Tina's hands wouldn't stop shaking as she grabbed the phone. Her chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing her lungs, and the quiet house didn't help. Mia was gone. Enzo had taken her—snatched her right out of their home without so much as a text. She jabbed his number into the phone, each ring making her stomach twist harder.
He picked up on the fourth one. "Yeah?"
"Enzo, where's Mia?" Her voice came out shaky, barely holding together.
"With me," he said, calm as anything. "What's the problem?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were taking her?"
She hated how small she sounded, how desperate.
She heard Mia in the background before he could answer. "Daddy, who's that?"
"It's Mommy, princess," Enzo said, his tone switching to something softer for her.
"Mommy!" Mia's voice burst through, bright and oblivious. "I saw a puppy today! It was so fluffy, like a big marshmallow!"
Tina's heart clenched—half relief, half ache.
"That's awesome, baby. When are you coming home?"
Enzo cut back in, smooth and vague. "When we're done."
"When's that?" she pressed, gripping the phone tighter.
"When we're done," he repeated, and hung up.
She stared at the dead line, her breath catching. When we're done. What kind of answer was that? She dropped onto the couch, head in her hands, trying to push down the panic. The house felt too big without Mia's chatter, too empty. She couldn't stand it—couldn't stand him controlling her life like this, making her feel helpless with a few damn words.
When Enzo's car rolled up hours later, the sky was bruising purple, and Tina was in the kitchen, stirring sauce she didn't give a damn about. Mia's giggle hit her ears first, and she nearly dropped the spoon.
"Mommy, I'm back!" Mia ran in, her curls wild, a sticky ice cream stain on her cheek.
Tina knelt, pulling her into a hug so tight she could feel her little heartbeat. "Hey, sweetie. Did you have fun?"
"Yeah! Daddy took me to see ducks at the park!" Mia's hands flailed as she talked, all energy and joy.
Enzo sauntered in behind her, tugging his tie loose, his eyes pinning Tina like a bug. "Told you we'd be back."
She forced a smile, waiting until Mia darted off to the living room before turning on him. "Why didn't you tell me you were taking her?".
He shrugged, popping open the fridge for a beer. "I called. Left messages. You didn't pick up."
"Messages?" She frowned, crossing her arms. "I didn't get any."
"Check the machine," he said, taking a swig. "Not my fault you weren't around."
"I was here all day, Enzo. There was nothing."
He smirked, leaning against the counter. "Maybe you were too busy sneaking off to see that lowlife waitress. What's her name—Ginny?"
Her stomach dropped. "How do you know about that?"
"I know everything, Tina." His voice was silk, but it cut like a blade. "You think I don't watch my own wife?"
"You're spying on me?" Anger flared, hot and sharp. "What happened to trust? What happened to you?
"Trust?" He barked a laugh. "You're running to some slut who can't keep a man. What's she telling you? Dump me? Take my kid?"
"She's my friend," Tina snapped, stepping closer. "And maybe if you weren't messing around with Bianca, I wouldn't need to talk to anybody."
His eyes went cold, but he didn't blink. Look at you, whining to trash like her."
"How dare you?" Her voice shook, but she held her ground. "How dare you track me like I'm yours to own?"
He paused, staring her down, his face unreadable. "Do you know how bad things could get?"
She lifted her chin. "Educate me."
He stepped in close, his breath brushing her ear, voice low and deadly. "I'm a determined man, Tina. I wanted you—I got you. This house, my company, the organization, the mafia—I wanted it, and it's mine. I get what I want. And I still want you."
Her skin prickled, fear mixing with rage. "What if I don't want this?"
"You can fight it," he said, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes, "or accept it. Your call."
"I just want to be happy," she whispered, her throat tight.
He grabbed his wine glass off the counter, smirking like he'd already won. "Then be happy." He raised it, the red liquid glinting. "Cheers to that."
Tina's pulse hammered as she stared at him.
That smirk—it wasn't a promise, it was a threat. She glanced at Mia, who was stacking blocks in the living room, humming a little tune, her wide eyes catching Tina's for a second. Her daughter—so small, so innocent. Tina's chest burned. She couldn't let her grow up in this cage, watching her mom crumble under Enzo's thumb.
Tomorrow. She'd go to the cops first thing. Tell them about Bianca, the beatings, the mafia—everything. She'd get Mia out, even if it killed her.
Enzo could keep his empire. She was done.
She nodded, faking calm. "Cheers," she muttered, barely audible.
His smirk grew, smug and sure. He thought he had her.
But in her head, it was set. She'd do what was right—for Mia, for herself. The police station opened at eight. She'd be there when the doors unlocked.