Just to Breathe

By Holly Day

Nico Allegretti has been best friends with Matt Barnes since kindergarten. There is no one more important to Nico than Matt, and while he’s known for years Matt is the one for him, he’ll never tell him. He won’t risk ruining their friendship.

On his way to meet Matt at the restaurant, a case of mistaken identity ends with Nico in the trunk of a car. When he’s released, his kidnappers give him twenty-four hours to give them what they want. The problem is, Nico has no idea what that could be.

Not knowing what else to do, he turns to Matt, who is a cop. Together they go into hiding while looking for clues. Being kidnapped doesn’t change Nico’s resolve to not let Matt know how he feels, but hiding in a small cabin together makes it hard to ignore. Matt’s small touches and compliments must mean nothing. Had Matt felt the same, he’d let him know by now ... right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Jun 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781646568215

Holly Day

Holly Day and Sherman Wick are the authors of several books about the Twin Cities. Sherman Wick received his BA in history from the University of Minnesota and has been a member of the Minnesota Historical Society for several decades. Holly Day has worked as a freelance writer for local and national publications for over twenty-five years and teaches writing classes at the Loft Literary Center.

Book preview

Just to Breathe

By Holly Day

Published by JMS Books LLC at Smashwords

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2021 Holly Day

ISBN 9781646568215

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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A special thanks to Leonie Duncan who helped me out when I was running out of time!

This story was written for Best Friends Day that’s on June 8th. It’s celebrated by letting your best friend know how much they mean to you.

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Just to Breathe

By Holly Day

Chapter 1

Nico Allegretti cradled his head in wait for the next blow. He squeezed his eyes shut as the room spun around him.

Where is it?

The voice sent a shiver down Nico’s spine. The man wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset that Nico couldn’t answer. It was almost as if he wanted Nico not to answer.

I don’t know. He braced himself for the pain that would follow. When seconds went by and no one hit him, he chanced a glance. The man would have been handsome with his strong jaw and perfectly sculpted cheekbones if it hadn’t been for the serial killer eyes. Hopefully, he wasn’t a serial killer, but Nico wouldn’t bet on it. His eyes glittered with the satisfaction of someone who enjoyed inflicting pain on others.

The man didn’t speak, but what started as nothing more than a slight stretch of lips soon grew into a manic grin. We’ll let you think about it, Mr. Allegretto.

Under normal circumstances, Nico would have corrected him. It was Allegretti, not Allegretto.

We know your uncle moved here. We know he moved it here. We know you know where it is. He stood, and Nico shrank.

But if you need twenty-four hours to get your wits about you, we’re not unreasonable.

Before Nico had time to reply, the room, which he realized was more like a warehouse than an actual room, emptied of people. He’d believed they were a big gang, but as they neared the door under a dim flickering strip light, Nico counted to three hulking forms.

A sob escaped him before he could clamp his lips shut. For several minutes, he sat on the dirty plastic garden chair and tried to calm his heart. The side of his face was throbbing, but the worst was the blow he’d taken to the back of his head.

He’d been on his way to Taverna, his and Matt’s favorite Italian restaurant, when they’d jumped him from behind. He wasn’t sure, but he believed they’d hit him with the butt of a gun.

Matt. They were to celebrate Nico’s birthday. It wasn’t until tomorrow, but Matt was working tomorrow, and Nico couldn’t bear the thought of missing out on a birthday dinner with Matt.

They’d been best friends since kindergarten, and there might have been a time when Nico would have blown off a dinner date with Matt for a chance of hooking up with some hot guy, but that time was long gone. There was no one he’d rather spend time with than Matt, no one.

With trembling hands, he fished out his phone from his pocket. He was amazed the goons had allowed him to keep it. He hit Matt’s number and waited as the call connected.

Halsworthy police department, Joyce Barnes speaking.

Nico removed the phone from his ear for a short second to double check who he’d called. He had called Matt’s number, but he wasn’t supposed