He’s going to kill Lucca and then me. Maybe I’ll be first. Would that be easier? Blood starts to roar in my ears, and I’m back in the water. I don’t want to go back here, but it’s like my mind reboots and sends me there when I can’t take much more.
My dad’s large arm wraps around my waist, and I’m airborne. I’m laughing. I’m happy. I’m safe.
The light reflects off his silver bracelet, and I blink.
“Nah, I’m not telling you. If I do, they’ll kill me.”
I’m back in the room, and I don’t want to be. Lucca glances at me, and so does the man.
It takes my foggy brain a moment to realize the man is moving towards me. I’m trying to scramble off the couch, waiting for the sword to come down on my back as I try to climb over the back.
My scalp burns as I’m dragged backward. Everything happens so fast. I hear Lucca curse; I’m falling down and crash heavily onto the ground. Pain radiates across my back and steals the air from my lungs. Lucca’s shoes shuffle close to me; he’s behind the man.
I can’t breathe as I watch the struggle. A large dark form falls beside me. His eyes are lifeless, wide open, and bloodshot, and my brain reboots again, only this time I’m not in the water with my dad in County Clare. Instead, I’m falling back into a pit of darkness.
I’m on a ship again; the sway under me is something I’m familiar with. It’s a comforting sensation for a brief moment until I sit up fully.
“You’re okay.”
I follow the hand that touches my shoulder all the way up to Lucca, who’s driving. “You’re okay.” He reinstates.
My hand automatically goes to my neck. I prod the bandage. “How long have I been out?”
I stare out the window at the deserted landscape around us. “Where are we going?”
A thudding sound from the trunk of the car has me looking behind me. “What the hell is that?”
“Take a breath, Evie.” Lucca’s words have me sitting back, but I don’t stay like that for long as whoever is in the trunk keeps banging.
“I’m hoping he has answers. I found him at Sacha’s house.”
Lucca removes his hand from me, and I feel the loss instantly.
“You’ve been asleep about an hour, and we are leaving the city. It’s not safe anymore.”
I’m nodding. “So, where are we going?” I’m looking out the window, not liking how deserted everything seems.
“To my home,” Lucca responds, and when I glance at him, he faces forward. I turn up the radio so I don’t have to hear the constant banging from the trunk and hope we find answers to where my sisters are.
CHAPTER NINE
LUCCA
Normally I only ever go home when I don’t have any jobs. It’s my time to unwind and spend time with Anita.
I glance at Evie, who’s sitting up straight while staring out the window. Even in her frazzled state, she’s still beautiful. The gates slowly open, and I drive up to the large house.
“This is your home?”
The front door opens, and Anita smiles when she sees me. Her gaze travels to Evie, and her smile falters only slightly. Instead, I see a lot of questions on my sister’s lips.
Once I stop the car, she’s marching down the three steps toward the car. Her skin-tight leopard-print suit is my sister’s signature clothing.
Evie hasn’t moved, and I don’t look at her. Most women are very intimidated by my sister. She’s a bit of a force, but she constantly looks out for me.
I don’t get the door open because she beats me to it.
“You’re home?” She raises both eyebrows like I might explain to her why I’m home with a girl. I climb out, and she moves back. The passenger door closes, and Evie steps around the car.
“Hi there, Kitten.” Anita walks around to Evie, who holds her hand out.
They shake, but the amusement in Anita’s face has her brows still raised.
Her bracelets jangle as she takes Evie’s hand.
“Hi. I’m Evie.”
“Evie, this is my sister, Anita.” I introduce them as I close my car door. Anita links her arm with Evie.
She’s beautiful; she mouths to me silently as she leads Evie into the house.
I want to tell her not to get attached, that this is work.
“You have Lucca’s eyes,” Evie says to Anita.
The way she says my name is like we are familiar with each other.
“Our mother was a looker. I’m sure yours is, too? Or is it your father?”
I close the front door. “Anita,” I warn. She had to turn everything sexual.
She waves me off without looking at me. “You hungry, Kitten?”
Evie is the one who looks back at me. “You go with Anita. I’ll join you shortly.”
Evie nods and leaves. I crane my neck from side to side before removing my jacket and going back to the car.
Dima is awake and back to rattling the trunk. I drive the car around to the back, close to the basement doors.
Once I’m near enough, I unlock the basement doors and get Dima out of the trunk.
He’s ready to jump, and I land a solid punch into his face. He cries out, and I use the moment to drag him from the trunk and push him toward the door. He stumbles down the steps and misses the last three. The door closes behind us, but the sensor lights turn on in the basement one section at a time.
A large pole in the center is where I drag a disoriented Dima to. I shove him against it keeping my hand
