going. Then, the sun hits at the right angle, and it’s brilliantly lit. You see a small stream gurgling over rocks, leading to the Colorado River.”
“What do you do when you get to the bottom?”
“Admire the beauty. Have lunch. Go rafting.”
His calming voice keeps my hands and feet moving steadily.
“In the Colorado River? I didn’t know you were such a thrill seeker.”
He laughs lowly. “There are many things you don’t know about me.” With a hand on my foot, he slows me. “Stop for a second.”
There’s a metal grate on the side of the wall. Jesse hands me the phone, and I point it toward the grate. There are slots just big enough for fingers to fit through. He braces his legs as he grips the metal and gives it a yank.
It doesn’t move.
My heart sinks with the realization that we are quite possibly going to die in here.
His face turns bright red, and his neck bulges. A deep rumble in his throat echoes as he attempts to remove the grate once again. His body shakes with the might he’s exerting. When he lets go, the grate is still on the wall, and he’s breathing fitfully with sweat beading down his temples.
Despite his two failed attempts, I can see the determination in his eyes. His jaw is set tight as he stares at the grate, mustering up the energy to try again.
“You can do this, Jesse,” I say with sheer conviction, and he blinks at me in surprise by the encouragement.
With a nod, he pulls his sleeves up and readjusts his large body. He braces his foot against the wall as his hands grip the grate. With animalistic grit, his body quakes with the adrenaline as he lets out a loud yell, pulling and shuddering, loosening the metal from the wall inch by inch until it pops out, sending him falling backward.
“Jesse!” I drop his phone and take the metal off of him. It’s heavy as I shove it to the side, careful not to cut him with the sharp edges. My hands roam over his head and shoulders, making sure he didn’t hurt himself in any way. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He sits up, and I’m relieved.
“You did it!” I cheer. I have no idea where this new path leads, but it feels like a small victory in this aimless escape plan we’re on.
His chest puffs with heavy breaths. “Keep going.”
I nod and take his phone with me as I climb feetfirst through the opening.
Jesse is diligent at covering our tracks, putting the grate back in place behind us. When it’s secured, he stands up straight and stretches his arms up over his head, arching his back with the motion. We’re now in a large tunnel, big enough for a small car to drive through.
He holds his hand up to his face, and I realize I’m flashing the light right in his eyes.
“Sorry.” I move the direction of the light. “Where do we go now?”
He points straight ahead. “Only one way.”
I look around and realize he’s right. “Is now a good time for me to ask if you know where we’re going?”
With his hands on his hips, he looks over at me and smiles. “Yes, Amelia, I know where we’re going.”
His skin is glistening from sweat, and his eyes are piercing. Yes, I know this is hardly the time to appreciate how handsome he is, but I just had a near-death experience. I’m sure this is some crazy side effect. A defense mechanism from thinking about the reality at hand.
“My family!” I shout as said reality comes plummeting to the front of my brain. “I need to call them.” I look down at his phone and see there’s no service. A heavy weight sits in my belly. “What if my mother and sister arrived when they …” My voice trails off, as I can’t finish the thought. My stomach drops, leaving a hollow pit.
Jesse walks toward me. His hands are on my arms, rubbing affectionately, as his gaze lowers to meet mine. “They’re okay. Knowing them, they’re still home. Your sister always arrives an hour late to any of your family dinners.”
I relax slightly at his correct assessment. “My father?”
He shakes his head with a shrug. “I have no idea, but I do know that Raphael Sorrentino is a smart man. As are your uncles. They’re armed, and they have security.”
“Who were those men? Why would they want to kill anyone?”
“They came for your uncle Frankie.” He takes a