Claimed by the Enforcer: A Venturi Mafia Spin-off novel, page 13
“We’ve got to get out of here.”
“No shit,” Giulietta snapped at me from two cells down. “He’s coming back to get me in the morning but how do you suggest we get away tonight when we haven’t been able to the whole time?”
“I don’t know but there’s no telling where he’s going to take you once you leave here. You could be in a worse situation than this, and I can’t go through another line-up like that, knowing that next time it could be me.”
“What could be worse than being locked in a cage in a dank basement with a bunch of men who want to sell you?” Alessia asked.
“Off the top of my head? Being in the bed of whatever man was sick enough to actually buy you.”
Her face blanched. “How do you suggest we get out?”
“I don’t know but I do know that this is one of the very rare moments that we are left alone. They are all excited about the sale, so they aren’t thinking about us escaping. If we don’t take this chance, we may not get another one.” I hesitated, looking around my cell. “I just wish...this stupid lock...”
I angrily yanked on the lock with all my strength. It popped open the first time, but I pretended to try a couple more so that it didn’t seem so easy. I stopped suddenly and pulled my hands away from the lock as if it had shocked me.
“It opened,” I gasped.
“What? Are you serious?” Giulietta asked in disbelief.
“Yeah, it just popped open.”
“How’d you do that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it was just old and broken or maybe it jammed when he closed it, so it didn’t fully latch. Either way, it’s open.” I scrambled to remove the lock and quickly opened the cell door before scurrying out. “There’s a high window in the room where I train, almost level with the ground. We should be able to get out there and run.”
Giulietta tugged furiously on her own lock, switching to the door in frustration. “Well, that’s great for you. Now, get me the hell out of here.”
“Shhh, if you make too much noise they will come check on us. I remember seeing an extra set of keys in the room where that bastard trained me. Maybe they’re still there.”
“Hurry, Mira.” Alessia whisper-yelled encouragingly and I ran into Luca’s office.
I hurried to the desk drawer where he said the keys would be and grabbed the small ring from on top of a small stack of papers. I ran back to the door but just before opening it, a man’s voice echoed against the concrete walls. “Shit, she’s gone. Where the fuck did the other girl go?”
That wasn’t part of the plan. I listened as footsteps ran back up the stairs, the door slamming behind him. Once the coast was clear, I sprinted back into the room but the sound of loud boots running upstairs signaled that the men were coming back. I had no idea what was going on, but I had to try my best to continue with the plan and trust that Luca and the others knew what they were doing.
I ran to Alessia in the closest cell and scrambled, trying to find the right key for her lock but the sound of boots moved closer to the basement door. Even though I knew the whole thing was staged, it didn’t stop it from feeling way too real.
“Mira, get out of here before they come back.” Alessia looked at me earnestly and I realized in that moment that of the three of them, she was the best one. She followed their lead, though I had no idea why, but she wasn’t actually cruel herself.
I hesitated for a moment as the commotion upstairs grew. If the situation were real, I would run at that point, knowing that our best bet would be to escape and get help. But how was this going to work into Luca’s plan? If I didn’t go, it would be suspicious.
I handed Alessia the keys and looked at her as if to say that I was sorry. “Free yourselves.”
“Mira, don’t you dare leave me here,” Giulietta barked but I was already darting into the office.
I closed the door behind me and moved an old wooden chair underneath the window before climbing up. It was hard to lift myself through the small window and wiggle my way out but, when I finally made it through, I found myself behind a cluster of bushes.
I glanced at my surroundings to find the best way to go but there was nothing. We were literally in the middle of woods. I had no idea where we were or where I should go but I couldn’t stay there.
I looked around, making sure that no one was there to spot me, and darted out along the overgrown grass to the first cluster of trees just past the clearing of the house. My heart raced in my chest and blood roared in my ears in the quiet night.
Luca is in control of this, not an actual bad guy. He knows you. He knows what you would do, and he’ll act accordingly to make this work.
“If this was real, what would you do?” I whispered to myself as I frantically surveyed my surroundings.
There was good cover in the overgrowth just a few meters away. I could wait there to see if any of the other girls managed to escape before going too far. I took a chance, sprinting in my bare feet across the rough dirt and twigs.
Several minutes went by and no one came. Movement along with some loud yelling came from the back door of the house as a search party armed with flashlights spread out to find me.
Why would there be a search party actually coming to look for me? That doesn’t make any sense. The girls weren’t around to see this act.
A dreaded thought crossed my mind just as the image of that man’s face flashed in my mind’s eye. That look on his face. The lust, the way he looked at me...had this been a set up? I knew that Luca wouldn’t do anything to hurt me or put me in danger, but I didn’t know the rest of those men. What if they had betrayed Luca? What if they realized who I was...who my family was...I would be worth a lot just for my name.
Luca.
My first response was to run back to the house, to try to find him and make sure that he was okay. But if he was okay, me being there could put him in more danger, because deep down I knew that he would do everything he could to keep me safe. I was just one person and even with Luca we would be outnumbered and outgunned. And if it was part of his plan, then my going back could ruin everything.
I needed to get out of there and find help. It was the only way any of us stood a chance.
Casting one last glance back at the house, I darted off into the woods in the opposite direction of the search party.
I ran through the woods, small twigs lashing at my bare arms and legs, stones slicing my feet, but I didn’t stop even as my lungs cried out for air—not until I came to a small stream.
I glanced around again, unable to see a way out of the woods still. I wasn’t sure which way to go. All I knew was that I had to keep going. I carefully leaped from rock to rock, watching out for the patches of slippery moss, until I reached the other side. Once I reached solid footing, I continued my sprint.
I wasn’t sure how long I ran but eventually, my legs felt as if they might collapse from the exertion. Unable to go any farther, I leaned against a large tree, lowering myself to sit on the massive roots at its base.
I was just starting to catch my breath when the sound of a twig snapping grabbed my attention. I sat up, pressing closer to the tree to hide myself and glanced from one side to the other but there was nothing. My mind was playing tricks on me.
You’ve rested long enough. You have to keep moving.
I forced myself up onto my aching legs, unable to run, I walked slowly through the woods, reminding myself that every step took me farther away from the house in the woods.
Another twig snapped and I froze, listening and throwing my head from one side to the other in search of the source of the sound. Just as I started to turn the other way, a large hand slapped over my mouth, muffling the scream that tore from my throat.
I fought with all my strength as an arm snaked around my shoulders pulling my back against a chest that might as well have been made of marble. I kicked and thrashed around but a familiar voice shushed close to my ear, and I froze.
Luca.
I quieted and he loosened his grip enough so that I could turn in his arms to face him.
“Luca,” I breathed out the word in relief. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything, but we need to get you out of here.” He grabbed my bicep and started pulling me through the woods, but I pulled back.
“No, I need to know what’s going on. Where are the other girls? This wasn’t what we planned.”
A shadow fell over his face that sent a cold shiver down my spine. “This wasn’t what you planned. But this was the plan for me all along.”
“What are you talking about? We had a plan for us to escape tonight.”
“Do you really think that the small amount of fear and humiliation that those girls have been through is enough to pay for what they nearly did to you?”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut and I took a step back. “Luca, what have you done?”
“You were the only one meant to escape tonight. You were never supposed to be there to begin with, but I couldn’t let you ruin everything that I’d already put into motion.”
“You lied to me.”
“I did what I had to. I was very careful with my words. I never said that I would let the girls go. I just told you what you were supposed to do, and you played your part perfectly. Now they will never suspect you. They will just know that you escaped when you had the chance, and they weren’t able to get away.”
My stomach dropped. “You can’t be serious. You aren’t actually going to sell those girls, are you?”
Luca scowled and took a step closer. “Is that what you truly think of me? After all of our history, you think I’m the type of monster who would sell girls?”
“I’m not sure that I know you at all after all of this. I never thought you’d be capable of kidnapping either but here we are.” A flash of hurt on Luca’s face was quickly covered by anger.
He looked more determined than ever. “It’s what they deserve, but no. I would never do that. Not really, but I’m going to make them think that they are. They will be allowed to escape, but not until I am sure that they have truly learned their lesson.”
“No. Luca, we have to go back and let them go. This has gone too far.” I turned and started back toward the house, but Luca grabbed my arm.
“You go back now, and you’ll blow all our covers, and expose your family’s part in this. Now come on. We are almost to the jet. You’re going home and forgetting this whole thing.” He gave a sharp tug and dragged me through the woods away from the house.
“Luca, no.” I fought against his grip, and he stopped.
“This is what I do. Let me do my job and protect you and your family. You have more important things to focus on now, Mira.” He glanced down at my belly, and I lifted my hand to cover where my tiny little baby was growing.
He was right. I needed to protect my baby and my family. Reluctantly, I allowed him to lead me to the tarmac where our private jet waited to take me home.
Chapter 20
Mira
Just over a week since my return from Milan and I'd yet to have a restful night's sleep. I worried about what might be happening and felt guilty that I was home, safe in my bed, while Giulietta and the others could still be locked in those cages for all I knew.
I hadn't heard from Luca since the night he put me on my family’s jet. I tried calling him once I was home, but it went straight to voicemail. Stefano mentioned briefly that Giulietta had texted him that she and the other girls were extending their shopping trip and that she was sorry I couldn't stay longer.
My only suspicion was that Luca had texted from her phone so she wouldn't be missed for a while.
I sat out on the back patio with a sweet pastry and cup of decaf coffee when Mia came outside holding little Elio.
"Ciao, good morning.” I forced a smile and tried to push thoughts of Luca from my mind.
“Good morning. Are we interrupting your peace?”
“Not at all. May I?” I sat my coffee cup on the table and motioned to Elio.
Mia smiled, passing him to me. “He loves his zia.”
“Well, I’m pretty fond of this little man, too.”
“You’re good with him.” I smiled weakly but it was more genuine than the last. “You’re going to be a great mom someday.”
“I hope so.”
“You haven’t talked to him yet, have you?”
“Huh? Who?” Her question snapped me out of the thoughts of Luca, and I wondered why she asked if I’d talked to him. Is there something she knows about where he is or what he’s doing?
“Stefano.” Her brow furrowed and she looked at me curiously. “You haven’t told him yet, have you?”
“Told him what?” I looked from Elio to her, searching for an explanation.
“That you’re pregnant.”
“How did you—”
“You’ve been sleeping more, skipping meals, and Lucia said that you recently switched to decaf. I knew that you wouldn’t give up caffeine for any other reason.” Mia smiled fondly.
I let out a sigh and nodded, knowing that everyone was going to find out eventually. “And no, I haven’t told him yet.”
“Are you worried about how he’ll react when you do?”
“A little. I mean, we get along great, and he talks about a future with me, but this all happened a little fast.”
“Take it from someone who has had a lot of twists thrown in her path, sometimes things don’t happen at the exact time or way that you expect them to, but that doesn’t mean that the path you're on won’t still lead you to a wonderful place.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I guess I should get it over with instead of just worrying about it.”
I could feel the shadows of doubt and worry fading away as I thought about making a move, about telling Stefano, and having a direct path ahead. Sitting around waiting and wondering about everything was just adding to my anxiety. I needed to move forward and that included telling Stefano about the baby. No matter how he responded to the news, he needed to know.
In just six days I would be eight weeks along, which was when all the pregnancy websites said that I needed to go in for my first prenatal appointment. I was going to be a mom and it was time that I started focusing on that, which meant being responsible and telling the father of my child.
As if on cue, Stefano walked out onto the patio. “I hope that I’m not interrupting. Bianca said that you were out here.”
“You’re not interrupting at all,” Mia said with a smile.
He walked over and bent down to kiss me on the top of the head.
“Stefano, what are you doing back?”
“I had some business to take care of and wanted to surprise you.”
“I was actually just about to take Eli in for a diaper change.” Mia stood and gave me a meaningful look as I handed Eli back to her and mouthed the words ‘tell him.’
Mia walked inside and Stefano took a seat beside me. “I hope that I didn’t scare her away.”
“It takes a lot more than that to scare Mia Venturi.” I turned in my chair to face him and smiled, taking his hand in mine.
He studied me for a moment before tilting his head and angling himself to better face me. “Is everything alright, amor mio?”
I took a deep breath, trying to work up the nerve to tell him. “I hope so.”
He gently squeezed my hands and scooted to the edge of his seat, leaning in to be closer to me. “What’s going on? Tell me.”
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted out before I could lose my nerve.
He blinked, staring at me for a moment with his mouth fallen slack. “Pregnant?”
“Yes.” I nodded, nervously watching for him to react.
He let out a breath, the corner of his mouth twitching up before he broke out into a huge grin. “This is wonderful.”
I was surprised at his excited tone. It wasn’t what I had been prepared for. “It is?”
“Of course, it is. We’re going to have a baby.” His voice rose in excitement with each word.
He jumped up from his chair, pulling me to my feet, and wrapped his arms around me.
I squealed as he lifted me off of the ground and he lowered me again. He cupped my face and pulled me in for a passionate, excited kiss before pulling back with a beaming smile.
“You’re really happy about this,” I said, still half in disbelief.
