Isabella

 

After Jake hung up the phone, he looked at Rico. “Tie her up,” he said quickly. “I don’t want her fucking getting away again.”

 

I shivered as I felt Rico’s rough, tough hands sliding over my smooth skin. Even though I’d taken him to be the nicer one, the gentler of the two, he didn’t show it this time. He grabbed my wrist and then spun me around, grabbing the other and tying them firmly behind my back.

 

“She’s done up tight, boss,” Rico called, pleased with his work.

 

“Doesn’t it bother you that we’re doing this in a public driveway?” I snapped.

 

Rico walked around to my front and faced me. “You’re a cunt,” he said, repeating Jake’s earlier words. “And a fucking nosy cunt at that. Shut up,” he said, pulling a gun from the waistband of his pants and waving it around. “Or I’ll fucking pistol whip you until you can’t talk anymore.” My face must have showed horror because Rico grinned. “She’s gonna be quiet,” he said proudly to Jake. “I fuckin’ shut her up.”

 

“Good,” Jake snapped. “Put her in the car.”

 

Rico grabbed me and wrestled me back towards the car. The backseat doors were open and he put one hand on my head, shoving me in. I spat and kicked and did everything in my power to make it harder for him, but Rico was much stronger than me.

 

“God, what a bitch,” Rico said. He slammed the door shut.

 

It was hot in the car and I could feel sweat beading on my forehead. Even though it was chilly outside for a fall day, Jake had parked in the sun. The leather interior burned my bare skin like fire, and I moaned and writhed around, trying to get out of the direct light.

 

They were staring at a map that was spread out over the hood of the car. I shuddered. Were they planning to kill me? If so, I almost wished they would get it over with. Jake had to know Zane was good for a lot of money, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he wanted to kidnap me. After all, Zane had kept my identity a secret, even from me. I hadn’t found out until I’d seen the locket and confronted him. If I hadn’t known who I was, how did Jake know? How did Rico?

 

My mind was swarming with crowded thoughts. When they let themselves in the car — Jake behind the wheel, Rico riding shotgun — I barely noticed until Jake gunned the car into gear and started backing down the driveway.

 

“Hey,” I said suddenly. “Why are you doing this?”

 

“Because we want to,” Rico said. He turned around and faced me, a grin plastered on his grimy face. “We like to make pretty girls suffer.”

 

I shivered. I was more afraid than I’d ever been in my life, but I didn’t want him to know that. “I don’t think that’s the reason why,” I countered. “I don’t think it’s anything to do with me at all. I think you’re trying to get to Zane.”

 

Rico laughed out loud. “Jake, she’s a genius!”

 

“Shut up,” Jake snapped. He took his eyes off the road and turned towards me, twisting in his seat and contorting his face with rage. “Shut up! Shut up, you stupid cunt!”

 

I blinked. I was almost used to being called horrible names now. It still bothered me, but it didn’t have the same sting as it had before. I shuddered at the thought of being used to anything that was this bad, but I knew I was doing what I had to do in order to stay alive.

 

“Why do you want to hurt Zane?” I asked softly. “His father is the leader of the family business. You owe everything to him. Even I know that, and Zane doesn’t tell me shit.”

 

The truth was I didn’t know anything. I was bluffing. I’d been bluffing since the beginning, and I didn’t see any reason to stop now. But I thought somehow, if I could provoke Jake into getting angry, I’d be able to take advantage and run away. It was a stupid idea, but it was the only plan I’d even come close to formulating.

 

“You don’t know anything,” Jake snapped. “Zane’s father was a fucking pig, and I stuck him in the fucking gut.”

 

I glared at him. “Why? Why did you kill him?” I racked my brain, trying to remember everything Zane had ever told me about Jake.

 

“Did you have any brothers or sisters growing up?” Zane and I were lying in bed, just after sex. He was staring at the ceiling, flat on his back. I was on my side, propped up and watching his gorgeous, masculine face.

 

“Nah,” Zane said. He swallowed hard. Without turning towards me, he asked, “What about you? Did you have any siblings?”

 

I shook my head, even though Zane wasn’t watching me. “No,” I said softly. “I always wanted an older brother, though. Someone who would look out for me, someone who would, you know…” I trailed off and giggled as a blush came over my cheeks. “Someone who would protect me. Someone who would teach me about being an adult. I know it sounds corny, but I always wanted that as a kid.”

 

Zane snorted. “You’re full of it, sister,” he said.

 

I reached out to pull him closer to me. I knew Zane wasn’t the snuggliest person in the world, but I was feeling alone and I wanted some comfort. “What?”

 

“What?”

 

Zane pulled away. “I ain’t that kinda guy,” he said roughly. “I ain’t the kinda guy who snuggles and shit. You want that, get a puppy.”

 

I wrinkled my nose. “I’d rather have you,” I said softly.

 

He didn’t reply. He was still staring straight ahead.

 

I looked up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what was mesmerizing him so. “What is it?’”

 

Zane didn’t say anything. Finally, he let out a long sigh. “You know, I was pulling your leg before,” he said in a low voice.

 

I perked up. “You do like to cuddle?”

 

Zane snorted. “Fuck no,” he said. “I meant, I had a brother.” He let out a long sigh. “Well, I kind of had a brother. He was basically adopted. He was my best friend growing up and Lionel took him in.”

 

I was silent. It was still hard for me to accept the fact that Lionel called his father by his first name. “Oh,” I said softly. “I didn’t know.”

 

“Yeah, ‘cause I didn’t tell you,” Zane replied. “But now I am. So that mean anything to you?”

 

I bit my lip. “Why wouldn’t you have told me about your brother?”

 

“It’s complicated,” Zane replied. “It’s different. You probably grew up in some happy family, some huggy shit, some talk-about-your-feelings shit.”

 

I shook my head. “Not really,” I admitted. “I always wanted that…but my family wasn’t really like that. My dad died when I was a little kid and my mom was always busy. She didn’t really like having a kid. I mean, she never said anything about it. But I could always tell.”

 

Zane sighed. “I loved my brother, Jake. I mean, he’s a little shit. And sometimes I think Lionel likes him more than he likes me. It’s like that shit from The Godfather.”

 

“I’m sure your father loves you very much,” I told Zane. “You’re his son. It’s in your blood.”

 

“Shit ain’t like that in the real world, princess,” Zane said. “Shit ain’t this good. You know that, don’t you, honey?”

 

I blinked. “I’m not sure I do,” I said. “All families love each other.”

 

Zane shook his head. “You got a lot to learn,” he said softly. “You got a lot to learn.”

 

I blinked. Suddenly, I wasn’t in bed with Zane anymore. I was in the back seat of the Mercedes, with Jake and Rico. And we were going towards an unknown destination. I wondered again if they were going to kill me.

 

“Zane loved you,” I told Jake. “He told me things were difficult, but you should know he loved you.”

 

“If you don’t shut her up, I’m gonna blow her head off,” Jake said to Rico in a low voice. “Can you keep her from talking?”

 

Rico turned around. With surprising force, he kicked me hard in the shin. I cried out as pain bloomed in my leg and tears came to my eyes. Awkwardly reaching down, I tried to wrap my bound hands around the throbbing pain but I couldn’t. Rico laughed as tears leaked out of my eyes and fell down my cheeks.

 

“You hear that, bitch? If you don’t stay quiet, I’ll do worse,” he threatened.

 

I glared at him but I didn’t speak again. Rico gave me a satisfied smile and turned back around. “Yo, boss, where we goin’?”

 

“Like I’d tell you,” Jake said dryly.

 

The minutes faded into hours. I was only slightly aware that we were outside of Morris, perhaps even outside of New Jersey. We drove past field after empty field, and then finally the fields turned into trees. There were hardly any road signs or traffic lights, and I felt all traces of hope leaving me.

 

No doubt about it, Jake was going to kill me. It was just like in the movies; he’d drive me to a remote location, make me get out of the car, put a gun to my head, and that would be it.

 

I shuddered with fear.

 

“Hey, girl, we’re here,” Jake said, as if confirming my fears. “Ready to take a little walk?”

 

He slowed the car and turned off on a dirt road, leading towards the woods. I shuddered as I watched the sun disappear behind the clouds and the trees. I could already feel a difference in the air; it was cooler, damper than the air back at Zane’s house.

 

“Please don’t hurt me,” I begged, feeling pathetic.

 

Rico threw his head back and hooted. The car turned down an unmarked path and Jake yanked the gearshift to a halt. The tires stopped with a grinding screech sound that ricocheted off every single filling in my teeth.

 

“We ain’t gonna hurt you,” Rico said. He looked at Jake. “Right, boss? We ain’t gonna hurt her.”

 

Jake climbed out of the car. “Get her,” he said, pointing to Rico. “And don’t take all fuckin’ day. We gotta get out of here soon.”

 

I shuddered as Rico opened my door and grabbed me, hauling me to the ground with his bulky body. “Come on,” Rico hissed under his breath. “I ain’t got all day waiting for your fat ass to get out of the car.”

 

My cheeks burned in shame as Rico wrestled me to the ground. I could barely walk — my legs were so weak — but I managed to stay upright. The air smelled good. It was fresh and cool and clean, and for a moment, I took a deep breath and tried to relax.

 

Jake slapped me hard across the face. “We ain’t gonna kill you,” he said with a grin. “Just in case your boy comes through with that money. But we ain’t gonna take care of you neither,” he added, grimacing at me. “Tie her to that tree,” he instructed Rico.

 

No matter how I twisted and turned in Rico’s arms, he held me firm. He dragged me across a bed of pine needles and with some rope, bound me to a giant tree.

 

The bark dug into my bare skin and I whimpered. “This hurts,” I said in a whiny voice. “You tied me too tightly!”

 

Jake grinned. He climbed back inside the car and rolled down the windows. “Sorry, Blondie. Can’t risk you running off again!” He threw his head back and hooted at his own joke. “You’re gonna suffer, sweetheart. You and that baby in your belly are gonna suffer, and then you’re gonna die. You got that?”

 

A chill ran down my spine. They did mean to kill me. They just weren’t going to shoot me. Maybe life wasn’t like a mob movie after all.

 

For a second, I didn’t think they were actually going to leave. But then Rico climbed in the car. Jake rolled up the window and turned the key in the ignition. The headlights practically blinded me and I closed my eyes, screaming at the top of my lungs. If they heard me, they showed no sign of caring. Zane, please find me soon, I begged. The sun was going down and I was already shivering. I couldn’t imagine how cold it would be after dark. Please, Zane. You’re my only hope.