10. Amara
CHAPTER 10
AMARA
“Do I actually have to go?” I asked.
“If she sees us coming to heel, she’s probably less likely to try to kill you.”
I pursed my lips. “But not less likely to hurt me.”
“I know it can seem counterintuitive to move closer to her right now, but unless you want to leave the country entirely, that’s our only option. Marco and Enzo are already on their way.”
I shoved more clothing into my bag, reluctant to pack too much. We had decided to keep the apartment just in case, but it was sounding more and more likely that I wouldn’t ever be spending another night here. I wasn’t particularly sentimental about the place, but I was a bit sad to leave something I had gotten on my own.
I was a pile of nerves when the buzzer went off.
“Stick close to me,” Elio ordered.
“Like I’d go anywhere without you.”
I had practically drenched myself in de-scenting spray, almost paranoid my pregnancy scent would come in early, and horrified at the prospect that Bianca would discover it and simply kill us both.
Marco offered me a nod of acknowledgment, and the other alpha with him perused me at his leisure before extending his hand. “Enzo Bonetti.”
I didn’t offer my hand in return, staying tucked half behind Elio.
“Let’s go,” Enzo ordered.
The drive was way too short. I’d been so close to the wolf’s den this entire time. Nausea threatened to overwhelm me when we passed through the gate and it closed behind us. Elio carried both of my duffel bags and I wheeled my suitcase behind us. Enzo went one way, and Marco came with us, following us to Elio’s suite, knocking sharply on another door on our way.
A few moments later Gianna was at our door. Marco disappeared the second his omega was with us.
The perky blonde wrapped me in a hug. “She’ll forget about you in no time,” Gianna assured us. “Bianca has a lot on her plate so I was only exciting for a few days. I can’t imagine it will be different for you. Enzo is in the war room with Bianca. Marco’s gone there to meet them. Santo is off on some mission or other.”
Elio nodded. “I’ll head there first. Amara, stay with Gianna until they call you for supper.”
He gave me a look filled with longing that stalled the breath in my throat. I wished I could tell him to stay, but I didn’t want to give Bianca any reason to hurt him again.
When Gianna and I were alone, she set about helping me unpack, insisting I rest. “Do you have any questions now that you’re here?”
“Yeah, am I ever going to be allowed to leave again?”
Gianna shrugged. “We’re not specifically under house arrest, but I’m sure Elio won’t want you out unsupervised.”
“Great.” I flopped back onto the bed. “Fuck, this blanket is terrible. How do you nest with shit like this?”
Gianna laughed. “Order whatever you like. I had to get a whole new wardrobe and everything for a nest when I came here. I can’t imagine that Elio would want you to go without, so might as well start shopping while I unpack.”
I rolled over to look at her, curling onto my side as I watched her. “Are you happy here?”
“As happy as I have been anywhere. Marco and I had a rough start, but we get a little smoother every day. I wouldn’t want to leave without him.”
“It’s so fucked up that Bianca could just order him to bond you.”
“That’s pretty low on the list of fucked-up things she’s done. I love Marco now, and I know he’ll do what he can to keep me safe.”
Elio would too; I believed that much. By the time Gianna had unpacked all my clothes, we were being summoned. I didn’t bother changing out of my jeans and T-shirt. Gianna had advised keeping myself looking as plain as possible.
Not that it mattered.
Gianna led me through unfamiliar corridors that looked so similar I was pretty sure it would take me ages to learn the layout. She gave me an extra second to breathe before we stepped into the dining room together.
“There’s our woman of the hour.” Bianca crooked her finger, gesturing for me to move closer.
I glanced at Elio.
Bianca tutted. “I see someone needs to learn the hierarchy around here. Come.”
I moved toward her like my feet were made of lead, every step filling me with dread. I didn’t dare look at any of the others, not when her predatory brown eyes were fixed on me.
She nudged her chair back and patted her thigh. "Sit.” When I hesitated, her hand whipped out to grab the front of my shirt and yank me closer. “I said sit.”
With my heart in my throat, I turned and perched my ass on her leg. Panic thrummed through me, so strong I could barely breathe.
Bianca nudged me around so my legs dangled between hers and she could wrap her arm around my waist. “I don’t know what the fuss is about. Barely any scent to her. Bony little ass too. But it was enough for you to betray me?”
Elio looked like he was about ready to light Bianca on fire.
“Can I have her?” Enzo interrupted. “I can tell you what all the fuss is about before I head out to hunt the Cafaro bitch.”
Bianca burst out laughing. “Perfect. She’ll get in the way of me eating anyway. Go sit with Enzo.” She dug her nails into my ass cheek and I yelped, awkwardly scrambling off her lap.
He snared me around the wrist and dragged me onto his lap, facing away from Bianca. His mouth scraped over my ear, a harsh whisper putting me at ease. “Give her a show, little one. I won’t hurt you, but you need to struggle.”
Apparently his definition of not hurting me did not include the sharp bite on my earlobe that had me squeaking and trying to leap away from him. His grip was too strong, my wiggling and cursing doing nothing except entertaining Bianca. Whenever I caught a glimpse of her, she was sipping her wine with the most amused expression on her face. Elio’s hand rested on my knee, a silent comfort.
Bianca grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me back, tracing my cheek with her thumb. “What’s the matter, pet? One underboss should be as good as the others. Maybe they should all sample you and see if you were worth the punishment?”
No one moved an inch. I was frozen, suspended and kept from toppling to the ground by Enzo’s arm beneath me.
“Marco can have his turn when I’m done.” Enzo pulled me back onto his lap and adjusted me so I was facing forward as our plates for supper came through in the hands of multiple staff. He wedged me between his legs and kept a firm hold on my throat, feeding me bites that had me burning with humiliation while Bianca carried on a conversation as if I weren’t being manhandled next to her.
It was at least enough that Bianca didn’t reach for me again, but my mind was still racing with panic. Elio hadn’t told me if Enzo was someone we could trust or not. All I had to go on was his promise he wouldn’t hurt me, but I had no idea how truthful that would be.
Elio looked so tense he might snap in half if he moved. A muscle in his jaw twitched and his eyes were alight with fire, but he stayed still, appearing dutiful.
“Scream,” Enzo whispered in my ear. Before I could ask what I was meant to scream over, he wrenched my knees apart and clapped his hand down on my thigh, gripping hard enough to bruise. I shrieked, cracking my ribs on the table when I jolted forward, trying to get away.
Whatever his promises, Enzo was clearly having fun if the hard cock wedged against my ass and the thick scent of limoncello and sunbaked stone in my nose was any indication. He toyed with me all the way through to dessert, and by then I was sweaty and confused, shaking and aching in multiple ways. What the fucking fuck?
When dinner was over, Enzo scooped me right off my feet and carried me out, calling back, “I’ll let you know how she is in the morning before I go.”
I bucked in his arms, trying desperately to get away, but Enzo was easily the biggest of the underbosses, his strength visible in every inch of his body. I screamed my way through the halls until we entered his suite and he dropped me on his bed, the door slamming shut behind him.
“Easy does it. I’m not planning on raping you.”
“You got pretty fucking close, Enzo.”
He only shrugged. “You’re safer now. Bianca had to be convinced, and Elio had to be able to sit there like a good boy and not intervene so she doesn’t suspect he’ll disobey orders again. Best of both worlds.”
“Fuck you.”
Enzo laughed. “I’m not your enemy here. I may not understand what the fuck happened between you and Elio, but I know he’s not stupid enough to fuck up that hard. He told me he couldn’t control it, and I believe him. Bianca can be unreasonable when she thinks someone’s loyalty is called into question, especially this high up in the ranks. If this soothes her, then I’m happy to play my part.”
“Could’ve played it a little softer,” I grumbled.
“I wasn’t sure how good of an actor you’d be. If it wasn’t convincing, it would’ve been both our hides.” Enzo approached me slowly. “The doors aren’t soundproof enough for you to be silent in here, little one. Apologies in advance.”
He lunged for me and I screamed bloody murder. It didn’t matter that he had told me I was safe; my instincts were freaking the fuck out. Enzo dragged me off the bed by my ankles and scooped me up, pressing me up against the back of the door. I cursed him out and his fist landed next to me, sending me spiraling into panic. With a bit more stomping, screaming, and swearing, he finally let me sit back down.
I curled in a ball, trying not to cry.
“Don’t cry, little one. You’d have a much worse time if whoever was on the other side of the door didn’t think you were being hassled in here. It’s all part of the show.”
“Fuck.” I sniffled. “You.”
Some rustling from the closet caught my attention and Enzo walked over to open up the doors, revealing Elio on the other side of them.
“She finally let you out?” Enzo asked.
“Santo came back from his mission. She had better things to do than make me miserable.”
"What the fuck are you doing in the closet?” I asked.
“We cut a passageway through all the walls between our rooms years ago as a precaution. Bianca doesn’t know about them.” Enzo finally got out of the way.
Elio rushed to my side. “I’m so sorry about dinner. I knew Enzo had a plan, but the asshole didn’t divulge the details.”
“You wouldn’t have been pissed off enough if I had told you,” Enzo defended.
“You’re lucky I didn’t stab you with a steak knife.”
Enzo only chuckled. “Then Bianca would’ve shot you both dead. Just a little play for me and a shit time for the both of you, and you’re probably in the clear now.”
I curled into Elio’s arms, trying to be gentle, mindful of his injuries. All the stress of the last few days poured out and I sobbed against his chest until I was hiccuping and exhausted. “I want to go home.”
“You are home, little one,” said Enzo. “You have to make the best of it. You have Marco’s omega, and you’ll have mine soon enough for companionship. This isn’t a prison; you just have to tread carefully. The two of you should stay in here tonight. I’ll go to Elio’s room and they can see me leaving with you in the morning.”
I flipped him the bird without raising my head to look at him.
“I promise this is better for everyone. You’d be far more at risk if he defended you. Trust me, I know exactly the amount of damage he would do if it wouldn’t get you both killed.” Enzo sighed. “Try not to hate me too much for saving your lives.”
He disappeared into the closet, leaving Elio and me alone.
“I hate it here,” I mumbled against him.
“I’d gotten pretty numb to this place, but I think I might hate it too. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him.”
“I understand why you couldn’t. I hope he’s right about it helping.”
“Enzo was Bianca’s favorite for a long time. He understands her a little better than Marco and I do. If he thinks that’s what was required to keep you safe, I can only assume he’s right. Damn near killed me to sit there. I won’t let it happen again.”
“You have to. If it keeps us safe, I’ll endure it and so will you.”
Elio growled, his fingers flexing against me. “If it’ll keep you safe, I’ll suffer through anything.”