Page 84 of Maddest Temptation

A hand touched my arm.

I cried out.

I bit my arm harder, hoping that whatever they wanted to do to me would end quickly.

“Francesca.” I heard my name. “Francesca, it’s me.” The voice was definitely male, but I couldn’t make myself look.

I waited for the pain; there was only a soft caress. “Francesca, please look at me,” he said again. I shook my head, or I think I did because he called me again. “Principessa, please.” As though I had been given a shock, I woke up from whatever nightmare I was having.

Slowly, I lifted my head from that small cocoon and looked around. Pine-green eyes were the first thing I saw, and I swore I could see fear in them.

“Are you okay?” I saw his lips moving, and I understood what he said but it was still hard to speak.

His warm hand patted me from head to toe searching for some kind of injury. He stopped at my arm and noticed the bite. He knelt and reached for the kitchen towel, then pressed it against my arm. I winced in pain.

“It’s okay.” He ran his thumb my cheeks, wiping away my tears with a gentleness I would never have expected from him. “You’re safe,” he assured.

I nodded.

“Can you stand?”

I nodded again, but the moment he helped me up, I felt dizzy and almost fell back to the floor. Almost but not quite; one moment I was falling, and in the next, I was in the air. Cassio lifted me up with ease and settled me against his chest. I could feel his heart beating fast. He began walking toward the door and panic overtook me again.

“It’s okay, Principessa,” he assured.

We exited my apartment and came into the bright-lit corridor, making me squint. Cassio stopped before a large man.

“Pick up as many clothes as you can, and take them to my place,” he instructed the man and began to move. “There’s no chance I’m ever letting you come back here,” he spoke against my ear so only I could hear.

All I could do was nod in agreement. I didn’t fight him, and I didn’t complain, there was no way I wanted to stay here. Right now, I didn’t want to go anywhere else, being in his arms was enough. I turned slightly as the man entered my apartment.

“Reggie,” I called. Cassio stopped and looked at me, his green eyes assessing. “Reggie.” I pouted.

“Fuck.” He walked back toward my door which had been kicked to the floor and stopped. “Reginald!” he shouted.

My baby came trotting toward us, his little body trembling with fear, but still he came. Cassio waited until Reginald was with us and looked back to see if my baby was following as we descended the stairs.

I rested my neck against the crook of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent, and closed my eyes knowing there was nowhere safer than in his arms.

CASSIO

I removed Francesca from the passenger seat, she must have been drained from what happened tonight because she was out cold. I pulled her back into my arms, wanting to be as close to her as I could.

When we arrived at my condo, I headed straight to my room because there was no other place she belonged than with me. I gently settled Francesca on the bed and removed her shoes before covering her up with the blankets. She stirred and opened her eyes.

“Cassio,” she called.

“I’m here, Principessa.” I crouched by the bed.

“You’re leaving.” She looked at me knowingly.

“I have to,” I told her. “Francesca, I have?—”

“I know,” she said, and I knew she understood, yet the way she sounded, so weak and tired, caused my guts to twist.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Luciano is coming over while I’m gone.” She opened her mouth to protest, but I stopped her before she could. “He’s my enforcer and I trust him.”

“Okay.” She didn’t seem convinced, but I couldn’t trust Vince to watch her, he had allowed those men to get close to her, and right now, the only person I trusted enough to watch over her was Luciano.

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