“Sounds about right.” Sighing, I took one more look in the visor mirror, then said, “Let’s get this over with.”
Luca got out and came around to my side of the SUV. Opening my door, he looked around the lot, his passive mask slipping into place.
He helped me out, and I kissed his cheek.
“Don’t smile,” I whispered in his ear, delighted when his cheek twitched.
Parishioners greeted us as we all funneled through the enormous doors. The Morettis attending mass together was a big deal.
The urge to urinate struck as we crossed the threshold. “I need to use the restroom. Save me a seat?”
“You got it.” Luca kissed the top of my head, then went into the sanctuary.
I walked against the crowd, weaving around the latecomers as they rushed to the pews. Tommy stood by the front door, chatting with another young guy. He dipped his chin my way and went back to his conversation.
“Finally,” I sighed. In the grand tradition of church bathrooms, the stalls were a seventies beige, the floor tile was off-white and cracked in a few places, and a floral border lined the walls. The automatic air freshener let out an intense potpourri puff right in my face, and I gagged. Coughing my way into the stall and peeing, I wondered if I would get morning sickness. It sounded terrible.
The door opened as I washed my hands. I looked up in the mirror, smiling politely, but was in for a terrible surprise.
“Hello, Sasha,” Lorenzo said as he locked the door behind him.
I took a deep breath, ready to scream, but Lorenzo crossed the room in two steps, covering my mouth with his hand. The ring on his finger dug into my lip, making my bottom teeth cut the soft skin on the inside. A copper taste hit my tongue. At the same time, that damn air freshener puffed again. Bile rose up my throat, but there was no way to know if it was from the synthetic flower smell, Lorenzo, or the ball of cells setting up shop in my uterus.
“You have two choices. You can leave with me without causing a scene, or I will shoot you and leave you here for Luca to find.” He pressed a gun to my side. “Now, I’m going to take my hand off your mouth.”
Lorenzo dropped his hand but wrapped his arm around my upper arms.
Working my jaw, I touched my bruised lip.
“Are you going to be a good girl?”
Rage simmered in my gut, but I nodded.
“Good. Let’s go.” He offered his arm, and I reluctantly took it.
He guided me out of the bathroom and down the hall. The lobby was empty, and the doors to the sanctuary closed, but the congregation’s voices filled the space. As we neared the front doors, I noticed a man lying on the floor.
“Tommy?” I tried to go to him, but Lorenzo tightened his hold on my arm.
“Leave him.” Lorenzo shoved open the door closest to us, dragging me from the church. We reached a black sedan, and he popped the trunk. “Get in.”
“In the trunk?” I looked around the parking lot, wishing someone would come along.
“Yup. I threw a blanket back there so you’ll be comfortable. Get in.” He flashed his gun.
“Fine,” I gritted out, hiking my skirt up as I eyed the trunk, unsure how to get in. “How am I supposed—”
“Let me help.” Lorenzo gave my shoulders a shove, sending me in head first.
My ass hit the opening, and even though I tucked my legs, they banged against the car. “Fuck! You don’t shove a fat woman in a trunk, you stupid mother—”
He slammed the trunk closed, his laughter muffled by metal.
Thinking back to all the movies I’d ever watched with my dad and all the comments he made while watching them, I felt around for wires. Maybe we'd get pulled over if I could take out his taillight. I made three passes before giving up and kicking the other end. My dad’s voice was all I could hear as my toes bled inside my Louboutin. Turning to the other side, I slipped off my shoes and kicked backward.
I didn’t have any more luck with my heel and rolled onto my back with a huff.
The car hit a pothole, and I flew up, my hands banging into the roof. “Son of a bitch!”