Maya's POV
We were directly above the helicopters. As bullets began to fall from the sky, I flung myself to the ground. The guards surrounding Moretti's home were yelling and scurrying for safety. Everywhere, car alarms were going off.
"Get the girl inside!" Over the commotion, Moretti shouted.
I was dragged toward the house by two guards who grabbed my arms. I didn't turn around, but I could hear my dad yelling behind me. I was too preoccupied with avoiding being shot.
Something exploded outside, and the front door slammed behind us. Dust dropped from the ceiling as the entire house trembled.
I said, "What's happening?"
One of the guards grinned cruelly and said, "The Romano brothers are saying hello."
My heart leaped. "They're alive?"
"For now," said the guard.
Red-faced with rage, Moretti barged into the house. "How did they discover us so quickly?"
Another guard said, "Perhaps they placed a tracker on the girl."
"Search her," Moretti commanded.
I retreated from them and yelled, "No!"
"Hold her down," said Moretti.
A fourth guard rummaged through my clothing as three others grabbed me. Despite my nausea and fear, I made an effort not to cry. I needed to be strong.
The guard checked my shoes and pockets and said, "Nothing."
"How did they find us then?" Moretti insisted.
Someone said, "Perhaps they followed the cars."
"Not possible. Three different routes were taken by us."
Outside, the explosions were growing closer. I could hear gunfire and men yelling commands. I thought my heart might burst because it was beating so quickly.
One of the guards said, "Boss," while glancing out the window. "There are many of them."
"How many?" Moretti inquired.
"Too many."
Moretti muttered a curse. "Leave the girl in the secure area. The Romanos will need to go through me if they want her back."
I was pushed by the guards down a hallway that led to the rear of the house. We went by armored rooms with men preparing for battle. It was more than just a house; it resembled a military installation.
I said, "Where are you taking me?"
One of the guards said, "Somewhere safe. Don't be concerned. We value you more alive than dead."
We descended a flight of stairs to a basement. There were no windows and the walls were made of thick concrete. It was like being buried alive.
The guard pushed me into a tiny room and said, "This is where you'll be staying."
There was a small bathroom, a bed, and a chair in the room. That was it. Nothing—no windows, no decorations. It resembled a cell in a prison.
I inquired, "How long do I have to stay here?"
"Until the boss says otherwise," the guard stated.
Hours could pass. It might be days. I heard a lock click as he shut the door. I was confined.
I placed my head in my hands and sat on the bed. It had all gone wrong so quickly. I was a typical college student just a few hours ago. I was now a prisoner in a conflict between criminal families.
Outside, the fighting was growing louder. Just above my head, I could hear gunfire and explosions. With every blast, the concrete walls trembled.
Did the Romano brothers actually go out there? Was this about something else, or were they attempting to save me?
Marco was bleeding on the roof when I thought about him. Was he all right? How about Luca and Dante? They were wounded, but alive, according to Moretti. What was meant by that?
And Enzo, who was quiet but seemed to know everything. According to Moretti, he got away. Perhaps he was the one who discovered me.
Another guard entered through the open door. This one was older, kind-eyed, and had gray hair.
He inquired, "Are you hungry?"
"No," I replied.
"You ought to have some food. It will be a long evening."
On the little table, he placed a tray of food. It was more than I had anticipated, even though it was only a sandwich and some water.
"Thank you," I said.
The guard said, "Don't thank me yet. I'm not trying to be kind."
"Then why?"
The guard explained, "Because Mr. Moretti wants you healthy. If you're weak or ill, you're no good to him."
"What is his desire for me?"
The guard gave me a long look. "You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"The reasons you hold such significance for the Romano family."
I gazed at him. "What do you mean?"
The guard pointed to the ceiling and said, "Those boys upstairs. Territories and money are not the only things they are fighting for. They are defending you."
"That's impossible," I replied. "I don't really know them."
The guard remarked, "Perhaps you don't know them. However, they are aware of you."
Another explosion rocked the house before I could find out what he meant. The lights flickered because this one was so close.
The guard said, "I have to go. Eat what you're eating. Your strength will be needed."
Locking the door behind him, he walked out.
I was no longer hungry as I gazed at the sandwich. The Romano brothers knew me? What did he mean? How could that have happened?
Before tonight, I had never met them. They had come to collect the money that my father had stolen. That was all. Was it not?
I made an effort to recall everything that had transpired since they discovered me in the alley. Dante had gazed at me as if he were seeing a ghost. The way Marco, who hardly knew me, had shielded me. The way that, in spite of his frightening appearance, Luca had been kind to me. Enzo had observed me as if he were researching me.
What if my father's debt wasn't the only aspect of this? What if I hadn't been picked at random to cover his actions? What if they had specifically been searching for me?
Suddenly there was no more fighting outside. The quiet was nearly more terrifying than the sound.
I tried to hear what was going on by pressing my ear against the door. Footsteps in the corridor. Men speaking softly. Someone was on their way.
The door opened when the lock clicked. However, the person who entered the room wasn't the guard.
My dad was the one. He also had a gun in his hand. His smile made my blood freeze.
"Hello, Maya," he said. "We need to talk."