Page 22 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

I shook my head slightly, so overjoyed to see him, so relieved that he was really here, with me. He was alive, if a little worse for the wear. Alive. And here to get me free.

Drawn to him, I kissed him quickly. I had to. I needed that contact to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. That this was really happening.

His lips were firm and demanding against mine, but he kept it brief. That sight contact was all that I needed to start soothing over the ache in my heart that all this anxiety and dread and caused there. I no longer had to feel like my heart was breaking in two. Being reunited with Luke erased the worst of the horrendous what-if thoughts that plagued my mind all night.

“Who?” he demanded, still breathing hard. “Because I will kill the stupid fucker who dared to lift a hand on you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Uh, no, you wouldn’t.”

He scowled right back. “Watch me.”

“You,” I said as I framed his face with the hand that wasn’t cuffed, “the heir of the Rossini name, will not fare well in killing the boss of the Giordino family.”

He blinked, letting that sink in. But then he smirked. “I don’t give a fuck.”

I wasn’t defending my father. I hated him with a passion that would never burn out—and that hatred started well before he hit me tonight. Luke couldn’t know what he was saying though, announcing he’d kill a mafia boss when he was next in line to become one himself.

“Let’s go.” He stepped back, realizing now wouldn’t be the time to argue. “I’ll kill him. I’ll kill every one of them who thought about harming you.” Taking a bigger step back, he avoided touching the guard he’d just killed. “But right now...” He heaved in a deeper breath. “Right now we need to get out of here.”

“How did you even get in?”

“Through the back.” He shook his head, holding on to my hand and tugging me closer. “It’s not my first time sneaking in huge mansions today.”

I wanted to ask where else he’d been, but I didn’t.

“Antonio—” He stopped speaking and narrowed his eyes, listening to commotion in the hallway.

My father and Antonio. They were coming closer!

“Fuck.” He picked up my hand with the cuff and winced. Then he grabbed the free chain and wrapped it around the end to the post. His muscles bulged, and tendons flexed up his neck. But he pulled and pulled, using the chains and posts as leverage.

It snapped, sending shards of wood splintering. The cuff remained on my bloody wrist, but it felt lighter as the chain slipped out. The noise of the wood cracking would’ve alerted all the men on the floor, but I wasn’t sticking around to see who’d come and investigate. Hearing my father and Antonio nearby meant they’d know of my escape firsthand.

I grabbed Luke’s hand and ran, rushing into the closet that I prayed Krista had escaped through. Guards would be on high alert. Since I’d been brought back, especially the way they’d retrieved me, more men would be on the lookout on the premises.

Fortunately, though, the windows in the back of my walk-in closet suite weren’t easily watched. Unfortunately, the window led out to the night sky high up from the ground.

“Can we jump?” Luke asked.

I squinted to see in the darkness. Off to the side, I saw Krista park and get out of an SUV. She glanced up once, making eye contact with me and Luke on the roof. Then she darted toward another one to drive away.

“Are you asking if I can jump or if you should?”

He furrowed his brow. “Both?”

I nodded as the sound of my father and more guards rushed into my room behind us.

There was no time to debate. We had to go. Now.

He sensed that I’d made up my mind. Squeezing my hand tight before releasing it, he nodded. Then he began a slide down the slope of the roof.

I swallowed hard, my mouth so dry and my heart palpitating erratically.

Heights weren’t my thing, but surviving to love my man was.

I pushed off to scramble down until we could better jump to the ground.

Luke was faster, despite his injuries, but mine slowed me down. The aching skin where my father kicked me stung as it dragged over the shingles.

Men shouted from the window, and Luke took over.

“Fuck. Come here!” He tugged my ankle, pulling me further down until he held me close. Then he drew in a deep breath, bracing to push off.

I held on tight and closed my eyes as we went airborne.