Page 17 of Sicilian Savior

“Don’t be sorry, Lucia. I told you. I’m here for anything you need. And if that means a human shield to protect you from murderous deer, then that’s what I am.”

I wanted to laugh, but instead, the reason for my fear deepened inside me. Tears burned behind my eyes when I accepted that I’d never feel safe again.

Knox widened his shoulders and reached down, brushing a finger beneath my chin to tip up my face. When his other hand reached for my cheek, I jumped from his touch, memories of what happened the last time a man’s hands touched my face crashing back into my mind.

“Whoa.” Knox lifted his hands and took a step back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

As I regained my composure, I looked up into his apologetic eyes, feeling terrible at my skittish response. It was instinct now to recoil from touch even though nothing about Knox’s gentle fingers should have caused me fear. And I knew deep in my gut that he’d never cause me pain. Somewhere inside me, I knew that I could trust this man. Something I’d never thought I’d ever do again.

“They say people need to hear things seven times before they’ll take action. So, I’m going to say it again and again. You can trust me, Lucia. Are you hearing this? You can trust me.”

He took a small step toward me. This time I didn’t move away.

“You can trust me, Lucia.”

A little closer.

“You can trust me. You can trust me. You can trust me. You. Can. Trust. Me.”

His hand reached up and cupped my face again. I held steady, my eyes searching his as I wanted to open my mouth and scream out my truth. Beg him for help. Confide in him what I knew I shouldn’t.

But as I stared up into those hazel eyes, I wanted to do just that.

Trust him.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Knox

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“I can’t trust anyone,” she whispered.

“If someone is after you, I can help you. It’s what I do.” I let out a sigh. “Or did, I suppose. But I can help you.”

She finally moved her frozen form by dropping her eyes to the ground. “You can’t help me. No one can.”

I brushed a finger across her cheek, and she softened more at my touch. My heart flipped over in my chest at the tiny victory.

“Lucia, there isn’t a person on this earth that I can’t handle. There isn’t a threat that I can’t extinguish. There is no one, and I mean no one, on this planet more capable of protecting you than me. So, if someone is trying to hurt you, all you need to do is tell me who, and I’ll fix it for you. If someone...” I paused before I decided to keep going... “hurt your child, and you need payback, I’m there for that too. All you need to do is open up and tell me what is going on. Trust me, Lucia. You need to trust me. Let me help you.”

She sucked her lip between her teeth while her eyes searched my face. I held still, knowing not to make a move and spook her while she deliberated. I knew I was asking a lot for her to put blind faith in someone she’d just met, but I hoped that if she looked into my eyes deep enough, she’d see straight through to my soul. I was the man who would protect her from anything.

“I’m scared,” she finally said. “But I’m so tired. And I’m lost. And I just... I don’t know what to do.”

Another tear chased the trail the first one had left.

“Then share your problems with me and let me help. You’re not alone. I can help. I promise.”

Her eyes spilled over as she slumped forward, sobbing. “He has my son. He took him, and I don’t know where they are. And if I try to get him back, he’ll kill me.” She looked up, and the fear etched on her face nearly dropped me to my knees. “And he’ll hurt my child.”

My heart seized in my chest. “Who? Who has your son?” I ground out. A wave of heat washed through me as anger flooded my veins. Raw, unbridled rage coursed through my body, awakening the warrior in me, the monster, I’d retired a few years ago. He roared inside my chest, banging at my ribcage to let him out.

And I would. I’d let him out, and I’d let him loose on the man who took her son. The man who threatened her. Hurt her. All I saw was red, and I wished it was the blood of the man who’d done this to her.

And soon it would be.

“My ex-husband. He’s got Luca. And I don’t know how to get him back.”