Chapter 26

The group of hostages spent a restless night in the lounge. The armed men took turns watching them while they tried to sleep. Chase stayed awake most of the time, only nodding off on occasion. The throbbing pain from his knee injury kept him from sleeping, as well as trying to think of ways to get out of their situation.

Christine lay curled up on the couch next to him. The De Santis family sprawled over the rest of the couches, the young Stefano lay on the carpet, watching the guard. Chase watched him, hoping he wouldn’t try anything foolish.

He wondered why Red hadn’t contacted his father. He couldn’t wait to hear Alexander’s voice one more time. Never in a million years would he have thought that he could miss his father so much. It was like a physical pain, the longing. There were no more feelings of resentment or betrayal in his heart, only the need to hear his father’s voice.

“Can’t you sleep?” Christine whispered to him.

“Not really.” He whispe