Chapter 2

The kidnapper's face darkened, and he strode to the window.

"How many?"

"Only one car so far. Lorenzo's in it."

My heart slammed against my ribs. If Lorenzo could just get inside, I still had a chance.

But their leader quickly grabbed the phone and called my father again.

When the call connected, he didn't let anyone get a word in.

"Don Moretti, tell Lorenzo to back the hell off.

"Or I break your daughter's arm right now."

"What?! What the hell is Lorenzo doing there?!"

My father's fists clenched, and he turned on my brother in a rage.

"You went behind my back!

"Call Lorenzo off."

My brother had sent Lorenzo in secret. Now he was frantic.

"Dad! It took everything I had to—"

"Shut up."

"But he's already found Elena!"

"So?"

My father's voice was still calm.

"You find out where she is and just charge in?

"If this were a real kidnapping, they'd be holding the hostage.

"The moment your men got close, Elena could be the first one they killed."

My brother went quiet. I sank deeper into despair. My father sounded barely worried at all.

He still thought this whole thing was a drill.

He still believed the people holding me were the six men he'd sent.

The kidnapper could clearly hear it too.

He looked down at me, and a slow smile spread across his face.

"Your father's something else."

Then he spoke into the phone.

"I didn't call to listen to you lecture your son.

"Ten million euros. And you're almost out of time."

My father's voice was cold. "I can get the money ready. But I want her back alive."

The kidnapper laughed. "That depends on how well you cooperate."

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and held the phone up to my face.

"Say something to your family."

I was in so much pain my lips had gone numb.

"Dad."

My father answered right away, "I'm here."

"Please. No more tests."

My voice was getting fainter. "Something's really... wrong with them..."

The line went quiet for a moment.

But my father still didn't budge.

"Elena, as a Moretti princess, you have to get used to situations like this. Don't you dare hold your brother back!

"Be good and hang on a little longer.

"Besides, with me here, you'll be fine. Have some faith in your dad."

Tears spilled down my face. "But I've already been shot," I choked out. "It hurts so much."

My father scoffed. "You got shot because your brother made the wrong call. If I weren't here—"

Before he could finish, my brother lost it and shouted over him, "Dad, I know I'm useless. Please, just stop the drill right now!"

My father's voice turned to ice.

"You think I like watching Elena get hurt?! But you still haven't learned how to handle a real kidnapping!

"The second you heard Elena was hurt, your first move was to send Lorenzo storming in.

"If you were dealing with a real enemy, that decision would already have gotten her killed."

The kidnapper cut in, losing patience.

"Don't forget about the ten million euros.

"In 20 minutes, I won't care whether your son has learned how to deal with kidnappers."

My brother's breathing grew heavier.

Then a dull thud came through the phone.

It sounded like knees hitting the floor hard.

"Dad."

My brother's voice was raw.

"I'm begging you. End the test.

"Pay them or storm the place, whatever it takes. Just bring Elena back.

"I'm the one making the calls in this test, and I've made my decision."

For a moment, the line was silent. Then my father gave a curt, ice-cold reply.

"Get up, Matteo.

"The future Don of the Moretti family doesn't kneel for anyone.

"Not even for your sister."