Chapter 22
GIANA
I lose my shit.
Fury and fear collide within me as Caelian forces me into the car.
The second he slips in next to me, I swing wildly, but he catches my wrist, squeezing me harder and harder until it hurts, and I stop fighting. He immediately relieves the pressure but not the firm hold.
“I know I just fucked a storm of emotions into you, but calm yourself.”
“Let me out. Let me go! What the fuck did you do to Cristiano?”
“In that order, it’s hard to do. I can’t tell you a thing if you’re stomping back to Aurelio, which I don’t recommend. I’m pretty sure he’s already been informed you just walked out of this boring fundraiser with me—your real husband. So, he’ll be slightly pissed. Plus, how do I tell you where your brother is if you’re not here?”
“I swear to God, if you hurt him.”
“Relax. Here.” He presses a button on his phone and shoves it at me.
It rings a number I don’t know and it’s on FaceTime. My image appears on the screen, the heavy layer of make-up caked on my face, the wildness and fear evident in my eyes. The call is answered before I can even react, and my brother's tousled hair and forehead fill the screen.
He adjusts the phone's angle, and his familiar grin comes into focus, easing some of the tension in my chest. “Hey, G.”
“Oh, my God,” I breathe out. “Are you okay?”
“Totally. I’m fine.”
“Thank God.”
“Listen. Caelian gave me a quick rundown of what’s going on. I know everything, G. And I don’t want you to do it. I don’t want you with that sleazeball Le Fonti. So, listen to Caelian. He’s got a good plan.”
I glare at the man next to me. He shoots me a smug grin, and I want to knock his teeth out, but I look back at the screen instead. “Where are you?”
“Baby Belucci,” Caelian starts, “remember, no details.”
Baby Belucci?
“Yeah, yeah. I know. G, I’m okay,” Cristiano assures me. “Really. Just trust him, okay?”
“On that note…” Caelian grabs the phone and disconnects.
“You took him?” I stare at Caelian. “And what the hell is that picture?”
“Your brother is safe,” he responds simply. “Like he said, I have a plan.”
I narrow my eyes. “Where’s my father, Caelian?”
“That’s a good question. See, he wasn’t home when my men stormed into your house. Our plan was to drug him and drag his ass out of there, but big old Papa Bear was nowhere to be found.”
“What? But he told me he was sick and asked me to represent him at the fundraiser as Aurelio’s plus-one.”
Caelian lifts a brow. “Of course, he did. He’s practically got you on Aurelio’s cock already.”
“Caelian!”
“Fine.” He holds up his hands. “I’ll admit, that was uncalled for.”
I'm about to retort with a clever comeback, but I stop myself and furrow my eyebrows, unsure of what just transpired. Did he…did he just apologize, Caelian style?
I shake my head lightly, closing my eyes and rubbing my temples. My mind is a maze right now. “You’ll start a war,” I murmur.
“Call me a Trojan Prince.”
“Caelian, I’m serious.”
He turns halfway in his seat, eyes locked on mine. “I made sure every guard, every household staff member thinks it’s Aurelio’s men who barged into your home and kidnapped Cristiano. And the photographic evidence will seem to come from him, too. Your father will get Polaroids of his son bound and gagged. Aurelio likes to use them as a calling card in his less-than-savory work.”
“I don’t like this, Caelian. It’s too risky.”
He takes my hand, and warmth flows through my bones. “You heard your brother. You have to trust me, and baby Belucci is a smart kid.”
“This is reckless. You can’t just come up with this half-assed plan, pretend-kidnap my brother, blame it on Aurelio, and then everything is well in the world again.”
“One step at a time, love. The most important thing now is that your brother is safe. You don’t have to go back to that fucker.”
“And my father?”
Caelian’s expression hardens. “Let him choose sides.”
“And if he chooses my side?”
“Our side,” he corrects. “Then I’ll try my best to hide the utter disdain I feel for the cretin…for as long as we both shall live.”
He reaches for my cheek, cups it, and something inside me lights up. His touch is magic, and it makes me hope for fairytale endings and happily-ever-afters. Each lingering caress sends shivers down my spine, and I lean into the warmth of his hand.
His gaze is unwavering, fierce but gentle all at once. He exudes a fearless courage that's both terrifying and reassuring.
“I love you, New York.”
My heart constricts. Will I ever get used to hearing those words? “I love you, too,” I murmur. “But?—”
“See? We’re fated mates. Only difference is I don’t need a knot in my cock to be stuck inside you.”
“Oh, my God, Caelian.”
He grins—the beautiful creature that he is. “We can do this. Just trust me.”
My insides melt, and my soul sings for him. Just him. Always him. And every time those piercing eyes meet mine, I see nothing but an unwavering, fierce passion that sends my heart racing.
He’ll risk his life for me—he already did simply by having taken me from that fundraiser, kidnapping Cristiano with the plan to blame it on Aurelio. It’s all a precursor for bloodshed and violence. Grief, loss, and guilt are inevitable if we continue down this road.
Can’t he see I’m trying to stop that from happening? I’m one person. They are a dynasty. I would gladly sacrifice my own happiness to protect them. To protect everyone I care for. Why can’t he see that?
With a glide of his finger along my jaw, his hand stops, and he stiffens, his expression suddenly cold and hard as he stares at my face.
“He hurt you.” It’s not a question.
My hand shoots up to where I know a bruise sits, hidden beneath a thick layer of concealer—at least, I thought it was hidden.
“I’m fine,” I try to reassure him, and he just leans back, staring at me with a snarl. His anger is rampant and potent, and I swear I can touch and taste it in the air.
“I’m taking you back to the estate.”
“No. Aurelio will come looking for me.”
“Not if I go looking for him first.”
“Caelian, no.”
His tone turns vicious and murderous. “He fucking put hands on you, Giana. Hit you. I can see the fucking bruise, and you think I’m just going to ignore it. Act like he didn’t fucking hurt you? Maximo,” he calls.
“Yeah?”
“Change of plans.”
I stare at him. Oh, God. “No,” I snap. “Stop. Whatever it is you’re thinking, stop.”
Caelian moves, and suddenly he’s got me pinned against the back seat, eyes glowering, fire hot and ice cold at the same time. “He. Fucking. Hurt you.”
“I know. I was there.”
His nostrils flare. “What else did he do?”
I clamp my lips shut. Humiliation and guilt swamp me, threaten to drown me, and I can’t breathe.
“What else did he do to you, Giana?” Caelian’s voice booms through the car, and I flinch, my heart pounding like a wild drum in my chest.
“Caelian, enough!” The words rip from my throat in a ragged sob. His chest heaves with every breath, his desperate gaze searches mine for answers, but I give him none as I push back. “He didn’t do anything I can’t handle. So stop acting like I need a savior. I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah,” he glances at my jaw, “I can see that.”
I take a deep and long breath to calm myself. “I know you’re trying to help. Trying to do what you think is right. But I can’t go with you, Caelian.”
“Like fuck, you can’t.”
“I’m serious.” Tears start to prickle. “Yes, Cristiano is safe, and I’m thankful for that. But what happens now? You plan on keeping my brother at an undisclosed location for the rest of his life?”
“Give him an Xbox and a bag of Doritos and he’ll be fine.”
“Aurelio will retaliate. He will come after you, after your brothers, Leandra and Mira. What if he hurts the twins? Aria and Alessio.”
“He won’t dare.”
“I won’t dare,” I say, eyes wide. “I won’t dare take that chance. I will not be the cause of a war where more people get hurt. I can’t do it. I won’t.”
Caelian hisses through clenched teeth, practically vibrating with rage. “Well, I’m not letting you go. I won’t.”
“You have to.”
“The only thing I have to do is protect you.”
I reach for him, cupping his face as I place a tender kiss on his lips, a lingering touch that melts into me. “Maybe it’s my turn to protect you.”
His amber eyes narrow as he studies me. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to end this, Caelian. Once and for all.”
The car stops, and I do the only thing I can think of.
I jump out of the car…and I run.