GET OFF ME, YOU DÍÇK ~~~~

Valentina pov

Later that afternoon, I threw my makeup bag into a satchel. I couldn’t bring much when I ran, but I would take my very favourite things, like the Mama earrings Mama left me.

A photo of me, Gia and Rebecca at CN Tower. The leggings that fit my legs and ass perfectly. And, of course, my passport and money.

“This is a bad idea,” my sister, Rebecca, said. “How are you going to live?”

“Forget about that, how is she going to escape Papà and the guards?” Gia turned the page in her magazine, barely paying attention. “You’ll never even reach the street, Tina .”

“Yes, I will.” Two years ago, I discovered the cameras didn’t cover one sliver of the stone wall surrounding our house, so I chipped footholds into the stone, which allowed me to come and go as often as I dared. It was how I snuck out to lose my virginity to David last November.

My sisters didn’t know this, however. That escape route was too dangerous for anyone but me. Gia made a noise in her throat like she didn’t believe me. “Papà’s going to be totally pissed when you’re caught.”

Bag packed, I went and sat on the bed next to them. “I hate to leave you both, but I have to do this. I cannot marry some stranger and become A MAFIA WIFE, trapped at home with a zillion kids while my husband fucks a mistress on the streets.”

“The Morreti's are loaded,” Gia said. “I Googled them. They live in a castle, Tina . An honest God castle. And the son is a total snack. I don’t know what you’re bitching about.”

God, Gia was so spoiled. She had no idea how bad it could truly get for mafia wives. “Mama gave up her modelling career for Papà and she always regretted it. You don’t remember her as well as I do, but I can’t give up the chance at a normal life. Not for any amount of money, It’s not worth it.”

“I understand,” Rebecca said, always the level headed twin. “And I don’t think you should agree. The man who came here, his father? They call him IL DIAVOLO.”

THE DEVIL, I could well believe it. No one rose to the top of the Calabrian mafia without being evil and terrifying. Rebecca touched my hand. “I have a thousand dollars saved up in my room. Do you want it?”

I felt like crying. Again. I threw my arms around her. “I can’t take your money, Rebecca. You might need it someday. But it’s very kind of you to offer.”

I had five thousand plus some gold coins in my satchel. It wouldn’t last long, but it would be enough to disappear. I hoped. Next I hugged Gia, who embraced me almost reluctantly.

“I’m just going to see you again in an hour or so when Papà’s men drag you back inside,” she said.

“Well, in case you don’t, please give me a hug.” That got Gia’s arms to tighten ever so slightly. “Good luck, Tina .”

“I love you both. Use these next two years to figure a way out. He won’t marry you off before you’re eighteen.”

“He might,” Rebecca said. “Gabriella Pizzuto’s father arranged her marriage when she was only thirteen.” Gross. I stood and grabbed my satchel. “You can both come with me, you know.”

Gia frowned. “That would only make it easier for us to be caught. Besides, they won’t hurt us in retaliation.” I hoped that was true.

Women and children were supposed to be off-limits in any mafia conflict, but I would never forgive myself if either of my sisters were harmed because of me. “Convince Papà to honour his word about allowing you each to go to college.”

“Go,” Rebecca urged. “It’s dark enough now that you won’t be seen.” She was right.

I needed to get going. The guards were eating dinner for

only another twenty minutes. I looked at my phone on the dresser. Not taking it with me felt very strange, but it would be too easy to find me if I kept it. I needed to leave it behind, as I always did when I snuck out.

After opening the window, I took the rope I kept under my bed, secured it to the bedpost, and unrolled it over the windowsill. I tossed my satchel to the ground and then climbed down into the yard.

My sisters watched me safely descend before pulling the rope back up. I blew them a kiss then sprinted for the trees. Papà had no idea David existed, so I’d start there tonight. In the morning I would come up with a plan. Perhaps I’d go to Vancouver Or Colorado.

Somewhere I could hike and seek, I couldn’t stand being cooped up inside, not since I’d accidentally locked myself in a closet as a girl. It had taken four hours for someone to find me, and I was nearly catatonic with fear by then.

After that I hated the indoors, and Mama used to let me follow her outside to her gardens. She grew vegetables and flowers, and it always seemed like everything around her was beautiful.

Ever since then, I’ve loved dirt and rocks and fresh air. First I had to escape the estate. Then I would need to stay hidden, change my name, and never contact my sisters. I couldn’t allow Papà to find me, not until the threat had long passed.

Still, I could do it. No, I had to do it. I had to leave all this behind and become my own person. Find happiness for myself, as my mother had urged me.

Never settle, Valentina . Be your own woman. She said those words when I was a young girl, and I hadn’t understood them at the time. But I did now...and I would follow her advice.

I followed the well-worn path to the wall and into the trees, where the cameras couldn’t see. I chucked my satchel over the wall first, then I used the footholds to climb up.

At the top, I threw my legs over and held on with both hands so I could jump the rest of the way down.

Except fingers wrapped around my legs, startling me. They didn’t let go. I kicked hard. But it did no good. The hands only tightened. “Stop it! Let me go.”

“NOT A CHANCE, VALENTINA .”

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. How had Morreti found me here? It was impossible.

I struggled to get away but my arms weakened and I was quickly forced to let go of the wall. I fell into a hard, male chest, arms folding like steel bands around me. “Get your hands off me. I’m not going with you.”

He didn’t budge. “You are coming with me. Even if I must drug you to do it.” I gasped. “Drug me? Is that what you Italians do to unwilling women?”

His lips met the edge of my ear. “I could not say, There are no unwilling women in my life, Valentina .”

Was that...sexual? My mind remained confused, but my body must have been on board because it went up in flames. I was close enough that I could smell him lemon and mint and maybe green apple and my nipples tightened. I shut my eyes, humiliated.

Why was I having this reaction, especially when this man wanted to kidnap me and force me to marry his son? Using all my strength, I bucked against him. “GET OFF ME, YOU DICK.”

He gave a soft chuckle. “Drugs it is.” I tried to push away to see his face.

“No, please. Don’t…..” A sharp prick in the back of my neck was followed by a cold rush in my veins. “What was that? Are you serious….?” And the world went black....