31. Raven

Chapter thirty-one

Raven

It’s been a few hours since Matteo left the room after the call, yet his voice still rings in my ears. His threats to Ezra keep replaying in my head like some twisted lullaby. I know the mafia is important to Ezra, and he might not care about me since I left him voluntarily, but…

At the thought of the baby, I hug myself. He’ll come… he’ll come for us. I sigh loudly, dragging my bound hands down my face.

I’m not sure what’s worse— the burning ache from the ropes digging into my wrists, the sickening silence, or the fear clawing inside me just thinking about Matteo actually carrying out his threats.

I glance at the corner of the room where the lone toilet bowl sits under a lone sink, and slowly, an idea takes root in my head. It’s risky, but I have no other choice. If I just sit here and wait, I might be as good as dead.

My legs wobble as I stand up and head to the toilet. Urgently, I take the toilet paper from the sink, unrolling almost all of it before dumping it into the bowl. I close the lid and flush before hurrying back to the bed.

Suddenly, the door creaks open, and one of Matteo’s men steps in, his face as hard as stone. I sneak a glance at the open door before focusing my gaze on him.

He walks over, placing the food tray on a spot beside me, untying my wrists so I can eat.

As soon as my hands are free, I rub at the sore red patches on my wrists, holding back a wince.

“I need the bathroom,” I say, my voice low and steady, though my heart races.

He pauses and glares at me, unimpressed. “It’s right there.”

“I know it’s there,” I snap, the air tight between us. “The toilet’s clogged.”

His eyes narrow, clearly not in the mood for complaints. “You can hold it then, it’s not my problem.”

My heart pounds, but I push back as he begins to leave again. “What if I lose the baby, huh? What will Matteo say when his little bargaining chip isn’t worth anything anymore? You think he’ll be happy about that?”

The guard stops again and turns to me. He grumbles under his breath, clearly irritated, but finally, he steps toward the toilet. “If you’re lying…”

“I’m not,” I cut him off, my voice sharp.

The second he bends to open the toilet lid, I’m already moving. I push through the tremble and sprint for the open door.

“What the… stop!” I hear him yell, but I run out the door, down the hallway.

Panic claws at me as I reach the end of the hallway and find that it runs in two directions. With the sound of footsteps behind me getting louder, I don’t waste time thinking as I bolt towards the left path. It worked before back at Ezra’s mansion, so it might work again.

But I barely make it a few more steps when a massive figure steps from the shadows. I skid to a stop, gasping for breath, only to be caught in his grip before I can even think of turning back.

“No!” I scream, kicking and flailing, but it’s useless. His grip on my wrist is like steel as he drags me back the way I came.

“Stupid move,” the guard grunts, shaking his head.

Tears sting my eyes, but I bite my lips to restrain my sobs. I refuse to cry, not now, not in front of them. I was so close—so damn close.

He shoves me back into the cell, throwing me onto the bed with a rough thud. The first guard is waiting there, his face a mask of anger and annoyance.

“Thought you could get away, huh?” he snarls, grabbing the ropes and tying them even tighter around my wrists.

I bite down on my lip a little harder than I intend to keep from crying out as the ropes dig into my skin. Suddenly, the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.

“I’ll be back with more ropes to get those legs of yours,” the guard sneers, then walks out the door with his accomplice, slamming it shut.

I hope that, by some miracle, he doesn’t inform Matteo about my little escapade. He wouldn’t be too pleased.

I lie still, staring up at the ceiling as my breaths come out ragged while I fight against the lump in my throat. Tears blur my vision, but I immediately blink them away.

No. I can’t give up.

I won’t give up.