Page 62 of Sinfully Owned

Maybe it would be a smart idea if I pretended I was still unconscious? As long as I wasn't conscious, no one could harm me, could they? Unconscious, I was of no use to anyone, at least that's what I told myself and clung to the hope that I was right.

I closed my eyes and hung my head again, even though it further strained my muscles and caused me pain. Unconscious people didn't feel pain, did they? So I couldn't let myself feel that either.

While keeping up the charade, I tried to listen for sounds that would give me any clue where I was. There were so many seedy motels within Naples, he could have taken me anywhere. Were we still in the city? How much time had passed since he had kidnapped me from my apartment?

A sinking feeling formed in my stomach, which rapidly developed into nausea.

Before I knew what was happening to me, I was puking my guts out. I couldn't even writhe to alleviate the pain in my abdomen. The cramps held me captive for several minutes until my lunch was on the floor to my left.

As soon as I could catch my breath, the door flew open, and the Frenchman stomped in with a grim look on his face. He only needed a second to analyze the situation.

Disgusted, he shook his head. "If you think someone is going to mop that up, you're wrong," he informed me in broken English, from which the French accent could be heard heavily.

"If you remove the ropes, I'll do it myself," I growled, maintaining eye contact.

He burst out laughing. "That's right. And then I could give you the key to my car. Dream on,putain."

It had been worth a try. It could have been that he belonged to the stupid kind of kidnappers who like to make such mistakes.

"So, what do you want with me now? I'm worth nothing, if that's what you're after." No one would pay him a ransom or otherwise respond to his demands, if he had any.

"You will finish what I have started. This time with no incidents. A new bomb, a new mission. However, this time you will blow up anyway, whether or not you succeed. "

"I hope you're standing right next to me at that moment," I growled, throwing myself forward as far as the restraints would allow.

My attempt seemed to amuse him. "Nice performance. We're just waiting for our specialist to show up here. He'll outfit you with the equipment and then you'll be a free bird again. At least for a few more hours."

"Why would I go to the brothers if I'm going to die anyway?"

"Because you're hoping for them to save you again. Simple as that."

He underestimated me, but I wouldn't tell him that. He thought his change of plans left me no choice at all... No.

Let the French bring in their specialist and strap the next bomb on me. As soon as I was free, I would get out of the city. Maybe go to the place from which I could see Naples and the volcano. Send a quick message to Dario, warn him

Suddenly, there were tears burning in my eyes. Torture. Psychological terror. I would have put up with all that, hoping that my disappearance would be noticed and they would start looking for me.

But another bomb, this time almost certainly designed so that I couldn't just get rid of it by someone cutting the straps?Merda. He could have shot me right then and there.

"And I thought I wouldn't get to see that desperate look on your face." He sounded satisfied, as if the sight filled him.

I lowered my head in an attempt to block his view. My hair fell over my face like a curtain, but that also meant I could no longer see what he was doing.

Did it still matter? The outcome of the whole thing was already set in stone. Did I want to spend the last few minutes in fear and terror? No. I'd better save those feelings for when there was no escape.

I sniffled, straightened up again and faced him with a firm look. "I will not give in," I hissed at him.

It was more of a mantra to myself than a declaration of war against him, but it worked both ways.

"You will not break me," I continued.

He became angry.

"And you can kidnap as many women as you want and send them to the brothers with your crappy plan, they'll still always come out of it alive. You won't be the one costing them their lives and taking over the mafia!"

That made him furious. He seethed with anger. My instinct told me to shut up and keep my feet still again. My head, however, was already one step ahead and had made it its goal to verbally dismantle him before I walked along the sure path to death.

"You should remember who you're messing with. The mafia doesn't play games it will lose. In the end, there's only one who takes a beating. And it's always the one who thinks he's more powerful." A laugh came over my lips. Ominous.