Page 123 of The Beast Who Begged Me

There are two bodies just inside the front door. We step around them and out into the cold. I nearly fall when my bare foot catches on the threshold, but Dami’s arm comes around me before I go down.

“I’ve got you,” he says, and for a second I can’t make my legs move at all. “It’s a bit of a walk. Sorry.”

No Russians follow us out of the warehouse. By the time we reach the cars, I’m shivering too hard to follow much of what’s happening. Doors open and slam, voices call across the darkness, and I pull Dami’s jacket closed while his arm stays around me.

Ricky is there, going straight to Sammy with a blanket. He wraps it around him so carefully it makes tears sting my eyes, and Sammy buries his face against his neck.

“Where’s Jesse?” I ask. “He needs a hospital. Sammy, too.”

“Vitali’s taking them.” Fontana is beside us, and I turn toward his voice. “Ricky’s going with them.”

“Keep me informed.”

Fontana looks at me, shivering and naked under Dami’s jacket, and inclines his head. “I will, Don Clemenza.” He glances at Dami’s hands. “You should get those looked at, too.”

“What are you doing with King?” Dami asks.

“I’ll take him to one of our warehouses.”

“Then we’ll follow you,” he says.

“Dami—” I start, because he really does need medical treatment.

“After we’ve dealt with King,” he says. “I promise,” he adds, as he sees me think about making it an order.

I relent, nodding.

Dami can’t even drive because his hands are so bad. So Gallo opens the back door of the remaining car for us, raising an eyebrow at him. “Trust me now?”

“Shut up,” Dami says tiredly, and helps me inside. Gallo gets behind the wheel while Dami drops onto the seat beside me, looking as though he might never get up again.

I don’t care who’s driving us as long as I can throw my arms around Dami, which is exactly what I do when the car takes off. He gives a grunt when I touch his ribs, and I loosen my hold at once, but he pulls me back.

One hand comes up toward my face. He stops before touching me, as though he’s suddenly remembered what those fingers look like, but I catch his wrist and put his bloody palm against my cheek.

“You found me,” I say. “How?”

“Long story. I’ll tell you when we’re alone.” He glances at Gallo in the front.

“But you found me,” I say again, because the shock of it still hasn’t worn off.

“I always will,” he says simply. “Whatever it takes.”

This man bought me and locked me in the dark for days. I’ve hated him, feared him, wanted to hurt him badly enough that he would never forget me. My captor. My jailer. But also my protector. My lover.

I know what he’s capable of. I’ve been on both sides of it. And thanks to him, I’ve discovered what I’m capable of, too. There are things I would do to keep him that should frighten me…but don’t.

The depth of my feeling, that’s something that terrifies me. The hold we have on each other, the damage we could still do. But with his blood on my cheek and his body warm under mine, I’m almost giddy. I want to pull him close and laugh into his mouth. I want to get him home.

I want forever with this man.

My fingers tighten on his wrist. “I thought I was going to die without getting to tell you.”

He looks a little alarmed as my voice breaks, and I have to stop for a breath. But I need to say this, however it comes out.

“I love you, Dami. I loved you when I walked out of our house tonight.” I swallow. “I should’ve told you then. I love you.”

His breath catches. The thumb against my cheek goes still, and his mouth opens…but all that comes out is my name.