Page 82 of Stolen Vows

“Put me down.You’re hurt,” she demands.

The world tilts.Her voice sounds from far away.I open my eyes and smirk in delight at the fierceness in her expression.

“I swear, if you die, I’ll drag you back to life and kill youagain,” she snarls.

I get my feet back under me, upright solely because Noah and the soldier hold me up, and frame her face with my hands.

“This is nothing,mia paperotta.I’ll be fine,” I vow.

“You’d better be.Let’s get him to the hospital—and I swear, if you say we’re going home, I’ll punch you in the dick.There’s blood everywhere.”

I don’t tell her most of it belongs to her father.Her dead father.Worrying over me keeps her in the present instead of dwelling on what she did in the heat of the moment.

“Don’t worry,amore mio.We’re going to the hospital,” I confirm.

“Good, because punching your dick is not what I want to do to it.Let’s go.Now.”

I stumble through the building and drop into the cargo area of an SUV thanks to the two men propping me up.Valentina climbs in and sits next to my head as Noah begins field dressing the worst of my wounds.

My mind fades in and out.Valentina grabs my face and taps my cheek.

“You promised me, Mario,” she says.

I cup her cheek.

“I did.I’m not going anywhere.I’ll always be by your side,” I vow.

She nods and brushes my hair back from my face, smearing blood over me, but I don’t give a shit.

“I love you, Valentina,” I say.

She pauses for a second before leaning her face down to mine.

“I love you, too, Mario,” she says.

I grab her nape and pull her lips down to mine.She kisses me with the desperation of a starving woman, and I relish her boldness for a while before I enjoy conquering her with teeth and tongue.

When I slip my hand around to her throat and gently lift her away, her breath ghosts over my face and hunger, love, and devotion shine from her bright blue eyes.

She’s mine.All mine.

Forever.

Epilogue

Valentina Luciano

The shower door opens.I jump and squeak in surprise before turning accusatory eyes at my husband.

“Are you trying to kill me?”I snarl and show him the razor.

His half-lidded gaze melts my core.

“I can help with that,” he says.

“Nope.No way in hell.Get out,” I demand.

He chuckles, grabs my hips, and grinds his hard cock against my back.