Chapter 67
ALEX
Cloaked in darkness, I stretched my fingers out in front of me. The panic set in within seconds, and my heart raced like a speeding train.
It was too dark.
Too quiet.
Old memories came flooding back, washing over me like breaking waves. I closed my eyes and tried to blink a few times, wishing it was all a dream. My body shook uncontrollably as the past collided with my future.
The closet.
The silence.
The never-ending darkness.
My screams. The dread.
My mom laughing at me.
“Luca,” I whispered. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Shhh,” he said against my earlobe.
“You know I hate the dark. Turn the fucking lights on. Now!”
He wrapped his strong arms around me and flattened my back against his chest. “You want me to have a happy birthday, baby?”
“Yes.”
He kissed my cheek. “Then play the game with me.”
“What game?” I choked out.
Luca turned me around so we could face each other. Though, I couldn’t see shit, not even his face. He could have been anyone.
Brushing the hair off my forehead, he whispered against my lips, “It’s called Capture the Queen.”
My chest tightened, nerves shaking through me.
“How do you play?”
“Shhh.” He tucked my head under his chin and held me against his chest. “You don’t want the monsters to find you, my queen.”
A gasp escaped my lips.
I was the Queen.
They were the Knights.
The women were decoys for me.
They wore similar gowns, all with curly hair, and had the same black and gold carnival masks. Kali stood out from the bunch, and that was on purpose.
“You need serious help,” I muttered.
Luca covered my mouth and led me away from the group. “Shhh,” he whispered. “No talking. I got you, baby.”
I slipped my fingers between his and followed his lead. He knew where he was going. It was his house, after all. Knowing Luca, he’d planned the exact route he would take beforehand. He wouldn’t go through with this silly game without knowing he would win.
That he would capture his Queen.
Luca grabbed the soft fabric over my right shoulder and slid it down my arm. “Take this off. It will make it harder for them to find you.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Tradition.”
“What happens if someone captures me?”
He dipped his head down and licked my ear. “They get to keep you for the night.”
A gasp slipped from my lips.
I wanted to murder Luca. Why the hell was he doing this to me? Fuck him and his traditions. The Devil’s Knights took shit way too far. Dragging me to their temple in the middle of the night was bad enough. I wasn’t a prize for any of them to win.
I saw shadows moving, heard footsteps drawing near, and the sounds of… sucking. Moans. Then someone screamed. Skin slapped, the silence filled with groans. It sounded like they were having fun like they were getting fucked good.
I was in Hell with my Devil.
I released a whimper, doing my best to stifle the wave of anxiety rushing over me.
“Shhh, baby.” Luca cradled me in his arms. “It will all be over soon.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I know the outcome. When this is over, we will claim our victory.”
That was enough for me.
Luca had this under control.
So I did as he asked, keeping my mouth shut. Speaking would only give away our position, and I wanted to stay off the Knights' radar for as long as possible.
His fingers slipped beneath the strap on my left shoulder.
The fabric slid down my arm, bunched around my waist, and Luca yanked on the belt.
The silky fabric slid to the floor. I stepped out of the dress and stood before him in a black thong he’d picked out from Caio Bello.
Not like it mattered since he couldn’t see me.
His big hands covered my breasts and massaged my nipples. He continued his slow appraisal, hands running down my sides and over my ass. We fell onto a couch, and he pulled me on top of him so I straddled his thighs.
The darkness fucked with my head, made me see things that were not there. I focused hard and blinked a few times.
“Luca?”
“Yeah, baby?”
I sighed. “Just checking.”
Through his pants, Luca’s hard cock rested against the length of my inner thigh. I rocked my hips to create some friction.
“Don’t say my name, baby. Don’t even speak until the lights turn back on. Not another word. Okay?”
“How long?”
“One hour.” His lips crashed into mine, his fingers weaving through my hair. “We don’t have long. Just one more kiss, and then you’re on your own.”
“No,” I choked out. “Don’t leave me.”
He brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I will find you. Promise. And when I do, your pussy is mine for the rest of the night.”
His mouth closed over my nipple, sucking and biting so hard I squealed.
“Shhh, baby.”
His teeth grazed my nipple. He rubbed his hand over my ass and shoved my panties to the side. His finger slid into my wetness from behind, just enough to test my slit. I twisted my fingers through his hair and moaned as I licked his neck and nibbled his skin.
The room filled with groans.
I wondered how many men cared about playing the game. Would Luca let them win? Capture the Queen. What a ridiculous concept! Even if another man found me, he would never let them fuck me.
We kissed for what felt like hours. My head spun from a mixture of lust, scotch, and his rough hands on my body. I rubbed my pussy against his erection, wishing he would take off his pants and fuck me.
I reached between us, my hand shaking as I grabbed his zipper. But he covered my hand with his. The finality of his actions startled me. I sat back, searched the darkness for his face, and found nothing.
Pitch fucking black.
He could have been anyone beneath me. Fear coiled in my belly, making my stomach churn, terrified of him leaving me alone in the dark. I knew it was coming. My chest heaved as he lifted me in his strong arms and rose from the couch.
This was it.
The moment I feared.
How would I find him in the dark?
He set my feet on the ground, his hands on my hips to steady me. I kicked off my heels, unable to balance myself on shaky legs.
Luca kissed my forehead. “I’ll find you.” Then he tapped my backside. “Go.”
Frozen in disbelief, I stood there, listening to my heart pound in my ears. I spun around, stretched my arms out to grab him, and my hands swept through the air.
Luca , I wanted to scream, but he had already disappeared into the room. My anxiety rushed back, and adrenaline shot through my veins like a shot of heroin. Except, nothing about this game made me feel high or alive.
Feeling in front of me, I moved away from the loudest sounds, hoping they were too busy to hear me. Luca must have known where I was, right? He wouldn’t leave me in the hands of his friends. Sure, he trusted the Knights with his life. They were like brothers to him. But did he trust them with me?
He did last year…
I took a few steps in front of me, hands outstretched, my feet cold against the marble floor. Should I hide? Run? Find my way out of this room without getting captured?
My head spun from the alcohol. I preferred beer or wine over the hard stuff. In a room filled with close to two dozen horny men, I needed my bearings.
A strong arm pulled my back against a hard surface.
Vodka mixed with cranberries assaulted my senses.
Not Luca . I peeled his fingers off my breast and shoved him away as I took off, unable to see a foot in front of me.
Another hand grabbed me, fingers skated down my arm, and a hand cupped my ass.
Unlike the last man, he smelled like cool water and bourbon.
His hands roamed over my body, taking in my curves.
Maybe if I let them touch me, I could run away without getting pinned to the couch.
Without getting captured.
I’d only made it a few feet before two men grabbed me, caging me between them.
Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to still my racing heart.
Hands slid down my bare arms. Another pair of hands cradled my ass.
Electricity sparked down my arms and thighs.
Their warm hands felt good, but they were not Luca’s.
I didn’t want them.
Thinking fast, I shoved their hands off my body and ducked down. Crouched low to the ground, I slid to my right, my knees scraping across the floor.
“What the fuck?”
The other man grunted.
Proud of myself for getting away, I smiled. I crawled on my hands and knees until I bumped into a piece of furniture. So far, so good. Maybe Luca knew I could survive an hour without getting captured.
I sat on the floor and leaned back against a couch.
It didn’t sound like anyone was behind me.
But how long could I hide here? I had to keep going.
Using the sofa for support, I pushed myself up from the tile.
I continued my slow perusal of the room.
Luca had to be around here somewhere. He could not have gone far unless he wanted me to chase him.
Was that part of his game?
I got up from the floor and moved toward the left side of the room, closer to the entrance.
My perception was off. Without sight, it awakened my other senses.
Women moaned, and men grunted. The sounds of skin slapping broke through the noise.
It smelled like a den of iniquity, the stench of sex and liquor hitting the air like smoke in the wind.
Everywhere I walked, their scents and sounds followed me. With each moan, liquid heat pooled between my thighs, soaking my panties. My skin burned with desire, like an itch I needed to scratch.
I had to find Luca.
Someone hugged me from behind, stealing a scream from my lips.
His hand covered my mouth, and he spun me around, his scent filling my nostrils—cigars, scotch, with a hint of the saltiness of the sea.
I relaxed in his arms. His hand slid up my stomach, between my cleavage, and straight to my throat.
Like a hot poker, his fingers branded my skin. I loved it when he dominated me.
My Devil found me.