Page 47 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

“He hit two of our warehouses, burned them to the ground. Ratted out the card game to the cops. Now he wants to meet. He’s sending his consigliere to meet with us.”

“Peter? Didn’t you go to school with him?”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Where’s the meet?”

“He’s at the derelict science museum now. Says you need to come alone and be there in the next hour or he walks.”

Lucas is quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on Jake, his expression unreadable. But I can feel the tension radiating off him, the way his mind is already working, calculating the risks, the potential outcomes.

“Fine” he finally says, his voice cold, detached, as if this is just another business transaction. “Let’s get this over with.”

My heart sinks. I don’t know much about Lucas’s world, but I know enough to understand that nothing good ever happens in a derelict building. The thought of him walking into a potential trap, of facing off against a man like Albrecht, fills me with a dread so intense it’s hard to breathe.

“Lucas, no,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. I don’t care if it makes me look weak, if it shows just how scared I am. The thought of losing him, of him getting hurt—or worse—because of this feud, is more than I can bear.

He turns to me, his expression softening, but there’s a stubborn set to his jaw, a determination in his eyes that tells me he’s already made up his mind. “Emily, this is something I have to do,” he says, his voice gentle, but firm. “Albrecht’s not going to stop until we settle this. I can’t let him think he has the upper hand.”

“But what if it’s a trap?” I argue, my voice trembling with fear. “What if he’s just waiting for you to show up so he can?—”

“What do you think, Jake?” Lucas asks.

“Peter’s always been honorable but Albrecht might try something, I guess.”

“He won’t,” Lucas interrupts, his tone confident, unyielding. “And even if he did, I’d be ready.”

I want to believe him, want to trust that he knows what he’s doing, but the fear won’t go away. I’ve seen what Albrecht’s capable of, the lengths he’ll go to get what he wants. And the thought of Lucas walking into that building, surrounded by enemies, makes my blood run cold.

“Please, Lucas,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Be careful. I can’t lose you.”

His expression softens, and he reaches out, cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the tears I didn’t even realize I’d shed. “I know,” he says quietly, his voice filled with a tenderness that takes my breath away. “I’ll be careful, I promise. But this is something I have to do.”

I nod, even though every instinct is screaming at me to beg him to stay, to find another way. But I know him well enough to understand that once he’s made up his mind, there’s no changing it. He’s going to meet Albrecht’s consigliere, and all I can do is hope that he comes back to me in one piece.

Jake clears his throat, breaking the moment between us. “Boss, we need to finalize the details.”

Lucas nods, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turns back to Jake. “Go ahead,” he says, his voice back to that calm, commanding tone I’ve come to know so well.

As they start discussing the logistics, the tension in the room thickens, the reality of what’s about to happen sinking in. I stand there, feeling helpless, my heart pounding in my chest as I listen to them talk about contingencies, backup plans, all the things that could go wrong.

The discussion between Lucas and Jake feels like it goes on forever, each word pulling me deeper into the pit of anxiety that’s been growing in my chest since Jake mentioned Albrecht.

I try to stay calm, to keep my fear from showing, but it’s impossible. The more they talk, the more real this becomes, and I can’t shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.

Eventually, Jake leaves, his footsteps echoing in the hallway as the door closes behind him. The penthouse falls into a heavy silence, broken only by the soft hum of the city outside.

Lucas stands there for a moment, his back to me, his shoulders tense, as if he’s carrying the weight of the world on them. And maybe he is.

I want to reach out to him, to hold him, to beg him not to go. But I know I can’t. He’s made up his mind, and nothing I say will change that. The man I love is also the man who has to face Albrecht, who has to protect everything he’s built, even if it means putting himself in danger.

Finally, he turns to me, his expression softened but still guarded, as if he’s trying to protect me from the reality of what’s coming. “Emily,” he says, his voice low, almost tender. “I need you to trust me.”

The words hit me harder than I expected, and I feel a lump rise in my throat. “I do trust you,” I reply, my voice trembling with the effort it takes to hold back my emotions. “But I’m scared, Lucas. I’m so scared.”

He crosses the room in a few quick strides, pulling me into his arms, holding me close. His embrace is strong, reassuring, but it doesn’t chase away the fear that’s settled deep in my bones.

“I know,” he murmurs against my hair, his voice a rough whisper. “But I promise you, I’m going to come back to you. I’m not going to let anything happen to us.”

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