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No matter how many times we ask, he won’t give us another answer. There are men out there trying to tear down everything we’ve built, but this is the last time they use Celia as a pawn in their games.
Although he has no secrets to tell, I want to hear his screams of pain vibrating off the walls. This is a warning to any man who dares come after what’s ours. The air they continue to breathe is by my grace, and I can take it away whenever I choose. If they have plans to continue breathing and living their lives peacefully, they’ll remember that Celia is off-limits.
“You were wrong.”
“So much trouble for a whore.” He lifts his chin in defiance as I come to a stop in front of him and laugh.
I want to rip him apart piece by piece and make him pay for every tear that Celia sheds. For all the pain she felt while wondering where her sister was being kept. For the fear she must have felt every day, looking over her shoulder and wondering when they were going to strike. Celia is ours to protect in any way I see fit, and his mistake is going to cost him his life.
“I told you not to call her a whore.” My hand moves quickly, sinking my knife into the side of his neck before slicing upward and bringing the blade out the other side. I watch as blood seeps from the wound, a few drops landing on my arms and shirt.
“We could’ve gotten more information out of him.” Matteo scoffs before striding up the stairs, no doubt heading directly toward our room.
“What’s done is done. Right now, we need to go check on our girl.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
ANTONIO
I’ve never wanted to care about anyone besides my family in my life. But all of that changed the moment Celia stepped into our room at the club. At first, I was intrigued by her. She’s a spitfire, not willing to back down when we challenge her. Few women have the backbone to tell us no once, let alone twice, but she did it within the same day.
Maybe I should be ashamed of how much I wanted her, especially knowing she was out to cripple my family, but I didn’t care. Still don’t. The only thing that matters to me right now is the feel of her lips pressed tightly against mine.
“You could’ve died,” I mutter against her lips, her pussy grinding against my cock.
“I’m sorry,” she whimpers, her eyes once again filling with tears and turning me into a shell of a man.
Our job is to protect her from anything that may come her way, but somehow, this asshole got close. Close enough to almost take her from us. I can still taste the fear and anguish I felt as I raced toward her, wanting to protect her from the bullet aimed at her chest. This time, I made it, but what happens next time? What if we aren’t around to save her?
“Hey. I’m here, and I’m safe,” she whispers, resting her forehead against mine. “You three saved me, just like I knew you would.”
“You knew we would come?” I pull back slightly, searching her face for answers, but come up short.
I heard everything as we snuck down the stairs, searching for her. I didn’t know what to think, worrying that everything that has happened between us was a lie. Celia loves us. She loves us so much that she’s willing to bet hers and her sister’s life on it. Some ill-guided attempt at protecting us from whoever was doing this. Making her one of the bravest people I know.
“Hoped you’d come.” She gives me a watery smile. “I meant every word I said to your brother downstairs. I love you.”
My heart swells in my chest, overflowing with love for this woman. Deep down, I knew I loved her the first moment I set eyes on her. The moment she looked me in the eye, seeing the feelings I keep locked tightly inside, hidden away from everyone. My insecurities, weaknesses, and strengths. She knows every single one of them.
“You scared me,” I growl against her ear as she labors to breathe. “You scared my brother and Matteo.”
“I’m sorry,” she sobs, her eyes flicking to mine, shining like pools of pain and confusion before she turns her attention back to the floor. “I just want to understand why they did this to me.”
I clench my hands into fists, trying to control all the raging emotions inside me as I move within arm’s reach of her. I reach out, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at me. The skin beneath her eyes is all red and puffy.
“What makes you happy?” I brush my thumb across her bottom lip, pouring all my emotions into our connection.
“I don’t even know what happiness is anymore.” Her voice cracks as she turns her back toward me again, her pain clear in every word.
“Celia, tell me.”
“What does it matter?” She tries to pull from my grasp, but I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her against my chest.
“It matters to me.” I clench my eyes shut tightly and take a deep breath.“What makes you happy?”
“Being loved unconditionally. Being the center of someone’s universe.” She hiccups as she collapses into my arms, sobbing loudly. “I just want someone to love me.”
Searing pain flows through my entire body as her agony hits me in waves, trying to pull me under. But instead of letting go, I hold on tighter, pouring waves of love and understanding into her body, fighting to keep her with me and away from the numbness she craves so desperately.
