Page 4 of Ruthless Vengeance
“Shh!” Ben glances over his shoulder at the open door.
I snap my mouth shut as I catch the faint sound of footsteps.
Ben creeps over to the door and peers out into the dimly lit hallway.
My entire body is shaking as I brace myself for one of the men from the cabin to appear and put a bullet in my chest like they did Alio.
But when the footsteps eventually disappear, Ben turns to look at me over his shoulder.
He runs a hand over his face. “Just…do as you’re told, and you will be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”
I want to believe him, but how can I?
He might think he can protect me, but I know better.
Marco told me himself that Tommaso has put out a hit on every member of his family, which means he’s not going to stop until his hands are stained with blood. Marco’s, mine, Zoe’s.
“You really think Tommaso is just going to let me go?” Tears start to sting at my eyes. “You’re delusional if you think that.”
Ben’s jaw clenches as he looks down at me.
I stare him down, hoping that I can get through to him. “He’s going to kill me. And once he’s done, I bet he’ll even kill you too. You’ve traded one set of handcuffs for another.”
Ben’s entire posture shifts, the muscles in his back and shoulders tensing as he turns to face me.
“You don’t know shit, Clara.” His voice is low and cold. “Maybe you should keep your mouth shut before you say something you regret.”
I clench my fists, digging the nails so hard into my palms that I’m sure I’ve pierced through my skin. “I think it’s a little too late for that.”
“If you die, it’s on you.” He storms out, slamming the door shut behind him.
The lock clicks, and I exhale a shaky breath.
Regardless of what Ben says, I know better than to trust Tommaso’s words. He might only be using me as bait to lure Marco to him, but that doesn’t mean he won’t toss me aside once I’m no longer useful.
I crawl into the middle of the mattress and pull my knees to my chest as I try to think of a way out of this that doesn’t involve either Marco or me dying.
Whatever happens, Zoe can’t lose both of her parents.
But it seems our fate is being held in my brother’s hands.
Tears slide down my cheeks as I look around my dark cell, realizing that there is a high chance that I won’t be getting out of here alive.
Chapter Two
MARCO
I managed to escape,please come get me.
Clara’s voice plays over and over in my head as I grip my phone so hard my knuckles ache.
Something about this doesn’t feel right. Tommaso doesn’t make mistakes. His men are too well-trained, too ruthless, to let Clara slip through their fingers like this.
There’s no way this isn’t a trap.
I fight the urge to launch my phone at the wall of Andre’s study.
The moment I got the call, I drove straight back to Westchester in the hopes that Andre would be able to think of a plan because I’m in no fit mind to think straight.
