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My eyes met my mother’s and she nodded, silently communicating her understanding of what I needed.
“We’ll be right here when you find her, Niccolo. Now go. Save your love.”
“Antonio or I will call when we have news.” I kissed their cheeks, my lips lingering on Sophia’s tear-streaked face, whispering how much I loved her.
“Don’t go, Daddy,” she begged and it shattered the last remaining pieces of my broken heart.
“I’ve got to go get Gianna, preziosa.” I swallowed hard before speaking one last time. “I’ll bring back your mommy, Sophia. I promise, baby girl.”
I waited outside until I heard the security system click the locks into place, then pressed the button to close the wall, and dashed back to my office, my fingers furiously typing a text on the way. I pressed send as I entered the room, seeing Devon on his phone, barking at whoever was on the other side.
Walking to the wall safe behind my desk, I opened it and took out my gun, checking to make sure it was loaded. Then I grabbed a shoulder holster and slipped it on, securing the weapon into it. The message had been an alert for my men to rally and get ready for a fight. They filtered in, some coming straight to my office and others arming themselves before joining us.
“Enzo called,” Antonio informed me as he entered the room. “It seems Devon’s contact located Darby. They’re bringing him in now.”
“The men hiding him?” I asked, my jaw clenching in fury.
“Dead,” he deadpanned.
I nodded in satisfaction. Any motherfuckers willing to align themselves with that weasel didn’t deserve to continue breathing. “Take him to the back,” I instructed a couple of my guys. Turning to Devon, who was no longer on his call, I barked, “Get two of your guys to keep patrols around this section of the building. My mother and daughter are in a panic room, but I don’t want anyone getting close enough to even test its security.” He nodded and began to exit. “Devon,” I called and he halted, looking back at me. “Brecken is my friend and someone I highly respect. Those are the only reasons you are still alive. If anything else happens to my family, or my fiancée is harmed, those reasons will no longer keep you from my wrath. Is that clear?” There was no denying the truth in my words, and I knew he could see it in my steely gaze. I would stop at nothing to protect my family. Nothing.
He studied me for a moment, but I couldn’t read anything in his expression. Then he said simply, “Yes, sir,” and left the room.
“Nic.” I looked to Antonio when he said my name, seeing his grim face as he finished listening to what one of my guys was whispering in his ear. His eyes met mine and like the angel of death, he said, “Darby’s here.” There was no doubt I’d be sending his ass straight to hell after I beat the location of my Gianna out of him.
NINETEEN
Anna
Waking up to find myself lying on a stone cold floor, my arms tied in front of my body and the black hood still over my head, I was filled with a certainty that Nic would come for me. The darkness in him which I’d worked so hard to ignore was going to be the very thing to save me from this mess. I was surprised to discover the concerns I had over Nic’s lifestyle had fled. Considering it was the reason why I found myself on that floor, the timing might have seemed odd except for one thing—I knew he would never give up until I was back where I belonged. Right by his side.
I chose not to focus on what might happen to me in the time it took for him to figure out where I’d been taken and come to my rescue. Instead, I reflected on the time I’d spent with Nic. I thought about why I fell in love with him so easily, the passion he awakened in me, and how he made me feel cherished, protected, and... safe. He was big and strong. Scary at times, too. But, even when his intensity was aimed my way, I never felt a twinge of fear.
When he was bossy, a part of me wanted to obey so I could see the satisfied approval shining from his eyes when I gave him exactly what he wanted. And when he threatened to spank my butt until it was cherry red, I trembled with need rather than alarm. Nic DeLuca made me come alive in ways I never had before. He made me feel excitement and pleasure. He made me laugh as often as I wanted to scream in frustration at his high-handedness. He just plain old made me feel.
