Chapter 64
64
Lorenzo
The asshole isn’t even trying to hide.
Nope. He’s just sitting…
Waiting.
Like he knew I was coming and seems happy I’ve finally joined him.
With a smile on his face, Grant looks up from the glass of whiskey in his hand.
“Took you long enough.” That alone nearly makes me smile. “Well,” he drawls, setting the glass down with deliberate calm, “this is dramatic p>
My gun comes up without thought. “How fucking dare you kidnap my wife p>
Grant laughs.
Not nervous. Not scared.
Confident.
“She was never yours,” he says, pushing up from the chair. His eyes flick once to the gun, then back to my face. “She was always meant to be mine p>
Something snaps inside me. “You don’t get to talk about her like she’s a thing,” I reply, stepping closer. “She isn’t an object you misplaced. She’s not a prize. She’s a person. And she’s mine p>
Grant’s mouth curls, sharp and smug. “Says the man who kept her hidden away and forced her to marry him p>
The words land.
They don’t miss.
But I don’t flinch.
“I was wrong,” I say, surprising both of us. “And I know it p>
Grant’s brows lift. “Oh? That’s new p>
“I thought vengeance was the same thing as justice,” I continue, my grip tightening on the gun. “I thought punishment would fix the hole she left behind p>
I step closer. He takes one step back.
“But I was always fixing the wrong thing p>
Grant scoffs. “You really think that absolves you p>
“No,” I say calmly. “It explains me p>
His eyes flick again toward the exit.
I don’t give him time to try.
The gun fires.
Once.
Grant jerks as the bullet slams into his chest. He hits the floor hard.
I step over him immediately, gun still trained on his body.
“You will never hurt us again,” I say.
Grant coughs, and crimson rivulets escape his mouth.
It’s only a matter of time. The fucker will be dead in a matter of seconds.
What can I say, I’m a good shot.
My hand lifted to fire again, because why not? He might be dead already, but a few more bullets will make me feel better.
My finger pulls back the trigger, but what I see stops me…
A smile twists through the blood on Grant’s face. He’s smirking at me, like he knows something I don’t.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he gurgles on his own blood that’s bubbling out of his mouth.
My pulse slows. “What do you mean p>
Grant wheezes, breath hitching. “You just signed her death warrant p>
What the fuck. “Speak,” I snap, crouching, pressing the gun closer. “Now p>
His eyes glass, but there’s something feral still burning behind them.
“If I can’t have her,” he rasps, “no one can p>
“What the hell does that mean?” I demand. My heart is beating so fast now that it might explode from my body.
Grant’s gaze locks onto mine, triumphant even as he bleeds out.
“I put a hit on her,” he whispers, “through a network p>
The world tilts.
“Call it off,” I snarl, grabbing his collar. “Call it off now p>
Grant’s breath stutters. “O-only I-I can,” he chokes. “A-and I-I don’t feel p>
Rage detonates.
“Call it off,” I roar.
Grant smiles. One last smile. Because before I can even yell again, his body goes slack.
Dead.
“Fuck p>
The room erupts in motion.
Rafe begins to swear, but all I hear is the echo of one sentence repeating in my skull like a curse.
If I can’t have her, no one can.
Rafe grips my shoulder. “Lorenzo p>
I turn slowly.
“If that’s true,” I say, voice hollow and lethal, “then she’ll never be safe p>
Rafe swallows. “Not unless p>
“I kill them all,” I finish.
No hesitation.
No dramatics.
Just fact.
Rafe nods once. “Then that’s what we do p>
“We start tonight p>
I don’t remember the drive home.
I don’t remember walking inside.
My brain is fuzzy until I see her. But seeing her jump-starts my heart.
She takes one look at my face and freezes. “Lorenzo p>
I cross the room in three strides and cup her face, grounding myself in the fact that she’s breathing. Still alive. Still warm.
She’s safe.
For now.
I pull her into my chest anyway.
“What happened p>
I don’t know what to tell her, but when she places her hands on my jaw and looks me in the eyes, I know there is only one thing I can do. Tell her the truth.
So I do.
I tell her everything, and when I’m done, I think she will break down. But not my beautiful, strong girl.
Instead, she steels her spine. “What are we going to do p>
I exhale slowly, forehead pressing to hers. “I don’t know p>
The honesty costs me something.
“But what I do know,” I continue, “is that I will find the network. And then I will find every person who belongs to it.. p>
Her fingers curl into my shirt. “You’ll kill them p>
“Yes p>
Her voice trembles. “Doesn’t that scare you p>
I lean back just enough to look at her.
“If I have to become a monster to protect you,” I say quietly, “then I will p>
She studies my face like she’s seeing something new. “I love you,” she says softly.
The words hit harder than any bullet could. “I love you too,” I reply, voice rough. “But this means.. p>
Her brow furrows. “What p>
“No one can know about you,” I say. “Not yet. Not until every single threat is gone p>
“No one p>
“No p>
“What about”—she swallows—“your family p>
“No. No one. I can’t keep you safe if anyone knows. They are all a liability. Someone can use them to fulfill p>
“The hit p>
He nods.
The decision is final.
Her eyes search mine. “Can you live with that p>
I don’t hesitate.
“If I have to choose between them and you,” I say, “I choose you. Every time. You’re my reason to breathe. Now… can you live with it p>
Her breath shudders. “Yes p>
“Good. Because I will scorch the earth for you,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to hers, “to make sure you’re alive. And mine p>
She pulls me down into a kiss.
We don’t speak after that.
There are no words left that matter.
Instead, I kiss her everywhere. My mouth touches and licks every inch of her body.
First down her neck, across her collarbone, down to her chest. My tongue laps at her pebbled nipple, running circles around it. Swirling over the peak, sucking it into my mouth.
Victoria grasps my hair with her hands, her body trembling beneath mine.
With a pop, I pull off her breast, and press a kiss to her other nipple before continuing to where she wants me most.
Down her navel.
Then I settle between her now parted legs.
My tongue flicks against her clit until she moans with desire.
“You like that?” I say against her wet flesh.
“Yes,” she moans as she thrust her hips up. “Don’t stop p>
I continue my ministrations, driving her insane with want.
“So close. Inside me, please,” she pleads.
I pull back, giving us both what we want.
Making quick work, I free my cock from my pants, and then I crawl back up her body.
Victoria parts her thighs and line my cock with her core.
Slowly, I thrust inside her. The feeling is sublime. She feels like heaven.
It feels like I’m coming home.
Time ceases to exist as I move inside of her.
I never want this moment to end.
If I could live here, buried deep within Victoria I would.
We aren’t fucking. It’s so much more. And it’s exactly what we both need as we cling to each. Victoria’s body trembling beneath me, her back arching up as she chase her release.
I thrust Once. Twice. And on the third time, I follow her over the edge.
Later, with her curled against me, I stare at the ceiling and make myself a promise.
No mercy. No half measures.
If this world wants to take her from me—
I will end it first.