one of the bedrooms. They don’t bother tying us to anything. It’s not like we’re going far with our hands bound behind our backs and our feet tied together.

Carlo leaves the room right away, but Dante remains. He completely ignores me as he goes over to Gabriella. “I can’t tell you how happy I am we captured you, too. You weren’t the plan, but you’ve become the cherry on top.” When he touches her cheek, she jerks her face away. “You’re a firecracker, aren’t you? Little Miss Mafia Princess. You’re not used to being put in your place. I just might have to do that.”

“Touch me and I’ll tear your hand right off.”

“With what?”

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