Page 54 of The Bonventi War

He looks me in my eyes and gives me the softest kiss he ever has. "I'm here because I want to be," he says, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. "Because I need to be."

He gives me another kiss, rougher this time.

"Besides, I'm yours, remember?"

I nod. "I remember."

But the difference is, this time, I want to.

25

RAVEN

Ithrash wildly, my wrists raw from the cold metal biting into my skin. The chains rattle against the bed frame as I struggle. The room is dark, save for a single flickering bulb that casts grotesque shadows on the peeling wallpaper, and somewhere in the darkness, a man laughs, speaking Russian words I don't understand.

"Please," I cry out, my voice hoarse from screaming. "Let me go."

A figure emerges from the darkness, his face obscure. His laughter is cold and cruel.

"You belong to us now," he sneers, reaching out to stroke my cheek. I flinch away, bile rising in my throat. "Your father made sure of that."

"No," I choke out, tears streaming down my face. "Please. I just want to go home."

"You are here to serve, not make demands," the man says, his fingers trailing down my body and stopping between my legs. "You'll do whatever we want. And right now? I'm going to ruin you."

"NO!" I thrash against the chains, the metal cutting deeper. Blood trickles down my arms, but I don't care. I need to get free. Need to escape. Need to?—

"Raven!"

Hands grip my shoulders, rough and strong.

I thrash harder. I can't breathe.

"Ravenna, wake up!"

A sharp shake. The world shifts.

A different kind of darkness presses in.

I jolt awake, gasping, hands clawing at my wrists—searching for the chains that aren't there.

But then I feel strong arms around me, holding me close. I smell Gio's familiar scent. My vision comes into focus, and I'm in my bed, tangled in sheets damp with sweat. No chains. No Russians. Just Gio.

My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath. Tears I didn't realize I was crying streak down my face.

"They had me," I choke out between sobs. "The Russians—they chained me up. I couldn't move. I couldn't?—"

"Shh, it's okay," Gio murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple. "I've got you. It was just a nightmare. You're safe."

I pull back slightly, looking up at him through tear-blurred eyes. I can see the fierce protectiveness in his gaze.

"What if they come for me?" I whisper, voicing the fear that's been gnawing at me since I learned of my father's betrayal. "What if?—"

Gio cuts me off with a kiss, hard and possessive. When he pulls away, his eyes are dark with determination.

"Listen to me," Gio says, his voice rough, like he's forcing down rage. "You're safe. No one will ever touch you."

He grips my chin, forcing my gaze to his. "I don't make empty promises, Raven. I protect what's mine. Always."