Page 45 of Kidnapped Forced Mate

They don’t deserve freedom when they use that freedom to break an unsuspecting woman’s heart. While I sit in the silence of the eerily quiet safehouse alone, waiting for Luca Mancini to “save” me, all I can do is wallow in the anger and resentment I feel for Stryder.

“Signorina!”

I look up to find Luca Mancini bursting through the basement door and flashing down the flight of wooden stairs. I hadn’t even heard the rush of footsteps when he arrived with his men behind him carrying guns.

I was so lost in my thoughts, that I probably appeared as bewildered as I should be. At least it’s a bonus towards the act.

“Signorina Vanessa!” he exclaims with relief, rushing forward and quickly untying me. His men file in and stand around us in a protective circle.

But it’s not protected that I feel. Instead, a wave of nausea floods over me when Luca’s hands brush my wrists as he unties me. I’m instantly folded into unwelcomed arms, lifted to my feet as my body grows limp from the rejection of Luca’s touch.

“Vanessa…” the man breathes with his thick Italian accent. “I was so worried about you, signorina.”

“I–I–” I fumble on my words when he cradles my face with both hands. My reaction adds to the act, but it’s not because I’d been locked away for two weeks that my brain is fuzzy.

Instead, I can barely meet the man’s gaze, his dark eyes becoming the abyss of internal doom for me. I can’t lose myself in them, not the way I’d easily lose myself in the warm depths of natural greens.

Gulping, I don’t say a word as Luca lifts me into his arms and carries me out of the safehouse bridal-style. His gallancy doesn’t move me an inch. Not because he’s the enemy, but because I’m in the wrong man’s arms.

I have to numb myself to the feeling of wanting to be as far away from Luca as possible, yet needing to go through with this for the sake of my job. He speaks in urgent Italian to his men when we enter a blacked-out SUV that takes us further to the outskirts of the city. He doesn’t let go of my hand, his fingers feeling despicably unbidden, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine.

We finally ended up in a large, vacant field with a private landing strip, permitting Luca to let go of my hand and give me the internalized private space I needed. Not only am I saved from having to physically touch him, I’m able to gather my thoughts and prepare myself for what lies ahead.

For now, I’m on my own. I don’t have a wire or a tracker on me, in case he has a way of scanning me for those things. The last thing we need is to attract attention to his suspicions, and I have to buy myself enough time to find an electronic device to contact my people.

Luca throws my door open and offers me a hand, and I have to fake being unsteady on my feet and make my situation believable. He clicks his tongue, lifts me in his arms again, and then carries me into the waiting private jet.

“I–I don’t feel so good,” I murmur, pressing a hand on my forehead as we enter the lavish private jet.

He nods and sets me down onto a seat, stroking the stray hairs out of my face. “It’s okay, signorina,” he assures me. “We are going to Sedona, where you will rest, and I will protect you. This will never happen again.”

I nod feebly and lean my head to one side, closing my eyes to feign sleep. In Luca’s mind, he thinks he’s protecting me. It should be something any woman would be grateful for. I can’t be grateful, not just because he’s the enemy.

Because he’s not Stryder Vulkan, whose need to protect me was something I found myself desiring.

***

All I can think about is what we’ve achieved now that I stand here on the balcony overlooking Luca’s villa.

This is exactly what we wanted – for me to exploit his kindness so grandly, I’d be the first woman he took to his compound. That way, I’d be able to spy on his every move and alert my team when he’s about to sell arms to a Russian dealer. Catching him in the act is the only way to get him behind bars. His dealings have always been hushed and so discreet, that the FBI has never been able to prove him guilty enough to form a case.

With a little courtyard out in front housing a statue of Mother Mary, the villa isn’t as grand as I thought it would be. The lawn isn’t as vividly swept as the ones on Aurora Island, and the flowers are not as bright and beautifully colored.

Everything is rather… Ordinary. Plain, even. Perhaps, if I hadn’t visited Aurora Island, I would have been able to appreciate this a little more.

Maybe, if I hadn’t met Stryder Vulkan, I would have been able to appreciate Luca’s swift charms when he comes in wheeling a serving tray carrying breakfast.

“I see you have rested well, signorina,” he audibly applauds as he joins me on the balcony. A shiver of discontentment creeps along my spine when his hand settles loosely on my hip. I can’t wait for this to be over.

“I have, thank you,” I sigh, staring out at the rest of the villa. “It’s a lovely place you have here, Luca.”

“You like it?”

I nod. “I would love to see the rest of it if you’ll show me around.”

“Of course, signorina,” he agrees. “Soon, I promise.”

Luca’s hand grows stronger on my hip as he firmly turns me around to face him. The moment I’d been dreading is here, and I know I have to cross this bridge if I’m ever going to double-cross Luca.

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