Looking up, I realized there were evenly spaced rows of sliders along the ceiling as if used to hang stuff throughout the room. Was I in a walk-in freezer? Why had the asshole put me in a freezer? Was giving me a concussion and tying me up not enough? I had been the goddamn flower girl at his wedding, and now he couldn’t have cared less if I was bleeding out before him.

This man was a total sociopath, and I’d had no idea. I considered myself exceptionally observant, but he’d fooled even me. Panic made my muscles begin to seize and clench even more than they already were fighting off the cold. I was wracked with full-body tremors. He didn’t think it was too cold, but he had a hundred pounds on me and was in a full suit. I had a thin blouse and jeggings on—my teeth were chattering so bad my jaw was already aching.

“Enzo, it’s been a while … Yeah, save the threats for someone who cares. I have little Sofia here, so I need you to listen up … That’s better. You call off all the hunting dogs—you, the Russos and Gallos, and especially the fucking Russians. I want safe passage from the city, and once I’m out, I’ll tell you where you can find Sofia … I figured you’d ask—here.” He placed his hand over the receiver and glared at me with challenge, showing me how much he’d enjoy punishing me for any misstep.

I attempted to take the phone in my hand, but he swatted my hands away, holding the phone to my ear. “D-d-dad?” I shivered, unable to help my chattering.

“Sofia, are you okay?” His voice was wrought with concern, making my chest constrict with the desire to run into the safety of his arms.

“Yes-s-s-s, but I l-l-lost my n-n-necklace, I’m s-s-so s-s-sorry.”

Sal yanked the phone away from me, narrowing his eyes as he studied the angry red mark on my neck. I could imagine he was wondering if it had been there before and whether it had been pulled off when he transported me or if I was trying to pull a stunt.

“That’s enough,” he spat into the phone. “Your daughter is a little cold right now. You’re going to want to follow my instructions or this could go very badly for her. I’ll send you instructions on where to find her, but only once I’m safely out of the country. You lay a hand on me until then, and she’s dead.” He ended the call, his eyes gleaming with victory. Without another glance at me, he left the freezer, slamming the door behind him.

Until he left the country? How long would that take?

I wasn’t sure how I’d manage an hour, let alone a full day or more.

Unable to lean against the cold wall, I curled into a seated ball, my arms hugging my legs to my chest as best as I could without the zip ties cutting off circulation to my hands. The room was eerily silent once my frantic thoughts finally calmed. Maybe it was good that I couldn’t hear a compressor pumping in more cold air, but it was hard to see any bright side to my situation. If watching a pot until water boiled slowed time, sitting trapped in a meat locker made it positively endless. It was just me and each of my frozen breaths puffing out in little white clouds.