Page 76 of Sworn to My Heart
“Oh, now you’re asking the relevant question. I want you to work for me,” he says directly, not beating around the bush, seeming to think he has a trump card up his sleeve.
“You clearly chose the wrong career, you should have been a comedian,” I reply sarcastically, not letting go of my grip.
“Apparently I haven’t left you alone in here long enough if you haven’t lost your rich sense of humor yet,” he responds arrogantly. “You will work for me because you know that if you don’t, you’ll stay stuck in this cell, and we’ll hunt down your beloved Italians one by one. Every day I’ll have your nice little robot friend bring you an organ of one of the Italians we’ve killed with your lunch,” he threatens, and I can’t understand how this bastard still thinks he has the upper hand.
I close my hand into a tight fist, and Stas struggles to breathe. “I’ll l...eave,” he tries to say without air, and I release his breath for a moment, letting him finish his sentence.
“I’ll leave your Italians and their businesses alone, at least for now, if you work for me.” He finishes and coughs a little, it seems the lack of oxygen in this building has affected his brain cells too, or maybe I hit his head too hard.
I raise my lips into a half-smile. “And how exactly will you know that once I get out of here, I won’t kill you and all your soldiers? You don’t plan for me to work for you while drugged, right?” I ask in a mocking tone, deliberately provoking him. I need to find a way out of these bars to deal with the Russians properly.
“I’m at least glad you’re not stupid,” he says confidently. “Reachinto my suit jacket—you’ll find a gift,” he teases arrogantly. I pull his body away from the bars enough to access the inner pocket of his jacket, taking out a black collar.
“This will be around your neck. If you disobey me, with the push of a button, you’ll get a strong electric shock that, if sustained long enough, could kill you,” he explains, a victorious smile spreading across his face.
Stas has planned everything down to the last detail, thinking I’m a dog that will roll over and obey his command. My blood boils, but I can’t show him it’s affecting me. I need to think clearly; maybe this will be my only way out of this cell.
“How do I know you won’t touch the Italians?” I ask, releasing his body and holding the collar he gave me, considering his offer.
“Sweetheart, I think I’ve made it clear that I’m a man of my word,” he stands in place, straightening his suit.
This is currently my only choice to get out of here. I can find a solution along the way and meanwhile keep Luca and Cora safe. I’ll have to make a deal with the devil for now.
“Okay,” I agree. The victorious smile stretches across his lips again, and he points at the collar.
“I won’t open the bars until you put the collar on.” I roll my eyes at the piece of crap he is. He just keeps getting on my nerves. I know I can overpower him in a second if I want to, but it doesn’t seem like he has anything else on him or any keys. He had nothing in his pockets. If there’s no remote control, it means someone is watching us from afar.
How are they communicating?
I’ll sort everything out once I’m out of here, so I can get my revenge. I bring the collar to my neck hesitantly when suddenly I hear a loud gunshot in the background.
“What’s going on?” I shout angrily at Stas, dropping the collar on the floor and moving toward the bars. Judging by hisexpression, he’s just as surprised as I am, and in a split second, he turns and starts running.
No, no, no, I’m not getting stuck here again. I pull Stas back forcefully until his body slams against the bars again. This time, his back hits the bars, and judging by the sound of the impact, it seems he’ll suffer from a few broken bones when he gets out of here. If he gets out.
“I won’t ask again, what is that noise?” I ask in a slow, threatening tone, starting to crush his neck again.
“It’s not us,” he manages to choke out, and I release my grip a little.
Someone is attacking them, the realization hits me.Luca, what are you doing?
I immediately shrink in my place, fear for his safety surging in my chest, but I can’t hide my happiness. He came back for me. I’m still holding Stas close to the bars, certain that someone is watching us. I look for cameras but see nothing. I scan Stas again and suddenly notice a small transparent earpiece in his ear. I immediately pull it out and speak into it threateningly.
“If you don’t open the bars now, I will cut Stas here limb by limb. How long do you think it will take for the other families to realize your boss is out of the game?” I slam Stas’s head against the bars, letting them hear his groan of pain.
Nothing happens for a long minute, and I wonder if this is what they actually want, but suddenly I hear the hum of the lock opening. The bars are unlocked.I did it!
I hurl Stas against the concrete wall with all my strength, blood trickling from the back of his head, staining the concrete. I don’t have time to check if he’s still alive—I need to help Luca.
I stomp on the earpiece, breaking it into pieces, and start running toward the sound of gunfire coming from the other end of the long corridor, echoing throughout. I reach the end of thecorridor and see a large, heavy steel door to my right.
With a strong push, it swings open, and three men turn to me instantly. I react quickly, and before they can aim their weapons, I throw all three of them against the walls with a single powerful blow. I’m a monster today, and I’ll need to stay a monster to survive and get back to Luca’s arms.
I keep running, knocking down more men along the way through the long, old building until my eyes land on another large steel door. This must be the exit, I’m sure. It’s locked with a keypad and fingerprint scanner.
How the hell do I get out of here?!I look around—concrete walls, unconscious men—I’m running out of time.
I have to signal Luca that I’m here. Searching desperately, I find nothing among the soldiers’ belongings—just earpieces. This place must be one of their secure facilities. Stas really went all out to bring me here.Fool. I can’t afford to lose focus on forming an escape plan, not with the mold’s pungent smell growing stronger, making me dizzy. I lean against a concrete wall, trying to brainstorm before they regroup or, worse, harm Luca before I find them.
