Page 105 of Wicked Rivals

I pointed at Enzo.

“No, you’ll take care of my son first.”

“Sir, I need to assess the damage, so we don’t?—”

“Him. First,” I snarled.

Then I turned away from the fussing doctor, moved my gaze around until I found Bruce standing in the doorway.

“You were in charge while we were gone, correct?”

“Yes, sir,” he said, his gaze dropping.

“The only way you survive the next twenty-four hours is if we get her back,” I said. “Do you understand me?”

His face paled, and he bobbed his fucking head.

“Yes, sir. I understand. I’m sorry I failed you.”

His voice carried the slightest quiver.

Good. He should be afraid.

“I don’t give a fuck if you’re sorry. Valerie is the only thing that matters.”

Bruce nodded again as he approached me.

“This came for you by courier. Ten minutes ago,” he said.

Then he handed me another goddamn yellow envelope.

CHAPTER 22

VAL

I didn’t know where my kidnapper had taken me.

When I woke, I couldn’t see through the darkness, and there wasn't much room to move. It took me a minute to realize he’d put me in a confined space on scratchy carpet.

The small space moved, and I bounced along with it.

Oh my god. He’d locked me in the goddamn trunk of a car.

My head throbbed. Tears stung the backs of my eyelids, and a lump grew larger and larger in my throat.

I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream. Vomit. But I didn’t.

No, instead I sucked in the musty air through my nose and exhaled from my mouth, repeating until my nausea and most of the panic subsided. I couldn’t let anxiety take me down while my life was in danger.

I had to conserve my energy. To clear my head and focus.

When an opportunity to strike out against my attacker presented itself, I needed to be ready. I couldn’t be if I were a panicking, blubbering mess.

The asshole who took me hadn’t tied up my wrists or my ankles or bothered to gag me. He had either underestimated me or was in an incredibly big hurry. Either way, it worked to my advantage if I played my cards right.

If he’d had to rush, maybe someone else came along and saw him, or maybe he realized Stefano wouldn’t waste any time coming after me and Enzo.

My baby.

---