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“She calls to me.” Emilio’s voice is a whisper. “Could she be my fated mate?”
I lick my lips, not trusting myself to speak because we all know without saying it—this is the girl we must kidnap and hold against her will, locked deep inside our dungeon.
Chapter Four
Diva
Backstage, we change back into our street clothes and hand our skimpy costumes to Iphigenia for washing.
“That was an incredible performance, everyone.” Iphi folds the costumes into a large bag. “I am so proud of you all. Does anyone want to grab a drink or walk back to the apartments with me?”
People exchange looks, and I shrug. “I’m tired,” I say at the same time the rest of the troupe yells, “on to drinks.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Iphi’s smile lights up her entire face.
“No, please, you go out with everyone and have fun. You never get to celebrate. I know my way back. It’s easy enough, and I’d love some quiet time alone.”
Iphi leans in close so no one else can hear and whispers in my ear, “It’s not a full moon.”
“I know,” I mouth back and then whisper, “thank you.”
She pats my shoulder, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning, Diva. Thank you for living up to your name.” She giggles as I roll my eyes and shake my head.
Outside I’m met by darkness, and my heart races slightly as I peer up at the waxing gibbous moon. I must remember to remain indoors when the moon is full, several nights from now.
The breeze is cool but not chilly, and the water from the canals creates a hypnotizing sound as it laps against the stones. When I was here last year with my family, we went on several historical tours, and I was both amazed and shocked to hear how this floating city was built. Ian had been delighted. He’d learned about Venice in school; it was the reason we took the vacation. A tragic vacation that ended his life.
Walking through a particularly dark alleyway, surrounded by dark gray stone walls, something startles me and I jump. It can’t be a werewolf, I tell myself but glance into the sky again to be sure.
Someone grabs me from behind. I let out a scream, but it’s stifled by a hand clasped over my mouth. I struggle, but the arms are too strong, and in a split-second I’m lifted off my feet, dangling hopelessly in the air. A face appears before me, and I have only a moment to register that this man is far too handsome to be doing this to me. The one behind me holds me tight to his body, tense with bulging muscles.
“I’m sorry,” says the face hovering in front of me. His voice is soft and almost kind. He reaches toward my face with a strip of duct tape, and I shake my head, as much as I can while being held aloft. “We can’t take the chance,” he whispers. “You’ve already tried to scream.”
“Stop talking and do it,” a gruff voice to the side says.
There are three of them? What do they want? My heart beats so fast it feels like it’s going to fly out of my chest.
The one behind me removes his hand, and I open my mouth to scream again but the one in front places the tape over my mouth. Almost gently? He reaches for my arms, and I flail them about, but I’m no match for him. The one holding me sets me down. They both hold me while a third ties my arms behind my back. I try to make eye contact with the nice one, if someone duct-taping your mouth shut could be called nice.
He looks at me, and I plead with my eyes, blinking back the water that threatens to fall. Real tears because I’m terrified. But something in his kind expression calms me, just a little. His eyes are soft, and while I can’t make out the color in the dim light, it doesn’t matter. He even smiles at me, which makes him look impossibly more handsome. What’s the matter with me? Finding someone who’s threatening me charming?
“Just for now.” His voice is still soft and calming. “You’ll be okay. We’re not going to hurt you.”
“Much,” adds the gruff voice to my side.
I struggle to break free from the one still holding me and turn my head toward the mean one’s voice.
“Stop scaring her,” says the nice one.
The one holding me hasn’t spoken, but he carefully places a bag over my head. My entire world goes black.
Chapter Five
Emilio
Back at our house, I snatch the key from the hook next to the basement door and push my mates aside rather harshly. “Let me handle this.”
“You said yourself, this is out of your wheelhouse,” says Marcello.
