Page 84 of My Best Friend's Dad

The last thing I heard before everything went black was the sound of the car engine roaring to life.

I woke up with a splitting headache, my vision blurry, and my body aching all over. My hands were tied behind my back, andmy feet were bound to the legs of a chair. The air was cold and musty, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim light.

As my vision cleared, I saw a man sitting in front of me, casually leaning back in his chair with an air of sinister intent.

He didn’t have to introduce himself. I already knew who he was.

It was Carlo Ricci.

I had never seen his face, but there was no mistaking the ruthless gleam in his eyes and the cold, calculating expression on his face. This man was dangerous even to a man like Vincenzo and now he had me.

I swallowed hard and tried to size him up.

Ricci was a tall man with dark hair slicked back, his features sharp and angular. He wore an expensive suit that seemed out of place in the grimy surroundings of the room he held me captive in. His dark eyes watched me intently, a predatory smile playing on his lips.

“Well, well,” Ricci said, his voice smooth and mocking. “Look who decided to join us. Feeling a bit under the weather, are we?”

I glared at him, trying to mask my fear with defiance. He couldn’t know I was terrified. I had to be strong, if not for me, for Vincenzo.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I grimaced, deciding to play dumb.

Ricci chuckled, shaking his head.

“We’re going to have a chat. I know exactly who you are, Jenna, so we can skip the whole ‘who are you’ and ‘what do you want’part.” He leaned forward, his smile widening. “Now, let’s get to the point. What’s your involvement with Vincenzo?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m no one important. He’s just my neighbor. I hardly even know him.”

Ricci’s smile turned cold, and he pulled out his phone, dialing a number.

“You see, Jenna, I don’t believe you. Let’s see if Vincenzo feels the same way.”

He put the phone to his ear, his cold gaze never leaving mine.

I held my breath as he waited for the call to connect. When he finally spoke, his tone was dripping with amusement. “Vincenzo, I have something you might be interested in. Or rather, someone.” He paused for a moment, staring at me with a wicked grin, and then said, “Jenna Michaels.”

I couldn’t hear Vincenzo’s response, but Ricci’s smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

“Ah, I see. So, she does mean something to you.” He looked at me, his smile turning into a smirk. “You really should have been more honest with me, Jenna.”

My heart sank as I realized the jig was up. Ricci now knew that I was someone important to Vincenzo, and that put me in even greater danger. I opened my mouth to say something, but Ricci shook his head.

“I’d like to see you try,” he snarled into the phone.

Without another word, Ricci ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket, his dangerous gaze never wavering from mine.

“You see, Jenna, it’s always better to tell the truth. But now that I know how valuable you are, we can have a more…productiveconversation.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “What do you want from me?”

“It’s simple,” Ricci said, leaning back in his chair. “I want to know everything you know about Vincenzo’s plans. And if you don’t cooperate, well, let’s just say there are many ways that I can employ to make you talk.”

I felt a surge of fear, but I knew I had to stay strong. I couldn’t give Ricci what he wanted, no matter the cost.

I just hoped that Vincenzo would find me before it was too late.

CHAPTER 21

Vincenzo

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