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Wherever they were being taken, she explained to the women who were reluctant to leave even the hellhole of a cellar for the unknown, it must be better than where they’d been. She thanked the man on their behalf. “Thank you for freeing us.”
He’d hunkered down to look after one of the women who had fallen and cut her leg in the panic. He looked up. “You’re welcome,” he said again with sincerity.
His kindness touched her. She felt wistful, longing for something she couldn’t put a name to.
She hardly knew what normal was anymore, Celina accepted as she glanced around the scene of carnage in the cellar. Some of the criminals had escaped during the brief but violent raid. The man who had taunted her was one of them. She shivered involuntarily, hoping their paths would never cross again. She seemed fated to encounter cruelty, as well as uncertainty, but she remained determined not only to keep her own head above water, but to help those who couldn’t help themselves. She’d witnessed violence in the school where she worked when the slavers arrived, and now this, but she wouldn’t allow it to make her cold and unfeeling toward other people. Even if she wouldn’t allow herself the indulgence of feeling, she would never shut herself off from others. And, on a positive note, her past had given her useful skills. She knew basic first aid, and being multilingual, thanks to the mix of children in the orphanage, she could communicate with traumatized women who were rigid with fright in their own language. Making a quick assessment of the situation, she hurried to help.
“That’s it. We’re done here,” the giant who had rescued her announced as Celina guided the last of the women up the stairs. “Thank you again,” he added. “You’ve made things easier for them.”
She found his long stare disquieting. “It’s the least they deserve.” She followed him up the steps as quickly as her cramped limbs would allow. Being this close to him made her spine tingle. Did he have a wife or a girlfriend back home? And why was she thinking like that here, in this most inappropriate of situations? But he must have someone, surely?
“Hurry,” he commanded. He was waiting for her at the top of the steps. “You’ll be taken on to safety from here.”
Could anywhere be safe with him flashed through her mind, and when he put his arm around her shoulders, though it was the briefest of touches, she felt the effect shimmer through her entire body. When she stared up, he was staring back. Now this was one man she would like to meet again.
“Thank God you’re safe!”
Celina whirled around as the girl who’d tried to help her when she’d escaped rushed up to her to give her a hug. “Amber!” she exclaimed. “And you,” she said with feeling. “I’m so relieved to see you.”
“We’re safe now,” Amber promised. “Blood and Thunder are behind this raid.”
“Blood and Thunder?” Celina frowned. She had no idea what Amber was talking about.
“A team of vigilantes who works with the angels.”
“Amber. Come,” a harsh male voice with a Russian accent interrupted. “We need to get you all out of here fast.”
Celina was still no clearer as to the identity of their rescuers, and this second giant was in no mood to wait. She looked between him and her friend Amber with interest.
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Amber shrugged an apology as the man ushered her away. “You’ll find out about Blood and Thunder once we’re away from here,” she called back. “All that matters is that you’re safe. Don’t worry. I’ll see you again soon.”
“I hope so,” Celina murmured.
“Everyone else is out of the house except you.”
She turned at the sound of a scolding to find it was directed at her. The first giant was back.
“Your work is done here,” he rapped without any of his former caring. “You’ve been helpful, but now you’re putting everyone in danger by remaining behind. Come with me.”
She blinked at his harsh instruction and had to remind herself that he’d saved her life. Staring past him into the inky night, she remembered what she’d told the other women. Whatever came next couldn’t possibly be worse than where she’d been.
Chapter Two
A few months later
Celina still found it hard to believe that Diego Vidal, the Grand Duke of Monte Caliente, as she now knew her rescuer to be called, wasn’t simply a vigilante, or even a billionaire polo player with homes across the world, including this magnificent residence in Spain. He was one of the four leaders of a global network of a force for good, fronted by the Blood and Thunder polo team. But he was a lot more than that, Celina thought as she stared down from the balcony that stretched the full length of her employer’s remarkable mountaintop eyrie. Diego was a hero. He was her hero. Diego Vidal had saved her life.
He was also the only person at this gathering of the great and good who remained undiminished by the splendor of the towering, snow-capped mountain range that framed his home. He, the team, and their support staff, which now included Celina, were here on his Spanish estate for the polo match tomorrow in which he would star. Celina, a lowly helper, was staying in staff quarters nearby, but tonight, everyone was invited to the party.
And if a cat could look at a queen, then Celina Petrovka, orphan and lately new recruit to the tech staff working for Blood and Thunder, could stare at the Grand Duke of Monte Caliente as Diego greeted guests to his glittering party.
A young man offered her a silver tray of hors d’oeuvres. “Canapé, madam? Or perhaps a glass of champagne?”
“No, thank you.” She smiled at the waiter as he moved away. She needed to keep a clear head tonight. Her plan must not fail. If she could find a way to persuade Diego and the team to follow her back to her mountain village, she might be able to discover Marissa’s fate, and at the same time lead Blood and Thunder into the heart of the criminal gang so the vigilantes could destroy the slavers.
Calming herself, she returned to studying Diego. He was an incredible-looking man. She had guessed as much that night in the cellar, when only his dark eyes had been on view. That night seemed far away, though it was only a matter of a few short months, during which time Diego had been away playing polo and she’d been familiarizing herself with her new job.
