Chapter XX

I looked at him in shock. Pablo was standing in front of me. Dante's cape. He's behind everything? Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick. But wait a minute, why didn't the shot go off? He was the sixth one and he should have shot me.

The door opened and Lorenzo and the twins came in. The one with the snake tattoo on the back of his hand handed his twin brother a banknote and looked at me angrily.

"Who would have thought that she would sit out all six?" This sentence only earned him an annoyed look from his brother, who took the bill and put it in his pocket.

I didn't understand anything anymore. I looked around the room for help, but everyone just looked at me. My gaze remained on Lorenzo. I hadn't even heard his voice, let alone spoken to him. Even so, he hadn't paid me any attention up to now. He hadn't even spoken to me at the engagement party, the only one. The twins were also very reserved, but every now and then I could see them grinning or whispering to each other. But Lorenzo was quiet, always. I only saw him in the morning at the dinner table and his expression was always rigid and resigned. He was usually busy with his cell phone or a newspaper.

But now, here, he was looking me straight in the eyes. Wait a minute, I had completely focused my thoughts on the wrong thing. What are the three of them doing here?

My head was smoking from the effort, and I had trouble connecting two trains of thought. I was tired, my hand hurt, and the whole situation was overwhelming me.

The twins were arguing about whether I had flinched at the fourth shot, while Lorenzo waved Pablo over. Everyone was relaxed and seemed to be waiting for something, or someone.

Only now did I notice that I was still tied up. I curled the index finger of my good hand and pointed to one of the shackles. "Would someone be so kind?"

My voice sounded scratchy and I had to cough a few times afterwards.

"Leonardo, remove your shackles." The boy with the snake tattoo came towards me. Ah, so that was Leonardo. Just as he put his hand on one of the shackles, a voice came from the doorway.

"Not yet." I was so focused on Leonardo that I didn't notice another person enter the room.

Sergio Martinelli. Okay, this family is crazy. Definitely crazy. Then it suddenly hit me.

It was a test. They had tested me and from the look on the brothers' faces, I had passed. At least I hope that's why they're so relaxed.

"Who gave the orders during the interrogation?" Sergio addressed me for the first time. All heads turned to look at me expectantly. If I am correct in my assumption, then this was not only a test of my loyalty, but also of my abilities. I now had two options: I could answer the question incorrectly and carry on as before, or I could choose the right answer and wait for the reaction.

I looked Sergio in the eyes.

"Pablo," I said with a strength in my voice that I no longer thought I had after the whole situation. Sergio just kept looking at me as if he was searching for something in my face.

"She knows Pablo, it's only logical to say his name now," said Lorenzo.

He was using his voice in my presence for the first time and of course to question me.

Without waiting for the others' reaction, I explained my assumption.

"Pablo was standing in the corner and hadn't moved or said anything the whole time. Of course it was so that I wouldn't recognize him, but then he could have saved himself the risk by waiting outside the door.

That means they needed him here. I guess he should make sure that everything goes according to plan and, if necessary, guide the two of them here." I pointed with my head in the direction of the thug and the sofa man.

"The man also had no patience during his questioning. A leader would have initially frightened the person being questioned, knocked the rug out from under them, especially if they were a member of a mafia. Hitting and using a weapon are less helpful in this case and cause such people to react defiantly."

I only now realized this fact, as I had been far too distracted by the surroundings and the weapon. I had to prevent my memories of the kidnapping and my mother from surfacing. If I had been more attentive, I might have seen through this game sooner.

Lorenzo looked at me quietly before smiling. He smiled?! What a day, first he was talking and now he was smiling. He is making rapid progress.

I had to smile at that thought.

"Welcome to the family," said Sergio before nodding to Leonadro.

He ran over to me and untied me.

"How much did you lose?" I asked him when he had just finished with my legs.

He looked at me confused at first, but then his expression turned sad.

"200 euros," he said sheepishly.

I just shook my head, those monkeys had really bet on how many shots I could take before I gave up any information.

I wasn't surprised, because Ivan and I did things like that too, but it was a strange feeling when it hit you.

I winked at Riccardo, who was now 200 euros richer thanks to me.

"But you're going to buy me a drink for that." He smiled and just nodded in response.

Maybe I'll warm up to all the brothers after all.

When I was finally free, I wanted to get up, but then fell back onto the chair. My legs were like jelly and my hand hurt.

Without saying a word, Lorenzo came up to me and put his arm under my knees and behind my back.

He picked me up and ran out of the room with me in his arms.

It was a warehouse with several complexes.

Just as we were walking towards the front door, I heard screeching car tires and a loud voice screaming.

"Where the hell is she?"

The voice belonged to Dante. Well, has someone finally made it here.

2

"She's fine, she'll be out soon," Sergio reassured his son.

He was about to storm into the warehouse in a rage when he saw me and Lorenzo.

He turned away from his father and ran towards us and took me from his brother.

Without noticing the others, he carried me to his car and sat me in.

At first I wanted to defend myself against his hands, but I just didn't have the strength anymore.

Dante got in next to me and looked at me with an inquiring gaze.

"Does something hurt? Are you in pain?" His gaze looked panicked and he looked me up and down.

I shook my head, "I just want to go to bed."

He nodded and we drove home. The rest of the journey was silent.

When we arrived, Dante picked me up again and took me straight to my room.

He laid me down on the bed and looked at me again. I could be wrong, but for a brief moment it looked as if he was afraid I might disappear again.

He must have noticed his look too, because he quickly changed to his familiar, cold expression and left the room without saying a word.

I'll deal with that later. First I need some sleep and heaven forbid the fly wakes me up again.