I finished my first paper that was due and ended up falling asleep in Enzo's giant chair, enveloped in the smell of him. It always calmed me so much.

I woke up to the sound of voices and movement. I opened my eyes slowly trying to process where I was. I forgot I fell asleep in the library and someone shut off the lamp in here while I was sleeping.

Probably Alessio, because when I looked at my phone it was only about two hours after I sent my last text to Enzo. He wouldn't be home for a few more hours, and neither would Stefano. I sat there in the dark not bothering to turn the lamp on yet, my eyes feeling sensitive.

My ears finally caught up with the rest of my senses, and it sounded like someone was speaking in the hallway. The only person who it could be was Dante, but I thought he wouldn't be home for another few days at least.

I shot him a quick text, not wanting to interrupt if Alessio was out there talking to mafia people or something important.

I saw the shadow of feet walking past the door to the library through the crack underneath. The only thing in that direction was Enzo's bedroom, well 'our bedroom' as he says.

I got up and started walking toward the door, to go to Dante. He was probably looking for me in Enzo's room. But, my phone started buzzing silently in my hand; it was Dante. I picked it up.

He didn't even give me a chance to say hi. He quickly started rambling into the phone.

Don't move, Lilly. Stay in the library. Lock the door. Shut the lights, now.

What?

I'm not home, that's not me. Turn the lights off right now and be quiet Go lock the door now and keep the lights off. I'm going to log in to see the cameras. Alessio wasn't supposed to do business today. No people in the house until we figure out the threat.

The lights are already off. I was napping so I'm just sitting here in the dark. I'm scared, Dante.

Just stay quiet, please. I already called Alessio and he went to voicemail. I called Enzo and he is on his way. Something is wrong. But you're safe in the library. Did you lock the door as I said?

Y-yes.

Good, Lilly. Now, do as I say. Stay very quiet. The library isn't soundproof, and someone is in the apartment- looking for you.

I felt the tears drip down my cheeks. I must have started crying at some point.

Shhh, Lilly. Come on you are strong. You're ok. Just listen to me; I'll make sure you're safe.

O-Okay.

Walk to the bookcase against the back wall.

Uhuh.

Okay, now look at the 5th shelf, and you'll see a book that is a little larger than the others, only by about a centimeter. It has a black spine with gold writing. It should say, "The Power of Knowledge". Do you see it, love?

Yes.

Ok, now push the spine in. You'll feel a click.

Yeah, I feel it.

Okay, now there is a little keypad on the wall next to the bookcase that should have lit up. You're going to type '6733'. Then it will open up a small door. Get in, and close it. It will lock automatically and close up from the outside.

I did as he said, rushing into the safe room.

I'm inside. I exhaled loudly.

Ok, good. Don't worry. You're safe now; just stay quiet, I'll stay on the phone with you until someone comes.

What about Alessio? Is he okay? What if he's in danger? I shot questions at Dante, one after the other.

My brother is okay. He can hold his own, Lilly. Don't worry about him.

But I am just sitting here doing nothing. He could be in danger.

You will be in danger if you leave the safe room.

But-

No, Lilly. You need to trust me to keep you safe right now. Enzo is on his way and so is Stefano and several other of our men. Until Stefano or Enzo, themself let you out of the safe room- you're not leaving it.

Ok, fine.

I'm sorry, Lilly. I'm just scared for you. I don't have to worry about Enzo and Stefano and Alessio since they are trained in guns and combat. You aren't and you are so small and I fear for you. I'm angry I can't do anything. If I were there I could protect you. And I am a little nervous that Alessio isn't answering his phone; it's not a good sign.

I know. It's ok.

On the security cameras, I see no one. Not Alessio, not the intruder or intruders for all we know. The clock in the kitchen has been saying it's 8:47 for the past 2 minutes which means someone froze the cameras and I can't fix it. It's someone good. They know what they're doing.

He sighs.

I'm scared, Dante what if Alessio is hurt, or... I trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.

Lilly, just don't think like that. Everything is ok.

I stayed silent for a moment, Crouched in the tiny crawl space.

I just hacked back into the cameras. Dante breathed out.

What do you see?

He pauses, not answering my question.

What do you see? I repeated.

Don't worry, love. everything is ok.

But his voice is rougher than I've ever heard.

What do you see, Dante?!

Enzo is coming to get you. You're safe. Just wait. He's coming. I will stay on the phone with you till he gets to you, okay? They are going to sweep the house before they go to you.

You didn't answer my question. What's going on? You're scaring me.

I'm rewinding the cameras, and I can't tell what happened yet. I only see Alessio walk out of the library. Then he's standing in the kitchen. It cuts out to him on the couch in the living room. He's sitting, then and then someone pistol-whipped him. He got knocked out. Then they dragged his body away and they are in blind spots all after that. It's like they knew all of the cameras.

I gasped.

Oh god, Dante...

Just wait. We don't know anything yet. Don't jump to conclusions.

Okay. I closed my eyes.

I heard a loud bang and covered my mouth with my hand quickly to muffle my scream. Tears streamed down my face. There was someone in the library, and Dante didn't say Enzo was here yet.