I ignore his calls and my mother’s as I slide into my car, locking the doors before he gets to me. I’m not letting him, or anyone else, stop me.
“Open the door, Anna!” His growls are faint with the window rolled all the way up. He is pulling the handle hard as I start the engine.
I can’t just stand here and do nothing with my child in the hands of that son of a bitch.
“Anna!”
I put the car in reverse hurriedly.
Some of his men stand in my way as I try to drive out of the gate. Giovanni has instructed one to close it but I’m faster, stepping on the gas as I make my way through. The men run just before I hit them. I’ve been protecting her all my life and I’m not stopping now.
***
“Show yourself, Mateo!” I yell as I run to his front door. His men are behind me, keeping a close distance, but they don’t touch me. “Open the fucking door!”
The door flies open a second later. A short man with a full beard and a scarred face appears in front of me. His dark brown eyes stare at me with contempt.
“Where is she? Where is my daughter?”
“He will be with you in a minute,” he replies, making way for me to enter the house. I don’t think twice as I barge into the house, yelling his name. The man reaches for my arms with a cuff.
No... no... not again.
I’ve had enough of being cuffed in Luca’s home. I’m not going to be Mateo’s prisoner, too.
“Let go of me!” I’m fighting him back but his grip is strong on my wrist. “I said, let go!”
His face lights up in rage as I punch him. He lets go of my wrist and massages his jaw with his fingers for a moment. “Bitch!”
“Argh.” I shriek as he slaps me hard. My hair covers my face as I tilt to the side from the impact. My eyes squeeze shut as I hold back my tears.
I need to find Sophie. I need to get my daughter back.
He takes both my wrists and I don’t resist this time as he cuffs my hands to the back.
“Is that you, Gianna?” a voice says, coming down the stairs.
I recognize it. It’s deep with a calming timbre yet so commanding. “Figlio di puttana.”
“I knew you would come here.” Mateo walks down the stairs with a frown spread on his face. His eyes bore into mine with anger. It causes goosebumps on my skin.
I swallow a gulp, panting hard as he takes slow steps to get to me. I’m frozen in the spot with the man still holding my hands. I wiggle them but he doesn’t let go.
“You didn’t keep your part of the deal, Gianna.” Mateo’s blue eyes are piercing as he moves his clenched jaws.
Oh, fuck.
“Mateo, please. I just want to see my daughter. Please."
His checkered, short-sleeved shirt fits his broad body frame and muscular arms, revealing his inked arm. He has his left arm in his pocket.
“You fucking lied to me.” His voice is raised now.
It makes me flinch in fear.
Oh God, please.
“Sophie has nothing to do with this. It’s me you want and I’m here. I’ll stay. Please just let her go.”