Nina and Arlo came. Nina was feet away from me, and there was nothing I could do to protect her.

Matteo took them, and I’m afraid it was the last time I might ever see either of them ever again.

“Dierk!” I shout to the man standing guard outside my dungeon cell.

He casually walks over to the door that has bars and a small window at the top.

“Where is Matteo taking them?” I ask.

He looks at me sadly. “To the warehouse. He’s turning them over to Enrico. But if it makes you feel any better, I really think he will let you go free when this is all over. He told me not to hurt you no matter what. He wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t going to let you free.”

What is it with everyone thinking that Matteo is a good man? He’s a cruel, manipulative, monster. He wants power and money. He doesn’t give a shit about anyone else.

I sink down on the floor terrified Nina is going to die, and it’s my fault. I should have protected her. I should have called her and told her what was happening when I was free. Now I’ll never get the chance.

My body shakes and trembles as I sit on the floor, sobbing. My voice cracks, a high-pitched cry that encompasses everything I’m feeling. Heartache. Terror. Fear. Love. Useless.

“Eden, are you okay?” Dierk shouts through the bars.

I open my mouth to say yes, but an idea forms.

“No, I think…god, my stomach, I think something is wrong with the baby…”

I don’t know what instructions that Matteo gave Dierk, but if Dierk thinks that Matteo still cares about the baby and me then Dierk will think he has to do everything he can to protect me.

Dierk pops the door open and runs to me holding me in his arms.

“Let’s get you to the hospital,” he says, helping me to my feet. “Can you walk?” he asks.

I nod as he puts his arms around me and starts leading me to the garage. He walks me to the car that is parked nearest to the exit of the garage. Just as he’s lowering me into the car, I say, “I’m sorry,” and elbow him hard in the nose.

Dierk falls to the floor, and I grab the keys, race around to the driver’s side, and speed off. I may not be able to save Nina, but I have to try.

* * *

The warehouse is dark when I pull up, but there are dozens of cars scattered around the parking lot. I know they are here.

I don’t have any weapons. Nothing to get Nina back or protect myself with. I have no idea how I’m going to get her back. But I have to find a way.

I rub my stomach reminding myself that I’m not just risking my life when I try to save Nina. I’m risking my baby’s life too.

It just makes me more determined.

I choose the back entrance to enter, hoping that I can sneak in without being noticed. I do, but I hear a man’s voice that brings fear to my soul.

Enrico Carini, I assume.

I slink down the hallway to the large room that serves as everything; weapons hold, meeting room, office, and now as a trading place. A place to trade my best friend for money and the promise of Enrico to leave Matteo alone.

I duck down behind a desk when I see Matteo. He’s standing in the center of the room across from a man that looks twice his age. He’s shorter than Matteo, but also somehow crueler looking. It’s Enrico.

Behind Enrico is a dozen men on his side.

At least a dozen stand behind Matteo as well.

I search, but it doesn’t take me long to see Nina and Arlo with their arms tied behind their back, standing behind Matteo with a gun pointed at their heads by Maximo and Paul.

My fingers tremble, and my legs ache as I squat down. I want to jump over the table and demand Matteo to release Nina and Arlo, but I know that won’t happen. All I can do is stay here behind this dusky desk and hope that an opportunity presents itself to save them.

“You brought them. I didn’t think you had it in you, Matteo, to betray your own brother, but maybe you are my son after all,” Enrico says.

“I did. Now you need to hold up your end of the deal,” Matteo responds.

Enrico nods to one of his men, who brings forward a large briefcase. He opens it presenting it to Matteo. Matteo flips through the cash quickly and the nods, accepting the cash.

The man closes the briefcase and sets it next to Matteo.

“And the second half of our agreement?” Matteo asks.

“You won’t see or hear from me again. I won’t return to Italy. I’ve been staying in Northern Ireland setting up a new turf there. That’s where I’ll be returning,” Enrico says.

Matteo nods. “Good.”

“Now one last thing to meet my terms,” Enrico says.

“You didn’t have any other terms,” Matteo says, the corner of his lip twitching, upset.

Enrico cocks his head to the side as he smirks. “I always have additional terms when needed. You brought me Nina and Arlo so I could get my revenge. I’m still not convinced you’ve completely turned on your brother and are now on my side, however.”

Matteo narrows his eyes, clearly annoyed with his father’s requests. He doesn’t argue though. Instead, he turns and walks toward Nina first. He grabs her chin as she struggles against the ropes, which keep her from lashing out at Matteo.

“I love you, and you betrayed me. You deserve what’s coming to you,” Matteo says. He tightens his grip on her chin and then kisses her lips. It’s not like a kiss he’s ever done with me. It’s all tongue as he slobbers over her lips and forces his tongue into her mouth. Suddenly, he ends the kiss, as quickly as he started it, and then slaps her, knocking her to the floor.

I was expecting him to hurt her. I knew he hated her, but I can’t stop the tears from flooding my eyes, seeing her drop to the floor in pain. And I can’t stop the ache in my heart from forming when I see Matteo kissing another woman. Even Nina. Even under these circumstances. I know that he loves her and hates her. Unlike me, who is nothing to him.

Matteo turns his attention to Arlo, who is writhing with anger after watching the woman he loves hurt by Matteo.

“You’re no brother of mine,” Arlo says growling.

Matteo stands expressionless in front of his brother. He stands still for a long time as he stares at Arlo. I don’t know what he’s doing. He doesn’t talk. He doesn’t move. He just stands there.

Suddenly, he pulls something shiny out of his pocket and quickly jabs the object into Arlo’s stomach.

I gasp at the sight of the blood pouring out of Arlo, not expecting Matteo to actually stab him.

Everyone’s eyes turn toward me. My gasp was far too loud not to be discovered, but they can barely see me as I’m still crouched behind the desk.

I have two choices. Run away. Or try to save Nina.

I choose the latter.

I run around the desk and race toward Nina, hoping if I distract Matteo’s men long enough, Nina will be able to escape. I’m fast, but not as fast as I used to be, now that I’m pregnant.

I run straight toward Paul, who is holding Nina back, and I kick him as hard as I can in the shin. He jumps back, and I grab her.

“Shoot her,” Enrico says to his men.

I hear the shots and Nina and I both duck down instinctively.

Abruptly, I’m gripped by strong hands, and I know that my plan to try to free Nina is short-lived.

I glance up and see Matteo shielding me from the bullets. Not Nina, me.

I frown, not understanding. I thought he only had love-hate feelings toward Nina. I thought he felt nothing toward me.

“Stop,” Enrico says, and the bullets stop. He chuckles loudly.

“Now, this looks familiar. Fallen in love again so soon have we? I thought I taught you better than to get attached,” Enrico says.

Matteo glares at him as he slowly lets me go, realizing his mistake.

“I don’t love her,” Matteo says. “I was trying to protect Nina. I don’t want you thinking I planned this and to renege on our agreement.”

Enrico narrows his eyes and lets his lips fall as he studies Matteo and then each of us.

“Time to make the swap, then. You won’t mind throwing in the bitch then will ya? An old man like me doesn’t get many opportunities to taste two beautiful women in one night,” Enrico says.

“It will cost you more,” Matteo answers.

“Well, of course,” Matteo says, snapping his fingers and more money is brought to Matteo’s feet.

Matteo grabs both Nina and my arms and starts walking us toward Enrico, he glances to his right, and I swear I see Matteo wink.

And then bullets. I duck again, getting far too used to covering my head at the sound of bullets.

People start running, and my feet start moving instinctively.

Matteo’s hand falls from my arm.

“Eden!” Matteo screams, but I don’t stop running. He doesn’t love me. He won’t protect me. I can only rely on myself to keep my baby and me safe.

I run, trying to get as far away from the bullets as I can. I don’t wait for Nina. She’s smart, and I know that she’s running back to Arlo. Together, they will be able to escape now that all hell has broken loose. I have no doubt.

I have to worry about myself.

I dart around a lifeless body and then make it to the back door. I need to make it to the car and then drive straight to the airport and never look back.

I grab the handle of the door as I feel a hand grip my shoulder, jerking me back.

“Hello, beautiful,” Enrico says, tossing me into two of his men’s arms. “I came for revenge, and I got something better, a chance to ruin true love.”

“You’re wrong. Matteo doesn’t love me. He doesn’t want me.”

He laughs. “Of course he loves you. He did everything he could to protect you and keep you out of harm’s way, even giving up his brother and old fling for a chance to keep me far away so that I would never discover you.”

Matteo loves me. I try to search for him to see if it’s true. To see if I was the idiot that missed the signs, that this was somehow all an elaborate plan to save me. I can’t find him. Enrico’s men start dragging me away. And now I’m afraid I’ll never know.