“Stay down, Killer. I want to get us on the road first.”
“Okay,” I reply. My shoulders are still up to my ears.
I can feel the bumpiness give way to smoothness as we pull onto the highway, but as soon as we do, a huge explosion rocks the forest around us. Luca’s body doesn’t respond; he just presses the gas as the car veers us sideways before he straightens us out.
“Get buckled, baby.” His eyes jump from the road to the rearview mirror.
I slowly inch myself up into the seat when I see red and orange flames peeking over the treetops in the distance.
Tears well up in my eyes before they can escape. “Oh, Luca,” I sob, throwing my hand over my mouth, trying to catch them. No time to cry. I swallow them down.
“I know, baby. I know.” His voice is low as he holds in his own sorrow, his hand reaching over, squeezing my thigh.
My eyebrows knit together as I watch the only place I’ve ever felt at home burn.
Chapter One
Rowan
“We've got to find him!” Thomas bellows out as he paces back and forth in Matteo’s kitchen, while everyone else sits around the table, all in our own worst-case scenarios that include Damian.
I look down, noticing my damaged cuticles. My fingers inch toward them, ready to peel, but not before Luca takes notice, laying his hand on mine, knocking my other hand out of the way. Panning to him, he raises his eyebrows at me, silently telling me no.
I sit stoically as my eyes roam to each man in the room. Every single one has concern and madness etched on their faces as my stomach cramps in pain. I feel my face drawing up, but I fix it, not needing Luca to put his attention on me. This is something I’ve been dealing with since the tomb; I can handle the searing pain flowing through my stomach. All focus needs to be on Damian.
“We should have taken precautions. Fuck!” Thomas says what we’re all thinking, still pacing. We all agree, but don’t voice it.
Our concern was for those inside, not even considering what might be hiding and waiting on the outside.
We fucked up. And that’s a tough one to swallow. Now, Damian is in harm's way. And we have nowhere to start.
Luca leans up in one swift motion, his hands removing from mine, leaving them cold. With so much force, he pounds his fist onto the table. The unexpectedness and the jarring of the table make me jump, but I keep quiet.
“We need to go back over all the names and see who the fuck is missing. We overlooked someone, and I want the name now,” he growls out to the room. “How the fuck did Briggs find out?”
No one speaks, but heads nod in confirmation.
Matteo walks to Luca and gently lays his hand on his shoulder, squeezing. “We’ll find him.” His accent is heavy and laced with assurance.
“We,” Luca pauses, his words not wanting to exit, “we have to find him. Have to.” He grits out those last two words.
I slowly put my hand on his and let my touch lend him some strength.
One by one, the guys make their way out of the kitchen. Everyone looks worried but won’t speak about it. They’re men; they keep their emotions close to their chests. But they’re etched on each of their faces.
“Take the guest room. Try to get some rest. Who knows what the hell is in store for us?” Matteo tells Luca before nodding to me.
With his words, my mouth automatically opens and yawns, approving of what he said.
Luca looks at me with downcast eyes and jerks his head to signallet’s go.
We all three exit the kitchen. Matteo turns in the opposite direction from us. Looking over my shoulder, I watch as he enters a room down the hall, head down, as we head upstairs, through the living quarters, and down the hall.
The room greets us like an old friend, with everything in it that we may need. My eyes go to the dresser and the picture Ifound in there, in what feels like years ago, but was only months, if that, ago.
I toe off my shoes, my clothes following, and crawl onto the bed, naked, smelling the clean scent intermingled in the sheets. No evidence of past guests.
Righting myself, I watch Luca as he slowly undresses. Worry creases his face. Uncertainty looms in his eyes.
