I moved toward the bathroom door, the sound of my breath as loud as the running water. The door was slightly open, so I pushed it open all the way, fearing what I might find on the other side.
“Seraphina.”
Then I saw her. Curled on the tiled floor of the shower, hair soaked and clinging to her face. Her clothes she wore tonightwere torn and soaked, hugging her frame. I rushed to her, my worse fear coming true.
I’m going to fucking kill him.
The water still ran—ice cold now—pouring over her skin in thin streams. Along with a split lip, her eye was swollen shut, her face bruised and also swollen like he might have punched her a few times in the face.
I shut the water off, then dropped to my knees beside her, not caring that my bespoke suit was getting wet.
“Hey.” My voice cracked as I pushed her wet hair away from her face. “I’m here.”
No response.
I haven’t felt this kind of panic or helplessness since she was almost killed by my father. I vowed I would protect her from shit like this happening again. But I failed her again.
Her eyes were closed, but her lashes fluttered, and her body shook.
She was still alive.
“I’m here, baby,” I whispered, my words almost getting stuck in my throat. “I got you.”
I pulled out the phone and dialed Finley.
“I need the plane ready, and a doctor on board,” I said with a tinge of panic in my voice. “I don’t care how much it costs.”
“On it, boss,” he said, only hesitating for a moment.
He knew not to question me even if he wanted to. He heard the screams. I ended the call, then shoved the phone into my pocket.
I pulled a towel from the rack beside the shower stall, then wrapped it around her as gently as possible. An anguished cry escaped her as I lifted her, then her head fell limply against my chest.
“Fuck, I’m so sorry, baby.” I kissed her forehead. “I’m here now.”
Immediately, the weight of the situation settled on my shoulders. I’d make sure she was far away from Dorian Drakos. So far away he would never find her.
I carried her through the wreckage of the master bedroom, past the bloodstained carpet, clumps of hair, and the secret she hid from everyone, toward safety.
Toward reckoning.
Outside, the people of Santorini went on with their lives like nothing had happened. Like the love of my life hadn’t been almost killed while they lived their lives like she wasn’t thecenter of my world. However, they would all soon know that while the Drakos family ruled Greece, they didn’t rule Sergio Puglisi. Hell was coming, and I would watch it all burn down before I let that motherfucker anywhere near her again.
Chapter Ten
Seraphina
“Dorian…”
I lift my hands, trying to stop him, but he kicks me again. Another burst of pain explodes through my entire body. “Let me hear your screams, baby.” He rips my dress from my shoulder. “You know how much I love it.”
“Don’t!”
“Sera…wake up.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks, even though it would make things worse. Dorian hated my tears unless he was fucking me when I didn’t want him to touch me.
Then he loved them.
