Page 30 of DeLuca: The Devil

He grabs me by my hair and pulls me out of the cage, back downstairs, causing me to fall down the steps.

Pointing to my new home, he yells, “Inside, filthy mutt.”

This is my new reality, so I do as I’m told. There is no point in trying to fight him. Not anymore. When someone has stolen your will to live, there’s nothing left.

Again, my heart cries for Domenic. We got so little time together, and now my biggest regret is fighting him at all. Did he die believing I loved him or hated him? I said both things to him. I hate myself more than I ever thought I hated him. My heart aches like a bleeding festering wound that will never completely heal.

I sit with my back against the cool metal as the blonde woman says, “Congratulations, it looks like you won.”

I sigh, “She had no fight left. That girl wanted to die. I don’t even know her name.”

“Izzy. Her name was Izzy. She was ready to die a year ago. Trust me, you did her a favor.”

I wish I could have saved Izzy instead of killing her, but of course, I can’t even save myself. I close my eyes and imagine Domenic with me.

“Bellissima, choose strength. Don’t give up. Hold on, I’ll save you.”

Of course, that’s my imagination working overtime. My husband, Domenic De Luca, is dead. He won’t be coming for me, and I doubt his brothers will either. After all, I’m just some woman their brother married to get to two men he hated. In fact, the De Luca brothers probably hate me as much as they do my father and Enzo. If Enzo doesn’t kill me, they likely will.

Chapter Twenty-Three

GIADA

The days are long and endless. Sometimes it hurts so bad I can barely breathe. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, but Cecilia, the blonde who seems to be dealing with this far better than I am, says it’s only been a few weeks. It feels like months. I’ve grown accustomed to eating dog food which is probably a sad example of my mental health. I don’t want to live. I don’t want to die. I’m stuck in some sort of state of just being. I miss Domenic so much it hurts. I now know that Enzo wasn’t lying. He really is dead. If he were alive, he’d come for me, I’m sure of it. When you lose someone, you love, it’s only natural to wish you could have just five more minutes with them. Tell them one last time how they brought life into your heart. Healed something inside you with just a simple touch. That was Dom for me. Every time I felt his fingertips on my skin, it made me feel cherished, even though he’d never say the words. Now, I’ll never know what those words would have sounded like coming from his lips. He’s gone.

Natalia may never know what happened to me. After all, we were told we couldn’t have contact until this was done. With Domenic being dead, who would tell her? Even though she was told not to come around and ask questions, eventually, she will. My only hope is that she doesn’t get herself killed. It’s not worth it, I’m not worth it. Nat needs to live her life and forget about me.

Chapter Twenty-Four

DOMENIC

Damian walks into my office, where I’ve been sleeping for the better part of the last year. I can’t sleep in my fucking bed without her. I focus on finding her like it’s my business. If I stop to feel, I’ll fucking fall apart. She needs me. Giada is the only reason I haven’t shattered like a broken vase. I did this to her and I have to undo it.

“I’m sorry, Domenic, it’s time to accept the facts. She’s not alive.”

Every one of my brothers has been telling me this for months, but I still don’t believe it. I refuse to.

Not long after she was taken I called Max, and he agreed with me. They are moving her frequently, so every time I get close, she’s gone again. I have nightmares of the hell I know she’s living through. My brothers are pissed because I’ve let business slide while searching for my wife. I don’t care about a fucking thing other than finding my Bellissima.

I shake my head, “Unacceptable. She’s alive. I feel it.”

Damian rolls his eyes, “You feel it? Do you know how fucking crazy that sounds, brother?”

I glare at him, “Do you know how fucking little I care?”

The fact is, had Katherine been taken he would’ve made the same choices I have. He wouldn’t have searched endlessly.

Damian plops down in the chair on the other side of my desk, “We have checked every single property either family owns.”

I tap my knuckles on my wooden desk, “Then, I suggest you check again.”

“When will you finally accept that she's gone?”

I’m about two seconds away from punching my fucking brother, “Never. Until I see her lifeless body with my own eyes, I will continue searching for her. I will scorch the ends of the earth, destroying everything in my path until I have her back again.”

Damian drags his hand down his face, “I knew you’d fall in love with her. Are we at least admitting that now?”

I sigh, “Yes, I’m in love with my wife, okay? It fucking kills me that she doesn’t know. So, let’s find her before it is a dead body we’re recovering. Every fucking day that Bianchi has her could be her last.”

---