Chapter 61
61
Victoria
The cottage is way too quiet after Grant leaves.
My mind is spinning out of control… trying to figure out what to do.
I sit on the edge of the sofa, rocking back and forth.
Pacing is out. When I was previously doing it, Nico kept pulling his gun on me to stop.
I’m not sure how he thinks he’s any better than Lorenzo, but I’m not going to tell him that. The man is completely unhinged.
My wrists ache. Zip ties will do that.
Yeah, apparently, in his big rescue plan, he’s decided that keeping hostages wasn’t the same.
This whole thing is insane.
And if all this wasn’t bad enough, my hands are numb.
Nico stands near the door with his shoulders squared and his jaw locked.
He doesn’t look at me. Maybe he can’t. Might remind him I’m a person, after all.
“What the hell are you doing, Nico? You know Grant is using you p>
Nico’s gaze drifts to the window. He’s obviously choosing to ignore me.
“Kidnapping me makes you no better than who you think you’re rescuing me from. You do know that, right p>
“I know what I’m doing p>
“Do you? Or are you just Grant’s lap dog p>
“Better than being an Amante dog p>
“‘Cause Grant is an angel?” I bite the inside of my cheek and try a different approach. “Why am I here? Other than to save me.” I roll my eyes.
Nico’s mouth tightens, but he doesn’t respond. He’s probably under strict orders.
I laugh. “You have no idea what you’ve done. But it will be fun when you find out p>
His eyes finally cut to me. “Do you ever shut up p>
I lean forward. “What’s wrong, Nico? Already in over your head p>
Nico holds my gaze now, steady, like he’s daring me to keep going.
Okay, I will.
The room tilts.
“Lorenzo’s going to kill you.. p>
“Actually, he’ll be the one to die p>
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out at first. I try again, voice thin and strangled. “What did you just say p>
Nico shifts his weight.
“He forced you to marry him. He deserves to die p>
“Do you not see the fucking irony—” My throat tightens so hard it hurts. “You fucking kidnapped me p>
“I saved you p>
“You’re delusional. Lorenzo is my husband. You didn’t save me from shit p>
Nico’s eyes flick toward my bound hands, then away. “He doesn’t get to keep you p>
“Grant does?” The sarcasm drips from my words.
Nico’s nostrils flare. “At least Grant loves you p>
I bark a laugh. “You really are stupid. Grant doesn’t love me. He loves the idea of me. Grant loves ownership. Grant loves what my last name buys him p>
Nico’s fingers flex at his side. “He’s better than Lorenzo p>
I stare at him, and something inside me goes cold. “By tying my hands and keeping me here?” I lift my bound wrists as high as I can. “This is protection to you p>
His throat bobs. “It’s temporary p>
“Everything is temporary,” I whisper, the words shaking. “So is breathing, if you make the wrong choice p>
Silence stretches.
I twist again, trying to work the tie until it breaks.
Nico notices the movement and steps forward. “Stop p>
“Or what?” I glare up at him. “You’ll tighten them p>
“I don’t want to hurt you.” His lips press together.
“You already are.” I grit my teeth and keep sawing at the tie.
Nico makes a frustrated sound and crouches in front of me, voice dropping. “Victoria… listen. You don’t understand p>
“I understand I’m tangled in a situation with two men who think they know what’s best for me,” I snap. “Spoiler alert: you don’t. I want to be with Lorenzo. I love him. Always have. Always will p>
“You want to go back to him?” Nico’s voice turns rough.
“I want to go home p>
Nico flinches like the word home hits him in the chest. “That isn’t your home p>
“You’re right, it isn’t. He’s my home,” I whisper.
Nico’s jaw tightens. “He’ll destroy you p>
I stare at him. “He already tried, and somehow in doing that, he put me back together p>
Nico’s eyes narrow. “That’s not normal p>
“And this is p>
“You’re defending him p>
“I’m defending myself.” I swallow hard.
Nico’s shoulders stiffen.
The front door rattles lightly, most likely from a gust of wind.
My hands shake as I resume sawing the zip tie. I need my hands. I need control. I need—
The zip tie doesn’t budge. My shoulders sag in pain.
Maybe this is it.
A crash hits.
Sharp.
Loud.
Nico’s head jerks up, every muscle snapping taut. His hand goes to his waistband in one fluid motion.
My heart slams against my ribs.
Another sound…
This time, it’s footsteps. Heavy. Fast.
Nico heads toward the door, gun drawn, eyes hard. “Stay here p>
Then the front door explodes.
The entire frame splinters inward with a violent crack that shakes the cottage.
I scream.
Nico’s gun lifs—
A figure storms through the broken doorway like the devil himself.
I know exactly who it is.
Lorenzo.
For one second, the world stops.
Nico’s gun is pointed at Lorenzo. Lorenzo’s gaze locks on Nico. And something in Lorenzo’s eyes goes feral.
He moves before Nico can even think to pull the trigger.
Lorenzo slams into Nico, driving him backward like a battering ram. The gun flies from Nico’s hand, skittering across the floor. They both crash into the wall. Nico grunts, trying to swing at Lorenzo, but he’s too fast. Lorenzo’s fist connects with Nico’s jaw first, and the hit must have been hard because Nico’s head snaps sideways.
Nico stumbles, and Lorenzo catches him by the collar and drives him down to the floor with a savage shove. Then Lorenzo is on him again, this time with a boot to Nico’s throat.
My breath tears in my throat. “Lorenzo.” My voice cracks, but I don’t even care.
That gets his attention, because Lorenzo’s head snaps toward me. His gaze finds mine but then drops to my bound wrists.
Something in his expression shifts. Nico is no longer important. I’m the only thing he sees.
He crosses the room in three strides. Then, before I know what’s happening, he’s kneeling in front of me. His hands hover near my wrists.
His voice comes out low, rough. “He did this to you p>
I stare at him, blinking hard, because my eyes are burning, and my throat is closing, and I don’t know if I’m hallucinating.
“Are you—” My voice breaks. “You’re here p>
Lorenzo’s jaw clenches. His hands close around the zip tie, fingers steady despite the blood on his knuckles. “Of course I am p>
He grabs a knife from his pocket, and a moment later, the plastic snaps with a sharp pop.
Relief floods me as my hands regain sensation.
He tosses the broken tie, then takes my wrists gently.
My breath catches on a sob.
Lorenzo’s eyes sweep over me. First over my face, then down my body. He’s checking for injuries.
I shake my head quickly. “I’m—I’m okay p>
My hands tremble as I flex my fingers.
Lorenzo’s thumb brushes the red indentations on my skin, and the small tenderness of it nearly breaks me.
“Victoria p>
I don’t answer with words.
I collapse forward.
My body pitches into him, and his arms wrap around me. He’s got me. Always.
I sob.
It’s ugly and loud.
And I don’t care.
Because he has me.
And that is enough.
Behind us, Nico groans, but I don’t care. I’m exactly where I need to be right now, in Lorenzo’s arms.
Lorenzo’s arm tightens around me, protective and possessive. I love it.
Nico coughs out a laugh that sounds pained. “She deserved better p>
Lorenzo finally lifts his head, eyes hard as rocks. “And you thought keeping her chained up was better p>
Nico spits blood onto the floor, panting. “I got her away from you p>
Lorenzo’s mouth curls, ugly. “You kidnapped my wife p>
The word hits the air like a gunshot.
His voice booms so loud that my breath catches. Nico’s eyes widen, and for one terrifying second, I think he will erupt.
“You were supposed to guard her. Protect her p>
Nico’s face twists with anger. “You forced her into this p>
Lorenzo laughs. “Does it look like I can force her to do anything p>
Nico drags himself farther away from us. “I was trying to protect her p>
“Then congratulations, you failed p>
He shifts me gently to the side, guiding me back against the cushion.
“Time to go home,” he whispers against my lips.
I nod too quickly. “I’m not leaving your side p>
“Damn right, you aren’t p>
He turns back to Nico, crouching down so they’re eye level.
“Why did you take her? Who put you up to it p>
It’s only then that I realize he doesn’t know.
“Grant. It was Grant,” I tell him.
Lorenzo turns to Nico, jaw locked tight. “Where is Grant?” he grits out. His voice is so deep and low that a shiver runs up my spine.
Nico’s lips press together.
Lorenzo tilts his head. “We can do this nicely p>
Nico scoffs. “You don’t do nice p>
Lorenzo’s mouth twitches. “I do nice. I’m doing nice right now. I haven’t even broken anything yet p>
Nico swallows.
Lorenzo’s gaze sharpens. “Where. Is. Grant p>
Nico’s eyes dart to me.
Lorenzo follows the glance, and his expression turns darker. “Don’t look at her. Look at me. I’m the problem you created p>
Nico’s voice cracks. “He left. An hour ago. He said he had to make calls. He p>
Lorenzo’s laugh is soft, humorless. “Of course he did p>
I wipe my face with shaky hands, trying to get air. My throat burns.
“Why did he take her?” Lorenzo asks.
Nico looks over at me. “He said she was his. That she loved him, and that you stole her. That p>
“Shut up,” Lorenzo snaps. “I don’t need to hear any more of this bullshit p>
Lorenzo’s gaze holds mine, steadying me without touching. “I’m here. And you’re mine. And no one will take you from me again p>
“You mean it?” I whisper.
“Of course I do.” His voice drops into something raw. “There’s no version of this life where I survive without you p>
My lips part, but no sound comes out.
“Later,” Lorenzo says softly to me. He knows me well enough to know it’s all too much right now.
He straightens, rolling his shoulders back before he turns to the door. It’s only then that I notice Rafe is there.
Rafe steps farther into the cottage, eyes flicking over me quickly. Relief flashes on his face when he sees I’m fine, then his gaze cuts to Nico with absolute disgust.
“Tie him up,” Lorenzo tells Rafe.
“With pleasure p>
Nico’s eyes widen. “Lorenzo p>
Lorenzo ignores him, already reaching his hand out to help me up, but before I stand, he wipes a tear from my face.
“You okay?” The question comes out rough, but I know he’s not angry with me. He’s angry at the situation.
I nod once, then shake my head, then nod again because my body can’t decide between honesty and survival.
He slides his arm around my back and lifts me like I weigh nothing. I clutch his shoulders, fingers digging into him as he starts toward the door.
I cling to Lorenzo tighter as the night air hits my wet cheeks. “I thought you were going to kill him p>
Lorenzo’s laugh rumbles under my cheek. “Oh, he’s going to die p>
“He is p>
He pauses, just for a second, his grip tightening. “He betrayed me. But worse… he betrayed you p>
“He thought he was protecting me.” The words taste wrong, but they’re true in the saddest way.
Lorenzo’s jaw flexes. “Doesn’t matter to me. My only job in life is now to keep you safe. And I will do anything to make sure that happens p>
Before I can say another word, he opens the back door of the car and settles me into the seat. Then he climbs in beside me.
He doesn’t let go.
Not once.
We wait for a few minutes. And I don’t know what happens inside that cottage, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It’s not long before Rafe steps out of the door and heads to the car. Then he starts to drive.
My head rests on Lorenzo’s shoulder, and his hand stays on my thigh, anchoring me to reality. I press closer because the fear hasn’t left my bones yet, and his presence is the only thing making the world feel real.
By the time his estate appears, my body is exhausted, and my eyes burn.
Lorenzo lifts me again when we arrive, carrying me inside. He takes me upstairs.
To his room.
He sets me on the bed and crouches in front of me, hands on my knees.
His gaze searches my face. “From now on, you stay with me p>
I nod. “I’m not leaving you ever again p>
His throat works like he wants to say something else. But instead, he leans in and presses his forehead to mine for one brief second.
Then he pulls back, jaw hard. “Try to sleep,” he orders.
My fingers catch his sleeve. “Don’t go p>
His gaze drops to my hand. It looks like he’s waging a war within himself. Can whatever he needs to do wait? He must decide it can because he climbs into the bed beside me.
I curl on my side, watching him through heavy lashes.
He looks wrecked.
“Thank you.” Those are the last words I remember saying before my eyes close as my exhaustion pulls me under.
And the last thing I hear, right before sleep takes me, is his voice. “No one takes what’s mine p>
And somehow…
I believe him.