Page 266 of Saving Her

“Ahh, so it’s not Greg,” he muses. “Is that you, my pretty Penny?”

He’s in control, the excitement in his voice fueling my fear.

“I think you’re going to want to see this,” Robert drawls. “The switch is right near the door.”

“Penny, run.”

Sebastian? He’s here?

My knees weaken.

“Now, Penny,” Robert snarls. “Before I lose patience.”

There’s a groan of pain, then another growled demand to, “Just run.”

My vision blurs under the burn of tears. My heart squeezes. “Luca, are you here?”

“Run.” He answers me, the word grated in agony. “Get out of here, shorty.”

I can’t.

I won’t.

Oh,God.

He never left me to fend for myself. I would rather die than turn my back on him and the gun trembling in my hand could change everything. I could kill Robert. I could save Luca.

My limbs shake as I reach inside, sliding my hand along the wall to flick on the light. I quickly slip back out of view, careful to remain hidden as I glimpse down at the staircase illuminated before me and a vacant corner of the room below.

I can’t see them. Not any of them.

There’s only the sense of horror lurking close.

“Come join us,” Robert coos. “You already know you’re safe. It’s your loved ones who may not last the night.”

I plaster myself against the wall, unsure what to do.

I don’t have a phone. And I can’t risk leaving them, even momentarily, to search for help.

I steel myself against what I’m about to see and descend the stairs, the gun raised.

The room comes into view gradually.

I notice Sebastian first, his tense frame facing me. Then there’s Robert a few feet behind, a weapon held in both hands, with another down the front of his pants. He has one barrel trained on the back of Sebastian’s head, the other arm pointed farther away.

“What did he do to you?” my brother snarls. “What the fuck did he do?”

“Don’t worry.” Adrenaline has masked my pain. “I’m okay.”

I take another step, my heart lodging in my throat at the sight of Luca on his knees a yard behind, his face pale, his eyes filling with regret.

“Get out of here, Pen.” He can barely keep his head up. “I need you to run.”

“Drop the gun.” Robert advances on my brother.

“No.” I aim it at my enemy’s head, the weapon shaking in my fragile grip.

“You can’t kill me, baby. I’ve told you before I’ve got the sweetest fucking leverage known to man. You’re gonna want to know what it is before you pull the trigger.”

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