Page 26 of His Stolen Princess

Apollonia

Ilie by the pool dozing in and out of sleep. Carter is out in the garden with Diego, and I’m not sure where Cato is. If I had to guess, he’s dealing with the situation of how someone got on his property last night.

I don’t know how he’s functioning today. Neither one of us got much sleep last night. Our time together has been so intense. My stomach flutters thinking about it. That man has a wicked mouth. I could easily become addicted to him. I've never felt so close to someone as I did in that moment when we were making love. It’s been so long since someone held me close.

I was amazed how quickly Cato could switch between making love to me and fucking me. I enjoyed both. I practically begged for both sides of him. His lovemaking felt sweet, while his fucking made me feel like he needed me more than his next breath. He was greedy for me. Thinking about it has me growing wet. I clench my thighs together and hope it wasn’t a one-time deal. I’m craving another taste of him. It’s quite the contradiction from where I began.

I’m just not sure where it leaves us. Am I still trying to get out of here with Carter? The thought of leaving Cato makes a knot form in my throat. What have I done? I was supposed to make him fall in love with me. I’m afraid that I may have gone and fallen in love with him instead.

“Apollonia.” I’m startled by someone who isn’t Cato saying my name so starkly. I didn't think Cato would let anyone out by the pool when I was out here. He’s got a jealous streak. I like that, too. Damn it. He doesn't want anyone else to touch me or see me like this. It should make me mad, but really it turns me on even more.

“Hey, Nico.” I push my sunglasses up as I rise to a sitting position on the lounge chair. It looks like his face has healed up from whatever Cato did to him the other day. I think he was trying to sniff out a mole. None of them seemed mad about it. He really does have everyone's loyalty. It makes me think that Cato might not be as bad as I thought he was. Or maybe his orgasms are messing with my head. They have me thinking that everything is sunshine and rainbows when I know better.

“I found some more kittens. Cato thought you might want them.”

I grab my cover-up and slip it on before I don my flip-flops.

“How many are there? Did you see their mama?”

“No mama that I saw. Just two kittens. I’ll show you.”

I follow after him. He doesn’t say anything else as we hurry through the garden. The silence stretches.

“It’s a lovely day out,” I comment. I’ve been trying to get to know some of Cato’s men. I thought I could use that against him in the beginning. It looks like my plans are all changing. Now I want to get to know them because they’re the men protecting Cato and Carter, the two most important things in my life. That thought shocks me, but I’ll have to revisit it later. I have kittens to see.

“It’s nice,” he agrees as I follow him around the house.

“Did you know my brother?”

He only nods. Okay then. He clearly doesn’t want to talk, so I let it go. He almost looks annoyed at my interruptions. I’m guessing he didn’t want to be sent on kitty duty. He probably thinks that it’s beneath him.

“This way.” He motions me over toward a small barn or maybe it’s a shed. He opens the door and lets me inside.

“Kitties.” I step in farther. “Come out, babies,” I coo. It’s dark in here. A strange feeling comes over me. Before I can turn, I feel myself falling forward. The air leaves my lungs as I’m shoved against the wall. My hands are gathered behind my back. I feel cool steel snap into place. I open my mouth to scream, only to have a cloth shoved into my mouth.

I try and fight him off. He’s too big, and with my hands cuffed behind me, I’m not getting anywhere. A fear like I’ve never known runs through my body. Not for myself, but for Carter and Cato.

“I’ve got her.” I look over my shoulder at Nico. He’s got a phone pressed to his ear. “Hurry the fuck up, or we’ll all be dead.”

He’s right about that. Cato is going to kill all of them. I stare at Nico and wonder why he’s doing this. He has to know he’s a dead man walking. Cato will show him no mercy.

He pockets his phone. “What the fuck are you looking at?” he bites out. Then his eyes roam down my body. “You got a magical pussy or something? Cato never keeps a woman, but here you are getting free rein over his house. He puts up with you talking back, and you even hit him. You should be dead.”

He crushes me against the wall with his body. I close my eyes when I feel his hard on press into my ass. Oh, God. This isn’t happening. This is the second time someone has tried to grab me from Cato’s home.

“I should have a little taste.” I feel him smell my hair, and everything inside me curdles.

“Fuck.” He steps back and answers his phone. My heart races. How am I going to get out of this? “Yeah. I’m coming out.” He grabs the cuffs and pushes me back toward the door. I almost fall, but he yanks up on the cuffs, sending pain shooting into my arms as he keeps me upright.

“You try to get away, and I'll cut your finger off.” His cold blade pushes against my throat. “Got it?”

I nod.

He shoves me out the door with such force that I finally lose my balance and hit the ground hard. With my hands behind me, I fall face-first, and my hip takes the impact. My side throbs with pain.

“Watch it, Nico. He wants her in one fucking piece.”

I look at the other man who is sitting on a four-wheeler as Nico yanks me to my feet. I don’t recognize him.

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