Susan's POV
"Oh hell no!" I started yanking on the handle. "I did not survive a hangover wedding and escape through a stranger's apartment just to get kidnapped by the wrong mobsters!"
"Susan," Laura's voice shook, "maybe we shouldn't provoke the men with guns?
"Two late!" I was already in full panic mode, pounding on the window. "Hey! Discount Men in Black! My husband is going to be really pissed when he finds out about this! Stop this Vehicle now!"
The driver finally turned around, revealing a face I didn't recognize. "Miss Thompson..."
"That's Mrs. Marino to you, buddy!" Laura yelled.
"... your presence has been requested by Mr. Vincent Marino."
The name hit me like a block of ice. Vincent. Raphael's cousin. The one trying to take Raphael's place.
"Oh," I said weakly, slumping back against the seat. "Oh, this is bad."
Laura grabbed my arm. "What's happening?"
I thought about everything I'd read in those tabloid articles. About the power struggles. The cousin who'd been waiting for Raphael to slip up...
"I think," I said slowly, "we just got caught in the middle of the mob family feud."
"Cool," Laura said in defeat, "I won't get to graduate med school. I won't find the love of my life. And I won't get to have cute babies. Oh God.".
I looked at the mansion before us, then at the men who'd tricked us into his car, and finally at my best friend who's only come along to support me, and was now into lots of trouble because of me.
"I won't let them hurt us, Laura." I said, reaching for my phone, "We're going to call Raphael and tell him his cousin kidnapped us. Then..." I smiled sweetly at our captors, "I'm going to scratch out the eyes of these scary men in suits. First time I'm putting my acrylic nails to use."
"Call Raphael... call Raphael..." Laura edged me on.
I fumbled with my phone, panic making my fingers clumsy. That was when the horrible realization hit me. "Oh God."
"What?" Laura whispered.
"I don't have his number." I stared at my phone in horror. "I dragged the man to the altar, and ran away before getting his phone number!"
"You didn't think to save the number of your mob husband? Who's going to save us now?"
"I was a little busy fleeing in terror!"
The car doors opened, and before we could react, strong hands yanked us out. I immediately recognized the difference between these men and Raphael's security. Where Marco and his team had been professional and almost gentle, these guards handled us like ragdolls.
"Hey, watch it!" Laura yelped as they dragged us not toward the mansion, but to what looked like a cellar entrance. "This outfit is borrowed!"
My heart hammered against my ribs, a cold sweat breaking out on my forehead as we descended into darkness. The musty air carried hints of... was that rust? Please God don't let that be rust. For the first time since this whole charade started, I felt true fear. Not myself, but for my best friend I dragged into this.
The basement - if you could call it that - looked exactly like every mob movie torture chamber I'd ever seen. Bare concrete walls. Drain in the floor. Various implements I refused to look at too closely hanging on the walls.
My heart raced as they strapped us to chairs, "This can't be happening."
"Oh, but it is, sister-in-law."
The voice sent chills down my spine. I'd seen photos of Vincent Marino in those articles - always lurking in the background at family events, always watching Raphael with concealed hatred. But nothing had prepared me for the reality.
Where Raphael carried power like a second skin, Vincent wore his like armor filled with spikes. His smile didn't reach his eyes as he emerged from the shadows. His grey suit looked so out of place in this environment.
"If it isn't the woman trending everywhere for hitching the great Raphael Marino," he circled our chairs slowly. "My cousin finally breaks his 'no marriage' rule for... this?"
"Hey!" Laura protested. "She's a catch!"
"Laura!" I hissed. "Not helping!"
"No, no, let her speak. "Vincent stopped in front of Laura's chair. "And who might you be?"
"I'm the best friend," she lifted her chin in defiance. "And I have to say, your torture chamber could use some updating. The rusty chains are so last century!"
"What! He needs to know the truth. He's obviously bad at decorating. If we're going to die here, the least he could've done is make it beautiful!"
Vincent's smile widened, showing too many teeth. "Spirited friends you have, Mrs. Marino. Tell me, does my cousin know what a liability he's brought into the family?"
I thought about the articles we'd read. About Vincent's son being next in line if Raphael had no heir. About the timing of this impromptu kidnapping...
"This isn't about me being a liability," I said slowly. "This is about the succession. You're worried I might actually be a good wife, that I might give Raphael an heir." Thank God for the Internet.
The smile vanished from Vincent's face.
"I wondered when my cousin would finally make his move," he moved closer. "He's been... distracted lately. Making mistakes. Missing meetings. Forgetting names. The family needs strong leadership. Not someone who lets a drunk girl trick him into marriage."
"I didn't trick anyone!" I protested. "If anything, he..." I stopped, remembering Laura's words from earlier. Why would someone like Raphael agree to marry me so suddenly?
"He what?" Vincent leaned in close. "What aren't you telling me, little sister-in-law?"
"Nothing! I'm not telling you nothing, because I know nothing as well!"
A phone rang somewhere upstairs. One of the guards whispered something in Vincent's ear.
"Well," he straightened his jacket, "Duty calls." He headed for the stairs. "Don't go anywhere. We have so much more to discuss."
"Was that a kidnapping pun?" Laura called after him. "Because it wasn't very good!"
The door slammed shut, leaving us alone in the dim basement.
"Laura," I whispered once I was sure they were gone, "I need you to stop antagonizing the scary mob man."
"Sorry! I get sarcastic when I'm terrified!" She started wiggling in her chair. "Also, these guys clearly haven't watched enough movies. They didn't even check my hair!"
"What's in your hair?"
"Bobby pins, obviously. I've seen every heist movie ever made. Never leave home without lockpicks!" She twisted awkwardly. "Now if I can just... reach..."
I stared at my best friend in awe. "I take back everything I said about you missing my graduation." You're the best friend ever."
"Thank me after we get out of here," she grunted. "And Suze?"
"Yeah?"
"Next time you decide to marry a mob boss? Maybe check if he has any homicidal relatives first."
"If we survive this, I'm never drinking tequila again."
The sound of a pin hitting the concrete floor gave us hope.
Ten minutes later
"Almost... got it..." Laura whispered, fingers straining to manipulate the bobby pin in her bonds.
"Hurry," I urged, watching the stairs. "Before..."
The heavy door creaked open.
Laura dropped the pin, and we both froze as Vincent descended the stairs. My heart stopped when I saw him... His once clean suit was now splattered with what looked like blood.
"Sorry for the interruption," he said casually, adjusting his blood-stained cuffs. "Had a small... disagreement to settle."
Laura made a strangled sound beside me. I couldn't even form words, my eyes fixed on the red droplets falling from his sleeve.
"What are you staring at?" He looked at his shirt. "Oh, this? Don't worry. The other guy looks much worse." His smile turned dangerous. "Actually, he doesn't look like much of anything anymore. His dead"
"You're insane," I whispered.
"No, Susan. I'm practical. Something my cousin used to be before he started getting... soft." He pulled up a chair, sitting backward on it to face us. "Which brings me to my proposal."
"I'll never marry you. I'd rather die!" I spat automatically.
He laughed. "So dramatic! I'm not one to go after my cousin's leftovers. Getting married to me will only happen in your dreams. And that's if I'm drunk."
He leaned forward. "What I'm offering you right now is freedom. Not death like I had in mind."
I blinked. "What?"
"It's simple really," He pulled out a thick envelope. "In here is enough money to disappear. New identity, new life, far away from New York and its... complications."
"And why would you do that?"
"Because, unlike Raphael, I understand the value of clean solutions." He spread his arms. "No bodies, no mess, just a runaway bride who got cold feet. It happens all the time."
Laura spoke up. "What's the catch?"
Vincent's eyes slid to her, and something in his gaze made my blood run cold. "Smart girl. Beautiful too." He stood, walking behind Laura's chair. "The catch is, I know where your family lives, Susan. Your parent's little house. Aunt Martha's lovely home. Even your best friend's medical school."
"Don't you dare threaten them," I growled.
"Threaten? No, no." He placed his hands on Laura's shoulders. "I'm simply stating facts. You take the money and disappear - really disappear this time - and everyone lives their lives in peace. You try to contact Raphael, try to come back..." He shrugged. "Well, I've already gotten enough blood on this suit."
"And what about Laura?"
His smile widened. "She stays. I've grown quite fond of her spirit."
"Like hell, I will!" Laura tried to jerk away from his touch.
"You don't have a choice, beautiful. I'll love to keep you as my mistress." He stroked her cheek. "Consider it insurance against your friend here getting any ideas about returning."
"No!" I struggled against my restraints. "Leave her out of this! She has nothing to do with any of it!"
"Everyone has a part to play, sister-in-law."
"Please," my voice cracked. "I'll take the deal. I'll disappear completely. Just let her go."
Vincent circled back to face me. "And why should I believe you?"
"Because you're right - I don't belong in this world. I never did. I'll go so far away, you'll never hear from me again. I'll change my name, my appearance, everything. Just please, let Laura go home."
He studied me for a long moment. "You know, I almost believe you." He pulled out a knife, and we both flinched. But he only used it to cut our bonds. "Very well. A life for a life. Seems fair."
Laura rubbed her wrists, tears streaming down her face. "Suze, no. You can't..."
"It's okay," I hugged her fiercely. "It's okay. Go home. Become a doctor. Have a normal life."
"But what about you?"
I forced a smile to hide the turmoil I was feeling inside. "Hey, I always wanted to travel, right?"
Vincent tossed the envelope at my feet. "How touching. Now, you have one hour to get out of the city. After that..." He gestured to his bloody shirt. "Well, you've seen what happens to people who disappoint me."
I grabbed the envelope and Laura's hand, backing toward the stairs. "If you ever come near her or my family..."
"Empty threats don't suit you, Susan." He waved dismissively. "Oh, and one more thing - tell anyone about our little chat, try to warn Raphael..." He smiled coldly. "Let's just say I've always wondered if Aunt Martha's house is as flammable as it looks."
We practically ran up the stairs. At the top, I turned for one last look at the man who'd destroyed my life in less than an hour.
"You won't get away with this," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
"But I already have, sister-in-law." He straightened his bloody cuffs. "Give my regards to whatever country you end up in. And Laura?" His eyes gleamed. "I'll see you very soon."
I shuddered, as I held Laura's hand tightly and stepped out of the basement.
The guards escorted us out, practically shoving us into a different car. As we sped away from the mansion, Laura broke down sobbing.
"What are we going to do?"
I clutched the envelope, my mind racing. "We're going to get you somewhere safe. Then..." I took a shaky breath. "Then I'm going to disappear."