A frown tugged at my lips. It was almost midnight. If Rocco showed up, slipping away would become a lot trickier.
What I hadn’t expected was for Avery to suddenly grab me, pulling me desperately toward the edge of the cliff while shouting in panic, “Brother Rocco, help! I don’t know this person; they’re trying to hurt me!”
I was tall and often dressed in a gender-neutral style. With my hat, mask, scarf, and dark down jacket, I probably resembled a man.
Trying to stay unnoticed, I pushed Avery away, frantically signaling that I meant no harm.
As I turned to leave, Avery clutched her stomach, collapsed onto the ground, and began wailing, “Brother Rocco, my stomach hurts so badly. Our baby is in pain!”
Rocco’s face darkened, and in an instant, he rushed over. Without warning, he kicked me in the stomach and slammed a camera into my head.
Warm blood trickled down my forehead.
The blow sent me stumbling backward, and before I could regain my balance, I found myself falling over the edge.
I managed to grab hold of a tree branch, my clothes torn to tatters.