—Ellie— The lock clicked and I quickly sat up, bracing myself. I wouldn’t allow Tristan to catch me by surprise again. My eyes widened when Fabian stepped inside, carrying a plate. I stood. Why was he here? Would he help me? Fabian regarded my face then shook his head as if he could read my mind. “I’m bringing you dinner.” He came in but left the door ajar, and I wondered why he did it. I doubted it was so I could run. Was he worried of being alone in a room with me? “Here,” he held out the plate with steaming mac and cheese to me. I glared. “Do you remember how you, Mateo and I played together? Do you remember how you and him pretended to be my protectors? Do you remember that?” For a moment we did nothing but stare at each other, but he didn’t allow me to glimpse behind his emotionless mask. With a sigh, he walked past me and put the plate down on my nightstand. “You should eat,” he said firmly. I whirled around to face him

—Ellie— It was around lunchtime when someone knocked. I hadn’t seen Tristan since he’d brought me back to my room after my call with Mateo yesterday. Savio brought me breakfast in the morning without a word. He was probably still pissed. Kate opened the door with a shy smile and two bags in her hands. “I bought clothes for you. I hope they fit.” She stepped in followed by Damian. I hopped off the windowsill. My limbs were starting to feel sluggish from lack of use. I’d worked out almost daily before my kidnapping, and now all I did was sit around. “I assume that means my stay won’t be ending anytime soon,” I said bitterly. Kate sighed. “I don’t know.” My eyes moved over to Damian, who looked his usual stoic self, not that I had expected an answer from him. Kate held the bags out to me. “I got you sandals and a pair of sneakers. A few pairs of shorts, tops, and dresses. And underwear. I really hope I got the right size

—Tristan— I called Salvador in the afternoon. He picked up after the second ring, his voice cold and hard but with an underlying tension that gave me a thrill. “Salvador, I wanted to ask when you were going to fulfill my demand.” “I won’t, just as you intended. I don’t have time for your games, Tristan. This is between us, between you and me. Why don’t we meet in person,and settle this like men.” “You want to duel me? How archaic of you, Salvador. You didn’t strike me as the primitive type.” “I’ll gladly convince you of the contrary.” I almost agreed because the idea of shoving my knife over and over into the cold fish was too fucking enticing. Fighting him would have been a highlight. Since cutting Luca into bite-sized pieces was out of the question for now, Salvador was the opponent I longed for. There was only one thing I wanted more than killing him: having Ellie in every way possible and destroying him through her. “We will

—Ellie— Night had fallen and I was reading in bed, when suddenly the lights went out. I blinked into the unexpected darkness and climbed out of bed, putting the book down on the nightstand. Following the trail of silvery moonlight, I glanced out of the window. The lights in the garden and every other window of the mansion that I could see were out as well. In the distance I could make out lights from other houses. My pulse picked up. What was happening? My eyes searched the shadows of the perimeter, and then I saw two figures running across the lawn toward the house. The Outfit. It had to be. They had come to save me. Euphoria pulsed through me, followed by fear. This was Tristan’s territory. The Russo's knew every inch of their property and the Outfit didn’t. What if Mateo was among the attackers? I clung to the windowsill, immobilized by terror at the thought. Salvador and Dad would have never allowed my cousin to come here. He was

—Tristan— Eleanor had offered herself to me, but she’d done it out of despair, out of love for her cousin. Not because she wanted to. She loved her cousin fiercely, wanted to protect him at any cost, like I would my brothers. I could respect that. I’d never admired a woman on her knees more than I did Ellie. She followed me quietly through the mansion. I could have asked anything of her, but that wasn’t how I wanted things to go. Far from it. I opened the door to the cell beside Mateo’s, and Ellie stepped in. The door to the third cell swung open, and Damian stepped out, covered in blood, his brows drawing together when he spotted Ellie. I closed the door and faced him. “What’s going on?” he asked. His eyes scanned my face. “Tristan.” I smirked. “Change of plans.” He moved closer. “We’re not letting him go.” “We will.” Savio joined us in the hallway, clothes drenched in blood as well. He didn’t say anything, only regarded us