“You don’t owe us anything, Stef. I guess Darya was right. She said you never had family like we had when you were growing up and you don’t know how it works. Well, let me tell you how it works. We are here for you, for anything, any time. The same way that when we call, we know that you will be there for us. You have a support system now, Stef.”
I swallow hard, fighting the emotions that are coursing through me.
“Thank you,” I say through clenched teeth, because I don’t want to let him know how affected I am by his reassurance.
“No need, man. This is what brothers do for each other, okay? Just call us.”
I nod, pressing my foot harder against the accelerator to keep up with Paval, who is leading the convoy.
Chapter 26 - Darya
The car comes to a stop on some gravel which crunches beneath the tires. I roll onto my back in the dark space, ready to kick someone in the face as soon as they open the boot of the car.
I hear voices and don’t recognize any of them.
Counting my breaths to try and calm myself down, I wait with an edge of anticipation and fear.
Finally, the trunk opens, and an intensely bright light shines directly into my face, blinding me. I can’t see anything other than the white ball of light.
“Before you even think about running or causing shit, just know that there are about six guns pointed right at you now.”
I sigh, biting the inside of my cheek and blinking as I hold my hand up in front of my eyes to protect them from the blinding beam.
Rough hands grab my arms and yank me out of the trunk, letting me fall hard onto the gravel. Again the air is knocked out of me.
I cry out as the gravel bites into my knees and the palms of my hands.
“Stand up. We don’t have time for this.” Someone grabs a handful of my hair and drags me to my feet.
I bite down the words of anger that want to fly from my mouth, because I don’t know where I am yet. I have to try and stay calm. Knowledge is power, and right now I have none.
When we enter the warehouse, I know two things.
I know that this is not Marco Colombo’s warehouse. And I know that this warehouse is not linked to my family in any way.
This is not one of our rivals, and not someone we have done business with.
I have no idea where I am. I don’t know if that is worse or better than at least recognizing the place.
They lead me inside and shove me into a chair.
My hands and feet are tied to the chair and two armed men are set to stand behind me, their guns aimed right at me.
I bite my lip again.
Where the fuck am I? What is going on? Is this something to do with my family, or with Stefano?
I peer around the warehouse looking for anything that might give me a clue.
Then I spot him.
One of the guys who abducted me pulls his black mask off his face and I recognize him right away.
He knows Reina.
I saw them working together in Stef’s warehouse and I saw them laughing together at the camp out we had.
If he is here, maybe Reina is somehow behind all of this.