between the gunman and Gabriella, trying to make sense out of the situation. He clenched his fists and took a small step backward, trying to push Gabriella back outside, farther away from the gunman.
She worked against him, shoving herself forward so she was next to him instead of behind him. “Listen, please,” she said. “Whoever gave you the idea my mother was involved in the mafia was way off. I...I can prove it. Let me find the deed. She inherited this land—no relation to any Mirabella family member.”
Luke did a double take at the word mafia, but Gabriella avoided his gaze. This Rodrigo guy thought her mom had been part of the Mirabella mafia? That was absurd. They lived in a state with more cattle than people. Gabriella had the spunk, the dramatic flair and the Italian beauty associated with the famous crime syndicate, but she’d attended a Christian college and exhibited too much grace and kindness to ever—
She threw her hands up in the air. “And my mom worked in the sand and gravel mining business her entire life...in Idaho. That’s the opposite of this mafia lady everyone keeps saying I look like. End of story.”
Gabriella clasped her hands together. Her eyes glistened. “I told you exactly what I told Benito. You have the wrong person. I’m a Radcliffe, my mother was a Radcliffe and this is called Radcliffe Ranch. You can take anything you want in this house. Just go. Please go.”
Rodrigo tilted his head as if considering her offer. “Twenty-four hours is too long. Forget Benito. New plan: you have twelve hours to get me the evidence.”
Rodrigo stepped closer. Luke tensed his entire body so he’d be ready to knock away the gun if he got close enough.
“I wouldn’t know where to start.” Gabriella’s voice cracked on the last syllable. “I have no idea what or where it would be.” Her voice strengthened and rose in pitch. Luke wanted to pull her into his arms. This was too much. As if she didn’t have enough grief and stress in her life, this man was trying to add more with his ridiculous mafia claim. No wonder Gabriella looked like death warmed over.
Rodrigo cackled. “Renata was a wily one, I’ll give her that. She was your uncle’s favorite until she disappeared.” Rodrigo’s cold stare moved Luke’s way. His grin twisted as he pointed the gun toward Luke’s forehead. “I don’t need you.”
The center of Luke’s stomach turned to solid ice.
Gabriella threw her arms across his torso. “He knows this property. I’ve walked the land, but he’s studied it. He’s an expert, and he’d know possible hiding places I might not think of...and vice versa.”
Rodrigo’s lips pressed together in a thin line, but his gaze never wavered. Luke wasn’t about to let him win the staring contest, even though the cavernous room with vaulted ceilings was sure to be echoing his loud heartbeat.
Rodrigo waved the gun toward the door. “I want a tour of the property. Now. But first, drop your keys and phones.”
Luke exhaled and tossed his phone on the closest bunch of ripped padding in hopes it wouldn’t break. If they could lose the creep somewhere on the property, they could get back to the house and call the police.
Gabriella was more graceful, bending down and setting the phone right in front of her feet. Surely she wasn’t going to try to get Rodrigo close enough to take him out? Luke tried to get her attention by bending his head down with wide eyes. She just glanced at him and shrugged.
Heat rushed to his legs. He wasn’t about to let Gabriella make the first move. He shifted his feet, ready to pounce if Rodrigo got too close.
“Slide it over, princess.”
Gabriella pressed her lips together as she kicked the phone in Rodrigo’s direction. So much for that plan.
Rodrigo put the keys in his pocket and picked up the phones as well. “Lead the way.”
The moment they stepped onto the driveway, their phones soared above their heads and landed with a plop in the lake.
There went three hundred bucks. He knew he should’ve waited before upgrading.
“Take me to your mom’s favorite spots,” Rodrigo growled.
Gabriella made a sharp turn to the right, her flats slapping on the concrete and her hands in fists. Luke matched his step with hers.
“I should’ve gone with my gut and called the police while I had a chance,” Luke whispered. “Any landline or other cell phone inside?”
“No. And calling the police isn’t an option.”
Luke put a hand on her arm. “Care to fill me in?”
She kept her face forward as she spoke. “Those men you saw me with earlier—in the driveway—are from the mafia, as well. They’ve got my aunt Freddie and will kill her if I don’t get them this mysterious evidence.”
“The same evidence Rodrigo wants?”
She nodded. “He acts like he’s in the same group as them, but he clearly doesn’t know or care about my aunt. We have to get away from him.”
Luke replayed the events of the past few minutes. Ah, it had to be the reason for her careful wording: I received some bad news about my great-aunt. Rodrigo was still far enough away he wouldn’t be able to hear his whispers. “The police are more capable of saving her than you are.”
Her dark eyes flashed. “The police can’t get involved. You can’t trust them.”
“Says who?” Luke frowned. His own mother had been a police detective before she retired, and he’d trust her with his life. Okay, so maybe he was a little biased.
“Too much corruption. I was taught never—” Her eyebrows shot up. “That’s not normal, is it? At school they want us to tell the kids to find an officer when they’re in danger. It would be just like a mafia family to teach you not to trust law enforcement.” She shook her head as if flinging the thoughts away. “Still, not worth the risk. Benito said he had connections. He said he’d know. Besides, it’s a moot point.”
“You better be talking about possible places for my evidence,” Rodrigo barked. “Otherwise, shut your yaps.”
Rodrigo was ten paces behind them, looking around but keeping the gun trained on Luke’s back.
Luke reached for Gabriella’s hand and squeezed it. “Thanks for selling my worth back there.”
Her eyes widened. “I meant every word. You said you did your homework on this property, and I need all the help I can get to stay alive...and somehow save my aunt.”
Luke tried to picture the topographical map he’d studied that morning. “That’s a tall order.”
“We have to get away from Rodrigo. Benito will kill my aunt in twenty-four hours if I don’t cooperate. I can’t waste a single minute.” She kicked at a pebble and watched it soar across the lush grass. “Who knew a math-tutoring program would bring mobsters to my door?” She laughed, but it came out garbled like a choked cry.
A heavy weight settled in the pit of Luke’s stomach. “Wh-what do you mean, your program brought them to your door?”
“The national attention from the media...my picture. That’s how these men said they found me.”
Luke’s insides turned to lava. This was his fault? He tried to do something nice for her, and instead he’d brought danger to her doorstep? “Uh, Gabriella—”
“I want some answers,” Rodrigo shouted.
“My mom liked to walk around the lake,” she said loudly. “Maybe we’ll see something on the beach portion.”
Rodrigo grunted and jutted his chin out as a sign to continue.
“You have almost two hundred acres,” Luke said.
“Yes, but water accounts for more than half of it. We’ve