Luca stood over me. His expression was smug. Victorious.
"Did you really think you could escape? That I wouldn't be watching? That I wouldn't have guards posted on every possible exit?" He grabbed my arm. Hauled me to my feet with bruising force. "Don Salvatore is going to be very interested in this little escape attempt."
I fought. Kicked. Scratched. Did everything I could to break free.
Nothing worked. Luca was stronger. Trained. He dragged me back across the garden like I weighed nothing.
"Lia! Where's Lia?" I twisted, trying to see if she'd gotten away.
"The other guards caught Miss Accardi. She's being detained. You'll both answer for this."
No. No no no.
This couldn't be happening. We'd been so close. So close to freedom.
Luca dragged me through the house. Past guards who watched with expressionless faces. Up stairs. Through hallways I recognized with growing dread.
Toward Salvatore's study.
Terror flooded my system. Cold. Paralyzing.
Salvatore was going to kill me. Or worse.
The study door opened. Luca shoved me inside so hard I stumbled.
Salvatore stood by the window. Turned when he heard us enter.
The rage on his face was terrifying. Absolute. Murderous.
"Did you really think you could escape me?" His voice was quiet. Deadly. Somehow worse than if he'd been shouting. "Did you really think I wouldn't be prepared for exactly this kind of stunt?"
He crossed the room in three strides. His hand shot out, grabbed my throat, slammed me back against the wall hard enough that my head bounced off the wood paneling.
Stars exploded in my vision. Pain radiated through my skull.
His grip tightened. Cut off my air. Made breathing impossible.
I clawed at his hand. Desperate. Panicking. Needed air. Needed to breathe.
"You're mine." His face was inches from mine. "You belong to me. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be."
Black spots danced at the edges of my vision. My lungs burned. I was going to pass out. Going to die right here against this wall.
Finally, he released me.
I collapsed. Hit the floor hard. Gasped for air that burned going down.
Salvatore stood over me. Calm now. Like he hadn't just nearly killed me.
"You just made things considerably worse for yourself. I was going to be patient. Wait until the wedding. Do this properly." He crouched down. Grabbed my chin. Forced me to look at him. "But clearly you need a more immediate lesson in obedience. So here's what's going to happen. The wedding is moved up. Tomorrow. And after this little escape attempt, I'm not waiting for the wedding night to claim you. I'm going to make you mine tonight. Right now, if I wanted. But I have business to handle first."
Terror turned my blood to ice. Made my stomach revolt.
Not tonight. Please not tonight.
"Guards." Salvatore stood. Addressed the men who'd entered behind Luca. "Take her to the mountain compound. My private property two hours north. Lock her in the master suite. Post guards on every door and window. If she escapes, you all die.Understood?"
The guards nodded.
