Page 29 of His Stolen Princess

With a shouted “Yes, sir,” they scatter into the vineyard and beyond.

“Give the men Nico murdered a proper burial and a lifetime fund for their families. The intruder--cut him into pieces and put those on pikes near the gate for any visitors, but hidden from the house. Carter shouldn’t see such things.” I still stare at the night sky, my heart longing for my lioness. But I’ll find her soon enough.

“How did you know it was him?” Santino shakes his head and opens an app. “I mean, how did you know in time to have Flavia sew a tracker into all his clothes?”

“It had to be someone close. That meant you or him.”

Santino scoffs. “Are there trackers in my clothes?”

“Find him,” I snarl. I have only one thing on my mind. Apollonia. How scared she must be. But also how brave she’s already been. The helicopter took off toward Florence, but that could also lead farther south.

I pull my phone out and dial my pilot. “Have the chopper ready as soon as possible. I’m on my way. We’re taking a trip south.” I end the call and jump onto my four-wheeler. I would suspect they’re taking her to Rome. But something in my gut says they’re going farther, back to the beginning, back to where everything began.

“Heading past Rome,” Santino calls.

“They’re going to Naples.”

“You really think it’s Antony--”

“It’s him. It’s been him this whole time. I simply didn’t want to believe it.” I gun the four-wheeler back toward the house. The chopper will be here soon, and I need to gear up before it lands. Weapons. So many fucking weapons. But when I find the man who’s taken my lioness, I will make him hurt. No one will suffer as he will.

Antony Lantino. He took her. First he took Carter from me. Now my Apollonia. I kept tabs on him after I killed his father, Don Lantino, those years ago. He was away at school when everything happened, and I’d lost track of him shortly after he graduated. But perhaps I hadn’t truly lost him. He must’ve gone into hiding, then gotten backing from other families looking to take me down.

I should’ve known all along.

His father killed Apollonia’s parents, and now he’s back to finish the job. To crush the Simonettis as a sign of his strength, and as an opening salvo against me.

I cut my engine and jump off, then hurry into the house.

“Naples. You were right.” Santino turns his phone around to show me the map.

“He’s going to the old Lantino estate, the one on the cliff.” I own that property now. It’s a rundown ruin that could crumble into the sea at any moment. “We have to get there.”

The sound of the chopper is already echoing off the hills as I fling open the doors of my armory and load up.

Santino begins strapping weapons on as well.

“You’re staying.” I holster two pistols and tuck a third in my waistband.

“Like fuck I am.” He grabs an assault rifle.

“You are. Apollonia and little Carter are the most important things in the world to me. I’ll handle my lioness. You handle my cub.” I grip his shoulder and squeeze. “I need you to promise me, Santino. Promise me you will protect him.”

His jaw clenches, but after a few tense moments, he crosses himself. “I swear on the virgin mother that nothing will happen to that little boy.”

“Thank you, my friend.” I walk past him, then pause. “And if I don’t return--”

“Shut the fuck up and go save your woman.” He grabs a shotgun from the wall. “I’ll keep watch.”

I shake my head at him as I burst from the armory and sprint across the villa and out into the cleared garden where the chopper is landing.

I’ll return here with Apollonia, and we will begin our lives anew. But any birth, including a rebirth, cannot begin without blood. I intend to shed enough to earn our new lives and end the threat to my lioness for good.

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