I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I tried to close my eyes, Enzo's voice echoed in my head.
Your father was murdered.
That sentence was far too simple to destroy everything I believed about my past.
For years, I had believed my father died in an accident. I had never had any reason to doubt it. No one had ever come to tell me otherwise. Yet now, a man who had just kidnapped me claimed to know something my family had never even told me.
I didn't know whether I should believe him.
The only thing I knew was this.
I wanted to go home.
I got out of bed when the sky outside the window began to change color. The darkness of night was slowly replaced by a gray glow. The yacht was still moving, gently rocking my body. For a while, I simply stood in front of the window, watching the waves become clearer in the morning light.
Then I saw something.
Land.
Far ahead, a dark line was faintly visible on the horizon.
An island.
I immediately felt a little relieved.
At least the yacht would stop.
And if I could get off...
I might be able to find help.
I hurried toward the door.
I gripped the handle.
I pulled.
It didn't move.
I let out a long breath.
Of course.
The door was still locked.
I knocked hard.
"Hey!"
There was no answer.
I knocked again.
"Open the door!"
A few seconds later, I heard footsteps.
The lock turned.
A guard stood behind the door.
The same man as last night.
"I want to go outside."
"Don's orders. You are to remain in your room until he arrives."
"I'm not a prisoner."
The man said nothing.
"If I'm not a prisoner, then why is the door locked?"
He didn't answer.
I glared at him.
"At least let me out to see the island."
"I'm sorry."
The door closed again.
I clenched my fists.
Damn it.
I couldn't give up.
I paced around the room, thinking of other possibilities. The window was too high and couldn't be opened. There was no balcony. The door was the only way out, and it was guarded at all times.
But this yacht was huge.
There had to be another way out.
I began examining every detail of the room. The walls. The wardrobe. The wooden panel. The bathroom.
Then my eyes stopped on a small door inside the bathroom.
I moved closer.
The door led to a small storage room.
I opened it.
Empty.
But at the back was a wooden panel that looked slightly different.
I touched it.
It didn't move.
I knocked softly.
Knock.
Knock.
The sound it made seemed somewhat hollow.
I held my breath.
Could it be...?
I searched for something to pry the panel open. A hairpin on the vanity finally became my tool of choice. It wasn't very strong, but it might be enough.
I tried slipping the tip into the panel's gap.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
It didn't work.
I growled in frustration.
"Alena."
I nearly screamed.
I spun around.
Enzo stood in the bathroom doorway.
I froze.
How had he gotten in?
I hadn't even heard the door open.
Enzo's gaze immediately fell on the wooden panel I had been prying at.
Then it shifted to the hairpin in my hand.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You really don't waste any time."
I hid the hairpin behind my back.
"I'm looking for something."
"Of course."
"I wasn't doing anything."
"I haven't accused you of anything."
I fell silent.
Enzo walked closer.
I took a step back.
He stopped a few yards in front of me.
"The yacht will be arriving at the island soon."
"I know."
"Good."
"I want to get off."
"You will."
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Really?"
"Yes."
A small spark of hope appeared inside me.
But Enzo continued,
"You'll be with me."
That hope vanished instantly.
"I want to go alone."
"No."
"I don't need a bodyguard."
"I'm not a bodyguard."
"Then what are you?"
Enzo looked at me.
"The person making sure you stay alive."
I fell silent.
There was something in his tone that made it impossible for me to argue.
"What will happen when we arrive?"
"You'll stay at my house."
"I don't want to."
"I know."
"Why do you keep forcing me?"
"Because for now, it's the only way to keep you safe."
I glared at him in irritation.
"Stop saying you're protecting me. You're the one who put me in danger."
Enzo didn't argue.
"I know."
His answer confused me.
"Then why?"
He was silent for a moment.
"Because I was too late."
"What do you mean?"
Enzo's gaze grew darker.
"I should have found you much sooner."
I wanted to ask more, but the ship's siren suddenly sounded.
Long.
Deep.
Enzo immediately turned toward the outside.
I saw the change in his face.
In an instant, the man who had seemed calm became someone far more alert.
One of the guards ran over.
"Don."
Enzo looked at him.
"There's a problem."
"What?"
"We found an unidentified ship on the eastern side."
Enzo narrowed his eyes.
"How many are there?"
"Unknown. They're not responding to our calls."
I felt that something was wrong.
Enzo walked out immediately.
Before the door closed, he glanced back at me.
"Don't leave the room."
"What?"
"Alena."
His tone was firm.
"Don't come out."
Then he left.
The door locked again.
I stood there motionless.
The yacht began moving faster.
I could feel the change in the vibrations beneath my feet.
Footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Many of them.
The guards were running.
Then I heard faint sounds from outside.
Orders.
Shouts.
Something falling.
I approached the door.
"Hey!"
There was no answer.
I pressed my ear against the wooden surface.
Then—
The sound of gunfire rang out.
Bang!
I jerked in shock.
My heart nearly stopped.
Bang!
A second shot.
I stepped back.
No.
That couldn't be.
The sound of gunfire rang out again, this time closer.
I looked around the room.
My hands were trembling.
I didn't know who was attacking the yacht.
I only knew one thing.
Enzo might have been right.
Someone was looking for me.
And they had found the yacht.
I ran to the door and pounded on it.
"Enzo!"
There was no answer.
"Enzo!"
Suddenly, the door opened.
I backed away in fear.
An armed man stood there.
Not Enzo.
He wore the same black clothes as the other guards, but I didn't recognize his face.
"Come with me."
"Who are you?"
"Don't ask questions."
He grabbed my hand.
I tried to pull free.
"Let go!"
"We have to go!"
"Wait!"
The man dragged me out of the room.
The yacht's hallway, which had been so quiet before, had now descended into chaos. Several guards ran past carrying weapons. The lights flickered. The sound of an impact came from the upper deck.
I didn't even know where the man was taking me.
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe."
I didn't trust him.
But before I could say anything, a voice rang out from the end of the hallway.
"Stop."
I knew that voice.
Enzo.
He stood several yards in front of us.
His black suit was still immaculate, but his face had turned cold.
His gaze went straight to the man holding my hand.
"Let her go."
The man froze.
"Don..."
"I said let her go."
The man slowly released my hand.
I immediately ran behind Enzo.
I didn't know why.
In the middle of all that chaos, simply seeing him made me feel a little safer.
Enzo looked at my hand.
Then he turned to the man.
"Who ordered you to take her out?"
The man didn't answer.
Enzo stepped forward.
"Answer me."
There was no response.
Then another gunshot rang out from outside.
The man suddenly pulled out a pistol.
But before he could aim it, Enzo moved faster.
One motion.
The pistol fell to the floor.
The man crumpled.
I covered my mouth.
Enzo stood in front of me.
"Are you all right?"
I nodded quickly.
"Who is he?"
"A traitor."
I stared at the fallen man.
"He's one of your men."
"Yes."
"So he's working for the enemy?"
Enzo looked at me.
"It seems so."
He reached for my hand.
I instinctively tried to pull away, but a loud explosion sounded from outside.
BOOM!
The yacht shook violently.
I lost my balance.
Enzo immediately pulled me against him.
His hand held my waist to keep me from falling.
For a moment, we stood extremely close.
I could feel his breath.
Our eyes met.
I didn't know why my heart was beating so fast.
But Enzo released me almost immediately.
"From now on, don't leave my side."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
His gaze turned toward the hallway filled with the sound of footsteps.
"Because someone just managed to get onto the yacht."
I swallowed.
"And they're looking for me?"
Enzo stared deeply into my eyes.
"Yes."
Then he tightened his grip on my hand.
"This time, I won't let anyone touch you."
I didn't know whether that sentence was supposed to make me feel safe.
Or even more afraid.
Because for the first time, I realized...
Enzo Moretti's enemies might be far more dangerous than the man who kidnapped me.