Page 88 of Beautifully Broken
Daddy and Nonno move like lightning. Daddy tackles the man with the rope, pinning him to the ground with a strength I rarely see from my gentle partner. Nonno grabs a lamp, smashing it over the second man’s head, sending him sprawling. That I expect from him; he’s always been tougher than he looks.
We got lucky. These men had no reason to think they were so close to discovery. Compared with others, they are sloppy.
I rush to Lena, dropping to my knees, my hands shaking as I untie her wrists.
“It’s okay, Lena,” I whisper, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I’m Sasha. We’re here to get you out.”
Her blue eyes, wide with terror, meet mine. “They… They were going to sell me,” she chokes out, tears streaming down her face.
Yeah. I remember what that was like, too. Or in my case, rent me.
“Not anymore,” I say fiercely, helping her up. “Can you walk?”
She nods, clutching my arm. Daddy and Nonno have the two men subdued, using belts and cords to tie their hands.
Uncle Tony bursts in, breathless. “Front’s clear, but we need to move. These jagoffs might have friends.”
“Call the police,” I tell him, supporting Lena as we head for the door. “Tell them we’ve got her, and the kidnappers are here.”
Uncle Tony pulls out his phone, dialing as we hurry back to the SUV.
Lena’s shaking, but she’s alive, leaning against me as we pile into the car. Daddy drives, peeling away just as distant sirens wail, growing closer.
“Lena, you’re safe now,” I say, holding her hand. “Your dad’s waiting for you. We’re taking you back to him.”
“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice breaking. “I thought no one would come.”
“Someone always comes,” I say, the words catching in my throat. I think of Tessa, of how I wish someone had come for her, and I squeeze Lena’s hand tighter. “We did.”
The police meet us a mile down the road, lights flashing. We pull over, and I help Lena out, staying with her as she clings to me. Officers swarm the villa, and within minutes, they’ve got the three men in cuffs, hard-faced, snarling, but powerless now.
Mr. Hoffman arrives, running from a police car, his face crumpling with relief as he pulls Lena into his arms.
“Lena, mein Schatz!” he sobs, holding her tight. “I thought I lost you.”
“Papa,” she cries, burying her face in his shoulder.
He looks at us, tears streaming down his face. “You found her. You brought my girl back. How can I ever thank you?”
“You don’t need to,” I say, my voice thick. “Just take care of her. Love her. Keep her safe.”
I don’t know what else they might have done to her; I doubt the rest of her life will be any easier than mine has been.
We step back, giving them space, as the police take our statements. The kidnappers, they tell us, are part of a small trafficking ring, preying on solo travelers at the airport. They’d targeted Lena, lured her to the van with a fake story about a shuttle, and planned to move her off the island by boat that night. We’d gotten there just in time.
As the police wrap up, we climb back into the SUV, exhausted but wired. Daddy drives us to the villa, the silence heavy but not uncomfortable. I lean against his shoulder, Uncle Tony’s arm draped over the back of my seat, Nonno’s hand resting on my knee.
“You were incredible, Sasha,” Daddy says quietly, glancing at me. “Brave, smart, determined. You saved her.”
“We saved her,” I correct, looking at each of them. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You trusted me, followed me into danger, and we did this together.”
“Damn right we did,” Uncle Tony says, a tired grin spreading across his face. “Team Santini for the win.”
Nonno chuckles, his green eyes warm. “I’d say we make a decent rescue squad, though I hope this isn’t a regular vacation activity. I’m getting tired of finding these situations on my doorstep every so often.”
I laugh, the sound surprising me. “No promises. But for now, I think I’m ready for that pool and some wine. And food.”
“Music to my ears,” Daddy says, pulling into the villa’s drive.
