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Allegra’s light footsteps shuffle down the hallway to answer the door.

“Oh hello,” I hear her say nervously.

A muffled man’s voice says something in response and I press my ear to the floor, desperate to learn who has arrived. Footsteps approach the door, muffling any sounds coming from downstairs and I scramble backward, my back hitting the side of the bed.

“Up!” Stefan bursts into the room and barks at me. When I am not quick enough to stand, he grabs me and yanks me up, adding more fingerprint-shaped bruises to my upper arm.

He thrusts me forwards and I stumble on the first few steps, kept on my feet only by Stefan’s vice-like grip.

“Where are we going?” I ask meekly and hate myself for not sounding stronger.

“Youare going with Billy,” he snaps.Who the fuck is Billy?

I look down at my bare feet, sports leggings, and white t-shirt. “I-I-I need a jumper and my sh-shoes.”

“You’ll be fine,” he replies instantly, clearly not caring. His other hand plants firmly on the small of my back and he thrusts me into the hallway.

Standing on the front doorstep is a huge man. Young. Maybe my age. He is dressed in black jeans, motorcycle boots, a leather jacket, and a motorcycle club cut. He is an imposing figure, oozing aggression, and danger.

We take a few more steps toward the front door and the biker’s face is suddenly lit up by a motion-activated outdoor light.I know him.

Recognition must show on my face because his face breaks into a smile that sends shivers up my spine. It is menacing, laden with arrogance, and lecherous.

“Good to see you again, princess,” he sneers.

My hand goes to my throat and I swallow. He is one of the bikers who threatened and choked me at the gym.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Giovanna

“FUCK!” Massimo shouts, startling the two nurses quietly discussing a chart behind their station.

We’re sitting in a stark white and blue hospital waiting room, all four of us siblings. Massimo met us here after we tailed the ambulance that picked Dad up fromLa Fazenda.

He wasn’t conscious when he arrived and has been carted off to surgery. Things aren’t looking very positive.

“G,” Massimo is the picture of panic. He can barely get my single-letter nickname out of his mouth. “G. Stefan’s got Francesca!”

“What? What do you mean?” I haven’t seen Francesca since we argued about her bikini the day after I slept with her. I thought she was cooling off at her parents' house.

Massimo shows me his phone and Francesca’s stilted texts begging for help. Immediately I get to my feet as Elio and Matteo huddle over the phone to read the messages too.

“Reply to her,” Matteo says and I grab the phone out of his hands.

Massimo: are you at Stefan’s house?

Massimo: we are coming

Massimo: don’t panic darling

“Try calling her,” Elio suggests.

It goes straight to voicemail.Fuck.

“Get me Stefan’s address!” I shout at my brothers and take off at a run towards the exit.

“I’m coming with you!” Massimo calls out and quickly catches me up.