Chapter 86: Chapter Eighty Six

*Gabriela*

I stare at her for the longest time not knowing what to say or how to feel about this new development. I wasn’t even aware he had a little sister, much less one that was being used as a housemaid than an heiress that she should be. When she sees my confusion and conflicted feelings her shoulders slump.

“I know what you’re thinking.” She sighs heavily stepping a bit closer to me, but not enough to cause me alarm. “How am I Dario’s sister and why would you even trust me right?”

At least she wasn’t dumb. When I still don’t say anything she crosses her arms and looks me dead in the eyes. “I’m sure you’ve already figured out that my brother and dad aren’t exactly feminists. They’re stuck in the old ways where they believe us females are only good for two things. Being a housewife who cooks, clean, takes care of the children sort of deal and popping out babies left and right.”

“They don’t respect us, and they don’t believe that we should be anything more than a trophy to parade around to the outside world. My mom is a perfect example of that. Only she allows my dad to force her to do those things because when he isn’t around she could spend his money on anything she wants.”

“Why aren’t you like that? Being raised in that kind of environment I would think you would be set in that way as well.” I finally say something to her.

“I wasn’t actually raised here. My dad was disappointed that I was born a girl since all he wants are sons, so when he got the chance, and I was old enough he sent me off to an all-girls catholic boarding school in Italy.”

My eyes widen at hearing that. Maybe that was the reason no one has heard of Gia Moretti. Because it was apparent that neither father nor son wanted it to be known. But if she had been gone this entire time then why was she here now? It was like she read my mind as she states,

“I graduated last month, and I just turned eighteen. They asked if I wanted to stay on with them but living there was more than I could bare and no amount of begging and crying to my mother swayed her enough to bring me home. But being back just for Dario to make me be a slave in that household was enough for me to be thankful my wishes never came true back then. This place is horrible, worse than the boarding house and I would rather be free of it.”

She turns around and starts walking off, indicating for me to follow. Swinging the duffle bag over her shoulder she says, “If we want to catch that boat then we’ll need to hurry. It’ll leave without us.”

“You’re running away too.” It was more a statement than a question.

She nods her head walking at a fast pace through the trees as she takes out a flashlight and turns it on to light our way. “I can’t stand to be here, and I decided to take you with me because I know you were being held against your will. Dario believes he owns you like you’re some cattle, but our old man raised him to be that way. He’s cruel and I don’t believe you deserve that treatment any more than I do.”

“Thank you.” I whisper to her, not sure where to go from here other than follow her lead.

She just gives a one shoulder shrug. “The faster we get the hell out of here the sooner we’ll be safe and away from all of them.”

“You don’t ever plan to come back?”

“Hell no. In fact as soon as I’m far enough away I plan to change my last name and create a whole new identity. I may not even stay here in America, but somewhere far, far away where they wouldn’t be able to find me.”

I could hear the bitterness in her tone. For one so young to thinking of that way about her life and family…it’s a bit heartbreaking. But I understood her more than she knows. I had a loving mother while growing up, but once she was gone I was left with a family that I desperately wanted to get away from. If I had been given the chance I would do the same thing.

We walked for a long time before we made it through the trees and came upon a chain linked fence. Looking through it there was pavement of a parking lot that was empty with a long one story white building with no windows. It was dark but the streetlights that splayed out on the compound gave us some vision. On one side the chain link fence wrapped around the forest following it along and the other side was the docks. There were large containers with a few fishing boats along with a container carrier that was only half full.

I could hear the waves of the ocean as it hit the wooden and metal beams of the dock, spraying it’s mist into the air making the place damp and cold. I shivered from the biting temperature and wished I had grabbed a jacket at least. I watch Gia turn off her flashlight then throw her bag over the fence and turns to me.

“Quickly before anyone sees us. This place may look deserted but trust me it isn’t.” She whispers.

I quickly do as she says throwing the one bag I held with ease since it didn’t really have much anyways. As soon as I did she starts climbing the fence. With shaking hands since I’ve never done something like this before I start to climb as well. The only thing truly fueling me is the gut wrenching feeling of getting away from here and far from Dario as possible.

As soon as we both dropped to the other side we crouch and look around for any signs of movement of being caught. Nothing happens and no alarms or yelling sounds indicating they found us. Grabbing our bags we quickly run to the side of the building and skim the wall until we reach the corner. She slightly peers over and waves for me to follow without looking back.

As we run across the pavement to the docks where a sudden horn blares through the night she quickly grabs my hand and forces us to hide behind one of the large containers, cursing. My heart hammers through my chest as my blood quickens to see four black SUVs suddenly arriving and stopping a couple of yards from where we were. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but Gia didn’t look to happy at the moment.

“Who is it?” I ask in a low tone.

“I’m not sure. This dock is just a shipping dock and owned by a local resident. I made sure it wasn’t owned by any of our families so it would be safer for us to slip away. But this…” She trails off as we watch the vehicle doors open and men filing out as they start talking.

My breath suddenly hitches, and fear overwhelms me with a force as I watch the men roughly pull out one of the men I saw with Enzo days before when they left the ranch. And then my entire world flips upside down when on the other side Enzo gets pushed to the front of the car and forced to his kness with the headlights blaring behind him, his hands tied behind his back.

One of the men stands in front of him and points his gun right at his head and I nearly screamed before Gia slapped a hand over my mouth and pulls me back just in time before I would have made things so much worse. And the words I hear chill me to my very bones.

“Any last words, Giordano before I blast your brains all over the place?”