Page 21 of Merciless & Mated

I asked.

“He’s in the kitchens. I had him bring over your things this morning so you’re not embarrassing us, dressed like a street urchin. Go, if you’d like.”

Marco’s hand on my knee had me seeing her words for the bait they were. The permission was there in word only, not in truth. Getting up would mean dismissing Bianca, and I didn’t want to piss her off. Provoking her meant my father might be out of a job as well as out of his restaurant. I couldn’t put my family through more hardship if I could prevent it. I’d stay silent. For now.

Eventually Bianca did dismiss me for real, but not Marco. He wrote the door code and suite number on my hand and sent me off while he stayed for a meeting Bianca demanded.

Fucking hallways. Even if I had paid more attention on the walk over here, it wouldn’t matter with everything being the same. I kept glancing between my hand and the numbers listed on the doors, but I didn’t feel like I was getting even close.

“Hey, Peaches.”

I froze, the scent of gasoline filling my nose. A whimper tried to escape, but I pressed my lips into a thin line before turning around.

“No wall between us now. Still feeling brave?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I work here. What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

He scoffed. “Since fucking when?”

“About two hours ago.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “Guess I better have my fun before whoever you belong to finds you.”

Panic and adrenaline surged through my body. He leapt toward me, but I pivoted and used his momentum to flip him like I had done to Marco when we’d first met. I bolted down the hallway even though I had no idea where the hell I was going.

Anywhere was better than here.

I turned one corner, then another, and crashed right into Marco. I recognized him by scent first and locked my arms around him, willing my heart to calm. Safe. I was safe…with him.

“What’s wrong? Felt like you were trying to give me a heart attack through the bond.”

“He’s here. The one who took me, he’s here.”

The thunder of footsteps behind me had me squeezing Marco tighter, my scent twisting into burnt tea and fermented peaches, all the sweetness draining away as fear took over. Those footsteps stopped short.

“Capo,” Marco greeted.

I dared to look behind me.

“Mr. Vero.” My abductor swallowed hard. “I didn’t know she was yours.”

Marco tucked me behind him and moved like lightning, catching the man off guard. Some sick part of me was intensely satisfied when Marco got him on the ground and smashed his face into the linoleum. Blood splattered and the man cried out, but Marco had no mercy for him.

Marco had the man pinned down with a knee to the spine and wrenched his head up. “You ever touch her again, ever even think about touching her, and not even Bianca will be able to save that cock of yours she’s so fond of. I’ll cut it off and stuff it down your throat until you suffocate. Do I make myself clear?”

When he didn’t answer immediately, Marco cracked his head against the floor one more time.

Marco left the man there, but before coming to me, he ripped out the now loose gold tooth from his mouth and dropped it into my shaking palm. “I have half a mind to get this mounted into a pendant and have you wear it as a trophy. It would be a good reminder for him if he ever looks in your direction.”

I stared at Marco with my heart in my throat and jumped straight into his arms, ready to satisfy all those primal instincts that were singing over the fact that my mate had defended me. “Take me home, Marco. Right. Now.”

CHAPTER 10

MARCO

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