Page 32

Pacing. Pacing. And more fucking pacing.

One more trip to the window, and I was sure I’d put a hole through the carpet. It took every morsel of strength I possessed, and more I hadn’t been aware of, to allow her to go on her own. I was confident in her abilities, as she’d been doing this years before I came into the picture.

But fuck that. Things were different now. She was mine to look out for and protect. Even if she’d escaped unscathed up until this point, statistically, there would come a day when luck and skill wouldn’t fare in her favor. In the business of death, I was well acquainted with that truth.

Five more minutes. That was how long I’d wait before I caved and set out to find her. To ensure her safety and minimize the chances of being followed, Amara carried only a burner phone—one she discarded once her client came calling. But I was a man not willing to deal in chance when it came to someone as important to me as my preziosa ; thus an insurance plan was in order. Pulling some last-minute favors, I intercepted her signal, received all her messages, including the contact information of any incoming numbers, and pinned their location.

Having that information at my fingertips was both a blessing and a fucking curse. Two hours without a word on her well-being was torture.

Fuck this.

I snatched my key and ripped open the front door, immediately freezing when I saw Amara standing on the other side. My heart dropped at the sight of blood that covered her body.

“It’s not mine,” she whispered, easing my worries.

I gently framed her face and kissed her forehead, swiping at her cheeks, but the tears that carved a trail through her red-stained skin had long since dried.

Nodding, I lifted her into my arms and cradled her close as words failed to adequately describe my relief.

“He got what he deserved.” Her voice was quiet yet thick with exhaustion.

Amara lay her head on my shoulder as I turned on the shower and slipped beneath the spray, letting the warm water cascade over our heads.

“I was worried.”

My grip would leave bruises, but I couldn’t let go.

“You don’t trust me?” she asked with a frail smile.

“I do, preziosa . But I trust no one when it comes to you.”

Pride swelled in my chest until I saw fresh tears in her eyes.

“Talk to me.”

“I found a girl. He’d chained her in his bathroom. Tortured her.” Amara’s gaze was distant, staring past me. “It was awful. That used to be me.” Her eyes fell to the scars on her wrist.

“I'm sorry, baby,” I whispered, kissing her forehead.

Finally meeting my eyes. “She’s dead.”

I squeezed her tighter, unsure of what to say or how to bring her comfort apart from never letting go.

Amara’s fingers traced my lip, sweeping droplets as I kissed each one. “I cut off his dick,” she said almost stoically, still staring at my mouth.

“Did you? ”

She nodded slowly, and with the same languid pace, she blinked and lifted her gaze. “And then I skewered it.”

For several moments, only the sound of water against tile could be heard. Then, deep, rumbling laughter bubbled from my throat. She followed, and we laughed and laughed until our stomachs ached and the drain below no longer streaked pink.

“ Sei incredibile .”

“I’m glad you think so. I scare myself sometimes.”

“The feeling is mutual because I feel lost in you, Amara. But I don’t ever want to find my way out,” I whispered over her collarbone as I removed her strap and kissed her slick skin.

Our clothes hit the tile floor, and I caged her against the wall. “Let me help you put an end to this. Tell me your name.”

“No.”

“I have connections. Who are you looking for?”

Amara slipped beneath my arm and stepped out of the shower. “Not yet.”

“Amara.” I twisted the faucet and followed behind her as she toweled off. “You can trust me.”

“I do,” she countered, sounding almost offended. “But you won’t find him.”

“Try me.”

“Santi, you don’t understand. It’s like he’s fallen off the face of the planet. And he’s not your typical piece of shit low life like these other men. We’ve been over this.”

Dropping the towel, she began to dig furiously through her suitcase.

“Tomorrow, we meet Helena and Silas. They’re part of an organization.” I paused, knowing the implications my admission could bring. But I trusted her. “Ares.”

She froze, nearly jolting at the word. And suddenly, things started to make sense.

“You’re…Ares?” I asked, touching her shoulder and shifting her toward me. Amara offered no resistance but refused eye contact. “You are? ”

“I’m not.”

“You were; otherwise, you’d be asking what the fuck I’m talking about. Look at me.” I held her chin, silently begging to meet her beautiful eyes. “Amara.”

“A long time ago,” she finally admitted.

“Do you know them? Silas, Helena?”

“No.” She shook her head, brows knitted, almost as if attempting to recall their names. I believed her.

“They can help.”

Amara pulled away and walked back to her suitcase. “No.”

“ Preziosa —”

She slammed the suitcase lid closed. “I said no!” It was the first time I’d heard her raise her voice. The topic of Ares and that particular part in her past was clearly off-limits, so I decided to let it go.

For now. “Okay.” Holding her gaze, I reached for her hand and tugged her toward the bed. “But I’d still like for you to accompany me tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Because Silas is like a brother to me, and I want him to meet the woman stealing the heart I never knew I had.”

The hint of a smile danced on her lips as she followed me into bed and under the sheets. With her plump little ass against my cock, trying to hide my erection was pointless. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, threading my fingers through hers and kissing my hand. “I didn’t mean to react like that…it’s just that—”

“I understand.”

She twisted around to face me. “I’d love to meet your friends tomorrow.”

“Good,” I said, plucking a curl that had fallen over her eye. But when I stretched out to kiss her, I noted her smile had suddenly soured. “What’s wrong?”

“What will you tell them? That we met at your club?” She scoffed. “That you fell for me when you saw me stripping on stage? ”

“I assure you they won’t judge you.”

Scooting closer, she shook her head and said, “It’s not about me. I face people’s judgment every day. And I haven’t let it faze me for a long time. But what will they think of you?”

“Poor Santino. Stuck with a beautiful and fierce woman. Whatever will he do?”

The sound of her laughter warmed my heart and made my cock hard. I could listen to her all day.

Forever.