“Are you—” My voice breaks. “You’re here?”
Lorenzo’s jaw clenches. His hands close around the zip tie, fingers steady despite the blood on his knuckles. “Of course I am.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
Lorenzo finally lifts his head, eyes hard as rocks. “And you thought keeping her chained up was better?”
Nico spits blood onto the floor, panting. “I got her away from you.”
Lorenzo’s mouth curls, ugly. “You kidnapped my wife.”
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.”
Nico’s face twists with anger. “You forced her into this.”
Lorenzo laughs. “Does it look like I can force her to do anything?”
