Page 79 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession
There was blood streaming into my eyes as I fought to stay conscious. The only thing that kept me awake was Elena. I had to keep my senses about me to keep her safe.
“No matter what, Elena. Do not sleep,” I told her, fearing she might have had a concussion.
She didn’t respond. She seemed to be unconscious and I felt myself panic.
Through the shattered windshield, I watched a couple of armed men appear.
“Elena,” I reached for her with desperation. “Elena, wake up.”
I felt movement and heard her weak voice. “Gastone?”
“I'm here,” I gushed with relief, trying to fumble with her seatbelt. I had barely gotten it off when the doors were forced open and we were roughly pulled out of my car.
I tried to fight back and even managed to land a punch that caused one man to stagger back, but the next thing I knew, there was a gun against my temple.
“Stop struggling,” a voice hissed, “or we'll kill her right now.”
Elena’s eyes met mine, wide with terror. God, she looked bad. She had a huge gash on her temple, and the sight of that blood made me want to kill every one of these bastards.
But I knew what these men were capable of, and I couldn’t take them on by myself.
For her, I stopped resisting.
“It's going to be okay,” I whispered as they led us toward a waiting van. “Just do what they say.”
They bound, gagged, and blindfolded us before shoving us in. I managed to press against Elena, shoulder to shoulder, offering her whatever small comfort I could.
“Gastone, who are they?” she whispered.
“I don't know,” I murmured, though a suspicion was forming. Ricardo went missing after I had confronted him. I should have killed him then and there.
“We’re going to be okay, you hear me?” I whispered. “We are.”
“I trust you,” she whispered, and that shattered me. Because the truth was that right about then, I really didn’t know if we were getting out of there alive. But there was nothing more I could offer than comfort.
The drive felt endless. Each bump in the road sent pain shooting through my head, but I hardly felt it. Only one thought kept returning: I couldn't let them hurt Elena.
When the vehicle stopped, we were dragged out and marched forward. I could smell saltwater and oil—we were near the docks. The hood was yanked off my head, and I blinked in the harsh fluorescent lights of a warehouse.
The back of a gun cracked at the base of my neck, and immediately, I fell to the ground. Beside me, Elena, too, dropped to her knees. Our eyes met each other’s, and I saw the fear in them.
“Elena,” I said softly. “Stay strong.”
She nodded once, but I saw her trembling.
“We’re going to be okay. We’re together,” I whispered.
“How touching,” someone said from behind, and it took an instant to realize I’d been right. I turned to see Ricardo walking toward us. He went and got backup. I knew he had to have made some new friends to bring us down. But who dared stand against me?
My brain scrambled for enemies who would team up with him. But I couldn't figure out which one.
I looked around at the men holding us hostage, hoping to recognize someone, and then I saw it. Their tattoos—the mark of the Espositos' henchmen. My blood ran cold.
“You partnered with the Espositos?” I asked in shock. “You're even more of a fool than I thought. They’ll own youforever.”
Ricardo walked over and towered over me before slamming his fist into my face. I fell backward, but got myself up on my knees again, itching to wipe off the blood from my lips.
I couldn’t believe that the bastard family would stoop so low. Trying to sabotage my business was one thing, but my rivals had taken it too far. The Espositos had involved Elena.
