Page 47 of Taken by the Mafia King (Kings of Philly #1)

SERA

M y hands shook as I closed myself into a bathroom on the second floor, locking it shut.

Red wallpaper suffocated me as I turned on the fan and the water to drown out my voice in the event Tommaso lingered nearby.

He’d asked if I knew how to get back upstairs to my room, and I did.

I’d watched him walk away, but I knew I only had minutes to accomplish this before he realized his phone was missing and came looking for it.

I just needed to know everyone was okay. That was it.

No harm. No foul. Right?

I doubted Tommaso would see it that way.

I quickly dialed my old number and pressed the phone to my ear while looking at my reflection in the mirror.

I hardly recognized myself. My face wasn’t as full as it used to be.

I had no color in my cheeks, either. My eyes were puffy and red, most likely from all the crying I’d done these past weeks.

I hoped it wasn’t permanent. Was that possible?

The skin beneath my eyes was sunken and purple, and my skin lacked its usual elasticity from the weight I’d dropped from not eating and my total lack of a skincare regimen.

My hair seemed thinner and dryer and less glossy.

I should start trying harder to take care of myself.

Just in case my dad did come for me. And maybe Killian would appreciate the effort.

Oh stop it, you silly girl, I scolded. I had more important things to worry about than a beauty regimen to woo my captor. Good grief.

Emma answered on the first ring, but I could only hear her breath on the other end.

“It’s me,” I whispered.

“Oh, my God. Sera? I thought you were dead for sure this time. How are you? Are you safe?”

“About as safe as I can be,” I whispered over the sound of running water. “How are you?”

“Freaking out! I am completely and totally freaking out. Why can’t you just come home?

School started this week, you know. There’s a new teacher in your classroom and the principal is acting like nothing is wrong!

I asked, and he told me you transferred out of the district.

Like he didn’t even remember we are roommates.

It was like a script. I felt sick. All of this is so wrong.

I need you to come home. Please tell me you’re coming home. Tell me what’s happening.”

“I can’t tell you much, Emma. I’m sorry. I just had the opportunity to call and wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m fine,” she choked, biting down on the words. “But this is fucked up, Sera. Where are you? Can I come see you?”

“No.”

“What’s going on? Please tell me.”

“I wish I could.” I meant it. I wished I could see her. I wished I could vent to her about my situation, not only about being held prisoner but about Killian, too. Emma had always been my shoulder to lean on and vice versa. Maybe, just maybe, I had the leverage to ask Killian to let me see her.

But that would put her in danger, I was sure.

“How’s Jim?” The thought of him didn’t carry nearly as much weight as it once had, but I’d been worried since I’d seen him nearly beaten to death.

“He was in a really bad car accident, Sera. He’s in the hospital.”

I closed my eyes and gripped the phone. The car accident was obviously a lie to cover up the real truth of the matter, that Killian and his men had beat him up and dumped him somewhere in Philly.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“Sera.”

A loud crash broke through Emma’s words and it took me a moment to register that the sound hadn’t come from her end of line, but mine. I turned to the bathroom door, which was now hanging off the hinges. Emma’s voice called my name through the line.

Tommaso stood in the doorway, his eyes glazed over with pain, one hand clutching his chest.

“Hang up, right now.”

I did, ignoring Emma’s muffled protest. She’d heard him, of course. Heard the venom and fury in his voice that was so unlike the Tommaso I’d come to know.

It was my mistake for forgetting that this man with the seemingly kind disposition was actually part of Killian’s killing crew.

I extended the phone, and he snatched it out of my hands. He said nothing for a moment as his thumbs flew over the screen.

“That was incredibly fucking stupid,” he snapped, tucking it in his pocket.

“I was just checking in.” My voice vibrated in a whisper.

“Do you want to get her killed? Do you even understand how easy it is for someone to listen in on these calls? You called your own number again, didn’t you? Did it ever cross your mind that more than one party is listening to that line, hoping to find any shred of information about where you are?”

“As if I’m such a threat!” I hissed. “Why would anyone want me? What is so special about me, Tommaso? Even Killian can’t seem to make up his mind about why he’s keeping me here.”

“You were Gabriele De Luca’s property. He bought you, and Killian killed him to retrieve you, Sera.”

“For what ?!” I shouted, stepping around him and throwing my hands in the air in surrender.

“No one tells me anything! Do you all think I harbor some secrets pertaining to my father’s operations?

Because I don’t. I never did. I put up with this life until I was brave enough to leave.

I’d tell you, or Killian, or fucking Francesco anything you wanted to know about my dad and yet no one has asked me a thing about him. ”

“We already know more than we need to know about Andre Bianchi.” Tommaso continued to glare at me, his eyes ablaze.

“Then why?” I was on the verge of breaking down. “Why am I still here?”

He said nothing but tugged on my arm, pulling me past him, and snapped his fingers like I was a puppy needing redirecting.

“Go to your room.”

“Tommaso,” I began, but he didn’t let me finish.

“I thought we were friends, Sera. I trusted you. You broke my trust, and there’s nothing you can do to repair that.

Emma could be dead by tomorrow—or worse.

How do you know the Marinos won’t come after her and auction her off next?

You could be buried in a shallow grave and covered in concrete right now.

Emma could find herself in a similar situation. Do you want that for your best friend?”

Tears glistened in my eyes as I realized he was right.

What the hell had I done?