A loud crash comes from the main reception room, followed by screams and guns going off.
“Oh, that’s right, they’re a little too preoccupied to care.” He throws his head back, laughing. He’s deranged. What the hell has happened to him since I saw him last?
My heart burns, pain thumping through me. My big brother had always been my hero, but now I can see him for who he really is. A younger version of my papa, the man he was born to be. It’s sickening and heartbreaking all at the same time.
“Got sick of waiting for you. What’s taking so fucking long,” my brother growls at Leone.
“The little bitch shot me,” Leone mutters back at him, his face contorting in pain.
I grin back at him, knowing I look just like Cruz. A little psycho in the making, but this is what they did to me. He’s in pain because of me, and it feels so fucking good. A small slither of power comes over me at that thought. There might be two of them now, but I’m not giving up. I don’t need the boys; theytaught me to fight and not to give up, and that’s all I need right now. Subtly, I glance to my side, looking for my gun.
I feel my brother hovering over me and look back to see him squatting down next to me, his cold expression going right through me, like I’m literally nothing to him. “I will never do what you want me to,” I spit, anger vibrating through my voice as I fight against the strong hold Leone has on me.
“Stop pretending to be something you’re not, little sister.” Dante pulls the wig from my head, his lips twisting at the sides viciously. “You won’t have the choice.” He produces a syringe, and my blood turns cold.
Leone’s hold on me tightens if that’s even possible, but I know it is because I can’t move a muscle.
“Fuck you,” I cry as Dante jabs the thing into my arm. I struggle against his hold, but it’s no use, they’re too strong for me. My body tingles, a strange hot then cold sensation washing over me. Oh hell no.
Dante’s eyes flash with something that looks like my brother, sympathy maybe, but I doubt it. “You will be home soon, little sister. Where you belong.”
Leone’s grip on me becomes weaker as he backs away from me, his weight no longer holding me down. Dante moves to him, assessing his bullet wound while the two of them let me lie here, helpless.
The room spins as I try to stay awake, but sleep is gripping me. I can’t leave here with them. I can’t go back to Italy, my life might as well be over. I suck in full controlled breaths, mustering everything I have inside, and roll onto my front, the gun off to my side my last hope. Everything moves in slow motion, my limbs feeling as though they’re weighted down with lead. But I don’t stop fighting, dragging my body along the floor.
My fingers wrap around the grip of the gun, the cold metal so comforting against my overheating skin. With the last bit ofstrength inside me, I throw my body back, squinting through nearly entirely closed eyes as I aim the thing at my brother and pull the trigger.
Then darkness consumes me and my muscles stop fighting.
Chapter 31
Invincible
Warmthburnsmyskin,rousing me from a deep sleep. I squint, trying to see through my heavy lids, but my eyes are all foggy and my head spins. I attempt to lift my arm, but it feels like it’s weighted down and won’t budge.
My heart lurches into my throat, and my groggy eyes spring open. The room around me spins. It’s all glass and white walls with a view of jets lined up on the tarmac.
Oh, dear God. Jets.
A cold sweat drips from me instantly. I’m at some sort of airport. The only question still buzzing around in my head, am I in America or Italy?
I pull against my bindings, the harsh rope biting into my skin as I try to pull my hands free. But there’s no use, I’m bound to a chair, both my hands and feet trapped. My party dress is ripped and covered in stains, the sleeve torn off completely on one side. My body aches all over, my muscles tender like I’ve run a marathon. To my side is a small duffle bag, and the sight of it sends sickness to the pit of my stomach, because it’smyduffle bag, the one that was at Jagger’s lake house, and I know that means they got into his house while we were all out. It also means Leone has my passport. Panic ripples through me as I try to suck in breaths.
A shadow looms over me, looking like he’s just escaped the fiery depths of hell; he’s bandaged up on one side where I shot him, a dark T-shirt covering the rest of him. Veins bulge out of his arms, snaking through his muscles like vines. His olive skin is ashen, as though he’s not well at all, and after the blood he lost last night from my bullet wound, I’m not surprised. “You’re awakemia principessina,” he whispers, glancing over a shoulder, on edge.
I glance back to see what he’s looking at. There’s a closed door behind us; it’s bolted with a chain lock and looks to be the only way out of this room. Why would I need to be quiet? I return my glare to Leone. “Where is my brother?” I snap. The last thing I remember is his face. He sold me out, traded me without a care in the fucking world what was about to happen to me. I hate him with everything I have inside of me. I want himand the rest of my family to pay. And I will make sure they do if it’s the last thing I do.
His face lowers so it’s only a breath away from mine. “You put him in the hospital,” he says quietly, a bitter edge to his voice.
I blink back at him, almost not able to believe it. I don’t remember shooting him, just holding the gun and pulling the trigger. Then nothing. I should feel some sort of remorse, care even if it’s only the smallest of a fraction, but I don’t. He drugged me last night, with every intention of getting me on a jet and shipping me off back home to marry the piece of shit in front of me. I would shoot him again. My hands ball into fists at the thought, sickness mixing with adrenaline. If I’m here trapped with him, then where are the boys? Are they still alive? All I could hear back in the main function room was guns going off and screaming. I close my eyes up tight as pain runs through me. Please let them all be okay. The boys, Sloane, Dani, my new family.
His fingers bite into my chin, and my eyes pop open to find his dark eyes locked onto mine. Cruel, calculating, dead inside, I’m sure. “He will be lucky to make it. I would be impressed if the incident didn’t leave us stranded temporarily. Drama really does seem to follow you around. If you weren’t so useful, you would already be dead for all the trouble you have caused me.”
My heart kicks up a beat, knowing it’s true. And the view out the window makes sense. That’s my family jet, and there is no way this man and I can leave without my brother. That’s why he has us holed up here. He wants me for one thing and one thing only. “If you want my share of Moretti Media so fucking badly, take it. I’ll sign it over to you right here and now, if you let me go.” I try to keep my voice strong and hide the tremble of my bottom lip.
His lips contort, and he cackles out a laugh. “Oh, dear sweet little girl. Your papa was right about you, wasn’t he.” He motions to his head. “Not very smart. Lucky you’re so useful.” With the way his arm is raised, I spot his gun at his side. I knew he would be armed. I’m not surprised, even if it has me even more on edge.
I don’t understand his response. He wants me for what I can give him access to. What the hell is he going on about I’m not smart. “You want my share, isn’t that why you wanted to marry me?” I mutter, confusion swirling through me.
