Page 27 of Sicilian Savior

“Yeah. It took a long time to get myself right again, but now it’s mostly just nightmares left.”

I stopped short of admitting the intensity of those nightmares—my own screams were the soundtrack to them every time I closed my eyes. I hadn’t slept well in years, and every night I went to bed, I hoped the nightmares would stop that night.

But they never did.

“So, with you guys retired, is this organization you worked for shut down then?”

“No,” I said. “We were Alpha team, but there was Delta team, Bravo team... and a couple others. Always teams of three or four, always specialized. When we retired, a new team got recruited and took our place.”

“I still can’t believe it’s real. I mean, you hear about it in movies and stuff, but there’s really a super-secret government agency. And you were in it. That’s just crazy.”

“Yeah. I thought it was a joke when a suit approached me one night at a bar. Slipped me this card and told me to call the number. I almost threw it away, but I decided what the hell. He turned out to be a recruiter. And it’s all history from there.”

“Well, I’m sure glad you picked up that card. I wouldn’t be one step closer to getting Luca back if you hadn’t.” She glanced at my lips. “And I wouldn’t be here with you.”

Her small hand slid over the top of mine, and it felt like a lightning bolt went through me. Or at least the electric paddles I’d gotten quite familiar with in my months in that cave. But this didn’t hurt like those did. This felt... amazing.

It felt so good I knew I was losing control of my senses. If I stayed this close to her, I was going to scoop her up in my arms and kiss her so hard I worried I’d never be able to stop.

Remembering my vow not to take advantage of her, I realized I had to go. Get some space. It was the only way I could stop myself from acting on my primal desires. My attraction to her was too powerful to resist, and I had to dig into the power of my resolve and fight through it however I could. And right now, and for the foreseeable future until I had it under control, that meant I needed to keep my distance.

I’d sworn to protect her from everything... even if it meant protecting her from me.

“I, uh... I need to get some rest,” I finally forced out. “You should stay and swim. The perimeter is secure, and Victor will have no idea we’re here anyway. But it’s safe. I’ve got cameras up, too. Wes is eyes in the sky if a perimeter alarm trips.”

“Oh. Okay,” she whispered. “I guess... goodnight.”

Was that disappointment on her face?

Didn’t matter, I reminded myself. Even if she was developing feelings for me, I’d never be certain if they were real until this was all over and she and Luca were safe. I had to wait. Stop this thing between us before it spiraled out of control.

Once he’s safe, you can tell her how you feel. Not until then.

With my willpower faltering by the second, I pushed off the side of the pool. “Good night, Lucia.”

As I swam away, I swallowed the pained groan trying to come out. Tonight, when I closed my eyes, I’d either dream of her or have nightmares about all the torture I’d endured. Both would cause me to wake up in agony.

Fuck.

CHAPTER TEN

Lucia

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I wasn’t sure what I’d done last night to have Knox flip on a dime like that, but he’d been distant from me all morning as well. Shifty glances and keeping as much distance from me as I’d used to keep from him. It put me on edge, and I started to worry he’d changed his mind about helping me. Was he having second thoughts? Worried he’d be putting his team in danger for a woman he barely knew? Or maybe it was because I’d started to stare at him with lust in my eyes, and he didn’t consider romance when he looked at me.

My mind reeled, searching for reasons for his distance.

I’d never even considered starting up a romance again, and, in fact, I’d vowed that I wouldn’t. But now that Luca was almost back in my arms, my broken heart started to heal and open up a sliver. And it beat hard and fast when I looked into Knox’s eyes. For a moment last night, I’d hoped that maybe he felt the same. That maybe he saw me as something more than a woman needing to be saved... a victim to be rescued.

But I’d been wrong. Or at least it sure seemed that way with how quickly he’d withdrawn from my touch.

“Just got a call. Marcus and Piper will be here tomorrow morning,” he said as he walked into the kitchen where I opened and closed cabinets in search of food.

“Really?” I stood up, slamming the empty cabinet shut. “They’re coming? It’s happening?”

“Yep.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the door jamb. “Marcus says his strategy is sound. They’ll be here in the morning, and per his plan, we should be flying out of here with Luca within four days.”