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He was right about me on two levels. One was that I would do everything in my power to make Sabrina a part of my life. My family. And I would also embrace that change was in our family’s best interest. That meant letting go of another portion of my past, the one that had kept a noose around my neck for years. Fuck. I was getting too old to hold grudges and act as if nothing mattered to me.
“Make the call,” I told him.
“The call?” He tipped his head, lifting a single eyebrow. The bastard was going to make me say it.
“To Emmanuel, our father. Set up a meeting. It’s time we combined forces. That’s the only way we’re going to get through this. Together.”
His grin was wider than mine had been. “I told you the love of a good woman would make you come to your senses.” He threw open the door and walked out.
I could hear his laugh coming from all the way down the end of the hallway.
It was time to bring an end to the charade. But I had something much more important to do first.
After throwing back the rest of my drink, I placed it on my desk, walking around the mess I’d made. It was time to fully claim the woman I loved.
Soon she would be begging for more, her hunger becoming insatiable.
Soon she would surrender in every way, body and soul.
Soon she would fully comprehend the love of a dangerous man.
And soon, I would learn what it felt like to be in the arms and heart of the most valuable and beautiful creation on earth.
The woman I loved.
CHAPTER 23
Sabrina
There were no thoughts that could erase the fear or uncertainty that thwarted every emotion. I was in a mental fog as I’d been for the two or three hours the powerful man had left me alone, locked into a lush prison. I felt like Rapunzel secured behind thick castle walls, waiting for her prince to free her. Only I wasn’t certain if there was any such thing.
The sun continued to sink in the heavenly blue sky, an indication that night was falling, the time of day that frightened me the most. I was in Diego’s world now, exactly where he’d wanted me to be, lost in a hopeless moment where all time and space seemed to stop because he’d deemed it so.
Maybe the crazy thoughts drifting through my mind were a product of the effects of the drug I’d been given or the fact I’d been ripped away from my home. At least my captor hadn’t locked the windows, the warm breeze and ocean view good for my psyche. I had everything inside the room I could want, including the most luxurious bathroom I’d ever seen complete with a clawfoot tub, a small refrigerator stocked with bottles of water and juice, and a view unlike anything I’d ever seen before. Yet I was holding steady in my attempt to remain angry toward the man and his possessive nature.
Even though I wasn’t certain why.
I’d slipped into a robe I’d found hung on the back of the bathroom door, the softness of the silk surprising me. While there was no indication it had been left for me, I knew it had. As I tied the sash, I returned to the bedroom, opening one of the drawers. It was full of feminine things.
There were several pieces of new clothing with price tags still hanging on them for me in the closet nestled next to his things, which meant I’d been right that this was his room.
As I fingered the few pieces, I was surprised at what had been purchased, all the items in my size.
A dress for a fancy dinner or perhaps going out dancing.
A few pieces of casual but still expensive attire.
I moved to the dresser next, opening one drawer after another. He’d made room for jeans and tops, next to expensive lingerie that appeared as if someone had flown to Paris to purchase them. I pulled a pair of panties against my face, shuddering from the feel of the soft material. What was he trying to do, buy my surrender to him?
There were toiletries in the bathroom, cosmetics, and other feminine products ready for my use, including strawberry body wash, which he’d discovered was my favorite.
While a part of me wanted to continue being put off by his generosity, the delight in seeing a different side of him prevented me from doing so.
I’d found my purse, including my phone. I’d debated calling my friends, but at this point what was I supposed to say to them? ‘Hi. I’ve been captured by a brutal mafia man. Don’t wait up for me for the next ten years.’ Yeah, right. Even worse, I wasn’t entirely certain who I could trust. It was as if I’d been lured to Sitka then provided with a bubble in which to live. It made me sick being so uncertain of everyone I’d known for years. Including my deputies.
There were dozens of messages and texts, including from both Damon and Steven, Kathleen and even Jenika. Everyone was worried about me.
I remained stunned by the fact Brandy had been murdered, something that would haunt me during long nights. I tossed my phone onto the dresser, searching through everything else Diego had brought from my house. Where the hell was my iPad? A moment of panic rushed in followed by a wave of anger. He’d invaded my privacy. I was certain of it. What did he think I was doing other than my job?
