STOLEN || 18+ (Monsters #3)

.21. Take me with you

All these people think love's for show,
But I would die for you in secret

- Taylor Swift
. . .

Leyla

"How do you deal with a dude?" Gabby asked.

"You don't."

Gabby laughed. "He is cute."

"He is not."

"You don't know who I am talking about."

"I don't need to know. He's not cute. He's not worth your time." I wrapped the covers tighter around me, looking at the plain wall.

"I said yes."

"Goddamnit Gabby. Does father know?"

"Of course, he does. He gave me his blessing for dating a bakery boy."

"Aw, he works at a bakery."

"Don't tell me that convinced you."

"You can eat stuff at a discount. Snatch him up, Gabs."

"You gold digger." Gabby laughed and it was such a sweet sound it made my heart sad. God, when was I going to hear it without the barrier of a phone?

We talked for the rest of the night, giggling as she told me about her bakery boy.

Life, just for a few hours, felt so simple.

. . .

Olivia picked her teacup up. "I hate tea."

"Then why are you drinking it?"

"Because I can't drink whiskey or coffee."

She was pregnant. Her bump was not big enough to show. She told me this morning.

"I like green tea."

She smiled. "How are you, Leyla?"

That question was going to make me sob. I looked away from her sincere eyes. It was hard to be strong in front of someone soft.

"I'm...you know what happened." I looked at her. "Can you change anything about this?"

She kept her cup down, her one hand on her stomach almost protectively. "I can't." She shook her bead. "I yelled at Giovanni at the wedding, too. But since when have mafia men seen reason?"

"Take your mom, Gabby and Astrid from father, Olivia."

She looked down at her hands, the large engagement ring glittering. "Mom refused. I talked to her as soon as I found out about this. Taking Gabby and Astrid away can be done but there is no way I can talk to Gabby without your father knowing."

The phone she talked to me with had a new number. Father didn't know about it. No one did.

I opened my mouth and then closed it. If I told her, would she tell the Valentinos?

What if they took away the phone and never let me talk to Gabriella again?

"Still, I will try. If it's not possible peacefully, I will try to get a few made men on it. I don't trust your father to not hurt your sisters or my mother if we attack just to save himself."

I nodded. "Did you...did you not know how cruel my father is before this?"

She shook her head. "No. We didn't know who took Carla and did all those terrible things to her. All we knew was that she was killed after being kidnapped for sex trafficking. I didn't know Jack was included in it, much less the head of it. I just thought he was a cocky asshole."

I didn't let even a flicker of surprise show on my face and hid half of it while sipping from the cup.

I wished a cruel death on my father.

"It's not your fault," I told her because she looked guilty.

She let out a breath. "I do not know the extent of your suffering at the hands of your father, Leyla. But Fabi and Geo will never hurt you."

"Take me with you."

"We are in Italy." She sighed, looking defeated. "If we were in America I would have marched outside with you but they rule here and they think you belong to them. Yes, Giovanni is a friend but mafia men would be damned before they let anyone tell them what to do. "

"Creeds can convince them." I was desperate.

She stood up, smoothening down the dress she was wearing. "This is the safest place for you, Leyla. I will get your sisters out and they will be kept at a safe house. This is all I can do for now."

I stayed quiet, feeling the need to cry. I had hoped she'd take me with her.

She looked at me. Olivia I used to know was long gone. Her face gave nothing away. She might as well be looking at a wall. "I'm sorry."

I looked away. "Just save my sisters."

"I will."

. . .