Page 40 of Caught in the Crossfire

The younger girl beside her chimed in. “They always had us drugged. It was just a day or two before they brought us on board the boat. That’s all I know.”

I nodded, thanking them for the intel as we helped them down the gangplank. Willow’s crew started introducing themselves and leading them toward waiting vans. Penny gave me a somber wave as they drove away, leaving the rest of us to disembark the ship.

My mind struggled to process everything when my feet planted back on land. The glow of sunset cast dancing shadows through the dozens of different boats, of all sizes, swaying in the soft waves of the marina.

Max was gone. The Camorra was at war. The Albanians hadunited under one Clan. We were inevitably going to get caught in the middle.

But it all seemed to float away in the face of what Penny said.

Dozens of women were at that auction.

Countless more could be in the same city I was stepping back into, a different woman than three days before.

My guys moved around me, but I was oblivious to what they were doing, nor did I care. Cas’s warm hand pressed against my back and led me off the boat behind them.

15

LEONA

Stepping into the penthouse was surreal.

It had only been a few days, but it felt so different. Like I was looking at the world through a cracked lens. Like the peace and beauty I’d always felt walking through these hallways was darkened and blurry.

Maybe it was just because I couldn’t see out of my left eye. Maybe it was because blood still caked my hands and clothes. Maybe it was because we’d only scratched the surface of what the Albanians were doing inmycity. Maybe it was because seeing Max,survivingwith him, gave me more questions than answers.

Or maybe it was because my body was burning from the inside out with pain, and I’d carry the invisible weight of Buzz Cut pressed into my back for who knew how long.

Nope.

I suppressed a shudder at the dark cloud that settled above my head. On the yacht, with Penny and the girls, it was easy to think about something else. But now every footstep felt painful. I didn’t want to feel like shit anymore. I didn’t want these feelings to ruin how much I loved this penthouse.

I’d cut the man’s eyes from his head, and I’d enjoyed every scream that choked his mouth, but where was the peace? Where was the relief?

Even if Max still wouldn’t tell us the whole truth, he still helped me end that man. He’d come through on his promise, and despite hisshitattitude when we got back to the city, he’d kept me…safe. As best as he could. I didn’t quite know what to make of that.

Cas and Ciel had their arms around me, helping me through the front door, past the weapons closet, and to the kitchen. They parked me on a stool while hovering around, unsure of what to do. One of my guys had been touching me at all times since we’d left the yacht. Every brush of fingertips and every look of concern on their faces had tears brewing again.

No.

I’d locked them away to survive until we were off the ship. But now that we were home, everything that had happened threatened to come back in full force. I’d have to face it myself when I looked at my body in the mirror. I’d have to show my men the full extent of what happened.

It made me want to vomit.

I didn’t want to. I wanted to forget it. It happened. It was over. I was home.

I could control all this pain inside me. It didn’t have to ruin my life.

“I’ll grab another med kit,” Obi said. I’d refused their triage care on the boat, instead urging them to care for the women we’d saved. But now, there was no avoiding their attention anymore.

Ryu stomped to the weapons closet and disappeared inside. He’d been wrapped up in a cover of darkness whenever I’d looked at him. The logical part of me knew he was in a rage at what he could see on my body. But the damaged part of me was terrified he thought something was wrong with me—that I’d never be the same asbefore.

I feared that was true more than I feared Ryu’s hesitant glances.

“What do you need?” Ciel asked, cupping my cheek and pulling me out of the abyss of my thoughts. I looked down at the gore still dried to the cracks in my hands, underneath my nails, and crusted to the sleeves of Max’s suit jacket.

I wanted it all gone. To wash it away and watch it disappear down the drain.

“I want to see Wynn,” I finally said.