Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 200(@200wpm)___ 160(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“I’m fine, darling. My stitches tore when I was firing the assault rifle. I killed as many of the traitorous bastards as I could. They won’t be able to threaten you ever again.”
“But you’re bleeding,” I insisted, jerking against his hold.
“I’ve already called my private physician. He’ll take a look at the wound.” He released one of my wrists so that he could trace the lines of strain around my mouth, as though he couldn’t quite believe they were etched there. “I’m okay, Nora. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
“Neither will I.” Luca’s fierce growl rumbled over me as his chest pressed against my back. His hands settled on my waist in a possessive hold, but he didn’t tear me away from Dante; he wouldn’t risk accidentally hurting me.
I looked up to find his ochre eyes boring into Dante’s. “You should’ve died today. Soon enough, I’ll take care of that too.”
Dante sneered at him. “Try it, and see what happens to your friends.”
“Stop!” I demanded. “Neither of you is going to die, and Luca’s friends won’t be harmed. I won’t allow it to happen.”
I lifted my chin and met Dante’s disapproving glower head-on. “We’re going to have a talk. All three of us. This ends today.”
Luca’s fingers flexed into my hips. “There’s no use trying to reason with a madman. And nothing he can say will make up for what he’s done to you. To us.”
I spun, rounding on my husband. “He’s risked his life to save mine more than once.”
Luca scowled. “I’ve already told you that you won’t be responsible for his death. I will.”
“I won’t let you kill him,” I said bluntly.
His brows drew together, expression thunderous. “He’s been a dead man since the day he stole you away from me. It’s done, Nora.”
“And you’ve been damned since the day you killed my brother,” Dante hissed. “There’s no stopping this, little bird.”
I shook my head. “I’m going to make sure Giana feels safe and comfortable here,” I announced, skewering Dante with a hard stare. “You are going to see the doctor.” I turned my gaze on Luca. “And you’re not going to try to kill anyone. Not until we talk.”
My husband’s jaw was so tight that he spoke through gritted teeth. “You can’t ask that of me, Nora.”
I placed my hand on his cheek to soften my demand, but I remained firm in my resolve. “I’m not asking. I love you, Luca, and I’m going to find a way to free you. I’m going to end this nightmare. For all of us.”
“Not possible,” Dante bit out. “You can beg me as prettily as you like, pet, but I’ll never forgive him.”
“Well, I’m going to try,” I insisted, looking from Luca to Dante and back again. “I can’t keep living like this. I know you’ll both protect me, but I’m trying to protect us all. You’ve both promised to do anything for me. Are you going to deny me a simple conversation?”
“All right, Nora,” Dante ground out. “We’ll talk. I always keep my promises, and I meant it when I offered you anything you desire.”
Luca couldn’t seem to manage more than a wordless growl of frustration. I caressed his hard jaw and softened my tone.
“Please, Luca. I need this. I need you.”
He turned his face into my tender touch and kissed my palm before managing a stiff nod. He couldn’t seem to find the words to reply, but he agreed to my demand.
I didn’t know what dark secrets would be revealed when I asked for the truth about the night Dante’s brother died, but there was more to it than coldblooded murder at Luca’s hand. My husband seemed to carry guilt over Francesco’s death, and even though he’d claimed responsibility, he’d suggested that the situation was more complex.
Dante would never listen to Luca if he denied any culpability. But my dark protector would listen to me. It might be within my power to end this feud, and I wouldn’t give up until I’d saved them both, just as they’d saved me.
Chapter 10
Dante
My freshly stitched shoulder wound ached, but that pain was nothing compared to the agony of knowing that Nora loved Luca, not me. I’d agreed to a talk with my enemy because I couldn’t deny her anything, but I already knew it’d be useless. Nora was goodhearted and a little naïve; she thought words would be enough to mend the bloody rift between Luca and me.
She was wrong.
I’d planned my revenge for years. A single conversation wouldn’t sway me. Nothing could ever make me stop hating Luca Vitale. He’d taken my brother from me, the only person in the world who had loved me.
I’d done terrible things to Luca, but he hadn’t even begun to suffer the full extent of his punishment. I’d never use Nora against him again, but there were so many other ways to crush his will and shatter his soul.