Page 15 of Saving Mr. Norcross
“Fuck,” Rhys muttered. “I have a headache from hell.” The chains rattled a little. “Did someone stun us?” His tone was incredulous.
Vander’s jaw tightened. Whoever had done this had made a terrible mistake.
He tested the chains for any give. They were tight and bit into his wrists. “Someone stunned us then abducted us.”
“Who? Maybe this Poletti has friends?”
Vander shook his head. “Friends that could mobilize so fast? No one even knew he was gone.” And as far as Vander knew, he had no enemies on Sicily. That he knew about. Then a thought coalesced in his head.Shit. “We need to get out of here.”
How long had it been since they’d been snatched? He’d been unconscious, so he couldn’t be sure. They’d been moved. Probably a few hours, at least.
Hell.
“What?” Rhys shifted, the chains clanking again. “Do you know who’s behind this?” He flexed and curled his legs up, testing the bindings.
“No. But I do know one thing.” Vander’s heart kicked in his chest. “My wife will come looking for us.” Fear was oily and slick in his throat. “I don’t know where this is, but I don’t want her anywhere near here.”
Rhys made a sound. “Your wife is smart, and an excellent detective, and good with a gun. We could use her help.”
“No.” The sharp word echoed off the bare walls.
Rhys frowned. “Vander, she could?—”
“She’s pregnant.”
Silence filled the room.
Rhys blinked. “Okay, shit. Thrilled for you, too, but shit. Your pregnant wife is totally going to come looking for you.”
“She just healed up from the knife attack, she’s pregnant, it’s early but…” Vander blew out a sharp breath. “I’m losing my damn mind worrying about her.”
“Okay, okay. Look, we get out of here, and we teach whoever’s in charge a lesson, then get back to our wives. Easy.”
“Right.” Vander tried the chains again. “Except these chains won’t budge.”
His brother scoffed. “We’ve been in worse positions. Remember that cell in Bahri?”
“I try not to remember that.”
“Right. Those rats were as big as puppies, and the damn chains were so tight they nearly cut my hands off. But we got out.”
Vander started checking for any weakness in the links. With the right leverage, he might be able to break it.
Suddenly, he heard the echo of heavy footsteps and voices outside the room.
Shit. Company.
Rhys sagged and closed his eyes.
Vander relaxed and kept his focus on the door.
It swung open and two thugs in suits entered. One was short but wide, all muscle and no neck, with a bald head. The other had slicked-back, thinning, black hair and was taller.
They look like they ate barbed wire for fun. Another man followed them in. He was older, with silver hair and an impeccably tailored gray suit. Two more guards stood outside, flanking the doorway.
Vander took in the older guy. He was clearly the boss, and clearly mafia. He had to be Luciano Navarro.
The man’s dark gaze swept over Vander and he grunted. “So you’re the one causing my nephew grief.” He spoke in perfect, accented English.
