Page 2

CHAPTER TWO

The leather jacket smelled of cigarettes and sweat. Clutching the arm of the man he’d met in the nightclub, Gabriel stumbled past the thinning crowd of people and out into the crisp, cool night air.

“I’m taking you home with me,” the stranger insisted, and Gabriel looked up at his face to get a better view of him.

A ginger beard, a long thin nose, and beady black eyes. Gabriel felt a little uneasy. The stranger had appeared handsome in the dark nightclub with only the strobe lights illuminating him, but now it felt like Gabriel was with an entirely different person.

He could tell himself that the guy he was going to hook up with wasn’t too bad looking. He was drunk and horny, and maybe if he didn’t look at the guy’s disturbing eyes too much, he might enjoy sleeping with him.

Having sex with a stranger, even if it meant nothing at all, gave Gabriel a moment to imagine how it’d be if he were with a man who loved him instead. Even if it was only for a short while, it helped to distract him from how lonely and empty he felt inside. It was desperation, but it was all he had, and it was better than thinking about how undeserving of love he was.

Gabriel knew he was only fooling himself. Even when he was under the influence of alcohol, he knew deep down that he wanted more than just a hookup. He wanted someone who wanted him for who he was, someone who loved him and wanted to be with him for more than just his body. But when he thought back to all the guys he’d been with in the past, they were nothing more than a string of hookups that led nowhere. All those guys had only wanted him for sex, and now here he was again, about to sleep with another stranger.

You’re not good enough to be loved , said the voice hidden in the darkest recesses of his mind. Gabriel dropped his gaze to the stained, dirty pavement as more thoughts consumed him. You’re only good enough for a fuck, not a relationship . You should be glad they even want to sleep with you in the first place .

They walked away from the front of the nightclub and down the street. Gabriel was passive and moved in the direction the other man wanted. Once they turned into an alley, other people seemed to vanish into thin air, and Gabriel’s skin prickled as he had a moment of clarity that maybe this wasn’t a good idea. A sudden wave of anxiety washed over him, a type of intuitive feeling that screamed at him to run, to get out of there, that something bad was going to happen to him.

“Actually, I can’t wait,” his hookup growled and slammed Gabriel’s back into the brick wall.

Gabriel gasped on impact, feeling the instant, dull pain reverberating through his entire body. There was no way Gabriel was going to let this guy fuck him in a public alleyway stinking of piss and vomit, especially not without a condom either.

He shoved at the stranger’s meaty chest. “Get off!”

The man clenched his fists, and Gabriel recoiled. “Think you’re too good for me now, huh?” he snarled.

Gabriel pressed his back against the brick wall in a futile attempt to create space between them. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, anything, but words died in his throat.

Rushed footsteps sounded nearby, and the silhouette of two men appeared at the mouth of the alley. Gabriel stared as they ran at them. One of them swung a fist at his hookup, connecting with his cheek and making him stumble sideways before dropping to the cement, where he did not move again. Wide-eyed, Gabriel moved away from the wall and took a few steps backward before the other guy grabbed his arm and started pulling him away.

“Stop! Lemme go!” Gabriel shouted, jerking his body as he struggled to get out of his hold. The second man appeared at his other side, grabbed his arm, then dragged him out of the alley and toward a waiting car parked on the side of the road.

His accomplice pulled open the trunk.

“No!” Gabriel shouted and dug his heels into the ground as they dragged him closer. He knew without a doubt that once he was in that car, it would be impossible for him to escape. There was no telling what they’d do to him. Would they torture him? Kill him? Despite kicking, thrashing, and screaming, Gabriel was picked up from behind and shoved into the trunk before it slammed shut, trapping him inside.

Breathing hard and feeling like his heart was going to explode from how hard it was pumping with adrenaline, Gabriel beat his fists against the roof and shouted. “Help! Get me outta here!”

The engine came to life and Gabriel kept screaming, even when the car started moving, and even as they drove for some time.

Throat feeling raw and exhaustion weighing down on his body, Gabriel finally stopped punching and screaming. He breathed hard, and with every breath he took it felt like he was running out of air. His hands were now numb and aching, and although he tried his hardest to calm down, he just couldn’t. Claustrophobia consumed him, and panicked thoughts came at him one by one.

You’re Frank’s son. The only disgraced heir of the Romano family .

They’re going to kill you because of who you are . Because of who your father is .

You’re dead, Gabriel. Dead .

“Oh no, please no,” Gabriel whispered as tears rushed down his cheeks.

Gabriel didn’t know how much time had already passed, or how many more hours he’d have to spend in the musty, hot trunk. He felt sick and like he was going to pass out, but he wanted to stay awake. He couldn’t lose consciousness now and let them do whatever they wanted with him. He had to fight; there was nothing else he could do!

Eventually, the car stopped and parked. When they pulled open the trunk and a gust of fresh, cool air hit him, Gabriel’s stomach turned.

In the dark, with only yellow balls of light glowing in the background, the only thing Gabriel could see was the bald men’s firm expressions peering down at him. One of them grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him out of the trunk before dropping him to the ground.

Tiny white rocks poked into Gabriel’s palms and knees as he started crawling away, but he didn’t get far before he stopped and emptied his stomach on them. He coughed and panted, the taste of bile bitter on his tongue. His arms and legs trembled, and all he wanted to do was run, but he was exhausted and disoriented, and had no idea where he was.

His kidnappers spoke in quick, hard tones, but Gabriel didn’t understand what they were saying. What language was that? Russian? Before he could glance at his surroundings or look at the men who’d taken him, they grabbed his arms from either side and dragged him backwards across the ground to where Gabriel feared his death awaited.