Page 91 of Twisted Games of Revenge

Nothing.

But I know there has got to be some asshole right out there guarding us. There must be. So I knock again. “Help, please, help me, the other girl in here is having some sort of fit, she looksreally sick. I don’t know what to do,” I wail in a panic, trying to sound as dramatic as I can be.

A low, indistinct mumbling of voices drifts from the other side of the door, hinting at a hushed conversation. Two voices, at least, are talking, but their words are lost behind the door. In a rush, the door swings open, revealing two suited guards.

Dani smashes the heavy metal lamp over the first dude’s head, the one holding the door open.

In one swift motion, I reach for his gun and pivot, aiming it at the second guy. One of Enzo’s goons, I recognize him from last night. Without missing a step, I quickly shoot him before he can even comprehend the situation he’s now facing. He’s slammed backward into the wall, a bloody mess, the sickening thud echoing in the room and up the hallway outside.

“Get his gun and drop that fucking lamp,” I call to Dani.

She does as I say, and the two of us take off up the long corridor, ducking into an alcove to catch our breath while we wait to see what damage all the commotion we just caused has created. I glance around the side, looking for a way out. “There has to be an emergency exit around here someplace,” I whisper to her.

“Lana, you’re bleeding.” She takes the silky fabric of my dress, showing me the back.

My heart sinks, and I suck in a sharp breath. I can’t let my head go there. If I do, I will lose all will to fight. The baby has to be okay; I have to just keep praying it is. “It’s okay, don’t worry about me.” I force a smile, its edges tight and unnatural while I utter the words, hoping I can hide my pain. One of us has to stay strong. If we both fall apart, we’re truly fucked.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I heard Enzo say something to Marco about it when they were locking us up in here.”

“What? How would he even...” I clutch my stomach as another horrendous cramp cripples me.

“Harley, you need medical help,” she whispers, panicked.

I take her hand and move slowly down the corridor, gun drawn. “I’m fine, Dani, we just need to get you out of here.”

“Us. We have to get you out of here.” She looks back at me as if I’m crazy.

There at the end of the long hall I spot an emergency exit, and a small burst of hope takes off in my body. “Dani, there,” I tell her, and we run for the neon green sign.

“Not so fast, you little slut.” From behind us I hear Valentina’s cruel voice. I glance over my shoulder to see her approaching with two men in dark suits.

For fuck’s sake, her timing is impeccable.

I pull Dani’s arm, shoving her in front of me while I protect her with the gun in my hands. She pushes open the heavy door, the cool evening air whooshing over my clammy skin as she rushes to safety. I shoot in their direction, not caring which one of them I hit. A muffled cry fills my ears, but I can’t see past the dude coming right at me. His hand comes around my waist, and I’m hauled off the ground. I cry out, a guttural sound flying from my throat as agony tears through me.

Dani looks back over her shoulder, realizing I’m not right behind her. “Harley, no,” she screams.

“Let the other girl go, I don’t need her,” Valentina calls to her remaining goon.

But I’m not taking any chances, it’s my fault Dani was caught up in this mess. With all my might, I rear my foot up backwards, kicking the asshole in the junk. He lessens his grip on me, and I stumble forward. “Fucking run, Dani,” I tell her. “Get the boys.”

My hands grab at the handle of the door, and I pull it closed, knowing she won’t be able to open it from the outside. She’s safe. They won’t go after her if they have me. I already know it. And I’m not done here. I raise my gun, ready to shoot Valentina and her goon, just as a new dude appears, yanking me by my hair andforcing me into the hard brick wall, knocking the gun from my grip. Fuck.

“Got you.” He laughs, cruelly. “Enzo will be pleased.” He smirks at Valentina, all sorts of deranged, like he’s expecting her to pat him on the head and tell him what a good boy he is for capturing me.

Valentina comes to stand in front of me, her smile cruel and twisted. “You will make a pretty penny for us tonight, Harley Havardi. You thought you could fool us and marry into our family, but no one makes a fool of Enzo Moretti and gets away with it.”

I lash out, doing my best to fight off the asshole digging his fingers into my skin, but pain radiates through my body in a way I have never felt before. Nausea followed by a terrible cramping. I’m suddenly so weak.

“Not even your beloved boys will save you now. They are quite preoccupied down at their club, you see. Too busy putting out fires to be concerned with you.” Her cackle fills the air, sending a fresh wave of fear coming over me.

“What did you do?”

She grins back at me then reaches out to run a finger down my cheek. “Don’t mess up her face. She still needs to look pretty for the man who buys her,” Valentia says, running her eyes over me in disgust. And my brother’s words come back to me; he said something similar to his goons. It was his intention to sell me all along. “Such a shame too, you look so much like her, I could have gotten used to having you around.” Her eyes are sadder now, she looks lost for a spilt second.

“You loved her.”

She blinks back at me. “You can’t afford to love in this world, honey. My son will learn that lesson the hard way, just like I did.”

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