Chapter 6 - The Hostage
Evelyn stared at the glowing screen, her mind racing desperately to process the terrifying truth.
"Julian didn't come back to save you," she realized aloud.
"He used the bomb warning to gain my trust so he could easily execute me himself," Lorenzo concluded bitterly.
He looked down at his unconscious brother, a complex mixture of pity and rage flashing in his dark eyes.
"Celeste has his daughter," Lorenzo murmured softly.
"I didn't even know Julian had a child."
Evelyn nervously wrung her hands together, staring at the dark shadows dancing on the church walls.
"What are you going to do now?" she asked cautiously.
Lorenzo pulled a roll of thick zip ties from the safe house supplies and tightly bound his brother's hands and feet.
"I am going to find Celeste and tear her entire empire down to the foundation," he vowed.
Suddenly, Evelyn's own cell phone vibrated violently in her apron pocket.
She jumped backward, startled by the unexpected buzzing against her hip.
She pulled it out and saw an unknown, restricted number calling her.
Her thumb hovered over the glowing screen, trembling as she finally swiped to answer the call.
"Hello?" she whispered into the small receiver.
"Hello, Evelyn," Celeste's cold, melodic voice echoed through the tiny speaker.
Evelyn's blood turned completely to ice in her veins.
"How did you get my personal number?" Evelyn demanded, stepping instinctively closer to Lorenzo.
"I have incredibly extensive resources, my dear," Celeste laughed maliciously.
"I also have your little sister, Maya, sitting right here next to me."
Evelyn's heart completely stopped beating inside her chest.
"If you hurt her, I swear to God I will kill you!" Evelyn screamed into the phone.
May you like
"Bring Lorenzo to the old shipyard on Pier Four in exactly one hour," Celeste commanded.
"If he isn't there, I will start mailing your precious sister back to you in very small boxes."
