Chapter 19
ALEX
Marcello exited the car with an annoyed grunt and moved to the grass below me. “Jump. I’ll catch you.”
Getting up here was easy, but every time I dared to glance at the ground, my throat closed. For a moment, I was back at the ski resort in the Pocono Mountains. Aiden had talked me into separating from the group so we could check out the slopes.
He always sought danger.
We’d ventured to the black diamond slope, which was closed for the weekend. Unfortunately, we learned the reason for the closure too late. They were replacing a fence to keep skiers from falling off the mountain. If Aiden hadn’t grabbed my arm, I would have plummeted to my death.
“Stop fucking around,” Marcello said with an attitude.
“I’m afraid of heights.”
He inched toward the wall. “I’m coming up. Unless you plan to sleep up there.”
“It beats the alternative,” I shot back.
“Like sleeping next to me was so horrible,” he challenged. “You didn’t even know I was beside you. And if I hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have slept a wink.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”
“We’re not having this conversation right now.”
“Tell me.”
“You woke me up, screaming in your sleep. I held you until the tremors stopped, and then…”
“And then what?”
“When I came back from taking a shower, you were hitting yourself in your sleep. That’s when I woke you up.”
I wracked my brain for any memories of last night.
Nothing. A blank slate.
His confession only made me miss Aiden more. My brother had comforted me for years. That was partly why I never lived alone. Even in college, I had to be near him to quell the bad dreams. Knowing he was in the same house seemed to keep the darkness at bay.
I turned so my back faced him, giving him the perfect view of my bare ass. It was too late to rethink the pink thong beneath my short dress. I lunged off the wall and fell on top of Marcello. My eyes found his blue ones as his huge cock grazed my inner thigh.
Jesus .
Pressing my palm to his chest, I sat up, the sudden movement creating friction between us.
“Fuck,” he groaned. “Stop moving for a second.”
I rocked my hips, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Do I turn you on, Marcello?”
He scowled and tossed me onto the grass beside him.
I crossed over the flagstones and hit the button on the call box. A man’s deep voice boomed through the speaker, asking me to state my business at Wellington Manor.
“It’s Alexandrea Wellington,” I said.
The gate opened inward.
Marcello closed the gap between us, his dark eyebrows knitted. “What are you doing?”
“I’m having dinner with my family.”
“Like hell you are.” He grabbed my arm, his fingerprints marking my flesh as he dragged me away from the gate. “Only good girls get privileges. And you’ve just lost yours until Luca comes home. Get in the car.”
Marcello opened the passenger door with little effort and forced me inside the car. He was so much stronger, and with his tree trunks for arms and massive body hulking over me, it was impossible to fight him.
“Run again,” he threatened, “and I will handcuff you to the bed.”
“Sounds like foreplay,” I joked. But as our eyes met, I was startled at the chilling look on his face, and a wave of fear rolled over me. “Fine. I’ll behave myself.”
He leaned over me to grab the seatbelt and winked. “Good girl.”
Marcello’s fingers grazed my breasts, so I grabbed his hand, molding it to my right breast. I could see the hesitation in his eyes.
Marcello moved his hand from my breast. “So much for behaving yourself, princess.”
“I’ve been a bad girl, Marcello.” I licked my lips. “Maybe you should spank me.”
“Luca won’t be happy with you.”
“Don’t tell him. This can be our little secret.”
He held my gaze, considering my offer, and then shut the door. As if I hadn’t thrown myself at him, Marcello got behind the wheel and returned to his usual cold, reserved self. He slipped his sleek sports car into reverse and flew down Founders Way like we were on the Autobahn.
We arrived at the Salvatore estate in a flash, skidding to a halt in front of a covered garage that housed a fleet of cars. Mario Andretti’s evil twin slid out from behind the steering wheel, and within seconds, he ripped open my door, lifted me over his shoulder, and dragged me toward the house.
I slapped his back, arms, and that tight ass I wanted to sink my teeth into, my fists pounding with fury. “Put me down! I can walk on my own, you psychopath.”
Marcello released a wicked cackle that sent shivers down my spine as we entered the foyer. I fought him as we ascended the stairs, which was pointless.
He set me down at the top of the landing.
I shoved my palm into his chest. “Asshole! Why are you treating me like a child?”
His cell phone dinged with several text messages, and he read them, smirking. “You shouldn’t have run.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
He followed me into my bedroom. I spun around to face him, and he inched forward, forcing me to walk backward toward the bed. A flicker of desire sparked in his eyes, sending a ripple of pleasure down my arms.
Would he give me what I wanted?
Marcello pushed me onto the mattress and grabbed my wrist, raising my arm above my head. “I gave you some freedom, and this is what you did with it. Think about escaping again, and I’ll spank your ass so hard you won’t walk for a week.”
“Sounds like fun.” I blew him a kiss. “You going to tie me up or take me over your knee? Luca likes it both ways.”
Marcello slid off the bed, grinning as his eyes traveled up the length of my body.
“See something you like, asshole?”
He glanced at the room’s corner. I couldn’t see anything past the crown molding, but I assumed there was a camera. He tipped his head, then walked away.
“Wait!” I sat up as he reached the door. “Where are you going? I need to eat.”
“You should have thought about that.”
Marcello slammed the door behind him. My throat closed up at the sound of the lock clicking into place. It was too loud, like the lock on my closet door at home. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the bad memories playing through my mind like a highlight reel, but it was too late.
Metal on metal, I cringed at the sound. I pounded my fists on the door as my mother laughed. Taunted me with her cruel words.
I hated her.
Aiden screamed from his bedroom, begging my mom to let me out. She locked him in his room when he tried to stop her.
Aiden always tried to save me.
I need you, Aiden.
Come back to me.
Hand over my heart, I sucked in a deep breath and released it. Thinking of Aiden brought me back every time. Aiden was my home, my other half. My chest felt as if it were filled with sand. A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead and wet my eyelashes.
Five, four, three, two, one…
Just breathe, Alex.
Hands slick with sweat, I clasped them together on my lap.
My skin coursed with fire, an inferno blazing inside me.
No attack was the same. Sometimes, I had migraines, while other times, I passed out from lack of oxygen to my brain.
Most of the time, I could manage my anxiety.
I’d had dozens of doctors, each teaching me different tricks to steady my nerves.
But it was Dr. Porter who saved my life.
He’d introduced me to creative art therapy and suggested I turn my anxiety into a passion.
My mother never wanted me to paint. God forbid anyone stole the spotlight from her.
But after my doctor had mentioned it to Pops, he sent Aiden and me to a high school for artists.
We learned fast and channeled our anger into our art.
My fingers itched for something to do, anything to make me feel normal. I needed to paint or sketch. So I pushed myself up from the mattress and crossed the room. The doorknob jiggled but would not turn.
“Marcello, let me out of here.” I banged on the door. “Open this door.”
Then, I heard the sound of water splashing.
The bay .
I flung open the balcony doors. Salty air floated into the room, and I drank in the scent. My mind drifted to Luca and our first kiss. It was his idea to lock me in a dark bedroom. That fucker sent Marcello text messages, ordering his brother to torture me.
Message received, asshole!
Furious, I turned away from the open doors and flipped Luca the finger. I was sure there was a hidden camera in the room. Marcello looked at the right corner too often for it to be a coincidence.
Anger surged through me, heat rolling off my skin like flames.
That asshole dragged me back to this place, only to have his brother lock me up like Rapunzel in her fucking tower.
Positive I had his attention, I lifted an expensive glass vase from the table by the window.
I raised it above my head, laughing as it smashed to pieces.
Fuck him.
I went around the room, breaking everything but the lamps. It felt good to watch the glass shatter like he’d done to my heart when he took Aiden from me.
Shards of glass and ceramic littered the carpet like a fucked up painting—like something I would paint. I smiled at my handwork, proud of my latest creation.
You’re losing it again.
No, I’m not.
Maybe just a little.
Ignoring the nagging throb at the base of my skull, I spun around and headed toward the balcony. The wind whipped through my hair, blowing strands in my face. Gripping the brick post, I shut my eyes and let the sea glide over my skin.
I tipped my nose up and breathed in its saltiness.
My mind drifted to Aiden and the last night I saw him.
He looked tired, his blond curls longer than usual.
Whatever he was doing for The Serpents kept him out at all hours.
Dark circles ringed his blue irises. I knew he was taking pills and confronted him about it. He promised he would stop.
A sharp pain pierced my skull, and I grabbed the side of my head as images flashed before me.
Aiden pulled up the hood on his blue sweatshirt, his back to me. He raised his hand to his ear and mumbled words I couldn’t make out over the crashing water below. He stood where I had kissed Luca for the first time. Too close to the edge.
“Aiden,” I called out. “Please. You don’t have to do this.”
He shoved a hand in his pocket and spun around. Our eyes met, but someone else stared back at me. This version of Aiden gave me the same glare as the cold, ruthless man he had become. He reminded me of Luca and his brothers.
“I’m sorry, Lexie.” His words sounded pained, as if it were killing him to leave. “I don’t have a choice.”
I stepped forward, tears falling from my eyes and sliding down my cheeks.
“We always have a choice.”
“If you didn’t have to marry Luca, you wouldn’t be here.”
He was right, so I didn’t bother to correct him.
“Stay,” I pleaded. “For me.”
He shook his head, and his curls fell into his eyes. We were fraternal twins but looked so much alike and had the same high cheekbones, pale blue eyes, and unruly curly hair. But my brother looked as if he’d aged ten years since he met The Serpents.
They ruined the man who held me in his arms when I had nightmares—the same man who’d saved me from the monsters. I needed my twin brother, not the man he was transforming into. How could he save me from the thing he was becoming?
“I can’t do this, Aiden,” I sobbed. “This is killing me. I need you.”
He inched backward toward the edge of the cliff. “It’s the way it has to be, Lexie.”
“No,” I choked out. “There’s another way.”
“You want to believe that.” He took another step backward, so close to the edge. “But this is it. Just let me go. It’s best for all of us.”
“Never.” My chest constricted as I spoke, the word a whisper on my lips. “You’re a part of me. I’m a part of you.” I stretched my hand out and wiggled my fingers. “Come with me, Aid. Please.”
His hand flew out in search of mine. Our fingers brushed, and his skin was rough and callused, hardened by the cruelty of our new world. As I pulled him closer, he lost his footing, stumbled…
When my eyes snapped open, fear flooded my veins, and a bitter chill washed over me like breaking waves. When I looked down, I screamed.