“He’ll kill everyone else if I don’t,” I say. “You know him. You know I have to do this.”
She hesitates, then says, “Yes. He’ll kill everyone. We’ll get to you. He has to go to the airport.”
“I can handle myself,” I say, anticipating my purse and gun being taken from me and digging out cash for survival when I escape, and credit cards to be traced, if I can manage to use one of them. “Save the others.”
“Leave the phone on.”
“Trace it after you save everyone else.”
I end the call, turn the cell on vibrate, and stuff it in the opposite boot from my right now much appreciated backup gun. The money and credit cards get shoved deep in my sock, though I’d rather they be at the soles of my feet, where I know I won’t be searched. I open the door, scanning the empty hallway, and walk down it. I’m out of time but I look right toward the store, and then left toward the back door. My hand goes inside my open purse, gripping Annie.
Inhaling, I shove open the door that takes me into a narrow road and shared sidewalk dividing us from yet another row of stores and restaurants. Matteo is parked to my right and doesn’t get out, and I start to get into the backseat. My idea of pulling my gun on him is dashed when he faces me, holding his own. “Give me the gun and the purse,” he orders. “And I know your skills, Ella. Don’t think for a minute I won’t shoot you.”
“Neuville wouldn’t like that,” I say, slowly lifting my purse over my head. “He wouldn’t get to rape me again first.”
“Maybe he’d settle for Giada,” he taunts.
“Sick bastard,” I growl, handing him my purse.
He yanks it from me. “Get in—and I’m only giving you my back for two reasons. You aren’t getting close to the wheel, and if we aren’t standing in front of Neuville in ten minutes, he starts killing people.” He glares at me a few moments. “Understand?”
“I understand he’s going to kill you.”
“Not before he has some fun with you.” He races forward, turning the ignition and mumbling something in Italian while putting us in gear.
Ten minutes.
My mind races.
I still have a gun, but I won’t for long if I don’t use it.
Ten minutes.
That’s all Sasha has to save everyone.
It’s going to have to be enough, because Evil Eye applies here, and when I see Neuville I’m killing him. It’s what Kayden would want me to do, and I don’t let myself think about Gallo killing him the minute he saw him today. Kayden was nervous about him as it was, on edge, and ready for whatever came his way. He’s alive and Neuville’s about to be dead, right along with this piece of trash driving me.
“Why?” I ask, as he weaves through people walking the shared space, which buys time for Sasha to work her magic. “Kayden’s a good man.”
“Alessandro and I have something in common,” he says. “We both stole from the wrong person.”
“You stole from Neuville?”
“And Kayden,” he says. “Neuville found out.”
“You should have—”
“Gone to Kayden? He’d have sent me to Neuville anyway, but with no way to save myself.”
“All you’re doing is ensuring that Kayden kills you.”
“He won’t be alive to know I betrayed him.”
My gut twists. “You underestimate him.”
“But not Gallo’s hatred.”
Kayden won’t underestimate that hate, I assure myself. I know he’s alive, and he’ll stay that way. But if I get found with this phone on me, Neuville will kill someone to punish me. I slip it out of my boot and under the seat, hoping they figure out where I am and where that means I’m going next. Or that Matteo follows. Whatever the case, it ensures Matteo is found and pays for what he’s done.