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“Tell me where my fucking son is or I’m not going anywhere.”

I was growing increasingly frustrated. “He’s been taken to a safe alternate location. You will be reunited with him, but only after we are in a protected area.”

Carmella kept shaking her head, her breathing becoming more labored. “Go with the men. I’ll be alright,” she told her sister and brother.

“What about Mom and Dad?” Amber was very much like her big sister.

“I promise you nothing will happen to either Matheas or Sasha. Just trust me.”

Carmella gave them a nod, allowing the men to guide them to a preselected safe location. As soon as they were out of earshot, she laughed. “Trust you? You must be out of your mind. The last thing I can do is to trust you.”

I crowded her space, no longer surprised from the crackling electricity heating my blood. “You’ll need to learn, Carmella. I might be the only one who can save your life.”

CHAPTER11

Carmella

Ancient stones.

Echoing footsteps.

Chilly temperatures.

As I was guided briskly through an upper floor section of the church, my mind continued to spin with possibilities of what the hell was going on. We were headed to the older part of the church that I knew was in the process of being renovated. There were brilliant tapestries, incredible works of art being stored on old wooden tables. The amazing and priceless pieces were covered in thick plastic, but anyone could break into the church and steal them.

I had no idea why I was concentrating on thoughts regarding the church instead of my own personal safety and that of my family.

When we made a turn, I almost stopped moving. There were five other soldiers flanking a doorway, two more at the end of the hallway near a large window.

“What the fuck is going on?” I repeated the question. My pulse had increased, my rapidly beating heart thrumming in my ears.

“We’re running out of time. We need to change into our old clothes.” Alejandro was adamant, gently but firmly pushing me into a room.

I was surprised to see the clothes I’d arrived in hanging on a makeshift rack. There were also male clothes as well.

“What is this?” I was now whispering.

“My soldiers need to take our wedding attire.”

While I was ready to pepper him with questions, I didn’t need to in order to realize why I had to change. “You’re using look-alike people, luring the enemy away from us. Right?”

He laughed. “Nothing gets by you. Exactly. Now change as quickly as you can.”

That’s why we were in the older part of the church. No one would suspect we’d be leaving from this side. There was just enough distance, roads criss-crossing behind the groups of building comprising the church grounds to provide a perfect escape route.

I didn’t fight him. I wasn’t stupid. Now wasn’t the time to act like an impetuous child. Yet he would answer my questions. Still, I was shaking as I tried to undress and only partially from the cold.

Fear.

I felt another horrific cramping wash of fear.

The men weren’t in the room, but my new husband was. When I had issues trying to unbutton the back, he was suddenly there.

“Relax, Firesong. Let me help you.” He moved behind me and I reluctantly lowered my hands.

“Firesong? Why the nickname?”

“Because you’re bold and beautiful, sparking a fire no matter where you go.”

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