Chapter 14 - The Safehouse
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The ride was agonizingly long, plunging deep into the industrial outskirts of Chicago. The SUVs finally pulled into a derelict, heavily guarded shipping warehouse near the docks.
They dragged me out of the car, my heels stumbling over the cracked concrete, and shoved me into a small, windowless office room in the back of the facility. The room smelled of rust and damp earth. A single folding chair sat in the center under a glaring fluorescent light.
"Sit," Marcus barked, pushing me roughly into the chair.
Before he could secure me, the heavy metal door swung open. Lorenzo Falcone walked in, looking incredibly smug in a tailored cashmere coat.
"Elias Vance's daughter," Lorenzo smiled, a cold, predatory expression that made my skin crawl. "You look remarkably like your father. He was a brilliant accountant, but a terrible liar."
"He stole from you to protect us from a monster," I said, lifting my chin, refusing to show him the fear pounding in my chest.
Lorenzo laughed, a dry, humorless sound. "And yet, you ended up in the bed of an even bigger monster. Victor Rossi is going to tear this city apart looking for you. Which is exactly what I want."
He leaned forward, his dark eyes glittering with malice.
"You aren't just a hostage, Harper. You are the bait. Victor will act recklessly to get you back. He will bring his men into a trap, and I will wipe the Rossi syndicate off the map once and for all."
"Victor is smarter than you," I spat defiantly.
"We will see," Lorenzo sneered. He turned to Marcus. "Tie her to the chair. And make sure she is visible from the main warehouse floor. I want Victor to see her right before I put a bullet in his head."
Marcus grabbed my arms, forcing them behind the metal chair, securing my wrists with thick, painful zip-ties. The plastic bit directly into the fresh stitches on my arm, sending a blinding wave of agony through my body. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming.
Lorenzo left the room, followed by Marcus. The heavy door locked, leaving me entirely alone in the suffocating silence.
May you like
I closed my eyes, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing. In. Out. I pictured Finn's small, trusting face. I pictured Victor's fierce, protective gray eyes.
I wasn't going to die in this warehouse. I was going to be the anchor that dragged Lorenzo Falcone to hell.
