Page 38 of Stolen By the Enemy

I rub my temples, trying to shake off the exhaustion that's settling in.

The room is quiet, and all I can think about is the slow progress with the Baldini brothers on the deal.

It's getting on my nerves. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees, taking a moment to collect my thoughts.

The untouched glass of alcohol on the table catches my eye, but I resist the urge for a drink.

The time ticks away. Each second passing feels like a reminder of this chance slipping away.

Frustration builds in me as I ponder my next move in this waiting game.

With a heavy sigh, I try to clear my mind, but the weariness lingers.

The room stays quiet, and I can't shake the feeling that I’m running out of time.

At first, I wonder if I should go back to my house.

But I’m too exhausted and hungover to drive. Maybe the idea of having a driver actually does make sense, in cases like this, at least.

Instead, I leave Grazia to cry and I go to the living room, glad that I thought to add a sleeper couch in this room.

I pull it out and lie down, calmer at the thought that Grazia is tied up and cannot try any more of her sneaky little plans on me.

***

I wake up with a start, but this time I know I’m meant to be on this sleeper couch.

I’ve had odd dreams, and it takes me a while to focus my attention on what woke me up.

The room is quiet, and I can’t hear Grazia.

The beach house has a relaxing feel to it. I should sleep here more often.

I pick up my phone to check the time and see that I have a text message.

>> Marco, if you hurt her, we will make sure you experience ten times the pain. We are busy making arrangements, and we have asked you to be a little more patient with us. You took us by surprise, you cannot expect us to arrange these things so quickly.

It’s from the Baldinis. Good.

They got the message, and they’re scared, otherwise they would never have replied.

I am not worried about their threats, but I don’t bother to reply to them.

All I want is for this whole thing to speed up.

I’ve never been a very patient man.

Having Grazia to play with has made it easier to wait for them, but it’s getting too dangerous now.

I need her to be out of this house, and for this deal to finally make it past the talking stage.

And fuck them for telling me what I can and cannot expect.

The whole point is that this is what I do expect from them, and in return, I will not hurt or kill their sister.

I thought my terms were quite clear, and yet they seem to have a whole different idea of what we are doing here.

They are the ones who should be rushing to make sure that this doesn’t go badly. I have nothing to lose in this situation.

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