I crawl onto the small windowsill and gaze out onto the grass down below. It’s steep and terrifying. Sweat rolls down my skin as I clutch the walls, while I consider my options. There’s an awning to my right that I might be able to jump onto and use as a cushion … but I might just fall through.
It’s risky. It’s insane.
But there’s no way in hell I’m going back in there either.
So I swallow away the fear and make the jump.
MATTEO
After I’ve finally rinsedoff all the blood, I dry off with the towel, but nothing I do rids me of this rage. I’m fuming from the carelessness with which Lucio simply erased my employees, like they weren’t even people at all to him.
That monster couldn’t care less who lives or dies as long as he has his prized possession.
Well, he’ll have to snatch her out of my cold, dead hands.
I spritz some cologne on my neck and get dressed again while taking some deep breaths to calm myself down. While I glance at myself in the mirror, the only thing that makes me smile again is the thought of her fingers spreading that apricot seed dust all over that cake.
How did she even manage to figure that out? Smart girl.
The rage only subsides a little from the thought of her,but it’s enough to clear my head.
God, those magical fingers of hers as she rubbed the tension right out of me should be worshipped. I wanted to stop myself from moaning out loud right in front of her, but my cock had other plans.
However, I refuse to be led by my dick, no matter how badly it wants the pussy that shall not be his. She doesn’t want me and may never.
Suddenly, my door opens, and Sarah rushes inside my room, panting, while nearly falling over her own feet. “Sir, Stella has escaped.”
My eyes widen as they connect with hers through the mirror. And I abruptly spin on my heel. “She did WHAT?” I bark.
“I couldn’t find her in her room,” she says as I barge over to her. “I looked everywhere. I even checked her bathroom. She’s missing,” she says.
“What do you meanmissing?”
I waltz past her and out the door, heading straight toward Stella’s bedroom. But the moment I push open her door, the chilly wind makes my skin crawl.
She’s gone. She’s really gone.
What the hell?
“I don’t know how she did it,” Sarah says behind me as she finally catches up. “All the rooms are locked whenever she is inside, and the windows are barred, right?”
I nod. “They should be.”
Sarah seems completely beside herself with panic. But Ihave more important things to focus on, like where the hell my wife is.
I search through her room, open all the closets, check under the bed, and I even double-check the bathroom, but she’s nowhere to be seen. The only thing that’s off is the tiny window in the bathroom corner that’s open, which it shouldn’t be.
My eyes narrow as I check it out. There’s a small bit of damage on the wood panel, and it tells me everything I need to know.
“She escaped through the window,” I say through gritted teeth, as I march straight past Sarah. “Goddammit!”
“Oh my God. What are we going to do?” she asks.
“You? Nothing. I will handle this,” I tell her. “Franco,” I call out over the banister.
The weaponry door bursts open, and Franco rushes out to look for my voice, and when his eyes finally connect with mine, I add, “Stella’s gone. Grab my car, now.”
“Yes, sir,” he replies, immediately rushing toward the door.
