Page 13 of Stolen By the Enemy

Luca is going to be pissed about this, since it’s likely going to mess with his honeymoon.

I giggle internally, wondering if they had planned to come to Mexico for their honeymoon—that would be convenient.

But then I think about Luca and how he might wonder if I did this on purpose, to ruin his wedding.

That doesn’t make me feel any better about this.

I wasn’t happy that Luca decided to marry my best friend, or that she’s now pregnant, but he’s still my brother, and I love him, even when he’s being an asshole.

And if they’re having a baby, I’m not going to miss out on my chance to be the best damn aunt that baby could ever have.

I try all of the windows again. They seem to be locked by a mechanism that I can’t even see.

I think about trying to break them, but the glass seems much thicker than that of normal windows. I can see the ocean from the side windows, though, and it’s making me feel more claustrophobic than ever.

This house is too small, nowhere near the size I’m used to. And there’s no yard or outdoor space that I can escape into.

I feel like I’ve walked through each room over a hundred times and could probably draw them in full detail just from memory now.

Suddenly I think about the roof—maybe I can get out that way. I search the ceiling for some kind of trap door, or a door leading to an attic-type room.

As I scan the living room, a flashing light catches my eye. I walk up to it and realize it’s a camera.

So he’s been watching me all day?

This is why he doesn’t need to be here. He can sit safely away from where he’s dumped me and still see my every move.

I run into the dining room and look up—there’s another two cameras in here. The kitchen has three.

The bedroom’s camera only overlooks the door, at least. Then a thought hits me hard, and I rush into the bathroom, knowing I’ve already gotten completely naked in here.

I sigh with relief when I don’t see a camera in there. The thought of Marco watching me on the toilet makes me more embarrassed than pissed off, somehow.

I wonder where Marco is. He’s not in the house, but he’s watching me.

Perhaps at Carlos’ place? Would Carlos allow him to keep me here and not intervene?

Luca always said that he trusts Carlos and his men, or at least as much as you can trust the Mexican cartel that you’re selling drugs with.

Sometimes, though, I know my brother can be wrong about people and their intentions.

I look back up at the camera in the living room. There’s a light blinking on the top of the camera, which tells me that it’s definitely on.

Okay, if he’s watching me, I’m going to tell him exactly what I think about him right now.

“Hey!” I scream into the camera, not sure if the audio is even on, but at least he’ll see my angry face.

“You keeping a close eye on your prisoner? Do you think that this is how you’re going to get what you want? Locking me up in this house and hoping my brothers care enough to come and save me? And then what? What are you going to do with us?”

I stop screaming to breathe, half expecting him to come rushing in through the door.

I didn’t see any other houses nearby when I looked out of the windows, and I’m sure he’s smart enough to make this house as soundproof as he can, but having a screaming girl in his home surely can’t be good.

No one comes through the door, though, so I turn back to the camera.

“You’re a disgusting motherfucker, Marco! I was only willing to fuck you because I was drunk! And you’re just pissed off because my brothers have more money than you do! If you don’t let me out of this house, I will help my brothers make your life a fucking misery! You’ll wish you’d never even heard of the Baldinis before. We’re not a family you want to mess with, trust me.”

I hear my own voice crack and swallow down the threat of tears.

---