She’s been gone a year. And I did nothing. I didn’t even know she was gone.

I don’t know why Matteo took Eden. The only thought I can come up with is because he is pissed at me and looking for revenge. He wants to hurt Arlo and me for what we did to him.

He’s had Eden this whole time. Tortured her. Raped her. And now he might kill her if we don’t do exactly what he wants.

I swore I would never go back. That Arlo and I had started fresh. We would run forever if it meant we would never have to go back. But I would do anything for Eden.

I’ll go back to her in a heartbeat if she can be free.

“Can you drive any faster?” I ask Arlo, who’s barely breaking the speed limit as we drive through the curvy roads of Italy.

He rests his hand on my lap trying to calm me. “Dying in a car crash won’t help Eden. Besides, he won’t touch her until we get there. He wants us to suffer,” Arlo says.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I was a horrible friend. I was living this amazing life with you, while my best friend was suffering in agonizing pain.”

“No, you didn’t know. And from what you’ve told me, Eden’s tough. She will get through this. Just like you did.”

I nod. She’s made it a year. That’s a lot longer than I was locked up for.

Arlo speeds up, and we finally pull up in the driveway of the Carini house. It’s long and dark and equally as hauntingly beautiful as I remember.

But we aren’t here to admire the beautiful architecture. We are here to do whatever it takes to get Eden back.

Arlo takes my hand as we pull up in front of the house, both of us knowing that the security team already knows we are here.

“Ready?” he asks.

I pull the gun he gave me and taught me to use, out of my purse.

I nod.

He pulls his gun out, and then we step out of the car ready for an attack at any moment.

Arlo still has hope that he can negotiate with Matteo. Get him to talk to us, and we will get out of here without a scratch. I don’t think we will be so lucky.

Arlo also thinks that the men that now work for Matteo will still show him some loyalty because he used to work with them. Was friends with them. They were like family.

He’s delusional. I remember what family does to each other.

We step into the house and don’t hear anything. Not a person talking. Not the TV or radio on. Not even a deep exhale of breath. Nothing.

We hold onto each other’s hands as we slink through the house, trying to hide in the shadows, but it quickly becomes apparent that there is no one to hide from. No one is here.

“Why would Matteo call us here and then not be here?” I ask.

Arlo gives me a dark look, and I know what he’s thinking.

Dungeon.

He’s in the dungeons waiting for us. I don’t want to go back to the dungeon. It holds too many mixed memories for me. It’s dark, and Matteo will have the upper hand. But we didn’t exactly get to pick the place where the fight will happen.

It will also be harder for us to talk calmly with Matteo.

We don’t have a choice. We have to go.

So we slink down to the dungeon. Trying to be as quiet as possible.

But when we open the unlocked door and it creaks loudly, we know that it was the wrong approach.

I scream as Arlo is knocked out from behind before he even has a chance to fight.

“Seems you’ve lost your touch brother,” Matteo says.

“Matteo, please. Just let us go. I’m sorry I chose Arlo. We never meant to hurt you.”

“It’s been a long time. You don’t understand the trouble you have caused,” he says.

I drop the gun, knowing it’s useless against him. My only hope is to find his weakness.

“Let Eden go. She doesn’t deserve to be here. Take me instead,” I say.

“No!” I hear Eden cry behind me.

I turn and see Eden locked away in one of the cells behind me. She’s still alive. Her eyes are still full of fight. I exhale a little seeing her, but I don’t run to her as much as I want to. I need Matteo to make the trade first.

“You’re right about one thing. Eden doesn’t deserve to be here.”

He grabs me by the arm, and he motions for his men to pick up Arlo’s lifeless body that I can barely look at. I know he’s still alive, but I still hate seeing him like that.

I hear Eden continue to scream behind us, but I tune her out as Matteo walks me away from the dungeon.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“To make you good on your end of the deal. Eden will go free, in exchange, I’m turning you and Arlo over to Enrico.”

Everything stops. I would die for Eden. Do anything for her. But I will do anything not to be taken by Enrico again. He raped me. Did unspeakable things. I will not let him be the one to torture and eventually kill me. I’ll die before I let him touch me again.