Page 73 of The Last Vendetta

“Shut. Up.” The soldier repeated it with so much emphasis, I furrowed my brow. He raised his and opened his eyes wider with the command.

Is he trying to tell me something? I was so sick of men ordering me around and telling me what to do. I’d lapsed with Renzo enough to trust him, to want to believe in him. But I wouldn’t lower my guard so much to assume this random Bernardi soldier was trying to give me a helpful tip.

“Well, I know better than to waste my breath and energy screaming for help.” I couldn’t stop this sarcasm from coming forth. It was likely a defense mechanism, a deterrence from realizing how dire my situation was.

“Don’t—” The other soldier shut up as the door’s knob was twisted.

Both men turned to watch others enter the cell, and as they filed in, I got scared. Now, I felt terrified. With these Romano soldiers coming into my space, I realized what was going on.

Giovanni Bernardi must have heard that Renzo was with me, the supposed enemy, when all I was trying to do was identify Luka and Father’s killer. I was trying to help. I was risking the wrath of my mother to side with their Family and freely assist them in this mystery.

But Giovanni hadn’t stepped in and interfered by removing me from Renzo’s side.

He’d gone so far as to tell the Romanos to collect me.

Fuck!

These Romanos could only be here for one damn reason. Nickolas was coming for his intended. He was sending his men here to retrieve me, and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

Running from them would be impossible.

Attacking them would be pointless.

They outnumbered me. They had weapons.

I was well and truly fucked, bound and captured to be sent off to the sadistic man my mother wanted me to marry so she could delude herself further with the chance of having power and more money.

“Good.” One of the Romano soldiers acknowledged my presence with a curt nod. He wasn’t speaking to me as he took in the visual proof that I’d been brought here. They were collaborating on this whole thing. “We appreciate your finding her,” he told the Bernardi guard who’d firmly suggested that I shut up.

“We’ll move her soon,” he told them, leading his group of soldiers out of the cell once more.

Both of the Bernardi soldiers left with them.

As the door clanged shut, they left me all alone.

Stuck with the company of my worst fears coming true, I clung to the stupid thought that I’d been robbed.

I wished that I could’ve had more time with Renzo. Kissing his bossy lips. Feeling his hard, strong body holding mine. And melting under the comfort of his hand gripping mine as we talked.

It wasn’t enough. I wanted more with him. I wanted it all with him. A lifetime.

But that was all we could have.

As soon as those men returned, I’d be taken to my fiancé. I’d be held somewhere to ensure I stayed put and behaved until they deemed me fit for our wedding.

Fuck that.

I’d kill myself before becoming Nickolas’s wife.

I belonged to Renzo, with my heart, body, and soul.

No other man would ever take his place for as long as I lived.

24

RENZO

Renzo

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