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With only five properties on this road, we arrived at the Salvatore estate in a flash. Marcello acknowledged a few of the armed guards, who lowered their heads in reverence. Large wrought-iron gates opened for us, and he floored the gas, skidding to a halt in front of a covered garage that housed a fleet of cars.
Mario Andretti’s evil twin slid out from behind the steering wheel, and within seconds, he ripped open my door, lifted me over his shoulder, and dragged me toward the house.
I slapped his back, arms, and that tight ass I wanted to sink my teeth into, my fists pounding with fury. “Put me down! I can walk on my own, you psychopath.”
Marcello released a wicked cackle that sent shivers down my spine as we entered the foyer. I fought him all the way up the stairs, which was pointless and a waste of my energy. He set me down at the top of the landing, and I shoved my palm into his chest.
“Asshole! Why are you treating me like a child?”
“Because you run,” he shot back. “Just like you always do.”
“Fuck you, Marcello.”
My heels singed the hardwood as I stormed down the hallway like the floor was on fire. Luca used to tell me I ran every time he got too close. But I didn’t run for the hell of it. No, I ran to save myself from losing my heart to a soulless monster. And now, I had two of them.
When Marcello caught up to me, his cell phone dinged with several text messages in a row. “You shouldn’t have run,” he said with a scary smirk.
I rolled my eyes at him. “Whatever.”
He followed me into my bedroom. I spun around to face him, and he inched toward me, forcing me to walk backward toward the bed. Like a hunter sizing up his prey, he pounced on me. A flicker of desire sparked in his eyes, sending a ripple of pleasure down my arms.
Is he going to give me what I want?
Marcello pushed me onto the mattress and dropped his knee between my thighs. Staring down at me, he gave me a hard look as he licked his lips. He grabbed my wrist, his movements so fast I didn’t have time to shake him off.
Raising my arm above my head, Marcello breathed against my lips. “I gave you some freedom, and this is what you did with it.”
“I hate you,” I yelled, kicking my feet. “Get off me!”
He pressed my back to the mattress. I raised my knee to kick him, but Marcello grabbed my leg, laughing as I struggled to fight back.
“Think about escaping again, and I’ll spank your ass so hard you won’t walk for a week.”
“Sounds like fun.” I blew him a kiss. “You gonna tie me up or take me over your knee? Luca likes it both ways.”
Marcello slid off the bed, grinning as his eyes traveled up the length of my body.
“See something you like, asshole?”
He glanced at the room’s corner. I couldn’t see anything past the crown molding, but I assumed there was a camera. He tipped his head, then walked away.
“Wait!” I sat up as he reached the door. “Where are you going? I need to eat.”
He snickered. “You should have thought about that before you ran.”
Marcello flicked off the lights, and my heart raced. I hated the dark and what it represented.
“Turn that on,” I shouted. “Please don’t leave me. I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
“Whose fault is that?” Marcello said before he slammed the door behind him.
My throat closed up at the sound of the lock clicking into place. It was too loud, like the lock on my closet door at home. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the bad memories playing through my mind like a highlight reel, but it was too late.
Metal on metal, I cringed at the sound. I pounded my fists on the door as my mother laughed. Taunted me with her cruel words.
I hated her.
Aiden screamed from his bedroom, begging my mom to let me out. She locked him in his room when he tried to stop her. My brother always tried to save me.
I need you, Aiden.
Come back to me.
Hand over my heart, I sucked in a deep breath and released it with a whimper. Thinking of Aiden brought me back every time. Aiden was my home, my other half. My chest felt too heavy as if it were filling up with sand, crushed by the weight of the world. A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead and wet my eyelashes.
I blinked a few times, my eyes adjusting to the darkness, and reached for the lamp, feeling my way in the dark. My hand connected with something rough and scratchy. Then I heard a thump as the lamp tipped over and crashed to the floor before I could grab it.
