Chapter 4

"My daughter's somebody now."

The killer grinned down at me.

"And you, little Moretti princess, will be rotting in a septic tank soon enough."

His excitement grew as he spoke.

"I never expected your parents to treat my daughter this well."

"Adela says she's scared, and the great Don Moretti empties his entire estate to protect her."

He laughed.

"That's the only reason I got inside so easily."

"You're their flesh and blood, but they couldn't care less whether you live or die."

I struggled to lift my head.

"So you and Adela planned this together."

His smile widened.

"So what if we did?"

"Blame your parents."

"If they'd cared about you half as much as they care about my daughter, you'd never have ended up here."

Blood soaked my clothes.

The pain had drained every ounce of strength from my body.

I couldn't fight anymore.

All I could do was beg.

"Please..."

"Let me go."

He laughed and tossed a phone in front of me.

"Tell you what."

"I'll give you one last chance."

"Call your parents."

"If they actually believe you and come to Southside, I'll let you live."

He dialed.

The phone rang once.

Twice.

Again.

Just before the call went to voicemail, someone answered.

"Dad..."

My voice barely came out.

Instead of my father, I heard music, laughter, and glasses clinking.

Then Luke Lawrence, one of the Morettis' longtime associates, answered.

"Gertrude?"

"You looking for your father? He's busy."

Luke sounded almost cheerful.

"The killer never showed up. Your sister's safe."

"Poor Adela got so relieved that she twisted her ankle. Your parents are worried sick."

My last shred of hope disappeared.

"Luke..."

I forced the words through my throat.

"Help me."

"The killer took me to Southside."

There was a pause.

"But your father said you've been making false reports all night."

His tone became hesitant.

"He told everyone not to answer your calls or send anyone to you, no matter what you said."

"Although..."

Luke went quiet.

"You sound terrible."

"Did something actually happen?"

Before I could answer, the phone changed hands.

My father's voice came through.

Cold and impatient.

"Gertrude, it's almost dawn."

"Haven't you caused enough trouble?"

I closed my eyes.

"Thankfully, your sister is safe."

"Adela has already said she forgives you for everything you did tonight."

His voice hardened.

"Now apologize to her properly."

Luke spoke somewhere nearby.

"Gertrude, you spent all night calling emergency lines and Moretti security with false reports."

"You've already caused enough trouble for your parents."

"Just apologize and stop this."

Tears slipped down my face.

I laughed weakly.

"Just believe me once."

"Please."

"Mom, Dad, come to Southside."

My voice broke.

"I really was kidnapped."

"If you don't believe me, at least send someone back to the estate."

"Check the house."

"Go back to the estate?"

My mother's furious voice suddenly came through.

"Your sister injured her ankle!"

"She can barely walk, and you still expect us to abandon her and run back because of you?"

I stared blankly at the warehouse floor.

"Southside is miles away."

She continued shouting.

"You can't even walk, you have no car, and nobody is there to take you anywhere."

"So tell me, Gertrude, how exactly did you get to Southside?"

"You're still lying."

"You're trying to trick us into moving every Moretti guard across the city just to satisfy your need for attention."

"Do you want to humiliate this family completely?"

"Is that what would finally make you happy?"

Then Adela's soft voice came through.

"Gertrude, please stop."

She sounded gentle and concerned.

"Reporters are still outside. Some of them are livestreaming."

"Everything you're saying can be heard."

She sighed.

"You've already wasted emergency resources and caused enough trouble."

"If this keeps going, you'll destroy Mom and Dad's reputation and everything the Moretti Foundation has built."

"Please."

"Just apologize to everyone."

"Adela, don't waste your breath on her."

My father's voice returned.

This time, there was no hesitation in it.