The silver-haired man pivots about when Rafe cuts him off unceremoniously. His eyes shoot to me, narrowing slightly as he cradles his bandaged right hand against his chest before he looks back to Rafe with a small nod. “Of course, Rafael.”
Then he slips from the room, closing the door firmly behind him.
“Good to see you, baby girl,” Nico booms from the speakers, and I narrowly stop myself from flinching at the effect it has on me. “You look good enough to fucking devour.”
I fold my arms over my chest almost in an effort to hide from him, and Nico smirks knowingly, leaning closer to the camera as rage bristles from Rafe at my side.
“You can’t hide from me, Elodie. I know each dip and curve of your sweet body. I know the exact color of those rosy nipples when you’re about to come all over my cock.”
My cheeks heat, and my eyes sting as I try to hold back the sudden assault of tears, but Nico just smiles sadistically. “That sweet as fuck sound you make in the back of your throat when I fuck your mouth raw…Shit! So fucking hot, baby girl.”
Adjusting himself in his pants, he swings his gaze to an outwardly indifferent Rafe, then back to me. “Don’t act shy. It’s not like he hasn’t sampled you himself by now…”
He trails off, watching me closely as I shake my head, my blonde ponytail swishing down my back. “No. I haven’t?—”
“Don’tlie to me,mia piccola puttana.” Nico’s voice lashes out like a whip, and he grits his teeth. “Don’t you think I know what you look like when you’ve been freshly fucked?”
My stomach lurches, though I give no outward sign of reaction at his vile words as Rafe steps closer to the camera. His spine is ram-rod stiff even though his hands are raised in entreaty as he shakes his head slowly. “When you get your lover back, you’ll see first-hand that she’s remained untouched, and has been treated exceptionally well during her time here.”
Both men regard one another before Rafe continues. “Now, you’ve seen her. I’ve been informed that you have my sister with you.”
Nico gestures behind the camera and, a second later, Aurelia steps into view. She’s no longer bound and gagged, but there’s less fire in her eyes than there was previously, and my heart physically hurts, thinking of what she might be living through while I’m here falling head over heels for her brother.
Her brother who loves me.
And even in the midst of this madness, my chest warms at the knowledge.
“I’m okay, Rafe. I just want to come home.”
“I’m working on it,Principessa.”
Brother and sister watch one another for a beat before Nico claps his hands together, rendering the silence. “Let’s get down to it, then. Just me and you, Caruso.”
I slip from the office, finding Sasquatch waiting for me. His eyes are filled with keen understanding as he tips his head to one side.
“Come on.” He moves off toward the kitchen. “I feel a stress bake is in order.”
Even with the myriad of emotions rolling through me, his words make me chuckle, and I move to follow him. My feet freeze once I’ve taken a handful of steps, and my voice stops him in his tracks.
“I don’t need to bake, Sasquatch.” He pivots to face me, a blend of disappointment and interest playing across his face as I narrow my eyes. “I need to hit something. Reallyfuckinghard.”
His mouth lifts in a proud smile as he leads me outside to the sparring ground. He wastes no time, jumping right back in where we’d left off, and before long, my completely inappropriate sparring clothes are stained and damp with perspiration.
“Again. Harder this time,Coniglietta.”
Sasquatch settles into a standard boxer’s stance, and I exhale heavily as I do the same. Sweat is dripping from my brow, and my muscles feel like they’ve turned to Jell-O, but the physical activity of sparring while Rafe continues his seemingly never-ending call with Nico has proven to be the perfect distraction.
“Now, block with your right, and jab with your left. Like this.” He shows me exactly what he means, and I nod before advancing on the giant man. I follow his instructions to the letter, and I’m rewarded with a heavy grunt when my jab connects with his lower back.
“Perfect.” He winces, and I can’t help the smug smile that lifts my lips. “You’re a million miles from when we first began.”
“Thank you for teaching me, Sasquatch.” I grip his bicep, squeezing it lightly. “If you hadn’t taken the time to, last night would have had a very different outcome.”
Just as he opens his mouth to reply, Enzo’s voice calls out at my back. “Emiliano,veni ca.”
Sasquatch rolls his eyes as he sighs exaggeratedly, making me grin, and as I turn to watch him leave, my eyes light on Rafe marching across the lawn.
When he reaches me, he pulls me against his hard body in a tight embrace, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’m sorry,Stellina.”
