Chapter 57
Caterina
I assembled mine and Roman’s men to storm the bunker.
Spencer, Vera, and Elizabeth stayed at the house to make sure Marie and her children were okay with this new transition.
I called Lena and Serena to help as well, because I knew the adjustment would be intense for young children and a woman held captive for years.
As much as I wanted Vincenzo to suffer, I wanted his existence obliterated off this planet more. With him alive, people were suffering. With him breathing, he was a threat, not to me, but to innocent women and children who were ripped from their everyday lives.
I hoped believing the words of that prisoner were true, because I had nothing left after this.
Everyone else was dead. Vincenzo’s girls were traumatized, so I couldn’t put more on them by asking if they know about a bunker in the woods.
I couldn’t fathom the abuse and trauma she had experienced being in his hands once again.
My girl was strong. She was a phoenix rising from the ashes, but this would put a dent in her armor.
I knew it would. I was going to get her back. I didn’t care what it took.
As we got deeper into the woods, I didn’t see a shed.
There was nothing. Rage bubbled inside me as I mentally beat myself for listening to that man.
For jumping on this without sending my own scout to look at the area and tell me if it was true.
I was desperate. I wanted Harlow back in my arms and away from Vincenzo.
I would be there every step of the way with her in this new healing journey we would both be on because of this man. No matter how long it took, we would move forward in our kingdom. My queen would rise again through his ashes. I would get her back.
We used infrared cameras to search for the bunker, and three miles in we found one end of it. Now we just needed to find the entrance. This thing was huge, and I hoped I could find Harlow before he realized we were coming for him.
Vincenzo didn’t bother covering the entrance of the bunker as we broke the lock. This made my stomach churn. Did he think someone would set him free, or was he content with dying down there with Harlow? The bastard probably told Igor where he would be hiding and had a phone down there.
As I lowered myself into the bunker, I heard two shots and my heart dropped as I ran. God, please don’t take her from me. The shots didn’t sound too far away from us, but I hoped she was close. I needed her to be alive. I needed her to fight.
“Roman, is your helicopter team ready?” I yelled at him as we both ran.
“Yes. They just need the exact coordinates, and the med crew will be ready to take her to Presbyterian.”
I nodded, running until I heard another shot, and I stalled, feeling my heart stop beating for a moment. Roman grabbed my arm, steadying me when my knees went weak. Please. Please. Please. Don’t take her from me. Fight for me, baby. Please.
“You’re mine. I’ll see you in the afterlife.”
Roman fired the shot that took Vincenzo to the ground before he had a chance to hurt her again.
And then I saw her, and my world stopped.
Harlow was bound and naked on a disgusting mattress.
Her body was bruised and bloody. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she was assaulted due to the blood and semen on her thighs and stomach.
My beautiful little dove. My brave little warrior.
“You stupid cunt,” Vincenzo growled in pain.
“Checkmate, bastard.” I shot him in the dick. It took everything in me not to empty my magazine into him, but I had plans for the bastard. “You touched what’s mine, and I’ll make sure you pay.”
“S-she’ll always be m-mine.”
I smirked. He thought he would survive. Harlow would get the opportunity to kill him. I didn’t care how long I had to keep the bastard alive for her to get her revenge. “Take him back to the mansion and hang him from his toes.”
I holstered my gun and made my way to my wife. Roman was calling his team now, getting that chopper ready to transport us. I needed to get her out of here as soon as possible. I ran my fingers through her oily locks, scratching her scalp as she fell into my touch. God, I fucking missed her so much.
Her eyes fluttered open, and I saw those beautiful, earthy eyes for the first time in weeks, their depths a comforting refuge amidst the storm inside my heart right now.
She tugged at her restraints weakly, like she thought she was already freed, and I mentally cursed myself for not thinking. I removed her restraints gently.
“Y-you di-died,” she stuttered breathlessly.
I kissed her forehead. “A car crash can’t keep me away from you, bellissima.”
She smiled weakly. “Silly me.”
Her eyes fluttered closed, and my heart rate picked up. “Bellissima, wake up, baby.” I tapped her face gently, but she didn’t respond. “Don’t leave me again. Fight for me. Fight.”
Roman put his arm on my shoulders as I sobbed. “We need to get her out of here.”
“I-I can’t move her.”
“Breathe, Caterina,” he said calmly. How the hell was he so fucking calm right now? “I’ll take her. We will get her up there and we will triage until the helicopter gets here. If you failed to forget, I was a medic in the armed forces. I know how to treat her until they arrive.”
I nodded, believing him. I kissed Harlow’s lips softly, lingering for a moment, wishing this was a fairytale and true love’s kiss would save the day.
Sadly, this was a cruel reality with the woman I loved gripping onto life while being moments away from death.
I couldn’t lose the woman who set my soul on fire and opened my heart.
She showed me what true love was, and I refused to lose the other part of my heart.
I understood why my father went down a dark path after my mama died.
“Fight for me, baby. Fight for us.”