Page 63 of The Curse of Blood and Silenc

Balthazar prowled behind Louis, placing his hands on his shoulders. “He works for me now.”

Tears blurred my eyes, hot and angry. “You bastard.”

Balthazar moved away from Louis, his shoes clicking against the floor as he walked. “But you can heal him, Serenity.” His voice dropped lower. “Come to St. Christopher’s Church.” His lips curved into a cruel smile. “If you don’t, dear Louis will finish what he started, and you’ll lose your best friend.”

I woke with a start.My mind swam, thoughts scattered like broken glass. This room... I recognized it. It was the same room where Angelo had first held me captive. The memory of those early days hit me—the fear, the shock, not knowing if I’d live or die.

Drool had dried on my pillow, and my neck ached from sleeping in an awkward position. I felt awful. My mind was strangely blurry, and a slick sweat made my blue silk robe cling to me like a second skin. The sheets beside me were rumpled but empty.

Where was Angelo?

My temples throbbed like someone was driving railroad spikes into my skull. Every heartbeat sent fresh pulses of pain ricocheting through my head. I squinted at the clock through a fog of agony—three-thirty. It was pitch black in my bedroom, so it had to be three-thirty in the morning.

My heart quickened as the dream came flooding back. Joy’s bruised face. Those things moving under Louis’ skin. Balthazar’s ultimatum.

How was Balthazar able to contact me again? Angelo had said that I was powerful enough to keep him out of my mind. He’d also strategically placed those ancient coins that were supposed to keep him out. Obviously, they hadn’t worked. And if Balthazar could break through Angelo’s magic...

I had to tell Angelo. Now.

The door was out—Luigi would never let me pass. But the window was a possibility.

I stumbled out of bed, steadying myself on the table when my legs threatened to give out. The room spun, but I forced myself toward the window. Only three stories. Not too high, and there was the thick ivy growing up the side of the mansion. If I could just?—

My hands banged against iron as I reached for the heavy curtains. I yanked the fabric aside. Thick bars crisscrossed the entire window frame, the metal thrumming with protective magic. Angelo hadn’t just posted a guard—he’d turned the entire room into a cage.

I stumbled away from the window, already forming a new plan. If I could convince Luigi that Angelo was in danger, maybe he would let me out. The room spun viciously, the aftereffects of Balthazar’s dream-walking still clouding my head.

“Luigi. Luigi!” I pounded on the door desperately.

He opened it, his broad shoulders blocking the hallway. He gave me that familiar scowl, the one that always made his scar twist across his cheek.

“Where’s Angelo? He’s in danger.” I moved away from the bed, still unstable, my sweaty palm sliding across the slick comforter. The overhead light was too bright after my nightmare. “Please, Balthazar’s going to?—”

“No.” He crossed his arms and planted himself in the doorway, muscles bulging under his black shirt as if I were some dangerous prisoner trying to escape. A cold smile touched his lips. “Thecapowarned me you might pull something like this. Said you’d probably try to convince me he was in danger.” He scoffed, and his dark eyes hardened. “Thecapois too powerful for a demon to take down. Besides, he’s got Enzo and Dimitri with him.” He shifted his weight, blocking even more of the doorway.

My stomach dropped. Of course Angelo had thought of this—had predicted exactly how I’d try to escape. He didn’t just plan for threats; he anticipated every possible move I might make. I wasn’t just trapped by the bars and the guard; I was trapped by Angelo’s ability to think ten steps ahead of me. God, he probably had contingencies for his contingencies.

“Where did he...” Another sharp pain shot through my skull. Then the pieces clicked together despite my pounding head, and fury cut through the pain. “Did Angelo have you drug me?” My legs felt weak as realization hit—he’d planned this, all to keep me trapped in this house.

The fuzzy feeling, the weakness, the way the room spun—memories crashed through me. Being drugged before, waking up in that auction house. The same helpless feeling, the same violation. And now Angelo, who’d sworn to protect me, who’d helped save me from that nightmare, was using the same tactics. Different purpose, same method. Different cage, same loss of control.

The room spun, but I couldn’t tell anymore if it was from the drugs or the rage. Had this been his plan all along? How many other “contingencies” did he have ready? How many other ways was he prepared to control me while calling it protection?

Luigi’s face paled, guilt flashing across his features briefly before he schooled them back to enforcer-blank. “No.”

My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I stared at Luigi’s immovable form in the doorway. Angelo needed me whether he wanted to admit it or not. So did Joy and Louis. I could save them—I was probably the only one who could. Fury pulsed inside me, and with it came my power stirring like a wild thing beneath my skin. I crossed the room, going nose-to-nose with him. The spicy scent of his cologne couldn’t quite mask the metallic smell of blood that clung to him. ‘You need to take me to him.’”

“No.” He crossed his arms and spread his legs apart, using every inch of his height advantage to loom over me. He was ready for a fight.

“Let me pass.” I tried to slip past him, feinting left, but he moved surprisingly quickly for someone his size. His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist, iron fingers pressing into my delicate bones.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Luigi stepped in front of me, his stance unyielding but careful not to touch me. His dark eyes were apologetic but firm as he gestured toward the bed. “Please return to bed, Miss Serenity. Thecapowas explicit about keeping you safe.” When I hesitated, he sighed. “I understand you’re restless, but you know how Angelo is about your safety. He would have my head if anything happened.” He picked up the comforter and held it out. “Please. Rest. He’ll return soon.”

“You can’t keep me here, Luigi.” I rolled to the other side of the bed, but he was there in an instant, his supernatural speed making my attempt at escape look painfully slow.

“I can and I will.I will not disappoint the capo again.” I wasn’t sure, but I thought I heard fear in his tone. I remembered the rumors about what happened to guards who failed Angelo. The ones who…disappeared.

I glared up at him, my heart pounding against my ribs. “You don’t understand. If I don’t go, Balthazar will kill Joy.” The image of her bruised face was still fresh in my mind.

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