Once our eyes met, I had to hold on to the edges of the chair so I wouldn’t just jump and snatch her out of the guy’s grip. He forced her down on a chair and lowered her gag.
“Look who we’ve picked up on the way to this beautiful island. Doctor Berlusconi herself,” Enzio mocked.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she whimpered.
Why was she apologizing? What did she do? “For what? What did you do, Doc?”What did you do, Ravenna?
“They had my father. I had to do what they said. I’m sorry.”
What the fuck did you do, Ravenna? How could you? How could you?
I dragged my gaze back to Enzio, taunting triumph painting his fucking face. “So you got the bitch that helped you betray your friend and imprison his son, what’s that got to do with me?”
He laughed under his breath. “Don’t bother, Leo. We know what happened, how she helped you, and the crush that has been rekindled.Shetold us everything.”
“I had no choice. They were going to kill him. I’m so sorry,” she sniffled.
I couldn’t look at her. If I did, I’d lose it and risk everything. I’d lose everything, including the lives of the only people I cared about in this world. “It’s not my problem if the ugly bitch has had a fucking crush on me since junior high. I fucked her for what she did, and now she thinks we’re in love? The bitch is crazy. My cock wouldn’t move out of its socket for her. I had to flip her over and think about the gorgeous blonde tagging along to get it up. I don’t give a shit about your doctor or what you or anybody do to her. She fucking deserves it.” I could feel my heart shattering at the words alone. I hoped my hints were enough for her to know I was lying. But Ravenna was insecure enough to believe the shit I was only saying to protect her.
“Leo…please.” Her sob stabbed me.
“I see.” Enzio moved to her side, his knife in hand. “So you wouldn’t mind if I just do this?” He pointed the tip of the blade to her throat and slid it down her shirt along the line between her breasts, and then with one snatch he ripped the fabric with the knife, exposing her chest.
I shot to my feet, roaring. Instantly, the grips of his men held me in place.I can’t. I fucking can’t. I’m gonna kill him. I don’t give a shit. I’m gonna fucking kill him for laying his fucking filthy hand on her.
“That’s what I thought.” He smirked. “Dom! Get back inside. He’s gonna talk now.” He winked at me. “And if he doesn’t, you can have your way with his girl, just like he thought he can have his way with yours.”
“You son of a fucking bitch!” I charged at him, but his men punched me in the jaw and guts and then gripped my shoulders, forcing me down on the chair. I jerked out of their hold, elbowing them in the ribs, but more of them grabbed me tighter, rendering me almost immobile.
Domenico strutted back in and bent down next to Ravenna. Then he smirked at me and licked her cheek.
Fire and blood. The Lanzas would be dancing in fire and blood. “Touch her again, and I’ll rip your body to pieces they won’t even know how to fucking bury you.”
“Where is Nicole, you piece of shit? I won’t ask again,” Enzio said.
My gaze locked on Ravenna’s, tears blurring both our visions, and a thickness blocked my throat. Defeated, I nodded once. I’d tell them where Nicky was. I had no other choice if I wanted to protect Ravenna. I couldn’t let them hurt her. I had to protect her. She was mine. I had to protect what was mine. “Let Ravenna go, and I’ll tell you where Nicky is.”
Ravenna shook her head. “No, Leo. Listen to me. I’m not afraid of them. When you left, I wasn’t afraid. I wasn’t afraid anymore. I did what I had to do. What I should have done.” Her gaze froze on mine. “Do you understand me? I’m no longer afraid.”
I understood one thing. Ravenna had to be safe. Whatever mistakes she’d made, it was all for her family. She didn’t need to suffer for them anymore. Neither did Nicky or the innocent life inside her. I had to protect her, too, and Niccolino, the innocent baby that all his fault was being the son of Sebastiano Bellomo and Lina Baldi. My girl, my friend and my brother deserved to live without fear or suffering. No more pain. Only love.
“Let her go,” I demanded.
They untied her, and I took her in my arms, filling my nostrils with her scent. Then I devoured her lips with all the yearning and passion I had for her. “I love you,” I confessed. “I’m saying it toyouright in front ofher, only to you, Ravenna. I love you.”
Her tears streamed nonstop, and she moaned. “I love you, too.”
“Do you hear this? Do you hear it, baby?”
She looked around her, searching for a sound in confusion. Then her head stopped moving, and she seemed to have heard it, too. The sound we both had been waiting for.
“I do. I hear it.” She smiled.
“You did what you should’ve done.”
“I did what I should’ve done.”
“Che cazzo?” Domenico barked. “You tell me where Nicky is right now or I—”
