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Lucca lets go of my hand, and immediately I feel cold and alone. The tears I was able to keep at bay fall down my face.
“Don’t cry, butterfly,” Lucca mouths.
He lifts his hand to wipe away my tears, and I lean into his touch, seeking more comfort. Closing my eyes, I pretend for a moment that he is not leaving, that I am safe, and nothing is going to happen to me.
Lucca wraps his arms around me and pulls me to his chest, where I take a deep breath. His scent surrounds me, swallows me whole, and I let it.
“I have to go,” Lucca says in my good ear. He pulls away, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around him and beg for him to stay. It’s weird how I didn’t want him near me yesterday, and now the thought of him leaving is crushing my chest.
I watch him take off his jacket. He wraps it around my shoulders and tucks it around me. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Be brave. I know you can be.”
He places a kiss on my forehead before turning around quickly and leaving the cell like he can’t get away fast enough. The door shuts, and the lock is put back in place.
As the sound of Lucca’s footsteps fading away, my strength fades with it.
10
Lucca
The days pass in slow motion. I don’t sleep, I barely eat, and all I can think about is killing every person with the last name Volocove. My hatred for them knows no bounds. I want to eliminate them, rid the earth of their bloodline.
Just the thought of Claire in their clutches has bile rising in my throat. I need to get her out of there. I have to protect her, the way I’ve always protected her.
I just wish it was as easy as it was six years ago…
I push the button to roll the passenger side window down. “Hey!” I call to get Claire’s attention. Her head comes up and her eyes connect with mine. “Get in. I’ll drive you home.”
She gives me an indecisive look, not slowing her step. “I’m fine. I always walk home.”
“Claire, get in,” I repeat, driving next to her slowly. “You ran away the other day without answering me. Now you don’t have an option. I’m not leaving you alone until you tell me what happened to your arm.”
“I told you, I fell.”
“Claire, get in,” I command in a tone I would normally not take with her.
“No.” she shakes her head, making a sharp turn into the park and away from the road.
“Claire!” I yell after her, which only makes her feet move faster.
Fuck!
Pulling my car to the side of the road, I park and get out. With long strides, I follow her into the park, hoping I’ll be able to catch up with her in time.
The air stills in my lungs as I watch five guys circle Claire like vultures would their prey.
Those fuckers.
“Stop!” Claire’s frightened voice reaches my ears and my chest constricts. She tries to pull out of his hold, but the asshole pulls her further away. Someone else grabs her other arm, and they both pull her away from the park path.
I will kill them. All of them.
“Please,” she begs desperately, digging her heels to the ground. Her feeble attempt to get away from them only seems to excite them more.
The guys are so busy toying with Claire, they don’t even see me approach.
I wrap my hand around the guy’s throat who grabbed Claire first. He lets go of her wrist, and his friend lets go a second after.
“You fucking punk,” I grit through my teeth. My anger is blinding, my rage all-consuming.
I keep one hand wrapped around his throat while smashing my other fist into his face. I see the fear in his eyes, feel bone crushing beneath my knuckles, I hear his pleas, and I enjoy all of it. I revel in his suffering.
His friends try to get me to stop, grabbing my arms to pull me off, but I shove them away.
I’m vaguely aware of two of the guys running off, leaving their friends behind without a second glance.
All the while, I pummel down on this fucker’s bloody face until his body goes slack. Only then do I let go of him and watch him crumble to the ground.
“Fuck, man! You killed him,” one punk yells as he pushes himself back on his feet.
“He isn’t dead, but he will be, and so will you. If one of you fuckers ever touch her, talk to her, or even think of her, I will end you,” I growl, already thinking about all the ways I can hurt them. “I will find you, and I will kill you in the most painful way I can think of, and trust me, I can think of a few.”
