Page 59 of Mafia Love

About an hour ago, I’d managed to loosen the tension around my thumb and forefinger on my left hand. These ropes were bound so tightly that it was perhaps pointless to think I could break free, but I would try.

My goal was to try. To try for Gigi.

She’d been shuffling around, moving her head from side to side occasionally, although she wasn’t awake.

It was like she was stuck in a dream, or rather, in our case, a nightmare.

When my fingers had come free, I’d wiggled them and tried to feel for a knot. I knew if I could get one knot loose, then maybe the tension would break on the rest.

I’d spent the last hour trying to do that, and just now, a little section gave way, so I could slip my finger through the hook. God, all this with my hands tied behind my back. I had to visualize what I was doing while trying not to make it look obvious.

I was certain that there were cameras in here. It would have been foolish if this room wasn’t under surveillance.

I couldn’t see anything around me, and I couldn’t see what was behind me because of the way I was positioned.

Footsteps echoed along the wooden floor, and a hideous man approached the barred door to the cell.

I’d taken to thinking of this as a cell because of the setup and the fact that we were here tied up, waiting to die.

The man who opened the door looked like a cross between a toad and a lizard. He was bald, bulky, and had terrible teeth. Yellow and brown in appearance.

He smiled, showing off the display, and looked me over.

“Just checking on you two dolls.”

I wouldn’t talk to him. I didn’t need to. This was a lackey, a grunt as far as I was concerned.

“I get to play with this one later.” He pointed at Gigi, and I narrowed my eyes.

His smile grew, and he walked over to her. I winced as he raised his hand and slapped her across her face.

“Stop it!” I yelled.

The slap to Gigi’s face woke her up, and she cried out and looked around her fiercely with tears running from her eyes.

The man laughed. “I knew that would get some reaction from you. I followed you in LA. Followed the two of you.”

I held his gaze. I didn’t remember seeing him.

“I was there at the ballet watching you and that oaf. I was the biker, as they called me.”

“Leave me alone.”

“For now. Maybe I’ll have what’s left of you when Victor’s done.” He licked his lips and looked from me to Gigi, then left us.

I watched him until he walked down the length of the bars and disappeared.

We had to get out of here.

I had to get Gigi out of here. She was my friend and didn’t deserve to be part of any of this.

I looked to her, and my heart ached.

“Gigi,” I cried.

“Amelia, I’m in so much pain.” Her lips were so swollen she could barely talk.

“What did they do to you?” I had to know. All manner of things had flooded my mind as to what she could have gone through.