Page 95 of Corrupt Crown

My body hums with a rage I’ve carried inside of me for the last two years. A rage that has only grown over time as my hatred for this man – the same man who’s the root of so much pain – has become all-consuming.

For Elodie.

My Papa.

Aurelia.

Emiliano.

Maria.

For every soul that this man has tainted with his mere existence.

Burn in Hell.

As my breathing grows ragged, my vision blurs, and my chest tightens painfully until a delicate hand rests on my shoulder. I immediately still beneath her touch, allowing my head to fall forward as I squeeze my eyes tightly shut.

The sound of my pounding heart fills my ears, drowning out all else, until I hear Elodie exhale softly, and I lift my head, twisting about to meet her navy-blue gaze. I focus on her, on having freed her from her past, on the fact that we can now have a future.

Together.

And achingly slowly, her understanding gaze quietens the monster within me.

When she drops to her knees with open arms, I heave myself off Conti’s lifeless body and crawl to her, laying my head on her lap. Her hand lands on my hair, fingers brushing the sweat-soaked strands back from my brow.

At her touch, my heart slows, filling with an overflowing love for this woman. And a gratefulness that I’m hers. That she’s mine.

“Everything I love has always been taken from me.”

My hoarse voice renders the silence as my long-buried truth spills unintentionally from my lips, and the hand on my brow stiffens before I look up to meet her tear-filled gaze.

“But you,Stellina…” My voice breaks before I whisper, “I’d rather die than lose you.”

I push myself upright, the sting from the gash in my side barely registering as I climb to my knees and take Elodie’s beautiful face between my palms. “Because, you see, I’m not afraid of dying. There’s only one thing I fear now.” My eyes flicker between hers, pouring every ounce of emotion into my next words. “The thought of a world without you in it…the thought of living in darkness, of existing without your light. Itterrifiesme.”

Tears streak down her dirt-covered cheeks, and I brush them away with the pads of my thumbs before dusting my lips over hers as I whisper, “I know the answer now. I think I’ve knownit all along.Cosa succede quando esprimi un desiderio una stella?”

She inhales sharply, half a gasp, half a sob, as her eyes shine into mine. Her voice trembles when she translates, “What happens when you wish on a star?”

“Us,Stellina. And we can finally come true.”

She nods before I take her lips in a kiss that sears me to my very soul. She melts into me, and time ceases to exist as our tongues dance together. Everything about her overwhelms my senses, and I hold her even more tightly against me, swearing to whatever God is listening that I’ll never come so close to losing anyone I loveeveragain.

A throat being cleared brings us back to reality, and I break the kiss, instantly on high alert, until I spot Enzo loitering at the threshold. He gestures to my side, and I glance down at the blood coating my shirt, shaking my head at the question in his eyes.

“It’s a flesh wound.” I raise an eyebrow. “Is it done?”

He nods at my sharper-than-necessary question. “The premises are secured. Aurelia is safe, though she’s not presently awake. Santino and Davide are having her brought to the SUVs I’ve called in.”

I rise swiftly, taking Elodie alongside me and looping my hand through hers. “Take me to her.”

Enzo doesn’t move. Instead, his face takes on a peculiar look, and I tilt my head to one side with a frown. “What is it?”

He swallows roughly before shaking his head as though he can’t quite believe what he’s about to say. “Alessio’s alive.”

Elodie’s hand tightens in mine, and she steps around me, her gaze searching my face as shock careens through my whole body.

“I…I think I’ve seen him.” I can feel my pupils blow wide open as Elodie nods enthusiastically. “When I was brought here,there was a man in chains. They called him Alessio. And his eyes wereexactlylike yours, Rafe…”