Harsh Reality

She ran into the room, shutting the door behind her. She searched the lock, turning in the keys, then moving backward as if the door were one big monster she didn't want to touch.

Except that it was going to bring in a monster in a few minutes.

What was he doing to the man? Had he told Don he caught her trying to break through the padlocks, would he come for her after he was done with her assaulter?

If she'd known, she wouldn't have fought; she would have stayed and gotten it done, then gone back as if nothing had happened.

She made the mistake of looking out the window again, blinking when she saw two other soldiers holding a wounded man in between them, seeing Don behind them, watching with the same rage on his face. Gia pulled back.

Her heartbeat was thudding loudly against her ears, and she clutched her chest to keep it calm.

A furious knock on her door had her straightening in a heartbeat. There was no way he was in front of her door in just how many seconds?

"Contessa," the cool