Page 29 of Plus-Size Bratva Possession (Vadim Bratva #12)

There was blood streaming into my eyes as I fought to stay conscious. The only thing that kept me awake was Elena. I had to keep my senses about me to keep her safe.

“No matter what, Elena. Do not sleep,” I told her, fearing she might have had a concussion.

She didn’t respond. She seemed to be unconscious and I felt myself panic.

Through the shattered windshield, I watched a couple of armed men appear.

“Elena,” I reached for her with desperation. “Elena, wake up.”

I felt movement and heard her weak voice. “Gastone?”

“I'm here,” I gushed with relief, trying to fumble with her seatbelt. I had barely gotten it off when the doors were forced open and we were roughly pulled out of my car.

I tried to fight back and even managed to land a punch that caused one man to stagger back, but the next thing I knew, there was a gun against my temple.

“Stop struggling,” a voice hissed, “or we'll kill her right now.”

Elena’s eyes met mine, wide with terror. God, she looked bad. She had a huge gash on her temple, and the sight of that blood made me want to kill every one of these bastards.

But I knew what these men were capable of, and I couldn’t take them on by myself.

For her, I stopped resisting.

“It's going to be okay,” I whispered as they led us toward a waiting van. “Just do what they say.”

They bound, gagged, and blindfolded us before shoving us in. I managed to press against Elena, shoulder to shoulder, offering her whatever small comfort I could.

“Gastone, who are they?” she whispered.

“I don't know,” I murmured, though a suspicion was forming. Ricardo went missing after I had confronted him. I should have killed him then and there.

“We’re going to be okay, you hear me?” I whispered. “We are.”

“I trust you,” she whispered, and that shattered me. Because the truth was that right about then, I really didn’t know if we were getting out of there alive. But there was nothing more I could offer than comfort.

The drive felt endless. Each bump in the road sent pain shooting through my head, but I hardly felt it. Only one thought kept returning: I couldn't let them hurt Elena.

When the vehicle stopped, we were dragged out and marched forward. I could smell saltwater and oil—we were near the docks. The hood was yanked off my head, and I blinked in the harsh fluorescent lights of a warehouse.

The back of a gun cracked at the base of my neck, and immediately, I fell to the ground. Beside me, Elena, too, dropped to her knees. Our eyes met each other’s, and I saw the fear in them.

“Elena,” I said softly. “Stay strong.”

She nodded once, but I saw her trembling.

“We’re going to be okay. We’re together,” I whispered.

“How touching,” someone said from behind, and it took an instant to realize I’d been right. I turned to see Ricardo walking toward us. He went and got backup. I knew he had to have made some new friends to bring us down. But who dared stand against me?

My brain scrambled for enemies who would team up with him. But I couldn't figure out which one.

I looked around at the men holding us hostage, hoping to recognize someone, and then I saw it. Their tattoos—the mark of the Espositos' henchmen. My blood ran cold.

“You partnered with the Espositos?” I asked in shock. “You're even more of a fool than I thought. They’ll own you forever.”

Ricardo walked over and towered over me before slamming his fist into my face. I fell backward, but got myself up on my knees again, itching to wipe off the blood from my lips.

I couldn’t believe that the bastard family would stoop so low. Trying to sabotage my business was one thing, but my rivals had taken it too far. The Espositos had involved Elena.

An innocent woman.

Ricardo circled us slowly. “They were quite interested when I told them I could deliver Gastone Ajello to them. Especially since I asked for so little in return. They’ve been helping me for three years.

We were going to kill you, but you found me days before our plans were to be set into motion, and then I thought, I might as well have fun while we did it. ”

“What do you want?” Elena demanded, her voice sharp.

Ricardo's eyes shifted to her, and I tensed, ready to launch myself at him if he came closer. “Nothing from you, sweetheart. You're just …collateral damage.”

“Leave her out of this,” I growled. “This is between us.”

Ricardo stopped in front of me, crouching to meet my eyes. “Adriana died because of you.”

“You killed her,” I reminded him, voice tight with fury.

“Yes,” he admitted, standing again. “And I've spent three years in hell for it. I wondered what it was you had that I didn’t. Why did I suffer for her, while you went on with your life?”

He gestured at Elena. “I watched you with her at that lake house. So tender, so sweet.”

He was mocking us, and the rage swept through my skin.

“I'm going to kill you,” I roared.

Ricardo laughed. “In that state? I doubt it. In fact, I'm going to make you watch while I do to her what I did to Adriana. You see? You had everything while I had nothing. And now, I’m going to take it all away so you can feel an ounce of what I did.” He walked over to Elena, pressing a knife against her cheek.

Something inside me broke loose—a primal fear unlike any I'd ever known. Not for myself, but for her. Elena.

My Elena.

The woman I loved.

The realization crashed over me with crystal clarity: I loved her. Deeply and completely. And I was about to lose her.

“Don't touch her,” I said, my voice a raw scrape. “Ricardo, listen to me. Kill me instead.”

He turned, surprise flashing across his face. “What's this? The great Gastone Ajello, begging?”

“Yes.” I swallowed my pride, my dignity—everything that once seemed important. “I'm begging you. Let her go. Take me. Torture me, kill me, whatever you want. The Espositos will be grateful. You could have money, power, anything you want. But let her go.”

Elena's eyes widened. “Gastone, no—”

“Shut up,” I told her gently. “This isn't your fight.”

Ricardo walked back to me, studying my face with fascination. “You really do care about her, don't you? More than you ever cared for Adriana.”

“That's not true,” I said automatically, but even as the words left my mouth, I knew they were a lie. What I felt for Elena eclipsed everything that came before.

“No?” Ricardo grabbed my hair, forcing my head up. “Let's test that theory, shall we?” He nodded to one of the Esposito men, who approached Elena with a knife.

“Stop!” I strained against my bonds. “Ricardo, I'll give you anything. Stop!”

“I want nothing from you!” he snarled. “I want you to suffer like I suffered.”

The man with the knife grabbed Elena's hair, exposing her throat. I lunged forward, driven by blind panic, only to be driven back to my knees by a punch to the gut.

“Please,” I gasped. “Please, I'm the one you want. I'm the one who hurt you.”

Ricardo watched me with cruel amusement. “This is better than I imagined. The mighty Gastone, begging for his woman's life.” He waved the knife-wielder away and crouched in front of me again. “I think I'll let you both live a little longer. It's more fun watching you squirm.”