"Throw him out. He's no longer part of this family. If he tries to return, kill him on sight."
"No! No, please..." I struggled against Luca's grip. "Please don't do this. He needs a doctor. He's bleeding..."
"He'll live. The bullet went through clean. Whether he survives after that is his problem." Salvatore turned his cold eyes on me. "As for you. Take her to her room. Lock her in. Post guards. The wedding is happening in one week. I'm not waiting any longer. She's not leaving that room until she's my wife. Do you understand?"
The guards moved. Two grabbed Kai, hauled him to his feet. He swayed, blood dripping from his arm onto the expensive carpet.
Two more grabbed me. Started dragging me toward the door.
"No! Let me go! Kai! Kai, please..."
I fought. Struggled. Screamed. Nothing worked.
They dragged Kai out one way. Dragged me the other. I twisted, desperate to see him one more time.
Our eyes met across the hallway.
Blood soaked his shirt. Pain etched lines around his mouth. But his eyes burned with determination. With love. With a promise that this wasn't over.
His lips moved. I couldn't hear him over my own screaming but I could read the words.
"I love you. I'll come back for you. I promise."
Then they turned the corner and he was gone.
Blood trail on the marble floor the only evidence he'd been there at all.
I collapsed. The guards had to carry me the rest of the way to my room. I couldn't walk. Couldn't think. Couldn't do anything but sob.
They threw me inside. I heard the lock click. Heard guards taking positions outside my door.
I was trapped. Locked in. One week until I became Salvatore's wife.
And Kai was out there somewhere. Bleeding. Possibly dying. Definitely planning something reckless to save me.
I crawled to the window. Pressed my hands against the glass. Stared out at the gardens below where we'd spent so many stolen moments.
One week.
Seven days.
That's all the time we had left.
Either Kai would find a way to save us, or I'd be married to the man who'd murdered my father and shot the man I loved.
I slid down the wall. Pulled my knees to my chest. And prayed harder than I'd ever prayed in my life.
Please. Please let him be okay. Please let him survive. Please let him find a way.
Please don't let this be how our story ends.
Chapter Twenty-Two
KAI
Pain has a funny way of clarifying things. Strips away bullshit. Removes pretense. Leaves you with raw truth and the decisions you've made that led to bleeding out in a gutter.
I'd made a lot of questionable decisions in my twenty-six years. Killed men who probably didn't deserve it. Hurt people to maintain order. Looked the other way when violence served a purpose.
