Page 83 of My Favorite Kidnapper

“Steal from them.”

He laughed, the sound unnerving. “I take their money, they take home something they like. Everyone is happy.” He took a step toward me, and I stepped back, realizing I was now against a display case. “Unlike your boyfriend, I don’t steal.”

“Dante doesn’t steal either. He is a reputable businessman. Unlike you.”

“Oh, I have a gallery like his too. Perhaps not as snobby. But I’m smarter. I cater to the masses.” He looked around. “Where is your protector? I’m surprised he let you darken my door.” Then his gaze narrowed, focused on me. “Or perhaps he is unaware you are here. How…fortuitous…for me.”

His words, spoken in his thick accent, sent a shudder down my spine. My heart rate picked up, and I felt sweat break out on my neck.

“He is waiting. I have to go.”

He laughed again, the sound freezing my blood. “I doubt that. Besides, I want to show you something.”

“No, thank you.” I began to move past him, and he grabbed my upper arm, squeezing it hard enough I felt the pressure acutely, even through the sleeve of my jacket.

“I insist.”

I reacted as I always did when panicked. I bolted. Tore my arm from his grip and pushed around him, ignoring the sound of breaking glass as I rushed from the store and outside. Blindly, I turned and ran down the street, my gasps of air loud to my ears. I fumbled for my phone, no idea if I was headed in the right direction when I heard it. My name being shouted by a familiar voice.

Dante.

He was here.

I looked around, frantic, spotting him rushing toward me, pushing people out of the way to get to me. Not looking where I was going, I sprinted toward him, crashing into his chest, almost sobbing in gratitude when his arms came around me. Relief flooded me. I was safe. I was always safe in his arms. Greedily, I inhaled his scent, burrowing myself into him as close as I could get. I whispered his name, needing to feel him. He was safety. Strength. Love.

Home.

His voice was soft in my ear.

“It’s okay, Little Bee. I have you.”

* * *

DANTE

I watched the little red dot move as Brianna shopped. I had a program on her phone that tracked her. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust her, but I had noticed her lack of awareness and bad direction. If she was lost, I needed to be able to find her. I could request a location, and the app told me exactly where she was. I laughed as she stopped at three different cafés, and I assumed she was snacking. She seemed to be in no hurry, and I was glad. I wanted her to enjoy the city. Naples was beautiful. I was amused as the charges started showing on my card. Coffee, gelato, and something from a bakery appeared on it, followed by small charges for God only knew what. I got busy with another meeting and looked again at the credit card. She made a larger purchase at a boutique, probably a scandalous number to her, but to me, it was nothing. I wondered idly what she’d bought and hoped she would show me later. I glanced at the app, frowning when I saw she was half a dozen blocks away from the gallery. I zeroed in on the locale, surprised she was in Gino’s Trinkets and Treasures. I relaxed though, because Gino was a throwback to another era and would take good care of her, being the courteous gentleman he was. She would probably head back this way after.

My phone rang, and I spoke to my manager in London about an acquisition that had come in. We discussed my next trip there, and when I hung up, I looked at the app, my blood freezing when I saw she was farther away, not closer. I tapped to see the location and was on my feet, running before it had completely downloaded.

Of all the spots she could wander into, Winters’s gaudy tourist trap was the last place I wanted her. I doubted he was there, but nevertheless, it wasn’t where she should be. And the area was getting risky.

I was grateful for my knowledge of the city and my fast pace. I cut through alleys, between buildings, and down the center of a couple of streets, arriving by the house of trash, as I called it, just in time to see Brianna rush out the door and begin to run. Fury tore through me as Winters appeared behind her at the door, shouting. He saw me and ducked back inside, coward that he was.

Brianna saw me, the panic on her face evident. With a burst of speed, she barreled into me, gasping for breath. As soon as my arms went around her, I felt the relief that eased her body.

“Dante,” she murmured over and over.

I pulled back, gazing down at her.

“Are you hurt?” I was going to kill him if he had injured her in any way.

“No. Winters—he was there. He was—” She burrowed herself back into me. “He was just vile.”

“That’s one word,” I replied, bending and lifting her into my arms, cradling her to my chest. I turned and hurried away from that street. I knew she was upset when she didn’t protest being carried or object to the fact that people would stare. No one even glanced our way. It was Italy, and they were used to odd sights. Once we were far enough away, and her trembling stopped, I set her on her feet and examined her face. Her color had returned, and her eyes were no longer wide and scared. I led her to a café and ordered lattes—her favorite.

“Tell me.”

She repeated what had happened, telling me what Winters had said. “I think I broke something trying to get out of there.”