Page 214 of Forced Vows

The car drives past.

My legs turn to jelly and I fall on my butt.

Jayzuz, Mary and Joseph, that was close.

I suck in air, trying to calm my racing heart and crawl back onto my haunches. I risk a peek past the SUV and my heart just stops.

Because so did the car.

It's parked less than twenty feet from me, facing this direction. There's an entire car length between the SUV and the next parked vehicle behind me. If I run, there's a good chance they'll spot me.

If I stay here, one or all of them might decide to get out of the car and search the area on foot.

They definitely know about the warehouse. Did they check the routes to the apartment buildings first? Or do they have more people watching for me there?

The driver's door opens.

No. No. No.

Do not get out of the car.

Showing my mental push isn't pushy enough, the back passenger door opens too.

I want to run. Only if I do, they'll almost certainly see me. But if I don't run, there's no chance.

I turn and start sprinting away from the men in the car. There are shouts behind me. The sound of car doors opening and closing.

I'm so focused on the path in front of me, looking for an escape route that isn't there, I don't notice the line of black SUVs speeding in my direction until they're almost in front of me.

Recognition goes through me with the power of a lightning bolt. A very welcome lightning bolt.

It's Miceli. Not the driver. That's Allessio. Miceli is in the passenger seat.

The SUV rocks to a stop next to me while two more pass by, going fast. Miceli jumps out of the truck. His hair's askew and his tie is gone. Dark eyes devour me.

My feet are stuck to the pavement. Why can't I move?

I don't have to though.

Miceli reaches me from one second to the next. He's not gentle when he yanks me to him. His hold on me is so tight I can barely breathe. And it's exactly what I need.

"Oh fuck mi dolce fiore. You're okay. I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

Visions of my life as a barnacle stuck to the sea rock that is Miceli flash through my brain.

I should protest, but that image isn't an unpleasant one. At all. Inhaling deeply, I take in the scent of him. His aftershave that I love. His masculine scent. Even the stress sweat is good. Because it's him. And he's here.

And I'm not on a plane headed for a compound filled with chauvinistic misogynists who consider women property.

Adrenaline leaching from my system, my lizard brain accepts that I'm safe.

Safe.

My body gives a convulsive shudder.

Chapter 75: MICELI

"This is me being more trouble than I am worth."

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