Page 91 of Stolen Seconds

What I felt for her was a compelling force that deprived me of my ability to breathe when she wasn’t near. It was an unbearable ache in my chest when I couldn’t endure her pain, so she didn’t have to. A longing so potent that she’d taken my heart alongside her own and the day that hers stopped beating, mine would too.

A sorrow filled furrow formed between her brows. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know that you’re sorry for what you said to me.”

Her mouth parted in surprise as she searched my eyes, multiple emotions flashing in hers.

“You’re damaged, Irina.” I lifted her hand, keeping my gaze locked on hers as I placed a kiss on a cut marring her porcelain skin. “But so am I. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”

“I am,” she whispered, her fingers flexing until she caressed my cheek with tenderness. “Iamsorry.”

Her touch was warm, power at the palms of her hands to tame me.

“Let’s get you out of here, yeah?”

Her expression turned to uncertainty as she asked. “Can I have my phone first? The nurse said she’d bring in my belongings, but she hasn’t.”

When I didn’t make a move to give her what she wanted, her face fell. “Luca?”

I stood away from her. “I can’t do that, sweetheart.”

“What do you mean youcan’t?”

“Exactly as I said.” I held her phone up before placing it back into my pocket. “You won’t be getting your phone back.”

“Have you lost your mind?” She scrambled to get up and winced at the same time I stepped forward.Fuck.“If my father doesn’t hear from me, he’ll come here, and we’ll have an even bigger problem. War!”

My jaw flexed watching her in discomfort. “Let him.” I gritted out. “Nurse!”

Seconds later, multiple nurses rushed in and immediately held Irina down.

I’d suspected she’d be difficult and when status and money carried in your name, no one ever denied you.

“Get off me!” She writhed against the bed, eyes blazing as she stared at me with pure hatred. Long gone was the tenderness from earlier, replaced by betrayal.

“Sir.” The nurse holding the syringe waited for my approval.

I knew by doing this I was jeopardizing the small amount of trust she’d put in me, but when I’d said I was never letting her go, I meant it.

“Put her down.”

“Luca!” The strain in her voice chipped at my soul but it had to be this way. “I hate. . . hate you,” she mumbled as her eyes blinked close.

As long as I had her, I didn’t give a damn about a war.

Chapter 25

Irina

The brute had put me down like I was some deranged animal.

Anger surged through me, hot and heavy as I laid in Luca’s bed, the aftermath of being sedated wearing off quicker than I expected.

Did he think that I’d be some compliant doll and stay here with him? This wasn’t some sick fairytale, and he surely wasn’t my savior.

With energy I hardly had enough of, I slowly got up, the burn of my injuries sizzling across my flesh.

I really needed to talk to my father, not only to defuse the situation with Nicolai but figure out who the fuck did this to us.

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