Chapter 42 Evelyn
Evelyn
My brain stalls out at the sight of my ex-fiancé descending the stairs, rushing into the dank basement.
He looks exactly as I remember him: carefully styled, dark blond hair, cleanshaven, square jaw, and navy-blue eyes framed in thick lashes.
He’s every inch the righteous federal agent, but I know what he really is.
“Don’t hurt her,” he snaps at Rocco.
For a moment, my heart leaps. Maybe George has come to realize the depth of his sins. Maybe he isn’t here to kill me and keep his sordid secret.
“You told us about the deal Massimo made with the cartels to undercut our business here in Naples,” Rocco says to George, his voice even icier than the blade at my throat.
“In exchange for the information, I promised you that I’ll handle your ex.
She won’t tell anyone at the DEA that you’re a corrupt agent. This is what you asked for.”
“I didn’t come all the way to Italy to watch you torture her,” George seethes.
“I invited you as a courtesy to see that the job is done, but I will not be deprived of my revenge,” Rocco snaps back.
“You came to me when you found out that I’m Massimo’s sworn enemy.
I can finally kill him for what he did to my face, and your ex will be out of the picture too.
So, shut the fuck up and let me handle my business. ”
A muscle ticks in George’s jaw, a warning sign that his anger is mounting.
The man I once thought I loved is a stranger to me. I planned to spend the rest of my life with this monster, but all he cares about is saving his own reputation.
“I didn’t agree to you tormenting her,” he insists.
Rocco barks a frigid laugh. “She’s fucking your enemy, and you’re trying to spare her some pain? If you’re too much of a pussy to watch, then you can leave. I’ve been waiting to punish Massimo for far too long. You won’t ruin this for me.”
I meet Massimo’s desperate eyes, allowing him to look straight into my core, to see my love for him. His beautiful features are twisted with rage and terror for me. An odd sense of calm settles over me.
Despite the fact that I face death, I don’t regret anything that’s happened with the cartels and the Camorra. If I hadn’t followed George to Mexico City, I never would’ve met Massimo.
For years, I made myself small for my ex-fiancé. I did everything in my power to make him happy, desperate to earn his love in return.
With Massimo, I’ve allowed myself to be difficult at times. I challenged him for keeping me against my will, and I stood up to him when he made demands of me that I didn’t agree with.
I’m empowered to express my full range of emotions with him because I feel inherently safe with my dark protector.
I open myself to him, allowing him to see my devotion and gratitude shining through my eyes. No matter what happens now, I wouldn’t change one moment with him. He’s allowed me to truly be myself for the first time in my life. I will never regret that.
If Rocco kills me, Massimo will go insane with grief. He’ll probably be murdered after I am. I won’t allow him to be hurt.
And I won’t allow George to take one more thing from me, much less my life. I will never make myself small for him ever again.
I pin my ex-fiancé with a challenging stare. “For years, I gave you everything. I devoted my entire life to you, and now you want to end it. If you ever felt anything for me, you’ll let me go.”
“Get her out of here, you coward,” Massimo snarls.
I want to reassure him that I won’t leave him with Rocco. If he dies down here, I’ll die with him.
But I have to keep my focus on George if I have any hope of talking our way out of this nightmare.
“That isn’t your choice to make anymore, Crawford,” Rocco snaps. “I’ve waited decades for my revenge, and I can finally make Massimo suffer for what he did to me. Hurting her will destroy him before I finally let him die.”
“I loved you, George,” I declare. “I loved you more than I loved anyone, including myself. Especially myself.” I blink against the sting at the corners of my eyes, desperate to keep my vision clear.
“I swear I won’t tell anyone about your corruption.
If you let me go, I’ll return to Albuquerque and leave you alone. ”
There’s no way I’m leaving here without Massimo, but if I can at least get Rocco’s knife away from my vulnerable throat, I won’t be completely powerless.
I keep my focus centered on my ex. “Please. Don’t let us end like this. Don’t let him rape me. I know that’s not the kind of man you are.”
His eyes tighten with something like anguish, and his jaw firms. In one swift movement, he draws his gun and aims at Rocco.
“Drop the knife.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Rocco barks.
“Deadly serious,” George replies, cold and collected. “I’m an excellent shot, and Evelyn is too slight to fully shield you. Drop the knife, or you’re a dead man.”
My captor releases a savage sound of pure frustration, but the blade clatters to the concrete.
“Get down!” Massimo roars.
I obey immediately, dropping to the damp floor. My fingers close around the hilt of the knife as muted gunfire pops through the basement.
My heart leaps into my throat, fear for Massimo choking me.
I turn my face to search for him, but George fills my vision, looming over me. His classically handsome features are drawn with regret.
“I can at least make this quick, Evie. I won’t let him torture you, but I can’t let you live.”
His gun lifts, swinging to aim at my head. I slash wildly with the knife, and it slices deep into his wrist.
He screams, and the gun goes off with a deafening bang. But his arm flies wide, away from the threat of the blade in my hand.
I’m not hit, but I hear Massimo shouting my name.
George’s body jerks, and a crimson stain blooms on his crisp white shirt as the bullet tears though his black heart. My abuser is dead before he hits the ground.