Rage blurs my vision. I lunge at Carlo with nothing but murder, or better yet, suicide, on my mind. I want to claw his vile eyes out, rip them from their sockets. But he’s too damn tall, and instead of reaching his face, my nails tear through his shirt, ripping the collar.
His slap cracks across my face, hard and fast, knocking me to the floor again. But I refuse to let the blow disorient me. Gritting my teeth, I push myself up, ready to attack again, when Brando grabs me from behind, holding me in place as he whistles low.
“Easy, kitten. Easy.”
Still fighting, I watch Carlo peel off his ruined shirt. The black ink of his tattoos covers every inch of his powerful chest. Ignoring us, he strides toward a bookshelf, one I know all too well.
This is it. The hidden passage. The escape route Tony and I used that night.
He unlocks the hidden door, revealing the dark corridor leading to the spiral staircase. Standing in the doorway, he pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes Tony’s blood from his fingers, his voice chillingly composed.
“I’ve spent years thinking about how I wanted to kill you both. And I decided…your story should end exactly where it started.”
Carlo signals to his men. Noah and Maxim grab Tony’s battered body, dragging him across the floor before tossing him down the stairs. My eyes widen in horror as a piercing scream rips from my throat.
“No! Tony!”
This time, Brando releases me without resistance, and I bolt toward Tony, now lying motionless at the bottom of the stairs. Gently, I turn his head toward me. A faint groan escapes his lips. Relief floods my chest at the proof of life, but I don’t dare move him, fearing any touch could worsen his injuries.
Carlo’s men come down again, yank us both across the cold stone, and drag us into the dark tunnel. The minutes stretch as they haul us through the dim tunnel. Finally an iron gate appears.
The men shove us past it, dumping us unceremoniously on the ground before turning back.
I crawl to Tony and cradle his head in my lap. Carlo stands over us. In the dim glow of a flashlight, he looks less like a man and more like a savage beast.
He gestures around. “You should know this passage well. But I’ve made some changes.”
His gaze shifts to Tony. “Your husband should know, the old route is gone. I dug a new one, leading somewhere entirely different. If you walk, it’ll take a full day to reach the exit. Given his condition, maybe longer.”
Rage surges through me, my breaths coming in sharp, shallow bursts. My fingers twitch with the urge to claw at his face, to tear him apart.
Carlo places his hand on the iron door, smirking as he delivers the final blow.
“In exactly six hours, this tunnel will explode. If you run, maybe you’ll make it in time.”
He smiles, slow and cruel. “Goodbye, Lucia. I hope it hurts like hell.”
When the door shuts, absolute darkness swallows everything. I don’t even have a lighter to see what’s around me. Carefully, I lower my fingers, feeling for Tony’s face. I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, and whisper his name.
“Tony…my love…my love.”
His breathing grows heavier, his voice barely a whisper.
“Lucia…get out of here.”
Tears run down my face but I laugh, choked and broken, and grab his hand. “Last I checked I’m not exactly a champion sprinter.”
His breath rattles, every inhale sounding like a struggle. “Today might be a good day to start.”
I laugh through my tears, wiping them away quickly. Gently, I rest his head back on the ground and fumble my way toward his body, feeling my way in the pitch-blackness like I’m completely blind. I lie down beside him, pressing my face against his bloodied but still warm skin.
“I love you, Antonio Bruni.”
His hand fumbles, searching. I catch it and lace our fingers. “I love you too, Lucia Bruni.”
I brush my thumb over his knuckles, my voice soft and teasing.
“Who would’ve thought Carlo could be this creative?”
