Page 47 of De Luca: The Saint

“Hey Katherina,” Wolf says, “I’ll give you a choice now. Do you want to go home?”

Tears well in my eyes, “Yes, of course I do.”

I would do anything to get out of here and away from these monsters. If he promised to let me go after raping me, it wouldn’t be rape. There’s nothing I won’t do to get away. Nothing.

“I’ll give you a gun, if you kill your rapist, I’ll let you go.”

He grins when he sees my shocked expression, “I’ll give you a moment to discuss. Maybe, Rapist will beg you to spare his life.”

Damian scoots closer to me, lifts his handcuffed hands, and puts his arms around me, “Is this okay?”

I nod, “Damian, I-”

He shakes his head, “No, Katharina, just listen to me.”

Damian kisses my hair and then rests his chin on the top of my head, “I love you, Katherina. I always have and there’s no better way to die than knowing you’ll be free to live your life. Go to Domenic, he will take care of you the way I wish I could have. This isn’t a choice; you have to do this. If you don’t, you will pay for it with your life. I forgive you, I’m ready. Do what you need to do. Sacrificing my life for yours is easy. It’s the easiest part of this entire ordeal. Fire the gun, aim for my head, make it quick for both of us.”

I press my face against his chest, his scent mixed with sweat, invading my senses, “Is it my turn now?”

He squeezes his arms around my back, “No. Don’t say anything. Let me have just a minute like this before…”

I ignore his request for my silence because I need to say things to him, “I forgive you, Damian. You didn’t mean to do this; it was rape for you too. I’m not going to kill you. I could never take your life.”

“God damn it, Kitty Kat, please. I need you to be safe.”

I press my face firmer into his chest, “This is insanity.”

“It is, but this is your way out. Please take it.”

Pulling back, I look into his eyes, “If that’s really what you want.”

He nods, “It is. Thank you.”

The sincerity in his eyes makes my chest squeeze tight. This man has been forced to rape me and is ready to willingly die for the chance that I might get free. He really would sacrifice himself for me.

People always say, ‘I would die for you,’ but they rarely mean it. Most people in this situation would not tell a person to kill them. If anything, they’d plead with them not to, but not Damian. That’s how I know what I have to do.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Domenic

“Dante, what’s going on?”

He runs his hands through his hair, “He’s gone. Fucking gone.”

I shake my head, “Who?”

“Damian,” he shouts, “Damian has been taken.”

Giada stands, looking on. I can see the sheer terror on her face because she knows what comes next-another mob war. I survived the last, we all did, but this time, we may not be so lucky.

I walk over to her and kiss her on the head, “Everything will be fine. I’ll be out soon.”

“Dante.”

He follows me to my office, where we both take a seat.

“What do we know?”

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