THREE

ANASTASIA POV

In the afternoon of the same day, I grabbed my makeup bag and flinged into a handbag. I didn't need much with me when I escape but I needed the ones dear to my heart. Like the beautiful earrings Mamma gave me. And a cute picture of me and the twins at Eiffel Tower.

The leggings that hugged my legs and *ss just right. And, of course, my passport and some cash.

“This is a terrible idea,” Mira said. “How are you going to survive?”

“Forget that. How do you expect to get past Papà and the guards?” Luna glanced up from her magazine without much interest. “You’ll never even make it off the property, Ana.”

“I will.”

I kept sneaking out of the house the day I found the crack in the wall two years ago. I made more cracks so it would be easier and that's how I kept getting past the security anytime I felt like. I snuck out last November and had my first sex with Liam. Losing my Virginity to him.

My sisters didn’t know about that route. It was too risky for anyone else.

Luna snorted skeptically. “Papà’s going to flip when you get caught.”

Bag packed, I sat down between them on the bed. “I hate leaving you both, but I have to. I can’t marry some stranger, become a mafia wife, stuck at home with a million kids while my husband fucks his mistress.”

“The Ravazzanis are rich,” Luna said. “I Googled them. They live in a real castle, Ana. And the son is a total snack. What are you complaining about?”

God, Luna was so spoiled. She had no clue how brutal mafia wives’ lives could be.

“Mama gave up her modeling career for Papà and regretted it every day. You don’t remember her like I do. I can’t give up on a normal life. Not for any amount of money. It’s not worth it.”

“I get it,” Mira said, always the reasonable one. “And I don’t think you should agree to it. That man who came here—the father—they call him il Diavolo.”

The Devil.

No surprise.

To rise to the top, you literally had to sell your soul and become a reborn cruel and terrifying person.

Mira squeezed my hand. “I’ve got a thousand bucks saved in my room. Want it?”

Tears pricked my eyes again. I threw my arms around her. “I can’t take your money, Mira. You might need it someday. But thank you.”

I had five thousand and some gold coins in my bag. It wouldn’t last, but it was enough to disappear. I hoped. Then I hugged Luna, who returned it reluctantly.

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

“Well, just in case, give me a hug now.”

Her arms tightened a little. “Good luck, Ana.”

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

“He might,” Mira said. “Gabriella Pizzuto’s father arranged her marriage when she was only thirteen.”

Gross.

I stood, grabbed my satchel. “You both could come with me, you know.”

Luna frowned. “That’d just get us caught. Besides, they don’t hurt women in retaliation.”

I hoped that was true. Women and kids were supposed to be off-limits in mafia wars, but I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to my sisters because of me.

“Convince Papà to keep his promise about letting you go to college.”

“Go,” Mira urged. “It’s dark enough now—you won’t be seen.”

She was right. Time to go. The guards would be eating for another twenty minutes. I looked at my phone on the dresser. Not taking it felt strange, but it’d be too easy to track me with it. I hardly took it with me when I snuck out.

I carefully opened the window, just like I had learnt from movies. I tied a rope to the bedpost and let it fall down to the will.

I threw my bag down and crept out into the yard. My sister's eyes watched me as I landed softly and then signalled them to pull the rope back up. I gave them a soft smile and made a run for the trees.

Papà had no idea Liam existed, so that’s where I’d start tonight. In the morning, I’d figure out the next move.

Maybe Vancouver. Or Colorado.

A place with a mountain so I can hike and ski. I never liked being caged indoors, I developed a phobia for it that one time I accidentally had myself locked inside a dark closet. Someone later found me after hours but by then, I was traumatized.

After that, I loved following Mama outside to her gardens.

She loved growing vegetables and flowers. Everything around her was always bright and alive. She made me have a love for anything like dirt, rocks and fresh air.

First, I had to escape the estate. Then I’d have to stay hidden, change my name, and never contact my sisters. I couldn’t let Papà find me, not until the danger passed. But I could do this.

I have to. I have to give up that luxury behind and find myself. Find what I'm made for just the way Mamma wanted.

Never settle, Anastasia. Be your own woman.

She said that when I was little, and I didn’t understand. Now I did and I would follow her advice.

I took the same path I had directed Liam to. There were no surveillance cameras at that part of the mansion. Probably because it was worn out. I flinged my bag first, then climbed up using the holes I had poked.

When I got to the top, I pushed my legs and stiffened my body, holding on tight getting ready to jump. Then fingers wrapped around my legs, startling me. They didn’t let go. I kicked hard, but it didn’t help. The grip only tightened.

“Let go! Let me go!”

“No chance, Anastasia.”

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. How had Ravazzani found me here?

It was impossible.

I struggled, but my arms weakened and I had to release the wall. I fell into a hard, male chest, arms locking around me like steel bands. “Take your hands off me. I’m not going with you.”

He didn’t move. “You’re coming with me. Even if I have to drug you.”

I gasped. “Drug me? Is that what you Italians do to women who don’t want it?”

His lips brushed the edge of my ear. “There are no unwilling women in my life, Anastasia.”

Was that… a threat? Or something else?

My mind raced, but my body betrayed me—it ignited. I smelled lemon, mint, maybe green apple, and my n*ppl*s tightened. I shut my eyes, embarrassed.

Why was I reacting like this?

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 d*ck.”

He chuckled softly. “Then drugs it is.”

I tried to push away to see his face. “No.. No…no Please… no…”

A sharp and quick shot sent a really cold feeling down my body. “What was that? Are you serious…..?”

Then everything went black.