The casual certainty in his voice crushes the last of my hope that this might be resolved without violence. Luca has planned this confrontation carefully, accounting for Radmir’s tactical abilities and emotional vulnerabilities. Whatever happens in the next hour, people are going to die, and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.
“Please.” The word comes out smaller than I intended. “You know I’m pregnant. Whatever happens between you and Radmir, my baby doesn’t deserve to be caught in the middle of it.”
“Your baby is Radmir’s child, which makes it part of the conflict.” Luca’s voice carries no emotion whatsoever. “If youcooperate fully with my instructions over the next hour, I might be persuaded to show mercy regarding your future.”
I stare at him, trying to read what kind of mercy he might be capable of offering. The cold calculation in his expression suggests any clemency would come with conditions I might not be able to live with. “What do you want me to do?”
“When Radmir arrives, you’re going to help convince him surrendering is his best option for ensuring your safety.” Luca leans forward slightly. “You’re going to tell him resistance will result in your death and the death of his unborn child.”
The request makes my stomach churn with revulsion. “I won’t be used to manipulate him into giving up.”
“Yes, you will. If you don’t, I’ll have one of my men put a bullet in your leg to demonstrate that my threats aren’t empty.” Luca’s tone remains conversational despite the brutality of his words. “Pregnancy makes blood loss particularly dangerous. You might survive such a wound, but your baby probably wouldn’t.”
Terror floods through me as I realize he’s completely serious about harming my unborn child to ensure my cooperation. The man sitting across from me has no moral boundaries whatsoever when it comes to achieving his goals. “You’re a monster.”
“I’m a businessman who understands sentiment is a luxury that leads to weakness.” He stands and moves toward the door. “You have approximately fifteen minutes to decide whether you value your principles more than your baby’s life.”
He exits the room, leaving me alone with the two guards and the horrifying knowledge I’m about to be forced to choose between betraying the man I love and protecting the child I’m carrying.Either choice will destroy something precious, but only one of them guarantees my daughter has a chance to live.
I close my eyes and try to think of alternatives. There must be some way to warn Radmir or escape this situation without playing into Luca’s hands. The bonds around my wrists have loosened slightly as I’ve moved, but not enough to slip free. The guards haven’t spoken or moved from their positions, suggesting professional discipline that won’t be easily exploited.
The baby picks that moment to move inside me for the first time that I can feel, like a symbolic reminder of what’s at stake beyond my own survival. Leo is safe at school for now, but if something happens to me, he’ll be alone in the world except for Aunt Molly. Our daughter will never have the chance to meet her father or brother if I don’t find a way to survive the next hour.
I open my eyes and study the room one more time, memorizing every detail in case an opportunity presents itself. Somewhere above us, Radmir is probably approaching with armed men and tactical plans designed to extract me safely. Does he understand this entire situation has been constructed to eliminate him and everyone who might support him?
If I cooperate with Luca’s demands, I might save my baby but doom the man I love. If I refuse, my daughter dies but Radmir might have a chance to escape or overcome the ambush.
I rest my head against the back of the chair and try to find some solution that doesn’t require sacrificing someone I love. In a few minutes, the most important choice of my life will be made under circumstances I never could have imagined. The only thing I know for certain is no matter what happens next, nothing will ever be the same again.
26
Radmir
The convoy reaches Mount Soledad in twelve minutes, which might be a personal record for navigating San Diego traffic while armed for war. I study the target house through binoculars from our position two blocks away, noting the professional positioning of Luca’s security detail and the strategic placement of their vehicles.
“Count?” I ask Andrei, who’s scanning the perimeter through his own optics.
“Eight visible positions, with probably twice that number inside or concealed.” He lowers his binoculars and checks his tactical radio. “They’re not hiding their presence, which suggests they want us to see them.”
“Luca’s making a statement about his confidence in the outcome.” I hand my binoculars to the team leader and begin checking my weapon systems one final time. “He wants me to know he’s prepared for anything I might bring to this fight.”
The house sits on a corner lot with excellent sight lines in multiple directions, backed by the canyon that limits escape routes but also provides natural cover for defensive positions. Luca chose his battlefield well, which means we’ll need to be better prepared and more ruthless than his people expect.
My phone rings with a call from an unknown number. I consider ignoring it, but something makes me answer on the second ring.
“Radmir.” Luca’s voice carries through the speaker with calm satisfaction. “Right on time. I was beginning to worry you might disappoint me.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe for the moment, though her continued well-being depends entirely on your willingness to be reasonable about our situation.” The line goes quiet for several seconds before Luca continues. “I’m going to allow you to speak with her, but I want you to understand any attempt to coordinate rescue signals will result in immediate consequences for both Danielle and your unborn child.”
Before I can respond, the call switches to video, and Danielle’s face appears on my screen. She’s sitting in what looks like a concrete-walled room with her hands bound behind her and a man holding a gun to her temple. The bruise on her neck where they injected her with something is more visible in this light and at this angle, but her eyes are alert and focused on the camera.
“Tell him what I instructed you to say.” Luca’s voice comes from off-screen, calm and businesslike.
She takes a shaky breath before speaking. “He wants you to surrender yourself in exchange for my release and the baby’s safety.” Her voice trembles slightly, but she maintains eyecontact with the camera. “He says if you don’t comply, he’ll kill us both.”
I watch her face carefully, looking for any sign of how badly she’s been hurt or what condition she’s in. The bruise on her neck concerns me, but she appears conscious and coherent despite whatever drug they used on her.
