Just a few minutes…

They say fate was fickle, but time was just as unpredictable. What seemed like a few minutes could be hours, and what was supposed to be days might feel like minutes. I had no idea how long I dozed, but it had been long enough. When I roused from sleep, I felt excruciating stiffness in all my joints, frozen in place while my muscles trembled uncontrollably.

I needed to get up and move—to get my blood pumping through my body—but I couldn’t even get to my feet. Repeatedly I tried, only to lose my balance or have my body cave under the pressure.

How long had it been? Would my dad come through that door any minute, or was my rescue still hours away?

I’d never make it.

I was so cold, and I couldn’t imagine I’d ever be warm again. More tears threatened, but I was too tired for sobbing. All I could do was lay on my side, my hair the only barrier between me and the frosty concrete. My top shoulder rocked me, just an inch or so of motion, back and forth. It was soothing, like being in someone’s arms.

Nico’s arms.

I’d only just got him back. Would I ever get to feel those strong arms wrapped around me again?

All those years, the only place I could see him was in my dreams. I became proficient at designing and manipulating my dreams to keep Nico in my life. I had known it wasn’t healthy, but I didn’t care. It was the only way I could have him, so I took what I could get. If sleep would give me a reprieve from the misery of my situation, then that was what I would do.

I closed my eyes and escaped into my dreams.

Chapter 25

“What do you mean she’s in danger?” I shot back at Enzo. Terror narrowed my focus to the sound of his voice, everything else fading into oblivion.

“Sal has her. I’m not sure what shape she’s in, but she could hardly talk she was shivering so badly. I don’t think we have long. He’s demanding we allow him to leave the country—says he’ll give us her location once he’s free. I’m gathering as many guys as we can to start looking for her in the meantime.” His tension was audible in the tight strain of his voice.

“You talked to her?”

“Only briefly. She mentioned losing her necklace, but I have no idea what she meant. I’m not sure if she was out of it or trying to tell me something—that mean anything to you?”