Page 40 of One Savage Union (Crimson Bonds #1)

“Fuck! Baby, did you just come without any manual stimulation? Damn….” His roar fills the room and ropes of cum jet down my throat. I swallow every drop like a good girl, and when he’s squeezed his last drop out, he collapses and leans forward onto the door behind my head.

I pop his dick out my mouth and lick my fingers clean. “ How’d I do?”

He looks down at me and releases a harsh laugh before bending down to kiss my forehead.” You’re fucking incredible Lucia. Come on, let’s get you cleaned up before the cavalry comes looking for us.”

It takes us a few minutes, but we both take the time to get ourselves in a presentable state before opening the door.

When we step out of the room, we hear a slap and the high-pitched scream of a woman. When we turn around, we see Mario being assaulted by a beautiful slip of a woman. Seeing the small siren with more hair than body attack Mario’s massive and sturdy 6’5 frame makes me giggle.

“I hate you, get off me! sei un fottuto stronzo.”

When she verbally assaults him, I tense. “Not many people get away with calling Mario Bianchi a fucking asshole.”

“Just calm down, Daniella, and stop hitting me, or you won’t like your punishment.”

“Fuck you! She spits.” The girl’s got guts.

Then a familiar scene plays out in front of me when I see Mario turn her back to his front and quickly press a needle behind her ear. He kisses her gently and mumbles sorry before turning to look at us.

My mouth is agape, but Rocco doesn’t look surprised at all. What in the actual fuck. I try to slip my hand away, but Rocco squeezes me tighter before he addresses Mario.

“Is that the whore you almost missed my wedding for?” Rocco seethes.

I was wondering why I saw him sitting in the back.

Mario’s lips are thin. “Don’t call her that ever again unless you’d like your wedding and funeral on the same day.”

Rocco chuckles, but I don’t see what’s so funny.

“Who is that girl, Mario, and why are you drugging her?” I demand.

And how much of that drug do they have lying around?

He doesn’t answer me at first. Mario and I have never been the best of friends. From the very beginning, when he kidnapped me from my apartment, our relationship has been tenuous at best.

When I married his best friend, he became cordial, but I never got the feeling he liked me very much. By duty, he has to show me more than just a modicum of respect. His eyes slide over to Rocco, asking permission to speak. Rocco nods, and Mario takes a deep breath.

“When we rescued you from your father's home, we found more cells in the basement of his house. All of them were empty except for one; unfortunately, he had already moved most of his product."

The way Mario says product with disgust doesn't escape me. My body trembles with the realization that he’s talking about innocent women.

Rocco moves his arm around my waist and steadies me with a kiss.

I'm relieved to know Rocco's family does not believe in the trafficking of women like my father does.

Taking a deep breath, I nod for Mario to continue.

“When I was looking for your father to make sure he wasn't hiding anywhere in the house, I found a hidden door behind one of the cells and heard a woman's whimper and screams for help.”

He pauses to look down at the beautiful woman, with cascading auburn hair, in his arms with…emotion. Something I didn't even think Mario Bianchi had, but it’s clear that he cares about her.

“This is Daniella McClanahan. She is the daughter of the now-deceased Daniel McClanahan, former head of the Irish mob. The Bratva took her and gave her to your father two months ago. Your father was supposed to watch her until the Bratva finished decimating her clan. Her virginity and stature would go for a high price on the underground market.”

Disgusting. That plan sounds way too close to home. What is the fascination these old mobsters have with women and their virginity?

Rocco squeezes me tight and fills in the rest of the blanks.

“Your father wanted her for himself and hid her. The Bratva didn’t know that he planned never to give her back.

He hoped they would take a fancy to you and trade with you.

He’d already started violating the girl.

If the Bratva knew, they would have killed him. ”

Do they know now?” I ask breathlessly.

Rocco nods. “Yes, and they want his head on a silver platter. But they also want the girl. She holds the keys to half her father’s fortune, and instead of selling her, they want to marry her off to their Pakhan.

A sixty-year-old man who will use and break her.

He’s known for his viciousness. He’s buried three wives already. ”

I gasp, and a tear falls. “ We have to help her.”

Rocco sighs. “I wish it were that simple. As I’ve told Mario, your rescue cost us. If we take this girl, it will most certainly mean war.”

I look at my husband and squeeze his waist. “ But we have to do something!”

His eyes soften, and I know I’ve got him. Mario interrupts.

“Don’t worry, Lucia. I’m never giving her up; she’s mine. I’ll kill anyone who tries to take her. Il mio gattina’s claws are out, and she does not understand her predicament. But she will learn.”

I smile at his pet name for her—h is kitten .

He nods at Rocco, and he holds her closer to his chest before marching off.

Seeing his resolve to keep her safe calms me. Mario will protect her with his life, and God help the men who try to take away his pet.