Page 11 of Stolen By the Enemy

He has always claimed that he is looking out for me, by keeping his family well-maintained. But I know that it’s a lie—a farce.

Carlos likes to have the upper hand. Even with his siblings, he has always tried to make it so that they are indebted to him.

But now is when I break free from my cousin’s control and begin to carve out my own path.

“Boss?” my security head, Diego, asks.

“Come in. I am expecting some unfriendly company.”

“Okay, I’ll make sure we’re ready. Is there anything specific to worry about? Should I bring some of the weapons into the main house so that we are ready?”

“Do that, but I need more boots on the property too. Can you bring in your contacts? I want ten to twelve more men.”

He’s gotten me access to extra guys before, and they’re usually trustworthy and reliable.

“Okay, I can arrange that.” He nods.

This man has been in charge of keeping my home safe and updating me about risks to my safety for ten years now, and he’s always done a stellar job.

The Baldinis might think they’re the most powerful family around, but even they won’t make it through my security.

“I also need three more men at the beach house, at least. But they have to be discreet. They can’t enter the house. Keep them in the lookout sheds, watching the house and the road. No one in, and no one out. And if someone leaks the location, I will personally cut off each of their fingers and watch as they eat them. And then I will have their family watch as I rip their skin off their body inch by inch.”

He nods and leaves the room, and I know I can trust him to get the job done.

Now that I have the security element sorted out, I take a moment to lean back in my chair and breathe.

This plan has been swimming around in my head for a few weeks, but it’s still the quickest I’ve made a move for something important, simply because Grazia presented herself to me so perfectly.

The only thing left for me to worry about now is keeping her comfortable and complacent enough not to fight too much.

I look at her again, so tiny and feisty, with a calm confidence to her.

She’s no stranger to this dangerous life, but I have no doubt that her brothers have done their best to keep her shielded from being in any danger herself.

So, I’m surprised, and maybe a little impressed, that she isn’t a ball of emotion, scared and panicking about what is about to happen to her.

Hopefully, her brothers are quick to give me what I am asking for because I would hate to have to hurt her.

However, if that’s what I need to do to get what I want, I will do it.

Chapter Four

Grazia

I have no memories of leaving the plane, and I’ve found myself alone in a strange house.

I must have slept overnight and into the next day, because it seems like it’s already nearly evening.

I’ve already spent an hour screaming, hoping someone will hear me, and my voice is now hoarse, my throat sore.

The house is small, but there are so many doors separating every room.

I try the back door handle. Locked from the outside.

I groan in frustration. I’ve already tried every other door and window in this house, and they’re all locked.

I’m smart enough to know that there’s no way Marco would put me in this house and not lock the doors properly.

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