Chapter 35

Chiara

Fear freezes me in my spot. My first instinct is to scream and call for help, but it seems that the man knows this because he presses the tip of the gun harder on my side.

It's digging into the side of my ribcage and I gasp, but he shoots me a stern look with his lips locked in a fake smile.

"I wouldn't call for help if I were you," he whispers. "I'll make sure you're on the floor dead before you can even get the word out. Understand?"

I don't say anything. I can't. Hell, I can't even breathe or nod or do anything. My mind is racing in panic and my body has gone completely immobilized.

However, the man takes my silence for a yes because he drapes his free arm around my shoulders and slowly lead me to my feet. The gun is still fixed against my side, and it looks to me like he's not planning to shift it away from position too.

We pass by the desk where the old owner is, but he just briefly glances up at us and immediately turn back to the magazine he's perusing.

Tears are starti