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The idea of Alessia being used as a pawn was like a knife to the heart. He was right. She was too young, too innocent to be caught up in this.
Yet here we were.
And I knew without a shadow of a doubt, I had to find a way to get her out of this.
Or I’d die trying.
* * *
Mahoney and his men left,but not before one of them threw a bottle of water at us and some bandages.
So they didn’t want us dead. At least, not yet.
They also had the decency to leave the flickering light on.
“Here,” Alessia tugged at the hem of her dress, tearing a strip of silk off. Soaking it in water she reached for my shoulder but I grabbed her hand. “Tristan, let me do this, please.” I gave her a gentle nod, letting my hand drop away. “This might hurt.”
Her touch was gentle but it didn’t stop the hiss of agony that spilled out of me.
“Crap, I’m sorry. I just want to clean it out and then I can—”
“Just… hurry,” I gritted out.
“Alcohol would be better.”
“It’s fine.”
It wasn’t, but her trembling hands and shaky breaths forced me to steady my own breath, to fight against the urge to roar at the fiery pain consuming me.
“Sorry, I’m so sorry.” She worked quickly, binding my shoulder with the bandage as best she could. “I’m not sure it’s enough, but it’ll have to do.”
“Thank you.” My lips curved into a faint smile.
“Now what?”
“I… fuck, I don’t know.” I dragged my good hand down my face.
Alessia’s eyes filled with tears. “We’re not going to get out of this al—”
“Hey, hey, don’t talk like that. If they wanted us dead, we’d already be dead.” The lie was like ash on my tongue but I couldn’t not lie to her. She didn’t deserve this.
She didn’t deserve any of it.
And if I could make her feel better, even by lying to her, I would.
“You’re their leverage.”
“You mean a hostage.” She gave me a pointed look, a tear slipping free.
I reached for her cheek, brushing it away with the pad of my thumb. Alessia turned into my touch, covering my hand with her own. “There’s so much I haven’t done… so much I want to experience.” More tears ran down her cheeks, shredding my insides like jagged pieces of glass.
“Shh.” I pulled her into me, sliding my hand along her collarbone. “I promise you, Principessa, I will do whatever it takes to get you out of here.”
I just needed a plan and a moment to catch my breath.
Fuck.
* * *
