Page 89 of The Bonventi Secret

There it is, Livia.

Oh shit, I'm doing all this to get back to a man. Not just any man. No. A man I love. A man I would do anything for. A man who, despite being upset with me, I'm still willing to risk everything I have to see him again.

"Shit," I say as I realize in a dingy basement, acting like I'm tied up in front of a rival mafia family, that I fucking love Enzo Bonventi.

"Excuse me?" Joseph asks.

"Nothing, my head hurts."

"Well, I'm done here. I don't think I'll be seeing you again, but these two will take care of you," Joseph says.

"Not to worry, sir. We've got it under control," Vinnie says.

"Walk with me, Vin. You," Joseph says, pointing to the stocky guy, "Go get her some food or something."

"Yes, sir," he says and walks out.

Once they all leave and the door shuts and locks, I immediately bring my arms forward, rotating them in small circles to regain feeling. I touch my lip and recoil at the sting.

"Dammit," I say from the pain.

It takes me two tries, but I finally manage to stand up and move my body. It's sore all over, and I feel like I've been hit by a train.

I reach up and rub my skull pendant as I think of my next move. I know I need to return to my position when they bring me food. Hopefully, it's just the one, and I could maybe surprise-attack him and run. If anything’s going to happen, I might as well go down fighting.

I wonder if Enzo even knows I'm missing. He has to know by now. A part of me feels he's out there looking for me. Despite what happened, I believe he'd be looking for me.

I know Gabriel would. Even with us not really talking since he left me at Enzo's home months ago, I know he wouldn't let this stand.

What I don't know, however, is if either of them knows where I am or if they'd come in time. So instead of being the Victorian woman in the tower waiting for her savior, I'm going to save myself, or try anyhow.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps approaching and quickly get back into position, slumping against the wall with my hands behind my back as if they're still bound. My heart pounds against my ribs as the door creaks open.

The stocky guy shuffles in with a paper bag that smells like cheap burgers. He's left the door slightly ajar, probably thinking I'm still secured.

"Dinner time, princess," he says in a mocking tone as he tosses the bag at my feet.

I keep my head down, letting my hair fall forward to hide my face.

"I can't grab it," I say, luring him in.

"Oh, right, I'll feed it to you. Then maybe when you're done with that I can feed you something else," he says, laughing.

Just a few more steps closer...

He goes to reach for the bag, and I make my move.

I explode upward, driving my knee into his groin. He doubles over with a grunt, and I shove past him, sprinting for the door.

But I'm not fast enough. A hand clamps around my ankle, yanking me to the ground. I slam face-first into the concrete floor. Pain explodes through my nose as he drags me backward.

"You fucking bitch!" he roars.

I kick and thrash, but he outweighs me by at least a hundred pounds. He flips me onto my back, pinning me down with his body. The stench of cigarettes and cheap cologne is all I can smell.

His fist connects with my cheek. Stars burst behind my eyes. I taste copper as he zip-ties my hands again, this time so tight the plastic cuts into my skin.

"Thought you could run, huh?" he growls, his face inches from mine. "Guess I'll have to teach you a lesson."