Page 100 of Stolen Seconds

When he settled in front of me, he reached back and wrapped my arms around his torso, holding my hands to his chest.

It wasn’t something that should’ve made my breath hitch or my heart race, but the stillness of the night surrounding us caused me to lean forward until my cheek pressed against him.

I closed my eyes, savoring this moment because I knew once I had a chance to leave, I’d take it.

When the familiar field of Roman’s property came into view, my insides churned.

Why were we here?

He passed through security, riding toward the manor before parking, and I didn’t waste time getting off.

“What thehellam I doing here, Luca?”I

We both knew how Roman felt about me, and I doubted he wanted me anywhere near him or my brother.

So, what was his purpose to this visit?

He removed his helmet, narrowing his eyes at me. “Might want to lose that attitude of yours.”

“Or what?” I laughed incredulously. “You’re going to kidnap me again? Kind of moot, since you never let me go!”

“Why do you always do that?” He got in my face, staring down at me with pure rage as if I hit a nerve. “Assume the worst in everyone?In me?”

I gritted my teeth together, stopping myself from saying something stupid like how I’d never been given a reason to believe otherwise.

Luca had already crossed boundaries with me that no man had ever done before, and it ran deep into the crevices of my soul.

And maybe I was scared to open up to him because I knew this was a means to an end. Short-lived like everything else in my life and the thought of him being the next person to leave me was more painful than I cared to admit.

I sighed, exhausted from going in circles with him. “What are we doing here, Luca?”

His jaw ticked, and I knew he had more to say but didn’t. “To see Nico.” He brushed past me. “You’re welcome.”

I looked up at the night sky, trying to figure out how I ended up in this position.

I had a plan before coming to Italy, but the game had shifted, and I was losing.

With a churning twist in the pit of my stomach, Ifollowed Luca inside the house, where he waited for me in the foyer.

Without another word, he walked up the grand staircase with me in tow.

The house was quiet, void of any sound, but I knew better than to assume Luca came without informing Roman.

I wondered how he’d managed to convince him to let me see Nicolai. Or maybe I had it all wrong.

I knew I lost Roman’s trust—not that it had been something I sought out genuinely—but he’d become a friend of mine, and I guess our feud didn’t sit well with me.

He could pretend that he didn’t care either, but if I was anyone else, he would’ve splattered my brains out on that dining table weeks ago.

Roman was never the enemy, but the moment he kept Nicolai from his position as the nextPakhan,he would be one to the Bratva.

The hall was glowing faintly as we walked past multiple doors before Luca pushed the one at the end open.

He waited for me to pass through before shutting the door behind himself.

The moment my eyes landed on my brother; I felt the heavy ache in my chest ease up.

He was awake, perched up on a bed full of pillows and blankets.

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