Page 37 of Vengeful Mafia Prince

Her father stands there, too surprised to react for a moment. For a beat, both of us just sit there, clearly unsure of exactly how we're supposed to react. But I'm not going to let her face whatever is out there alone. No, I'm going to go after her.

And I'm going to save her.

I leap out of the car and rush toward the woods after her, following what I can remember of her path between the trees. I hear him yelling behind me, but I pay no attention to him. There's only one thing that matters to me right now, and it's getting her out of here, alive.

And getting a chance to tell her that I love her, too.

Chapter Nineteen—Elena

Branches snatch at my hair, and I nearly trip over the gnarled root of a tree sticking out from under the earth. It's getting dark, and the light that might have filtered through the branches is beginning to fade away. I'm going to get myself lost in here, if I'm not careful.

But that seems better than facing the other option, what my father wants to do to me. What he wants to do to Giovanni, more importantly.

Kill him in front of me.

That's what he said he was going to do. He was going to kill Gio in front of me and then let me make my choice. I could either go be with him in death, or I could come back to the family with no distractions.

I don't know what I'm planning on doing, running off into the woods like this. I've convinced myself that if I'm not there, he'll have no reason to kill Gio. He'll let him walk away from this in one piece, and that's all I care about right now.

Because I love him. I do. I love him.

I can't believe I actually said those words out loud to him, but now, I can see that they're true. I love this man, and I can't stand to let anything happen to him, even if it means giving up my own safety in the process.

My breath is tearing out of my lungs, scratching up my throat, as I finally come to a halt somewhere deep inside the forest. I don't know where I am. I want to call out, but I know my father will be right behind me. I continue moving, forcing myselfonward, stumbling slightly over a couple of roots and trying to find some place I can safely rest.

After a few moments, I manage to come across a clearing. It's not much, but it's something other than the oppressive thicket of trees that has been pressed around me all this time. I sink down onto the edge of a large rock next to a clear pond and gasp for air, planting a hand on my chest, trying to still the rush of adrenaline that is still coursing around my system.

I need to get out of here. I need to find Gio and leave, but I don't see how I can, not without putting him firmly in harm's way once more. As long as he's with me, my father will make him a target. He's made that much obvious, and God knows his family has already been harmed enough by mine over the years as it is.

Even as I sit here, I can hear footsteps. I spring to my feet once more, ready to run, but a second later, Gio emerges into the clearing, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Oh God, what are you doing here?" I demand as I sink into his arms. I don't want him anywhere but by my side, and yet, I know he's risking so much just spending another moment here with me.

"Come on," he tells me. "Remember what I said? We can get out, we can start over. All of this, it's going to be behind us before you know it, and you won't have to—"

"Not if I have anything to do with it."

Both of us spin around, and in horror, I realize my father has tracked us to our hiding place. Giovanni pulls me closer against him, pressing me into his chest, and I cling to him for dear life.

My father has a gun in his hand. He's not pointing it at us—not yet, anyway—but it's clear it's only a matter of time till one or both of us end up on the wrong end of that thing.

"Please, Dad, just let us go," I beg him. "We won't cause you anymore trouble. We'll be gone before you know it. You—"

"I can't do that, Elena," he tells me, his voice eerily calm. Has he been prepared for this possibility all along, the possibility that one of his own might turn against him? And when that moment came, was he always going to be there to take the shot and take us out? How long have I been in this kind of danger, facing off against what he's willing to do to me if I don't do as he pleases?

"Has she told you yet, Giovanni?" he asks. "What I'm going to do to you unless you back the fuck off my daughter?"

"I don't care. I'm not going anywhere."

My father lets out a slight laugh, though it's mirthless. "That's sweet. But you might think better of it soon."

He raises the gun and points it at Giovanni. I cry out, trying to move in front of him, but he pushes me behind him.

"You think I can't take what you're threatening?" Gio's voice cracks as he yells the words at my father. "You think I can't handle it, after everything I've already lost? After what you did to my family, to my parents? You left me and my sister with nothing! We have nothing but each other now, and she hates me too, so—"

"Can't say I blame her," he cuts him off calmly. "After the way you've been acting, I doubt anyone would want to put their faith in you."

I grab his hand. I'm still behind him, and I'm distinctly aware of how fast the time is ticking down, how soon it's going to run out entirely. And when it does, he's going to be on the wrong end of my father's gun.

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