Page 25 of Danica's Revenge

They are keeping me alive, but barely.Water only.Not enough.Not nearly enough.The thirst in my throat burns almost as much as the aching parts of my body.My shoulder wound needs medical attention, it’s pulsating, but the masked kidnappers pay me little mind.

“What do you want?”I had cried when they threw another glass of water in my face earlier, maybe it had been yesterday.How long have I been here?No answer.

“Why am I here?”I try again, finally eliciting a response.

“Chiedi a tuo fratello,”he says simply, closing the door behind him again.Ask your brother.

I want more but there are no more answers to be had.

Fucking, Luca.I should’ve known better than to let him run the dealership.He’s failed me so many times, yet I've always given him another chance.He is my little brother after all.I'd wanted to protect him from the evil of the business—how naive.

Luca didn’t know how cruel our father was.I was only five the first time I saw him kill a man with his bare hands—our uncle, the head of the family.I’m sure our father had his reasons.I could never understand what would make a man want to strangle his own brother.But I do now.

I don’t know who these people are, but I know this is connected to the missing money somehow by the thread that is Luca’s aura of selfish chaos.

There is nothing I can do though.I hope someone will come for me, but I also have little hope that they’ll know where to find me.Luca sure can’t be counted on.

Maybe I should’ve told Emilio about the missing money.But I'd wanted to be sure, wanted to speak to Luca first.I didn’t know who I could trust.Maybe Luigi will come forward now…But I know he wouldn’t.He was paid for his silence.

And so time passes.Not quickly, not slowly.Unmeasured.

I black out from time to time, covered in my own urine and blood.

Part of me still wants to fight, to get to Danica.But a bigger part of me knows there is no fight left in me.

The Knight has failed his Queen.

?

Chapter sixteen

Confessions

“Iseverythingokayhere,Miss Matthews?”Emilio looks at me concerned, clearly sensing something amiss in the library.

“Not really, Emilio.”It is far from okay.It hasn’t been okay since Dante was taken to who-knows-where.

“I brought you some fruit salad, you haven’t eaten all day.”He puts it down on the table carefully, trying to decipher the tension in the room.Emilio’s walking slowly, the bullet wound in his leg still fresh.I had tried to send him home but he would not leave my side.Capo would’ve wanted me to protect you.

“Luca,” he greets him but Luca looks away.“Alicia.”She nods briefly in acknowledgment.The tension is so thick you can cut it with a butter knife.

“Thank you, Emilio.That’s very considerate of you.”I smile through pursed lips.

“It’s my pleasure.Is there anything else I can assist you with?

“Actually, Emilio, I’m wondering if I can ask you one more favor?”My voice is measured, clear.

“Of course, Miss Matthews.What is it?”

“Please pin that asshole to the bookcase.”I point at Luca.

“I’m sorry?”Emilio looks at me confused.

“Don’t,” Luca shoots Emilio a glare.

“It seems Luca here knows where Dante is but has been keeping some secrets from us,” I reply calmly.

Emilio has him pinned in a second flat.“Is this true?”I’ve never seen Emilio lose his cool but today is an exception—he looks ready to strangle Luca.

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