Page 37 of Vendetta

Rosa’s ruby-red lips popped open in the most kissable way, and that dress…that dress was probably illegal in some states.

I approached her, never taking my eyes from hers. “Ask me again, Rosa.”

Claudia looked ready to bolt, but Rosa’s chin tipped up. I wasn’t sure if she remembered what she’d said last night and what my reply had been, but I hoped she would.

“Cruz.” She paused, as if considering for the first time what she was about to do. “Take me away from this place.”

She didn’t know what she was asking for. But I did.

I felt a twinge of guilt as I took Rosa’s hand and led the two omegas out a fire exit that had already been disarmed. If either of them thought that was strange, they didn’t say a word as I hurried them up a narrow path skirting alongside the resort. Rosa looked at me with a relieved smile. It was like a punch to the gut. She thought I was saving her, and part of me wished that were true, but the reality was, I was delivering her right into the hands of her mortal enemy. She’d never forgive this, even if she lived long enough for me to make it up to her.

The shadows lengthened as we came out onto the twisting coastal sidestreet where a blacked-out Bentley Continental GT Speed and a Range Rover idled. No one had known for sure how this was going to go, so we prepared for everything. Good thing we did.

Claudia froze when she caught sight of the cars. “What’s going on, Rosa?”

I stepped behind Rosa as three burly masked alphas jumped out of the Range Rover and quickly slipped a set of handcuffs on her wrists, clicking them tight and locking them in place.

The masked men surrounded Claudia, circling like sharks. One of them scooped her up and hoisted her over his shoulder, fireman-carrying her to the open backseat of the SUV.

I gave them a nod, and they piled in.

Claudia screamed Rosa’s name as the door shut, closing her inside.

“Cruz? What is this?” Rosa’s voice broke, and it broke me a little, too.

One of the masked men must have heard her, because on his way to the driver’s seat of the SUV, he chuckled. “Insurance.”

“Be careful what you wish for, hellcat,” I breathed in her ear as she shrugged away from me.

The Bentley sat motionless. No one got out. I didn’t really expect him to, but when the trunk latch popped, I was a little surprised. I knew an order when I saw one, though, and hooked my arm through Rosa’s. She didn’t even put up a fight as I pushed her toward the trunk. I hated to see that defeated look in her eyes as the Range Rover pulled away with Claudia inside.

“You didn’t have to do this. I would’ve come with you.” Rosa bowed her head and curled on her side as I lowered her into the trunk.

“I know,” I replied and closed the lid.

I popped the door and slid into the front seat. Nico watched me in silence.

“You’re an asshole,” I said, sinking into the soft leather.

Nico put the car in gear and eased out onto the secluded street. “I’m the same person I’ve always been.”

He was, and I knew the plan all along, but I didn’t know I was going to end up liking the person we were ordered to kidnap. I turned the music up and let it sink into my skin, trying to wash away the sick feeling that I couldn’t shake after seeing Rosa scrunched up in the trunk with tears glistening in her pretty blue eyes.

Chapter 26

Rosalina

How? How could he fucking do this to me?

I went along with it. Of course I did. This was what I’d asked for, just not the way I’d imagined. How stupid was I to think that I might ever live happily ever after? I trusted him, and now I’d pay for it. Tears pushed against the back of my eyes, my heart uncomfortably hollow. My life was destined to be like this. One betrayal after another.

I thought he was different… I thought he saw me. I thought… Well, I didn’t know what I thought, but certainly not this.

He purred for me and cuddled me. All for what? To throw me in the trunk of a car and send my best friend away with some masked maniacs? What did he want? Ransom? Leverage over our families? Well, they were all going to be in for a treat, because if he thought I was difficult, just wait until Claudia got going.

And where was my father? I hadn’t seen him all day. Surely he’d have made it to the venue by now. He’d be looking for me any minute. He’d find me, eventually. I knew he would. But then what? I’d be right back where I started.

Music kicked on, drowning out the muffled voices from the front seat. There was no time to dwell, I had to get out of this fucking tiny ass trunk. With enough twisting and turning, I got my hands around in front of me, but this poor dress was never going to be the same. The satin probably had more runs in it than Usain Bolt.