Kira
As soon as they close the door behind me, I rush to the window and open it. There’s no ledge to climb onto or shimmy along, and we’re too high up to do much else-a downside of high-rise buildings. There isn’t even a fire escape close enough to climb onto.
I look down at the street and consider screaming for help to the people below, but again, we’re too high up. The sound of the city will easily drown out my voice before it reaches the people walking below. I try waving my arm to get attention, but no one looks up at me. I sigh and shut the window looking around the room.
It’s completely empty, not even a bedside lamp. I open the cupboards, and they are bare as well. I slam the door shut and check the bedside tables. They’re fastened to the headboard as a set and won’t come apart, so I can’t throw them at someone. I need a weapon.
I check under the bed and in the other cupboards and then go into the en-suite bathroom. There’s nothing in the medicine cabinet. There are some built-in shelves, but the only thing on them is towels. Nothing much I can use. I stare at the mirror.
Maybe if I wrap a towel around my hand, I can break the mirror and use a large shard as a weapon. It would be sharp enough to stab someone or at least pose a threat.
Dammit! I should never have come back to New York. I knew the risks when I did, but I missed my family so much and wanted them to meet Raphael. Now I run the risk of Miguel finding out about the son he doesn’t know he has. He would take Raphael from me-of that, I’m sure.
I sit on the bed. If I break the mirror, they will undoubtedly hear it and come charging in. Besides, a piece of mirror versus guns? I’m not that naive.
I need to wait for the perfect opportunity to try to get out and run away, maybe call the police for help. I know that’s really frowned upon in our family, but I also know the police are on the Sorvino payroll. My father has needed their help more than once in the past, so I know I can trust them.
I hear voices outside my room and try to decipher what’s being said. I hear mention of eggs, and now I’m confused. I sit for what feels like an eternity when the door opens suddenly, and a petite woman enters, leaving the door behind her open. She is carrying a tray with a plate of food and what looks like a cup of coffee.
I don’t even give it a thought. I get up and charge the woman. She freezes in surprise, and I push her to the side, sending food and hot coffee flying as she slams into the cupboard to my left. I run out of the room and look for an exit quickly. As I’m about to take off toward what looks like the front door, arms wrap around my waist and hold me tightly.
I scream and scratch at the arms. When they move higher to hold me in a better grip, I bite at the arms, forcing them back down. I wiggle and move as much as possible, but whoever has me won’t let go. Eventually, he picks me up, and although this allows me to kick him better, I can’t seem to connect in a good enough spot.
I hear the click of metal and turn my head to the right to see a gun. I stop instantly, breathing hard. Another goon has joined the one holding me and is pointing his gun at me. “Calm the fuck down and get back in the room.”
“No,” a voice says from nearby, “bring her to eat with me. Let me explain the rules of my house to her.”
I’m picked up like a doll and carried into an open dining area where Miguel sits, enjoying a hot English breakfast. He always did like English breakfasts when we were in college together.
They sit me in the chair, but they don’t go far. I glare at the don.
“Release me, Miguel.”
“Bring her a plate of food, and clean up whatever messed is in the guest room,” he says, ignoring me.
One of the goons leaves, and the other stands directly behind me. The woman I attacked soon comes shuffling with another plate of food and sets it down in front of me.
“Eat,” Miguel says, starting to eat his own food.
I cross my arms over my chest and look at him stubbornly. “Release me, Miguel, and I’ll tell Alessandro not to kill you.”
Miguel chuckles coldly. This isn’t the man I remember. The man… the boy I remember, was fun-loving, full of life and feeling. I always thought he should be a poet or an artist. This, in front of me, is a cold man with no heart. I can see it in his eyes.
“Eat, Kira, because if you irritate me enough, I will stop feeding you altogether. I am only extending you this kindness because of Don Sorvino and your relation to him. I could easily treat you like the other Sorvino soldiers I’ve picked up over the years.”
I don’t want to test that theory, so I calmly pick up a knife and fork and start to cut up the bacon and an egg.
“Good.” He goes back to his food and looks at me almost thoughtfully.
“The first thing you need to realize is that you are my hostage,” he pauses to take a sip of coffee, “and that means you do what I want you to do, or I get to torture you. Don’t think I won’t, Kira. I am not a naive little college boy anymore. I will do whatever is necessary to advance my family.”
I shake my head. “But you wanted Arianna, not me. It’s not too late to let me go.”
“You will be enough,” he says. He eats so carefully. Utterly devoid of enjoyment. Not the way he used to. “You will eat with me when I eat, you will stop trying to escape, and every time you try to escape, I will treat you like a petulant child and discipline you, do you understand? Nod if you don’t want to speak to me.”
I nod slowly. I don’t understand precisely what he means by disciplining me, but whatever it is, it can’t be pleasant. I eat more of my food, choking it down. The woman from the kitchen brings me a glass of orange juice and sets it down.
“Miguel, I have responsibilities…people that need me.”
“My family needs me,” he says coldly. “They need me to do the right thing for our family, and the Sorvinos have taken far too much in their time here. If they don’t willingly negotiate territories, I will take them by force.”
As if on cue, there are gunshots nearby. I whip my head around as the goon standing behind me rushes to the front door. Several others come out of rooms, and I gasp as I realize how many guards are here. I mean, it makes sense. Miguel is their Don, and he must be protected.
Cold hands grab my arm and force me to the ground. “Stay down. You could get shot by a stray bullet.”
It’s Miguel. He puts a hand on my back as I curl up on the floor. Shouting and more gunshots ensue, but after a few moments of silence, I look up to see the goons coming back in.
“Sorvino men,” one of them says. He’s one of the men that kidnapped me. “But they’re dead now. Three of them.”
Miguel stands and nods. “Pack up, boys, time to go to the Long
Beach estate. Security to be increased immediately.”
He looks down at me. “Looks like you’re as valuable as I thought.”
Miguel
We leave the apartment quickly, with a gun pressed discreetly against Kira’s back. She gets into the car without hassle, and we take off, making sure we aren’t followed. As we exit the city and head toward Long Beach, one of my cars pulls up behind us to escort us into the estate.
Kira doesn’t say anything as we travel. She keeps looking out the window as though waiting for her family to attack us so they can save her. They would be foolish to do so. They know I’d shoot her immediately. They cannot win this one.
We pull into the estate, and the gates close behind us. The guard dogs are released, and patrols will already be underway. My men are well trained, much like the Sorvino men, and they would have a hard time getting through all my guards.
The car pulls up to the mansion, and I step out, not bothering to offer Kira my hand. She climbs out of the car and looks around curiously, probably trying to figure out a way to escape.
I push her towards the door. “Move, Kira.”
She glares at me but walks into the mansion. Guards are also patrolling inside the mansion and stand to attention when I enter, the way it should be. I take off my suit jacket and hand it to the butler nearby.
“Thanks, Jeremy.”
I look at Kira. “This is going to be where you’ll be staying for a while. You can go to most places in the mansion. I suppose I have nothing better to do, so let me show you where everything is.”
I start to walk. “The dining room and living room downstairs are available for you to use. You cannot make your own food. The kitchen staff will prepare it. You are in no way allowed further than the kitchen door over there in case you think about getting sharp knives.” I look at her pointedly. “You may not go into the garden without an escort, and Kira,” I pause to look at her, “I have guards everywhere, so don’t bother trying to sneak out.” I walk up the stairs and lead her to the left. “Your room is opposite mine here to the left.”
I open the door and lead her into a grand room with a four-poster solid made from oak bed. There’s a window overlooking the garden, and a light breeze blows through, bringing the scent of the ocean with it. She looks around and nods but doesn’t say anything.
“My study is down the hall to the right of the stairs. You’re forbidden to go in there,” I say with a note of finality.
“And clothes?” she asks suddenly. “Toiletries and stuff? Am I just supposed to live in my own filth until you decide what you’re doing with me?”
“I already know what I’m doing with you,” I smirk, and I feel rather evil. “You can give a list to my guard of what you want, but Kira, this isn’t kindness. Do not think I am a kind person.”
Kira’s eyes meet mine, and she looks a little scared. She should be scared. But beneath that fear is a fire of defiance I don’t remember her having when we were younger.
“I will fight you every step of the way,” she says quietly, bravely standing her ground.
I suppress a chuckle and take a step toward her, so I’m looking directly down at her.
“I’ve explained this situation, Kira. You can try, but I’m not above disciplining you. There are consequences to your actions.”
“I don’t need to be told there are consequences to actions,” she snaps angrily.
“I will discipline you,” I repeat myself coldly. “If you do try me, I will punish you, and you will not enjoy it. That’s my final word on the matter.”
I lead her out of the room and back downstairs. I know she is following me because she wants to find an escape route, but she won’t find one, not here.
We stand at the base of the stairs, and I look at my watch. “I have guests arriving shortly. You can go back to your room and remain there until dinner. Your exploring for an escape route can wait until then.”
She looks at me, surprised, but I motion for one of the guards to come forward. “Harry will escort you to your room and make sure you stay there. Someone will be up with clothes for you to wear to dinner. I expect you to be on time. I’m not a patient man, don’t make me wait.”
Harry motions for her to go upstairs, and she glares at me one last time before she goes upstairs with my guard.
I wait until I hear her bedroom door shut then I go upstairs and head to my study. I pull out a cigar, not my Cubans, as those are kept exclusively at my apartment in the city. I light the cigar and sit down in my office chair. I don’t have to wait long. Everyone is aware of my patience level.
My three brothers, two uncles, my father, and Lyle and Jarred come into my office as soon as they arrive, all finding a place to stand except the older men who find seats.
“Gentlemen, you’ve obviously heard of my cousins’ blunders.” I glance at Lyle and Jarred, but that’s all I say on the matter. “We have Kira Sorvino as a hostage, and Alessandro has already tried to get her back once.”
“Don Rossi,” Lyle says, and I look at him, “they’ve completely destroyed the apartment. It was not long after you left. They left a message on the wall that they are declaring war on us if we don’t return Kira.”
I smile. “I wasn’t expecting a response so soon, and the apartment can be redone.”
I look at my father. “I’ve decided to keep Kira here until I can negotiate more territories with Don Sorvino. I’m sure he will call for the meeting as soon as he realizes he can’t take her by force.”
“I advise against this war,” my Uncle Fabio says quietly. “A war against the Sorvinos? Jose Catalan would tell you what a bad idea that is if he were still alive today.”
My other Uncle Marcel nods in agreement. “Sometimes we have to give a little to the big families to protect our smaller family.”
“See, that’s where you are wrong,” I say, heat rising on my face. “We’re not some shitty small family. We’re the second-largest family in New York. We’ve risen over the years under my father’s guidance, and I intend to take us all the way while I rule.”
Fabio and Marcel both hold up their hands in surrender, and I stand, turning my back on them. “We’ve been taking shit from those Sorvino bastards for too long. They think they can walk all over New York as if they own it. They need to think again. We need to show them, through force and power, what we are capable of.”
“What do you suggest? We start attacking their territories and risk the lives of our people and their families?” Marcel asks from behind me.
I chuckle. “Zio, you think too much of Alessandro. The man has gone soft as he has aged. He doesn’t want to risk any more lives than you do. He will fall to his knees quick enough.”
My father hasn’t said a word, and this worries me. I turn to look at him, and he’s staring at me. Everyone looks at him, and he nods. “I think it is worth taking the risk. It could pay off handsomely. But remember to keep your emotions in check, Miguel, don’t make rash decisions.”
I stand stock still. Everyone’s waiting for my reaction, but I remain calm and cold. I nod. “Of course, Padre. I know what I’m doing.”
“You are Don. We follow what you say.”
I nod and sit back down to plot out our next move.