Kidnapped

Milene's POV 

Micheal opened the black Bentley door for me as we were on our way to the church. I got in, carefully holding the skirt of my dress around me. Micheal closed the door and climbed into the front seat next to the driver, my bodyguard.

We drove off, and I felt butterflies in my stomach. In less than an hour, I’d be Daniel’s wife. It still didn’t feel real. Soon, the city buildings turned into fields and trees.

Micheal shifted in the front seat and pulled out his gun.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Micheal looked back but didn’t look at me. I turned around and saw a car behind us, with two men in it. Micheal pulled out his phone and put it to his ear. Before he could speak, another car pulled up beside us and hit our car. We spun around. I screamed as the seatbelt dug into my skin.

“Down!” Micheal shouted. I unbuckled my seatbelt and threw myself forward, covering my head. We crashed into something else before coming to a stop. 

Micheal shoved open the door and started firing. My bodyguard followed him. The windows shattered, and I screamed as glass fell all around me. A man cried out, and I called, “Micheal?”

“Run, Milene!” Micheal shouted.

I scrambled through the gap between the front seats. Micheal was leaning against the side of the car, blood leaking from his hand where he pressed it to his side. I stumbled out of the car and knelt beside him. “Micheal?”

He forced a smile, despite the pain. “I’ll be okay. Run, Milene. They want you. Go.”

“Who wants me?” I asked, confused. He fired at the attackers again. “Run!”

I stood and took off, kicking off my heels and holding my dress as I ran. White flower petals from the wrecked arrangement stuck to my feet. Nobody was shooting at me, which meant they wanted me alive—and that scared me. I turned into the forest, hoping I could lose them there. My breath came quickly, and even though I was fit, the heavy dress slowed me down. The fabric caught on twigs, and I fell but stood up quickly and kept running.

Heavy footsteps followed behind me. I couldn’t look back to see who was there. The steps were getting closer. My heart raced, but I didn’t slow down. Was Micheal calling for backup?

Then another thought hit me, what if Micheal didn’t make it? Panic flooded me. I turned back toward the car, but the footsteps grew louder. Two pursuers now.

I had no choice. I ran harder, but the dress was too heavy. A shadow moved from my side, and before I could react, an arm wrapped around my waist. The sudden pull made me lose my balance, and I crashed to the ground. A heavy body pressed on top of me, knocking the air from my lungs. I couldn’t move.

I fought, kicking and screaming, but my tight gown made it hard to move. I knew nobody would hear me unless Dad and Dante had arrived with help.

A hand clamped over my mouth, and I bit down.

“Damn!” the man cursed.

The hand pulled away, and though I couldn’t see clearly, the voice sounded familiar. The tulle covering my face was lifted, and I could finally see. The man sitting on top of me had black hair, black eyes, and a scar on his face. His gaze made my blood run cold.

I’d seen him before but couldn’t remember where. The other man holding my wrists down had blond hair and blue eyes, Tate Di Santos. I froze, recognizing him immediately. He had been the boy I played with when I was younger. Now, he has joined the Camorra.

It clicked right there for me. The man on top of me was Nicolas Falcone, Capo of the Camorra. I jerked under him, my fear giving me strength. I tried to push him off, but he didn’t move.

“Calm down,” Tate said, his voice cold. One hand was bleeding where I’d bitten him. Calm down? They were trying to kidnap me!

I tried to scream, but Nicolas covered my mouth before I could. “Give her the tranquilizer,” he ordered.

I shook my head frantically, but a needle pierced my arm, and I felt my muscles grow heavy. I didn’t pass out completely, but everything blurred. Nicolas lifted me up, carrying me as he ran through the trees. My eyes stayed open, but everything felt distant.

“Milene!” I heard Micheal’s voice in the distance.

“Milene?” Dad’s voice came next.

I heard more men shouting. Someone was coming to save me.

“Faster!” Tate shouted. “To the right!” I could feel the air as they ran, their footsteps heavy. The trees and sky passed by quickly. Twigs snapped underfoot as Nicolas’s breathing became heavier, but his grip on me stayed strong. We broke through the trees and onto a street.

Suddenly, I heard the sounds of car tires, and a small spark of hope filled me. But that hope faded fast when I was thrown into the backseat of a car, with Nicolas sliding in next to me. 

“Drive!” he ordered.

I stared up at the ceiling of the car, my breath coming in faster.

“My, what a lovely bride you are,” Nicolas said. I looked up at him, wishing I hadn’t. His twisted smile sent a chill through me. Then, everything went dark, and I passed out.