Chapter 4
HAVEN
Frozen in terror, I’m unable to take in any of my surroundings.
By the time Leo steers the car through massive black gates that are guarded by armed men, every muscle in my body aches from all the trembling.
I can’t think of a single thing, my mind flooded with shock and fear.
The car stops, and when Leo and Massimo move, climbing out of the vehicle, another wave of fear rushes through me.
I wildly glance over the property, visible from the backseat of the Porsche. There’s a beautiful mansion built on the side of a hill, and to my left, the ocean stretches out as far as the eye can see. More armed guards move around the landscaped yard.
The door beside me opens, and once again, I’m gripped by my arm and pulled out of the car. My legs still feel weak, and I stumble before catching my balance.
I’m tugged toward the front of the vehicle where Leo is standing, and when he reaches for me with a bloody hand, prickles of terror ghost over my skin.
His hand feels as cold as his icy demeanor when he takes hold of me.
Massimo lets go of my other arm, then he says something in Italian. Leo replies to Massimo before he hauls me toward the front door.
Glancing over my shoulder, I see Massimo remove my luggage from the trunk.
I’m led into a foyer where a large crystal chandelier hangs, and my body grows colder, making my breaths quiver over my lips.
Leo lets go of my arm, and I watch with wide eyes and a tense body as he walks toward a living room that’s bathed in the late afternoon sun on the other side of the foyer.
I also notice sliding doors that open onto a veranda where there’s an infinity pool, which gives the impression it blends in with the ocean.
Massimo comes into the house, carrying my luggage, and I quickly step to the side to get out of his way.
My movements are shaky, my eyes constantly darting all over the luxurious place. I wrap my arms around myself and cautiously walk past a doorway. I peek into a big kitchen before looking at Massimo, where he’s taking my belongings up a staircase leading to the second floor.
My attention is drawn back to a living room where Leo stands by a glass table. He pours amber liquid into a tumbler, and as he takes a sip, his head turns in my direction. The instant his dark eyes lock on me, my heartbeat speeds up even more, and I begin to feel lightheaded.
“Come here, Haven.” His voice is a low rumble that sends more fear cascading through me.
What is he going to do to me?
I’m a trembling mess as I slowly move forward. My chin quivers, and unable to stop the tears, they escape and spiral over my cheeks.
Gone are the thoughts I had of him being the most attractive man I’ve ever seen. All I see now is a dangerous man who might kill me at any moment.
Mom will go to the embassy. She’ll get help.
Massimo’s heavy footsteps have my head snapping in his direction. He speaks Italian again, and I can’t make out a single word. After Leo replies, Massimo lets himself out the front door, leaving me alone with Leo.
Standing near a gray couch, I keep a safe distance between Leo and me. Fearfully, I glance around us, again taking in the expensive décor and the breathtaking view of the ocean beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Leo’s angry gaze remains locked on me, and it’s the most unnerving thing I’ve ever experienced.
The silence becomes unbearable, and the words rush over my dry lips, “Why are you doing this?”
Slowly, he tilts his head, the simple movement looking threatening as hell. “I lost a good man today because of your cowardly cousin.”
My features grow tense, and I struggle not to burst out in tears as I whimper, “But I have nothing to do with any of it. Why me?”
Leo takes another sip of his drink before he saunters closer to me. Every muscle in my body tenses, and I’m trembling horribly by the time he stops right in front of me.
God, he’s so much taller than me.
When he lifts his hand to my face, I flinch and squeeze my eyes shut. Instead of hitting me, he brushes a finger over my left cheek.
The surprisingly soft touch confuses the hell out of me.
“You remind me of someone I used to know,” he murmurs.
I open my eyes again, and feeling very uncomfortable with him touching me, I take a step backward. All the fear I’m experiencing is becoming too much to handle.
Leo lowers his hand, and letting out a sigh, he just stares at me for a while before he says, “Take a seat.”
My movements are stilted as I sit down on the nearest couch.
When Leo takes a seat across from me, the sight of the dried blood on his skin draws my attention once again.
God.
Another sob bursts from me, and I quickly cover my mouth with a trembling hand.
A frown line appears between his dark brown eyes, then he says, “I’m not going to kill you.”
I suck in a desperate breath, and lowering my head, I stare at the sand-colored tiles. “Please, let me go.”
“You can leave at any time, but then your family dies.”
His brutal words have my head snapping up again, and horrified, I meet his angry gaze.
He sips on his drink, then says, “That’s the deal, Haven. Either we get married and peace returns between the Toscanos and Romanos, or I’ll wipe out the Romano name.”
More fear creeps through me as I whisper, “But I’m a Romano.”
Leo just shrugs while he finishes the last of the amber liquid. He sets the tumbler down on the glass table between us. The sheet of glass rests on a beautiful piece of driftwood, but I’m too traumatized to truly appreciate it.
My emotions spiral into a chaotic mess, and I can’t stop from crying out, “Why me? I’m just a regular girl. I’m American and I…I…”
“There’s nothing regular about you.” His voice rumbles like thunder between us, making more shivers rush over my skin. Suddenly, his eyes narrow on me. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-three.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in a dangerously hot smirk, “You’re far from a girl, principessa .”
An ungodly fear hits me so hard, my vision blurs, and for a moment, I have to fight to keep from passing out.
I stare at the way-too-attractive man who’s covered in blood. He looks like he’s around thirty, and his toned body tells me he’s strong.
He expects me to marry him. I’ll be forced to have sex with him.
Panic surges through me, and darting to my feet, I run through the foyer. Just as I grab hold of the front door, Leo’s blood-covered arm shoots around me, and I’m hauled off my feet.
“No!” I scream, and as if the raw horror I’m experiencing isn’t enough, another memory flashes through me.
I’m grabbed and thrown to the floor beside a bed. Gunshots fill the air, and a second later, a teenage boy falls over me. I can’t make out his face, but I feel safer with him right by me.
‘Shh…’
I sob as the boy is ripped away from me.
“Calm down,” I hear Leo murmur in a much gentler tone.
When the memory of the nightmare fades, I become aware of Leo’s arms wrapped around me. My face is pressed to his chest, and all I smell is gunpowder and blood.
My tears are soaking into his shirt, and my breaths are choppy.
“You’re going to be fine,” he continues to speak. “You’ll get used to everything.”
What?
Suddenly, it sinks in that he’s holding me, and I yank backward while bringing my arms up between us. My palms slam against his chest as I keep rearing back to get away from him.
Leo, let’s go, and I stumble before I bump into the front door. Gasping for air, my eyes lock on the menacing man, and it feels like I’m a second away from losing my mind.
This can’t be happening to me!
Leo takes a deep breath, and looking tired, he says, “I’ll show you to your room. Take some time to calm down while I get cleaned up. We’ll talk over an early dinner.” Turning away from me, he walks through the large foyer, and when I don’t move, he mutters, “Follow me, Haven.”
My face crumbles, a hopeless feeling filling my chest as I reluctantly step away from the door.
What was I thinking, trying to escape? Leo made it abundantly clear that he’ll kill my whole family if I don’t marry him.
God. I can’t marry him!
Following Leo up the staircase, I take in every powerful inch of his body. I’ve never felt this weak before.
Suddenly, my phone beeps and I freeze dead in my tracks.
Leo stops by an open door and levels me with a threatening look. “Who messaged you?”
He’s going to take my phone.
My hands tremble badly as I dig the device out of my handbag. I struggle to unlock it.
Kristen: Do you have the flight details? I know you’ve only been gone a week, but I can’t wait for you to come back.
My heart clenches in my chest as I whisper, “It’s a text from my best friend.”
When he moves closer to me, I quickly clench the phone to my chest, but it doesn’t stop him from gripping hold of my wrist and pulling the device away so he can see the screen.
Instead of ripping the phone from my hand, he lets go, his eyes locking with mine again.
“I assume you’ll want her to attend the wedding.”
A frown forms on my forehead. “N-no. I don’t want her anywhere near you.”
He stares at me for a moment before gesturing with a wave of his arm at the open door. “Welcome to your prison, principessa .” His tone is sarcastic, as if he’s annoyed with me.
I carefully step closer to the doorway and peek into the bedroom.
If my circumstances weren’t so dire, I’d take a moment to appreciate the beautiful rose gold and cream décor. The bed looks like it’s fit for royalty.
There’s a dressing table and doors that open up to a balcony where I can see plants and a wooden table with matching chairs.
When I take a step into the bedroom, my phone beeps in my hand, and my eyes flick down to the screen.
Kristen: Why did you leave me on read?
Leo moves closer, then mutters, “Reply to her.”
My gaze darts to him. “What must I say?”
When he lets out a chuckle, it sends a shockwave of prickles through me. I’m in for a surprise when he says, “Whatever you want. Contrary to what you think, you’re not my prisoner, principessa . You have a choice. I won’t stop you if you try to leave again.”
My jaw clenches as a burst of anger fills my heart. “But you’ll kill me and my family.”
He shrugs as if it’s nothing and we’re talking about the weather. “Still. You have a choice.”
“That’s no choice at all,” I mutter through clenched teeth.
He tips his head toward my phone. “Your friend is waiting.”
I unlock the device again, and I’m hit with so much hopelessness, I struggle not to cry as I type a quick reply.
Haven: Plans changed again. Things are a little crazy with my family on this side. I’ll give you a call once things settle down.
“Hmm.” The sound rumbles from Leo’s chest. “You’re not going to tell her you’re getting married?”
“No.”
I shove my phone back into my handbag before wrapping my arms tightly around myself.
Suddenly, Leo’s arm darts up and he grabs hold of the back of my neck. Air wooshes from my lungs as I’m yanked flush with his body and forced to tilt my head to look up at him.
Oh God!
I grip hold of his sides for a few seconds before I try to push away from him. My heart almost explodes out of my chest, and I freeze like a deer in oncoming traffic when Leo leans down until our faces are a mere inch apart.
Shit.Shit.Shit.Shit.Shit.
With his eyes keeping mine captive, he says, “What did you say at the party?” His dark gaze bores into mine for tense seconds, and his tone takes on a predatory quality that has my insides vibrating. “Hot is the understatement of the year.”
Oh no. He heard me.
The little burst of anger I had up and vanishes, and apprehension takes its place. “Just because I said that doesn’t mean anything.” I shake my head and try to push away from him again, my palms tingling where I’m pressing against his muscled chest.
Jesus, he’s only holding me with one arm, and I’m unable to get free. He’s an unmovable force.
Leo’s eyes burn over my face, then the corner of his mouth lifts in a disarmingly hot smirk. “At least the attraction is there, and with time, we’ll get to know each other. We’ll make a success of our marriage.”
“No.” I struggle against his tight grip on my neck, and when he suddenly lets go of me, I stagger backward and almost lose my balance.
He lifts an eyebrow at me. “No?”
My face crumbles under the weight of the traumatizing situation I find myself in, and my voice catches in my throat as I say, “Never in a million years. I don’t want to get to know you. The only reason I’m here is to keep myself and my family alive. There will never be anything more between us.”
Looking completely unbothered by my words, Leo turns around and walks out of the bedroom while grumbling, “I’m good with that, too. Do as you please, principessa .”
My phone beeps again with an incoming message, and a moment later, I hear a door shut down the hallway.
A sob sputters from me, and lifting my hand, I quickly cover my mouth while I glance around the extravagantly beautiful bedroom.
This is insane!
What am I going to do?