Page 9 of Beautiful Enemy

“Cold?”

I blink at him in confusion.

“You’re shivering.”

“She’s probably afraid,” Matteo says. “You did just kidnap her.”

Dante smirks like the whole thing is funny. “Oh yeah. But if you’re cold, just tell me. I can give you my jacket.”

I somehow doubt he’s offering me his jacket out of the kindness of his heart.

“Do you speak?”

I duck my chin. I can’t say a word to Dante, even if I wanted to. The less he can use against me, the better. If I give him nothing then maybe he’ll just leave me alone.

I know it’s naïve. Anya would tell me in this moment to stop being so naïve and to fight and to escape. If I had tried harder to fight against Dante, maybe I could have made it back into the chapel. Maybe Erik could have killed Dante then. Or Viktor. Or even my father. Just someone to save me.

But I would have had to save myself first and I always seem incapable of that.

“Shy?” Dante asks. “That’s fine. I don’t normally go for shy girls but I can make an exception for you.”

Matteo stops the car suddenly. “We’re here.”

“About fucking time.” Dante opens the back door and pulls me out of the car with him.

I see another car parked on the side of the road, hidden in some bushes.

“We’re changing cars,” he explains.

I look down the road. If I could just run, maybe I could get help. I need to try. If only my legs would unclamp and move.Please work, I beg of my body.

But it only remains frozen.

Dante walks me over to the new car. It’s a simple white that looks like any other white car, which means it will blend in with everyone else and my chances of escaping will go down. He gently nudges me inside. I’m surprised he’s not being more rough with me. Men like him are always rough.

Once Dante gets in the back with me and Matteo gets behind the wheel, we’re off, leaving the van behind us. Leaving the chapel behind us.

Leaving my family behind us.

I let out a sudden gasp and bend forward, sticking my head between my legs.

“Find anything interesting down there?” Dante mocks.

I grip my head tighter. If I just ignore him, all of this will disappear. I’ll awake from a dream. I’ll be safe in my bed.

Please, please, please.

When I open my eyes, all I see is the floor of the car beneath my feet. When I glance to my side, all I see is Dante, smirking down at me.

I gasp again, squeezing my eyes shut as a few tears fall down my face.

“You’re truly afraid, aren’t you?” he murmurs.

If I were Anya, I’d probably snap back and say, ‘no shit.’ But I’m not my sister. I don’t have her wit. I don’t have her bravery. If she were in this position, she’d be telling Dante off. She’d make him wish he never kidnaped her in the first place.

But as always, I am not my sister.

“Panicking won’t do you any good. What’s happening is real. You’re being kidnapped.”

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