Page 80 of SINS & Riley
I’m thrown against the door, curling tight, arms locked over my belly.
Tires shriek as Dominic somehow snakes us around them.
I twist, craning for a view.
Through the rear glass, one of Enzo’s men levels his weapon—sights locked, eyes on the kill.
“Dominic!” I shriek.
But then I watch as Enzo’s hand slashes the air. On command, the guard drops his barrel.
Message received.
He's not going to kill us. At least, not today.
My stomach knots, acid scorching up my throat.
Dominic whips us back onto the street, and my gaze stays glued to Enzo when?—
His SUV door cracks open.
A figure steps out.
And my breath stops cold.
Kennedy.
25
ZVER
“Throw her in the trunk.”
My men move. No hesitation. No questions. They do as I say, period.
That kind of allegiance can’t be bought. It has to be forged.
I forged it by guaranteeing their families would always be safe. Not an easy promise for men who walked away from the Bratva. But one I’ve kept.
Two giants step forward, each clamping down on an arm. To anyone watching, it looks like they’re about to rip Elena apart, split her like a wishbone.
Truth is, they’re holding her together.
They lower her into the trunk with protective strength, bracing her so she doesn’t thrash or injure herself—the way people do when they’re already expecting the worst.
Does she resist?
Of course she does.
Who the hell wouldn’t fight getting shoved into a fucking trunk?
But once she’s inside, the fight bleeds out.
She knows what she’s facing. No exits. No safe spaces deep enough to crawl into. And if she keeps fighting, she’ll burn herself out fast.
Human instinct runs wild when fight or flight takes over. But if she’s lasted this long, she’s learned not to tempt them to pull the trigger.
So she goes still. Not calm. Not safe. Just still.
