Page 144 of The Crowned Garza

“Make it ten and we have a deal.”

Money. That’s the only language Stefano Castello speaks. It’s his god. His lover. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was secretly a dragon accumulating a treasure hoard in a cave somewhere.

“Fine, ten, whatever.”

He straightens from the dresser, buttoning his suit jacket. “Pleasure doing business with you,Mr. Luciani.”

With that, he leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

“Come here,regina.”

Tears spill down her cheeks, but she doesn’t move. “I’m never talking to them ever again for doing this to you.”

“Bellissima, please, come to me.”

She takes a step forward, halts, and then runs over. Only to stop short again. “I-I don’t want to hurt you any more than you already are.”

I’ll suffer an eternity of pain for you.

Ignoring the stab of pain, I reach out to grab her wrist and pull her down on top of me. Press my face against her damp skin. “Fuck,regina, I’m so sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. If it weren’t for those egotistical idiots, none of this would’ve happened.” She sniffles. “When I couldn’t get a hold of you, my first thought was that you were ghosting me again. But then I thought, no way, there’s no way you’d do that to me after the last two months we had. I knew something had to be wrong, so I called Paloma and she gave me your sister’s number. When I called her, she told me you were at the family estate, that the reason I haven’t heard from you is because you were injured and in medical care. She played it cool and reassured me. Then about two hours after, she called and said you wanted me to come to the estate. I just…didn’t think. I hadn’t heard from you. I couldn’t reach any of my brothers… I fell for it. I’m so sorry. It was so frickin’ stupid of me.”

“No, no, you aren’t,regalità.” I tighten my arms around her. “I should have been more open with you about what’s going on withla famiglia. You wouldn’t have fallen for her lie if you knew.I’mthe one who failed you.”

“You always scolded me for not knowing how to sense danger, and you were right,” she says. “By now, Ishouldknow better. When to tell if something is off, when to run. I shouldknowbetter.”

“Stop that. Please, stop. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were worried and concerned, and she weaponized that.” I kiss her forehead. “Did she hurt you in any way?”

“No. But she locked me in some pitch-black place that smelled like death and decay. I couldn’t see anything, but I’m confident there are rotting carcasses in there.” She shudders in my arms. “It was horrible enough that I passed out, so I don’t even know how long I was in there before they dragged me out and stuffed me in a trunk. When they eventually hauled me out of the trunk and I saw Stefano, I didn’t know if I was supposed to be relieved or terrified.”

“Money might be Stefano’s first love, but family is his second.”

“Maybe. But it’s never easy to tell with him.” She lifts her head and rests her palm to the side of my face. The warmth that floods me from that simple touch could soothe a thousand raging souls. “I can’t believe you let them do this to you.Whywould you let them do this to you, Saint?”

“I underestimated how far they would take it.”

“Nothing warrants this level of cruelty. Nothing! I’m a grown woman allowed to make my own damn decisions. They’re acting like I’m underage and you forced me. It’s ridiculous! Who the hell do those cuntholes think they are?”

“Calm down,bella.” I cup her neck. “You’re getting worked up.”

“Of frickin’ courseI’m getting worked up! The more I think about it, the angrier I get.” She tries to sit up in her increasing agitation, but I keep her down with what little strength I have. “And I bet they don’t even know I was abducted. Why? Becauseyouare the one who watches me. You’re the one who protects me. You’re the one who’s always there. Not just for me, but forthem.A bunch of egotistical, hypocritical ingrates. Look what their clownery actions have caused. Look!”

Gesù Cristo. She’s like a rattling pressure cooker when she’s angry. She’s hot, in every sense of the word. And I want to hug her closer to me. Kiss those quivering lips. Collect those tears with my tongue. Tangle my fingers in those curls.

But I’m weak. So helplessly, pathetically weak.

And as lightheadedness creeps in and my peripheral vision begins to blur, I know I don’t have long.

Taking her hand, I rest it over my heart so she can feel it beating. “Feel that,regina? I’m fine.Prometto. I just need a couple of days to heal, regain some strength, be able to move again without feeling like there are daggers lodged in every area of my body, and then I’ll take care of everything. Okay? I’ll deal with Iseppa. As for your brothers, they got their pound of flesh and then some. But I promise you, they won’t be getting an ounce more.”

“Promettimi?”

“Te lo prometto.” Feebly, I brush her damp curls back from her face. “Just lie here and be with me. You’re the only thing that matters to me. Your safety, your beating heart, your quiet breaths, your warmth, your worry, even your anger. As long as it’s all here with me, I’m fine. I promise.”

She shifts her weight off of me and curls into my side, keeping her hand over my heart. “Okay.”

“Regina?”