Chapter 7
seven
. . .
Dana
The zip ties dig into my wrists as I strain against them, the plastic biting into my flesh. A metallic taste coats my tongue—fear or the aftermath of being backhanded by one of my captors, I'm not sure which.
Sweat trickles down my neck despite the dank chill in this basement room. Or warehouse. Or wherever the hell these bastards have taken me. I swallow hard, trying to quell the rising panic.
God only knows what they plan to do. Torture me? Violate me? Kill me? Bile rises in my throat at the thought.
Focus, Dana . I take a shuddering breath. You need to be strong. For Luca. For Matteo.
One of the men, face obscured by a black ski mask, aims a camera at me. The red recording light blinks on, taunting.
"Smile for your lover, sweetheart," he sneers. "By the time Romano gets this video, I'll have had my fill of you."
White hot rage momentarily overrides my terror. "Fuck you! Luca will kill you for this!"
"You have spirit. I'm going to enjoy breaking you." He reaches for his belt buckle and?—
BAM! The door splinters open, nearly ripping off its hinges.
Like an avenging dark angel, Luca storms in, eyes wild and lethal. Before the men can even react, he seizes the one looming over me. With a roar, he smashes the man's face into his knee, crushing cartilage and bone with a sickening crunch.
Time slows as the man crumples lifelessly to the ground. More of Luca's soldiers swarm in, subduing and securing the remaining captors.
But my eyes are riveted on Luca as he rushes to me, that chiseled face etched with barely contained fury and fear.
"Dana! Cristo, what have they done to you?" His usually steady hands shake as he cuts away my restraints.
A whimper escapes me once I'm free, my numb limbs tingling painfully. "You came," I rasp. "I knew you would."
He cradles my face with infinite tenderness, those piercing blue eyes shining with unshed tears and adoration. "Always, amore mio. Always."
Sobs wrack my body as I collapse into Luca's strong embrace, clinging to him like a lifeline. His arms encircle me protectively, one hand cradling the back of my head. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar scent of sandalwood and spice.
Safety.
Home .
"I've got you, tesoro. You're safe now," he murmurs soothingly, though I feel the tension thrumming through his powerful frame.
Pulling back slightly, Luca cups my face, his eyes roving over me searchingly. "Did they...?" He swallows hard, a muscle ticking in his clenched jaw. "Did they touch you?"
The raw anguish in his voice shatters my heart. I shake my head vehemently. "No, I'm okay. They didn't..." A shudder wracks me at the horrific memory of what almost transpired. "You stopped them in time."
Luca exhales shakily, his forehead dropping to rest against mine. "Thank God," he breathes, eyes drifting shut. "If they had...I can't even..."
“Matteo? Is he okay?” I need to confirm that he’s okay.
Luca nods. “Yes, thanks to you, you stupid, brave, beautiful girl. Don’t you ever do anything so dangerous again.” His voice breaks with emotion.
I wind my arms around his neck and press my lips to his in a fierce, desperate kiss. He responds instantly, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he claims my mouth with searing intensity. It's a kiss of possession, of unshakable devotion. A silent vow. You are mine and I am yours.
"I love you," he rasps against my lips, voice raw with emotion. "I can't lose you, Dana."
"You won't," I promise breathlessly, tears clogging my throat. "I'm not going anywhere."
In wordless accord, he scoops me up, cradling me to his chest as he strides purposefully out of this hellish room, barking orders to his men. As we emerge from the warehouse into the crisp night air, I finally let myself believe it.
The nightmare is over.
I'm exactly where I belong—safe in Luca's arms.