Antonio isn’t going to be kind or warm to my brother. He’s a mafia don. I can’t expect him to show up, ring the doorbell, and ask to talk like men.
I rush out of the library. If I warn Mikhail, then Antonio is as good as dead. But if I remain silent, my brother will be tortured, or worse, murdered.
There are no winners, and I’ve handed Antonio the treasure map to find my brother.
I have to do something, and sneaking into the back of his vehicle isn’t going to work this time. Perhaps I can call Mikhail, suggest that he surrender before the war escalates and everyone dies.
The bratva doesn’t surrender. I don’t imagine that the mafia does, either, which puts me in a predicament.
Blood is blood. Mikhail might be a monster, but he’s the monster I know, the one I’m most familiar with, and he’s not keeping me against my will.
I should never have told Antonio where Mikhail is hiding.
Antonio is nowhere to be found. There’s a rush of commotion at the opposite end of the hallway. I sneak into a nearby room and search for a phone.
There’s no sign of a landline.
Do they only use cell phones on the property? Antonio snatched mine when he brought me here.
I sneak from one room to the next. Again, no sign of a landline. I can’t leave, and even if I could manage to escape, my children would have to come with me.
Maybe I can steal one of the guards’ phones without them noticing?
“Aleksandra, what are you doing in here?” Mario asks. His eyes narrow as he glances me over, his gaze examining my empty hands.
I haven’t stolen anything. Is that what he is worried about?
“Minding my own business,” I say. “Why do you have a fondness for following me around? Is there any place for me to go? There are dozens of guards and a state-of-the-art security system, by the looks of it. Even if I wanted to leave, I doubt I could get out.”
There’s no sense in telling him the truth. He isn’t likely to hand over his cell phone, and if he’s distracted, maybe I can slip his cellphone from his pocket. I step closer; if I’m going to snatch his phone, I can’t do it from the opposite end of the room.
“It would be best if you’d return to your room upstairs,” Mario says.
Now is my chance. My bottom lip juts out in a pout as I stalk across the room, closing the distance between us. Intentionally, I knock into him with my elbow, distracting him while I snatch his phone.
Mario grabs my wrist and spins me around, his phone in my hand.
“I’ll be taking that,” he says and releases his tight grasp on my wrist, only long enough to grip my arm and drag me out into the hallway. “I have half a mind to toss you into the dungeon.”
I ignore Mario’s threats.
At the opposite end of the hall, is Antonio. I need to get his attention. “Antonio, wait!” I call after him.
He spins around, hearing my voice, and tells the gentleman he’s with to hold on a moment. Antonio closes the distance between us. “What’s going on?” he asks, glancing at Mario for an explanation.
“I found her sneaking around the complex. She tried to steal my phone, sir.”
“And why would you want Mario’s phone?” Antonio’s gaze latches onto mine.
I swallow nervously. Mario’s grip remains strong against my arm. He hasn’t lightened up his hold, even with Antonio standing just inches away from me.
“I need to call the twins’ preschool if they’re not going to be attending classes today,” I say, hoping that I’ve bought my way out of this unpleasantness with a lie.
Antonio doesn’t move from his position. “Nice try. You were going to warn Mikhail that we’re coming, weren’t you?”
He can see right through me, and it scares me. “Please, don’t hurt my brother.”
“Lock her upstairs,” Antonio orders.