45. Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Four
Elise
Wyatt has already made breakfast when I wake up the next morning. I managed to cry myself to sleep and continue that sleep through the night, forcing me to realize just how exhausted I was. And just how outlandish it was of me to think I could just disappear from this life.
Silence permeates the air as Wyatt sits across from me, obviously still reeling from my words to him yesterday. He didn’t try to attack me in the middle of the night, and even had breakfast for me this morning. He is inherently a good person, which is why I don’t want him mixed up in this world. Whether it’s Alexander or Luca who walks through that door to drag me back to my life, Wyatt would only be collateral.
“Is the weather good enough for us to leave?” I ask, breaking the silence.
Wyatt nods.
“Yes. I can take you down the mountain…or if you’d like to call your husband to let him know you’re okay—”
“I couldn’t call him if I wanted to. But I know he is in the area looking for me. He might still be here,” I say quietly.
“And if he isn’t?” Wyatt asks.
I pull in a deep breath, matching his gaze.
“Then I’ll find him. Regardless, I can’t let you suffer for being a good person,” I say.
Wyatt laughs, looking down at his plate.
“You make it sound like someone’s going to kill me for helping you out,” he says.
“That’s exactly what it means,” I say, using my fork to push my eggs around. “The world I come from doesn’t live by any rules. It makes the rules. And my husband leads the charge on what those rules are. If he thinks you should die for helping me, you will die. And no one will remember you even existed,” I say. “I owe you my life, Wyatt. I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t leave as soon as I can.”
Wyatt shakes his head.
“You talk like he is the devil. Why would you marry someone like that?” he asks.
“I didn’t have a choice. It was arranged,” I say.
I release a bitter chuckle, for once being able to speak my true feelings to someone without fear of the consequences.
“And a month later, my husband killed my father. So trust me when I say your life means nothing to him,” I laugh bitterly.
“And what about your life? Why would he let something like this happen to you if he cares so much?” he asks.
I look at him in confusion.
“That isn’t your place to ask,” I say.
“So you’re just going to return to this life you clearly are reluctant to go back to?” he asks.
“Were you not listening? I don’t have a choice,” I say.
Wyatt watches me in confusion before looking away.
“Of course…I’m sorry if I overstepped,” he says, standing.
“Once you finish up here, I can take you down the mountain—”
Suddenly, Rosco begins growling at the door. I tense, standing as I reach for the knife, holding it in front of me.
“Oh God…he found me,” I whisper.
Wyatt is up from the table, his voice low. “Rosco, come,” he says, moving to the end table near the door. He pulls open the drawer, pulling out a gun, his stance reminding me of Luca and his men as he watches the front door steadily.
He shifts his attention to me, gesturing for me to cross the room.
“Get behind me,” he murmurs.
I scramble from my seat, holding the knife tight as we both stare at the door, waiting for the intruder. I don’t know how long I stare at the door, but it feels like an eternity. I want to run and hide, but I know that I can’t here. We are surrounded by snow and hazardous terrain. Our only chance is to fight.
The sound of footsteps outside the door quietly reaches us, and I grip my blade tightly as I imagine the reinforcements Alexander must have gotten to come after me. I bite my tongue as the door suddenly bashes open, and two familiar faces enter the room with their weapons drawn.
My eyes widen.
It’s Romelo and Nicolai.
And not far behind is Luca Pasquino himself, gun drawn as he enters the room. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see him. His eyes are murderous as they shift from Rosco to Wyatt and finally land on me.
Tears spring into my vision, and I quickly step forward.
“Luca?” My voice is a soft whisper as I speak his name, mirroring everything that I feel.
I tense when I feel Wyatt grip my arm, and Luca’s eyes follow the motion, lifting his gun to shoot. I quickly rip my arm from Wyatt’s grip, stepping directly in front of him as I cross the room to jump into his arms.
“You’re really here,” I sob as his scent engulfs me, reminding me of everything that I am—everything that I can never run from. This is my life. And no matter where I go or who takes me, Luca will find me.
His arms close around me as he buries his face into my neck, holding me tight.
“I thought I’d fucking lost you,” he murmurs.
I cringe in pain as his hand brushes over the bruises on my back, and he notices, pulling away with a frown. His hand gently runs over my face, wiping my tears as he takes in my pitiful state, including my black eyes.
“I’m here now. No one will ever touch you again,” he says.
His eyes shift over my shoulder, noticing Wyatt.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asks, stepping in front of me.
Wyatt glances briefly at me, and Luca doesn’t like it.
“Don’t look at her. Look at me. I asked you a question,” he says.
I place my hand on Luca’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. This is exactly what I was afraid of.
“Stop. He saved my life. If it wasn’t for him, I would have died in the snowstorm,” I say.
“My name is Wyatt. I meant your wife no harm,” he says.
I can’t see Luca’s face, but his body language suggests that he isn’t satisfied with that answer. He shifts his attention to Romelo.
“Take him,” he says.
Rosco’s growl heightens, and Luca shifts his weapon to him as he looks at Wyatt.
“Shut him up. Or I’ll put a bullet in him too,” he says.
Wyatt once again looks at me before quipping a command to his dog, who finally quietens down.
Luca turns away, wrapping his arm around my waist as he guides me out of the house, but I turn away from him.
“Wait,” I say softly.
I step out of his hold, slowly moving across the room to Wyatt, silently pleading with my eyes that he cooperate.
“My name is Elise. Elise Pasquino. Thank you for saving my life,” I say.
His eyes widen with recognition that I don’t like. He knows who the Pasquinos are.
“Come, Elise,” Luca calls from the doorway.
I slowly back away, moving into his arms. The safety that I feel is unmatched as I come to realize I am truly out of the woods. He will protect me always, no matter what. He has proven that time and time again. He proved it when my father attempted to take my life, when his father commanded him to take my life, when my cousin plotted to take my life, and even now as he hunted me down to the ends of the earth to save me from a fate worse than death. As if reading my mind, Luca pulls off his coat, wrapping it around my shoulders, and my comfort grows.
After spending weeks with Alexander, I understand the people Luca runs in circles with. And to be the boss, you have to be the worst. You have to be hard and borderline maniacal.
Suddenly, Luca places his arms under my legs, lifting me off my feet. I bury my face in his chest, letting my tears fall harder as I squeeze the fabric of his shirt. He’s really here. And he’s going to protect me no matter what.