chapter 2

~~~~Anne's POV~~~~

Luca stands over Mr. Morrison's body for a long moment, staring at the blood pooling around the old man's head. Then he turns to me.

"You're coming with me."

His voice comes cold and final, leaving no room for argument.

He reaches down and grabs my arm, just above the elbow, then yanks me to my feet. His grip is like iron, making pain shoot through my shoulder.

"Let go of me." My voice comes out as a whisper.

"Not a chance."

He starts dragging me toward the front door as panic floods my chest.

No. No, no, no. Austin. I can't leave him.

"I said let go!" I speak louder now, almost a scream.

I dig my shoes into the floor and twist my arm, but his fingers don't budge. I kick at his shins and yet nothing. He is like a wall.

"Keep fighting," Luca says without looking at me. "It won't change anything."

My free hand claws at his wrist, leaving red marks from my nails. But he still doesn't flinch.

Then it occurs to me, his gun. The same one he shot Mr. Morrison with. Still in his coat pocket. He hasn't holstered it properly.

The gun. If I could just—

In a burst of desperate strength, I lunge at it. My fingers close around the grip, and I yank. The fabric of his coat rips slightly.

He is so surprised that I am actually fighting back that his grip loosens for half a second, giving me the chance to rip the gun free.

I stumble backward and nearly fall, but catch myself against the wall.

Now the gun is in my hands. Pointing at him.

My hands shake so hard I can barely hold it steady. It is cold and heavier than I expected.

"Step back." My voice cracks. And I hate how small I sound.

Luca doesn't move, just watches me as his eyes narrow.

Then he gives a slow infuriating smirk.

"You couldn't hit a target from three feet away, Anne. Your aim is always terrible."

He takes a step forward. Then another.

"I said step back!"

"You won't shoot me." His voice is cold and certain. "You never could."

He is right. I can't shoot him. Not because I am afraid of the gun, but because some stupid, broken part of me still loves him.

I swing the gun away from Luca and press the barrel against my own temple.

The metal is cold. So cold.

Luca freezes and his smirk vanishes.

Exactly.

"Step back. Or I pull the trigger."

His eyes flicker like he is calculating.

"You're bluffing."

"Try me."

He takes another step closer, daring me.

I can't die. Austin needs me. But if I don't make him believe, he won't leave.

I close my eyes. Angle the gun down slightly—just enough. And pull the trigger.

BANG.

The sound is deafening. Pain explodes through my left arm. Hot. White. Unreal.

I scream...or maybe I just hear myself scream. Blood soaks through my sleeve instantly, dripping onto the floor in fat red drops.

I stagger but don't fall. The gun is still in my hand though my arm is on fire.

"What the hell did you do?!" Luca yells.

He steps back. Hands raised. Not in surrender, but in disbelief.

"Next one goes through my skull." My voice shakes and is painful, but I force the words out. "I swear to God, Luca. Leave. Now."

I raise the gun again. Press it back to my temple. My left arm hangs useless with blood dripping down my fingers.

Luca stares at me, the blood, then my eyes, which seem wild, desperate and willing to die.

And something cracks behind his cold mask.

"You'd rather kill yourself than be with me?" His voice is low and hoarse.

I don't answer, just hold the gun steady with my finger on the trigger.

He takes a slow step back. Then another. His jaw is tight, hands fisted at his sides.

"This isn't over."

"Yes it is."

"You think death gets you out of this?" His voice drops to a whisper, but it cuts through the room like a blade. "I will ruin you, Anne. Every person you love. Every memory you have. You will pay for this. I promise you."

He turns and walks to the door as his men follow.

At the door, without looking back, he says: "Enjoy your freedom. It won't last."

The door closes and the latch clicks.

I wait. Count to ten. Twenty.

Then lower the gun as my legs give out. I collapse onto the floor, my back against the wall, arm screaming, blood everywhere.

---

I don't know how long I am there. Minutes? Hours?

Then come sirens. Someone must have heard the gunshots. Mrs. Hendricks next door, probably.

"Police! Anyone inside?"

"In here." I try to yell, but my voice is weak. "I'm in here."

Boots on the floor. Flashlights. A woman in a paramedic uniform kneels beside me.

"Ma'am, you've been shot. We need to get you to a hospital."

"There's a man. My landlord. He's…" I look at Mr. Morrison's body and can't finish.

"We've got him. Just focus on staying awake."

They lift me onto a stretcher as my vision blurs. Flashing lights. Voices asking questions I can't answer yet.

---

The hospital room is white. Too bright. Machines beep somewhere to my left.

My arm is bandaged, throbbing with a dull, persistent pain. A police officer sits in a chair beside my bed with a notebook in his hand.

"Ma'am, I'm Officer Reeves. Can you tell us what happened tonight?"

I need a story. Not to mention a powerful mafia broke into my home in the middle of the night and tried to take me. That would only create problems for me and Austin.

Luca could easily cover up, but I would never be able to stop him if Austin is discovered.

I keep my voice flat and hollow, like I am in shock.

"A burglar. Broke into my house."

"A burglar?"

"Yes. I came home from work. He was already inside." I swallow. "Mr. Morrison… he's my landlord. He must have heard something and came to check on me. The burglar shot him. I tried to fight, but he shot me in the arm. Then ran."

Officer Reeves leans closer. "Well that explains the gun. But, no forced entry, Ms. Perry. You're telling me a burglar just walked in through an unlocked door?"

"I must have forgotten to lock it. I was tired."

He holds my gaze for a long moment, then writes something down.

"Did you see his face?"

"No. It was dark and he wore a mask."

"Anything else you can tell us?"

"No. That's all I remember."

Officer Reeves closes his notebook and stands.

"We'll be in touch."

I nod and he leaves.

---

The room is quiet and alone now. Night presses against the window.

I reach for my phone on the bedside table. Four missed calls from Sarah. And a text: "Austin asked for you. He said he had a nightmare and was worried."

I almost didn't make it to tomorrow.

I don't call back, just open Austin's contact photo. His smile. His missing front tooth. Little sharp blue eyes, just like.....

I swallow back the tears that threaten to fall out.

"Mommy's coming, baby." My voice is a whisper. "I promise to never leave you."

I close my eyes as the pain in my arm pulses, but the pain in my chest is worse.

Luca said he'd ruin me. He doesn't know I am already ruined. I just need to keep Austin whole.