KillianGravel crunched under heavy boots as I came to. Pain radiated down my neck and spine in rhythm to my pulse. Groaning, I tried to shift my weight from my left side to my right to relieve pressure, but the SUV door abruptly opened, and a burly man with a thick beard and a set of brass knuckles on his left hand grinned down at me.“Hello, pumpkin,” he taunted.He grabbed me by the shirt and hauled me out with one massive tug. He let go, letting me land heavily on the gravel on my side.Fucking hell.“Get him into the warehouse,” Niccolò sneered just as the toe of a boot slammed into my lower back. “The plane will be here in an hour. We got to him earlier than expected.”“You don’t want to take me on a plane,” I panted. “You won’t get off it alive.”“Shut the fuck up,” he growled.All of these men were dead the second they untied my hands, but I assumed Niccolò knew that. Despite the bite in his voice, there was notable fear and apprehension in his tone.“Warehouse, now.”I was li
Sera“What do you see now?” Tommaso asked over the phone, dragging out his breath.“The road ends and there’s a sharp turn with an incline. I can’t see anything through the trees.” I put the car in park and killed the engine. “I’m going to get out and take a look.”“Sera, don’t.”I’d been on the phone with Tommaso for twenty minutes listening to him go back and forth between allowing me to help and telling me to turn around and go home. That wasn’t an option for me. Even if I had an idea about how to get back to Killian’s massive property, I wasn’t leaving here without him.Tommaso kept an eye on the tracker, and after a while it had stopped moving somewhere down this dirt road where I’d seen the SUV turn.“You said I was practically on top of it, so I’m going to check it out.” I tore through the duffle bag, pulling on three pairs of thick socks and the thermals over my legs, rolling up the waistband so it fit. I glanced around before pulling my dress over my head and sliding the ther
Killian“I’m telling you the fucking truth, Andre.” Niccolò paced the floor a hundred yards away from me, over in the corner near a desk and some filing cabinets. I could see him out of the corner of my eye and noticed the desperate, erratic behaviors I’d seen it before on full display. Something had snapped inside Niccolò’s head when he’d joined forces with Giuseppe, which was a shame. I had a lot of respect for the man’s father, but now it seemed like Niccolò was going to have to die.Especially after what he’d done tonight—trying to take Sera and grabbing me instead. There was no fucking way I’d let him live after this.Knowing that Andre Bianchi didn’t think he was capable of kidnapping the Hand of Death might’ve made me chuckle under other circumstances, but my entire body ached. I tried to close myself off, to become numb to the world so I didn’t feel the pain, but I had to stay aware of my surroundings. If my calculations were right, Tommaso should be leading a charge very soon
SeraThe roar of an approaching engine had me hunkering down even further into the bushes. I knew it had to be Tommaso, but the fear of being discovered and captured made me cower instead of shouting my location. I’d be no good to anyone if I managed to get caught.When I realized the vehicle wasn’t slowing down, I covered my face with my hand, peeking out through my fingers, watching as it plowed right into the front of the warehouse. “Holy fuck,” I whispered, my breath freezing right in front of my face. “Killian’s in there, you dumbass.”I had to figure Tommaso knew what he was doing. The tank-like vehicle stopped a few feet into the warehouse, and that was when the shooting began.It wasn’t just coming from inside the building, though. More bullets flew behind the warehouse where I was almost certain Killian was being held, the same one with the truck protruding out the front. The attack came from between the warehouse and the landing strip. Through the trees, I saw what looked li
KillianGunfire broke out all around me as Niccolò’s men attempted to fend off the invasion, but it didn’t matter what they did. My guys were already inside, and they were coming full force.Tommaso popped out of the armored vehicle first, a semi-automatic rifle in his hands as he leaped down from the opening in the top. “Told you these were a good investment!” He laughed as he shot the men who were foolish enough to come at the vehicle, their blood spraying all over the floor and the walls.Several more of my men climbed out, though not as fluidly as my second. A few of them looked like they’d hit their heads in the collision, but they were up and shooting back within a few seconds, and I had the idea we probably weren’t going to suffer many casualties.None of Niccolò’s men were smart enough to consider using me as a shield. They scattered, heading for the back exits. I watched their boss slide out through what looked like a panel in the wall, and I had to wonder if there wasn’t som
SeraFrancesco’s grip around my middle threatened to cut off my oxygen, his forearm biting into my ribs. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you!” I did my best to whirl around, but his hold on me was too strong, too rough, too demanding. There wasn’t a shred of kindness in his touch. “Mikey just got shot!” I tossed my head back against the brute’s shoulder, trying to see what happened with my friend, but we were too far away from the ridge now. I couldn’t even hear the commotion from the warehouse.“He’s fine.” Francesco didn’t so much as glance behind him as he continued to carry me through the woods.At first, I’d dug in my heels as he began to drag me away, but the snow and ice that covered the forest floor did nothing to halt his progress. Then, he’d hoisted me up, pressing me against his chest. I’d started to kick and writhe, doing everything I could to get out of his grasp. None of it did any good. All I’d done was wear myself out.Eventually, I relaxed my shoulders and started to
KillianStanding in the woods, watching Sera struggle to get free of Francesco, it was difficult to comprehend the scene unfolding in front of me. My vision blurred with red, and not just from the blood streaming into my eyes. What the fuck was he doing dragging Sera through the woods toward a waiting car?Her teeth gritted together, determination in her eyes, she kneed him in the groin and managed to break free of him. Francesco was clearly caught off-guard as he fumbled to grab her, but she slid out of his reach, and I moved my weapon to keep him from coming after her.She threw her arms around my waist. I gathered her to me, inhaling her scent, thankful that she was safe, and backed us up a step, my eyes on Francesco while he tried to gather himself. He spit and grunted with pain before his eyes finally met mine.A thousand questions formed in my mind, all of them mingling together to create a perplexity I couldn’t quite grasp, let alone enunciate.Fuck, my head hurts.When I final
Sera“Killian, please stop for a minute,” I rushed out, trying to grab his hand to bring him to a stop. He kept moving forward, making me rush to keep up with him. “Killian, please.”He didn’t so much as look at me. There was no hint of that warmth in his eyes when he’d looked at me moments ago. That mask of ice slid back over his face before I’d had a chance to catch my breath, and speaking to him was like bargaining with a brick wall.“Francesco isn’t loyal to you. I don’t think he was trying to bring me to safety. I think he’s a rat, Killian. I think he’s working for someone else. I had a feeling, okay? He looked like he knew something was going to happen when we left the house tonight. I think he was behind all of this.”Killian continued walking, leaving droplets of blood on the snow in his wake.“Killian, don’t let him go back to the house, please? The maids could be in danger. Killian? Please stop. Please listen to me for a moment!” I rushed up and grabbed his arm. He turned ri
PaigeI stood in the vestibule outside of the chapel, clutching my flowers, my heart hammering in my chest. Organ music belted through the doors, and I was just waiting for my cue.We all were. My two bridesmaids, in simple maroon dresses, stood ahead of me. Like she could feel my eyes, Lauren turned back and winked. I smiled. The dress looked spectacular on her, and I’d promised up and down that Tom would invite enough handsome men for her to go home with a date. This, of course, had been complicated by Tom choosing Killian and Stan as his two groomsmen. While I liked the older man, and he kept Lauren laughing, I didn’t exactly see the two of them as a couple.Mom stepped up next to me with a smile. Her mother-of-the-bride dress, a deep burgundy gown with gold accents, caught the light and sent it dancing. “Are you excited?”I inhaled sharply. “I kind of can’t stop thinking about the seating chart for the reception. Who have I become?”She laughed. “Your father.”Tears beaded in my e
KillianI sat behind my desk and looked out over my men. Tommaso took his usual seat. Adrian hovered in the corner like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself yet, just like he had at the beginning. Patrick was still laughing about spilling his wine. Just like old times. I stood and started pouring everyone drinks.“So,” I said, “do you have an update on the warehouses, Adrian?”He started toward my desk, then paused. An odd moment passed. It wasn’t really my desk anymore. I’d left the hunk of wood behind because I had no need for it on the island, and he’d loaded it down with computers in my absence. Despite that, I’d never seen anyone sit behind it but my father besides me.I offered Adrian a drink. “Sit.”He nodded. “Didn’t want to step on your toes. The situation is pretty simple, all told, but I can tell there’s a certain amount of grace I’m supposed to be handling this foreman with, and I don’t—”Tommaso joined me at the bar to pour. “Do you remember that foreman in the so
PaigeI tucked my arm through Tom’s and straightened my long, floral romper. He kissed me on the cheek, then knocked on the door. Joyce swung it open.“Hello!” She welcomed us both in with hugs. “Mr. and Mrs. Ricci are in the drawing room. Please, come in.”We let ourselves be bustled through the door, the wine we’d brought carried off to the kitchen, and our coats taken to some closet somewhere in the mansion. Adrian used it as a base of operations when Killian and Sera weren’t home, so I’d been here a few times since the wedding, but I’d never felt comfortable here. Finally, we were led to the closed doors of the drawing room, and Tom opened them with a smile.Inside, we found not only “Mr. and Mrs. Ricci,” but also Olivia and Patrick, Adrian and Penny—who still wouldn’t even talk about their dance at the wedding—and Sera’s mother and brother, as well as Lauren. Sera leapt up to greet us, and Killian followed a few paces behind. I threw myself into the hug just as much as Sera did—I
SeraI folded a T-shirt and put it into Killian’s suitcase. “Are you sure we need to leave so soon?”He chuckled and took the T-shirt back out, then replaced it with a suit shirt. “Very, unfortunately. Adrian is in the middle of a difficult situation with one of the warehouses, and he needs a steady hand to guide him through.”My stomach churned at the thought of leaving the villa. We’d only been here for a couple of months, and we’d promised everyone we’d return, but dammit, I wasn’t ready yet. Lazing around the villa and having sex whenever the mood took us was way too fun to stop after only a few months.“But we’ll be back soon, right?” I asked like I didn’t already know.“Cara mia.” Killian took my hands. “What is happening in that head of yours?”I sighed. “I don’t know. The thought of leaving just make me kind of sick. We just got away from all that. I don’t want to be scared again.”He studied me for a long moment. “You do look a little pale. How sick is this making you exactly
PaigeI squeezed Tom’s hand in the car on the way to the airport.“Sad to be leaving?” he asked.I smiled. “Always. It’s so magical here.”He laughed. “Not just saying that because we’ve spent most of the vacation in bed?”I ran my free hand up his leg. “No, we have weekends for that at home.”“Fair enough.” He kissed the back of my hand. “I do like going on these little vacations, though. It’s a nice escape for a few days.”I nodded. I really was going to miss Paris, but I wouldn’t have wanted to stay much longer anyway. Lauren had been texting me updates about the shelter, especially the new one as women settled in. I kept thinking about how much I was missing, how much they needed me there. And I knew Tom was feeling the same. Apparently, Lyle had his sights set on someone new, and Tom was itching to pull the trigger. Anybody else would probably think we were freaks, desperate to leave a luxury vacation to get back to our grueling jobs. But those people didn’t realize just how much
TommasoWhen I told Paige I’d set everything up for another two days in Paris, she’d immediately insisted we spend a day shopping. I put up a cursory front of complaints, but in truth, I was perfectly happy following her from store to store and carrying her bags. Even better, she loved it when I made jokes about some of the worst, frilliest, most French things we came across. She laughed and joined in. For years, I’d heard men complaining about shopping with their girlfriends—fiancées—saying it was the most boring thing in the world, but even if we weren’t laughing up a storm as we paid our way through the most expensive boutiques in Paris, I still would’ve been having a ball. The sun was shining, she kept looking at the ring I’d put on her finger with a soft wonderment I’d never seen in her eyes anymore, and my face hurt from smiling. Paige and I could’ve made a hell of an afternoon out of reading the phone book.“Stop!” she said.I froze, my free hand twitching toward the gun I’d hi
PaigeI didn’t know how long Tom and I lay there, listening to the fireworks and seeing the very top of their arcs through the sliver of windows accessible from the floor. I pillowed my head on his chest and enjoyed the steady beat of his heart. Engaged. The last time I was here, I’d been on the cusp of recovery, just starting to make strides toward the person I was today. Now, I wasn’t done—I didn’t know if there was a done for traumatized people or people in general—but I was so much better, stronger, happier than I had been.The last time Tom and I were in Paris, I’d thrown myself at him and chickened out. As much as I could stay at a private view of the Eiffel Tower, I wanted to show him just how much had changed. Just how much I meant the “yes” that had fallen so easily from my lips. I rolled on top of him.“What do you say we take this back to that hotel room you picked out?”Tom grinned and pulled me down for a kiss. I pressed myself against him, feeling every line of his body.
PaigeI sat across from Tom in an empty, stunning restaurant in the middle of the Eiffel Tower with my head spinning like the three sips of wine I’d had with the appetizer were enough to make me drunk. He’d really rented out the Eiffel Tower. And not one floor, the whole thing. We’d ridden an empty elevator, the two-Michelin-star chef kept coming out to tell us why he’d selected particular dishes based on the information Tom had given him about our preferences, and I couldn’t hear anything but the soft classical music over the speakers. It felt like a dream.Tom took my hand. “So?”“So what?” I asked.“Was the surprise worth it?” He grinned.I looked over his suit, a forest green that brought out his eyes, worn without a tie. His dark curls tumbled into his face. I’d never seen him look so perfectly put together and so casual. He looked…well, he looked exactly like the man I’d fallen in love with. Nothing like the one who’d scared me so badly all those months ago in Cairo.“I get the
TommasoDespite how much I wanted Paige to keep that little black dress on, we had a few hours before the Tower officially emptied out for our use. I talked her into putting on something a little more walkable and keeping the lingerie on. As if to punish me for my restraint, she picked a pair of tiny, wide-legged shorts that showed the tops of the garters attached to her stockings every time she moved and a fitted blouse. I changed and somehow convinced myself to leave the hotel room instead of stripping everything off her and spending the hours in bed.She took my hand as we stepped into the lobby. “I should’ve known. When you plan a surprise, it’s never just one thing. Where are we off to first?”“So nosy.” I smiled.“You’re right, I’ll stop asking.” She slid the room key out of her pocket and fiddled with it for a second, then dropped it. With a small smile, she bent at the waist to pick it up, exposing those garter straps again.I grabbed her waist and hurried her the final few st