Page 54 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

Hurriedly, I undress her, pulling her black jacket and top off until she remains only in her bra.

Unpeeling the gauze carefully, I reveal the two-inch cut where the knife slashed her skin.

Bruises stretch along her ribs, and the side of her face is a bit swollen, but she’s alive.

That is all that matters, and my heartbeats finally return to a regular pattern.

I drag her to my chest by the back of her neck, pressing her to my front as if wanting to glue her to my body so nothing and no one can ever pry her from me.

Wrapping my arms around her, I vow I will never let her go. I will never let this woman out of my sight again.

“Don’t do this shit to me. Never again. Do you hear me?” I demand in a harsh tone, but the tremble in my voice betrays my frayed emotions. “If you’re not in my life, then nothing makes sense. Nothing matters more to me than you.”

She pushes at my chest and gives me a hard look. “You were pretty eager to set me free.”

“A mistake.” The biggest one I’ve made.

Once we escape, I will show her what it means to be mine and only fucking mine for the rest of our lives.

Grabbing her hand, I pull her into the bathroom.

It’s a small studio apartment with only the necessary amenities—so opposite to the lavish lifestyle she’s used to.

I will make sure she only gets the best things in life.

For her, I don’t care about expenses, even if they come at the cost of my heart. It’s hers. I am hers entirely.

Gently pushing her on the edge of the tub, a surge of lust springs to life, awakening the potent desire to fuck her senseless. I shove it aside, needing to tend to her. To stop the bleeding and help the healing process, I must suture the gash.

Rummaging through the cabinet, I pick out a sewing kit, disinfectant, and pads, then get on my knees in front of her.

She giggles. “I like you on your knees for me.”

I seek her eyes, needing her to see how earnest I am. “I haven’t risen since I met you. You put me on my knees, and I will die serving you.”

A bright smile colors her face, infusing me with new life.

After I clean and disinfect her wound, I pinch the skin between my fingers and thumb.

I blow some air, wanting to soothe her, hating that this will hurt her.

If she didn’t take care of the asshole who injured her, I would have loved to torture him, dismantle him until he’d be nothing more but bloody limbs.

“This will hurt. I am sorry.”

She brushes her fingers through my hair, caressing along the side of my head.

“Pleasure and pain, amore. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

She grips the edge of the tub, not making a sound while I do my best to stitch her up so only minimal scarring will be visible.

“You’re doing so well. I am almost done,” I say, my chest filling up with pride and awe.

“Tell me again,” she whispers.

Locking eyes, I grin, the words flowing out of my mouth with ease and urgency. “I love you. And I will never stop. Will love you with all of me for the rest of my existence, mio angelo.”

She breathes a contented sigh, and I finish by applying a bandage. Standing up, I cup her face and kiss her, pouring out all my ardent love and fiery need.

Holding onto my arms, she looks up at me, her features drawn in serenity. “I doubt we can escape, and fighting our way out is highly risky. I don’t care about anything but spending the rest of my life with you. Short or long, it’s irrelevant.”

“It’s the same for me, but I have a plan.”

Plucking out the USB stick from my pocket, I say, “We’ll get the remaining members of the Council at our table. Do you trust me?”

She nods, a smile grazing her lips, and it revives everything inside of me.

Then I call Marco, the member that has fed me information.

“I can’t talk right now,” he says and is about to hang up when I cut him off.

“Where are you?” My commanding tone brooks no argument.

“We’re having a meeting. Luciana killed Augustus and since our men didn’t find her, we’re on high alert.”

“I need the address. I am in Venice, and I want a meeting with the Council.”

“This is not the time.”

“Fucking now.” I grit out. “I have her in my custody.”

The relief in his voice is unmistakable. “Don’t let her escape. Tell me where you are, and I will send you my trusted man.”

After I give him the address, I hang up and he texts me where to meet him. I show the address to her, and she says, “They are at the palace—it’s the Council’s official headquarters. That viper surely summoned a meeting. Donata is always ready to grab her chance.”

“They either comply with our wishes or we’ll kill them all tonight.”

The plan is ballsy, but I’ve lived my life according to a credo that only high risks bring you the highest rewards.

I’d like nothing more than to lose myself in her. Take her far away from here, back home where I can keep her safe, but the woman I choose is a master assassin.

I cup her cheek, saying with a nostalgic tilt of my voice, “You don’t need me.”

She simply wants to be by my side. It should be enough, but fuck, I want to be everything this woman breathes, thinks about, loves.

Reaching her hand out, she grabs mine and places it on her chest. “But my heart needs you,” she says in a soft voice.

Her answer, accompanied by that gesture, unravels me, but there’s not the time or the moment to lose myself in her.

“Ready?” I ask her and she nods.

She checks for her knife in her boot and slips the gun into the back of her pants. Then, she turns around so I can lock her wrists at her back with zip ties.

I offer her a razor and she curls her hand around it. She just needs to peel off the protection to have a sharp enough object to cut through her bindings.

Outside, a black limousine waits for us. Palming her waist, I give her a reassuring squeeze before I slide an impervious mask on as he opens the door and greets me.

The guard slash driver moves toward her and our cover will be blown if he touches her, so I push her inside.

“I will have so much fun breaking you.”

Good luck with that. My woman lifts a brow at him that drips with arrogance. She’s a truly fascinating creature.

“Can we move already?” I ask, pretending to lose my patience, and then I slip in the back with her.

“How did you find her when all our men couldn’t?” he asks the moment he drives away, taking us toward the meeting place.

Luciana only lets herself be caught when she wants to. I keep that information to myself as I exchange a knowing glance with her.

“I am always two steps ahead. That’s why.”

The car falls silent, and the short drive leads us to a boat.

He’s so sure of my good intentions that he doesn’t check on her. Even if the others will do that, once we’re inside, it will be too late.

He brings the boat to a stop by a small dock, and a guard yanks her up by her elbow while the others are on high alert. She gives me an intent look that means to remain calm, and it takes everything in me to do so. No one fucking touches her. She hates it and this guard will die for his mistake.

We move down a long corridor until we come face to face with an imposing hardwood door. Knocking three times, it opens, revealing the remaining ten members seated at a long mahogany table in upholstered leather chairs.

The marble floor, thick columns, and an ancient crystal chandelier hanging from the center offer the room a regal touch. Beyond the windows, there’s a clear view of St. Mark’s Basilica—the symbol of Venetian history and culture.

Looking up, it takes everything in me not to snort at the painting of angels and demons battling for supremacy on the ceiling. Do they think they’re not only untouchable but also have a holy right to exist? Dragging them down will satisfy me greatly, and a smirk tugs at the corners of my mouth.

The members’ postures are pulled taut, eyes bouncing from left to right—all jittery and on high alert.

With two members gone, the Council of Twelve’s foundation is rattled to its core. When Donata sees her, she looks at Luciana not in disgust, but almost with reverence, which she quickly masks.

Standing up, she says in a nasal voice, reeking of importance. “We appreciate your gift. What do you want from us in exchange?”

In one swift move, I pluck the knife from my boot and slice the neck of the guard who dared to touch my woman.

Chairs screech as the members stand from their seats, glancing at each other with wide eyes, the color draining from their faces. Murmurs of indignation follow at his blood pools on the marbled floor.

Luciana frees herself from her bonds, shoots the other two, and then she locks the door.

“What is this?” another one asks, body trembling as he grips onto the chair’s arms.

“I am taking my seat back in the Council and Luciana will be the one you answer to.”

I have full trust my soon-to-be wife can lead the Council. I just want the other seat, so we always have the last say.

Donata immediately changes her demeanor from silent to striking.

“I could have you killed,” she screeches, slapping her palms on the table.

“I know how the Council operates by heart. I will follow with the traditions. We can continue our work with no control from another party,” Luciana says, oozing confidence as she takes the seat Augustus occupied. I move next to her, completing the circle.

“This is a coup.” Donata seethes, nostrils flaring.

The others keep silent, most surely thinking they’re cornered, not understanding how this could have happened. They’ve always had people to do their dirty work. They’re so high on their own superiority that they’ve thought themselves to be untouchable.

Marco, the other member who was my father’s best friend, says, “It’s Enzo’s right to claim his seat back.” The intent glare he sends my way shows he’s not happy that I played him. But like the smart man he is, he sides with us, surely thinking of ways to claim his favor.

“His father renounced it,” another mumbles.

“A seat is for life, transcending generations,” Marco insists.