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Rhiannon glanced at me occasionally. But the woman fixing her hair kept yanking on her hair to pull her attention back to her. Even the staff were assholes at the estate. The women followed orders, but were they here of their own free will? Or were they bought by the owner of the island?
After completing my hair and makeup, I shot up from the chair to make room for the next girl. I wandered away from the group, headed toward the loud voices I heard in the hallway. The man guarding the door had his back to me, talking to another man halfway down the corridor. They were busy, so I snuck out the door and moved toward the voices that grew louder with each step.
I leaned back against the wall and hid behind a thick velvet curtain. Holding my breath, I clutched my chest and closed myeyes, waiting for men rushing down the hall to pass me. This was someone’s home, not a brothel, so it did not surprise me to peek out from behind the curtain and find dozens of men in a sitting room. They crowded around a long oak bar and sat on lavish couches as if they were there for a party.
My eyes widened at the sight of Luca and my Knights beside the bar. Luca tipped a glass to his mouth and scanned the room. I wanted to jump out from behind the curtain and scream his name. But we would never make it off the island. Showing myself would only get all of us killed. They had brought the Knights to the island to kill them. For now, they were all breathing and drinking, acting as if they wanted to be here while glancing around the space for an exit strategy.
The look on Luca’s face told me he knew this wasn’t about his beef with the Kurtis. Maybe the initial threats started with them, but the showdown was with someone else, a man more powerful than an Albanian crime family.
As I attempted to slip out from behind the curtain and head back to the dressing room, someone grabbed my elbow and pulled me into their arms. I tried to scream, and a hand covered my mouth. With my back pressed against a muscular chest, I caught a hint of the sea and clean linen and relaxed in his arms.
Marcello.
My heart pounded in my chest as relief washed over me. He held me momentarily, his strong arms wrapped around me like a comfort blanket. I clutched his wrist with my fingers, and then he moved his hand from my mouth.
“You found me,” I choked out.
“I will always find you, princess.” He smiled against my ear. “But getting you out of here without a fight will be tricky.”
“They brought all of you here to kill you.”
“We didn’t come here alone.”
Marcello led me down the hall by the hand, then pushed open a door. He shoved me inside the room and shut the door behind us.
Fear of the dark crawled up my throat, threatening to choke me. “Can you turn on a light?”
Marcello hugged me from behind, and I instantly felt safe. “I know you’re scared, Alex.” He pressed his lips to the side of my head. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I have the situation under control. Do you trust me?”
“With my life,” I said without hesitation.
“I can’t turn on the lights.” He hugged me harder. “Stay quiet, okay? Don’t leave this room for any reason.”
Before his arms slipped from my body, I knew he was preparing to leave me behind.
“Please don’t go, Marcello.” I reached out for him, my fingers seeking his warmth. “I need you.”
“It’s okay, Alex.” He cupped my shoulder, his fingers hot against my bare shoulder. “I already alerted my team. They are on their way.”
I heard him turn the door handle, and my throat just about closed up at the thought of staying in this room alone. I should have grown accustomed to sitting in pitch-black rooms, bound and gagged and chained to floors. But this moment of freedom made me crave more. I wanted to leave this fucking island and the asshole who bought me for his sick purposes.
“Marcello, wait,” I whispered.
He blew out a deep breath. “I have to go.”
I threw myself into his arms and hugged him. His arms crushed me as I rested my head on his shoulder, soaking in the moment. Marcello squeezed me so hard that his powerful touch sucked the air from my lungs.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again,” I muttered. “Please be careful.”
“Always,” he said in a hushed tone.
I loved Marcello. It wasn’t the same love I had for Luca, but it was just as special and equally important to me. He was the light to Luca’s dark. I needed both of them to survive this nightmare. I couldn’t handle losing one or both of them.
“Is my brother okay?”
He released his grip on me. “Yes.”
“Is he here? I didn’t see him with Luca.”