My nails dig into the grass, desperately trying to flee, but he crawls over my body, raising the hem of my dress higher until I feel the cool night air on my exposed ass. I jerk against him, screaming in utter despair as hopelessness crashes into me like a freight train.
“Please stop?—”
My plea is hindered when he slaps his hand over my mouth before leaning over my back to rest his mouth by my ear. “The fight just makes my cock harder,Tesoro.”
I can hear him fidgeting with his belt and zipper, and I thrash harder as I desperately try to bite the hand covering my mouth. My breathing grows harsh, and the burn in my chest puts tears in my eyes as I fight him with everything I have. But the position he’s caught me in makes it an impossible feat.
Tears stream down my face as I scream behind his hand. Knowing he has the upper hand sends a shiver of absolute fear clean through me, but I still buck against him, refusing to let anything else be taken from me.
My head throbs, and my body trembles, but I continue to fight when he snorts a wicked laugh. “This might hurt.”
RAFE
I pushmy body as fast as I can when I plunge into the darkened labyrinth, my bare feet flying across the grass, taking me farther and farther from the house. The silence surrounding me fills me with dread, and when I spot shredded red ruffles of Elodie’sdress, I sprint faster, my worst fears driving my body to its limits.
When I burst out into the open space surrounding the pavilion, my chest fills with an overwhelming rage as I see a dark figure holding Elodie down. Her blonde head is thrashing from side to side as her body bucks frantically in an attempt to dislodge him.
Using his body to hold her down while his hand covers her mouth, Elodie’s attacker—who I’m surprised to recognize as Fabiano, one of my securitySoldati—chuckles to himself as he frees his hard cock from his pants, and I charge forward, bellowing at the top of my lungs.
I plow into his side, knocking him to the ground, and rolling with him so that I’m straddling his hips. Fabiano strikes out, landing a tidy blow to my torso that I don’t even register in my rage.
My clenched fist rises above my head, slamming down to grind into his face. The crunch of his nose shattering fills my ears as I drive my fist into his face again.
Blood thunders in my ears as he groans, and I rise, jerking him to stand alongside me before I drag him toward Elodie.
Her eyes are wide, watching everything closely when I push Fabiano to his knees. His body sags as though to fall forward, and I yank his hair harshly, forcing him to remain upright.
“You asked that there be no more bloodshed in your name,Stellina.” I’m panting as I hold Elodie’s impossibly dark blue eyes. Eyes that strengthen in resolve with each word I speak. “So, I am giving you thechoice. Say the word, and I will end his worthless life. I am yours to command.”
She regards Fabiano’s blood-drenched face as she wipes her hands off the dirtied front of her tattered dress before lifting her chin in pure, unfiltered condescension. When she raises her eyesto mine, she extends her hand, palm facing up, and demands in an even tone, “Give me your gun, Rafe.”
My nostrils flare as I reach into the inside pocket of my jacket and pull out my 9mm Glock. Once I’ve flipped off the safety, and tugged back the slide, I pass it into her waiting hand. Her fingers close around the grip, holding the gun with unexpected confidence as she aims it toward Fabiano.
I step slightly back and to the side, watching the scene unfold with depraved pleasure.
He sobs loudly, pleading in rapid Italian before she forces the muzzle between his lips as she quirks a taunting eyebrow. “This might hurt.”
Then she pulls the trigger without hesitation, and the bullet tears through Fabiano, exiting the back of his skull before he crumples to the grass at Elodie’s feet.
She stares at his dead body for several moments before raising her eyes to mine. “He deserved it.”
I nod as I move toward her, sliding the 9mm out of her now trembling hands, and dropping it to the grass before cupping her cheeks in my palms. My chest is tight, and the thought of what could have happened makes my stomach bottom out.
And, as though she can hear my thoughts, Elodie softly murmurs, “Thank God, you found me in time…”
We stand in one another’s embrace as I rub soothing circles along the bare skin of her back, feeling her breaths calm. Once my heart rate has evened out, I bend and scoop her into my arms. She settles against me, looping her arms around my neck and resting her head on my shoulder as I walk us back through the labyrinth.
As I get closer to the exit, I hear shouting in the distance, and by the time the house comes back into view, I see Davide, Emiliano, and Enzo among at least a dozenSoldatiracing toward the labyrinth with their guns drawn.
“Stand down.”
My voice is firm as I step closer to the light, and every single one of them freezes in their tracks.
“The threat has been neutralized.” I tip my head in the direction of Fabiano and growl, “I want that shit disposed of and every shred of evidence removed within the hour,capisti?”
Enzo nods succinctly before moving off and barking orders at the surroundingSoldatias Emiliano approaches, swearing to the heavens. “The bastard put an EMP jammer in the damn security bay. We thought it was an internal fault until Davide came barrelling inside, and…”
He trails off, swallowing roughly, shifting his gaze from mine to Elodie, and then back again. “I should have been with her. This is my fault?—”
