Page 111 of Deception

24

ISABELLA

Acrack of gunfire shatters my sweet slumber.

Alessandro snaps up, eyes wide. The sounds of shouting and battle are inside the house, in the courtyard outside.

Stomping feet shake the walls right before the door bursts in, several dark shapes rushing the bed. Aless darts over the bed like the shadow of death, even as the first one reaches me, grabbing at my arm and tugging me off the bed.

“Isa!” Alessandro looks over his shoulder as he grapples with one of the intruders.

Hands lay on me before I can even clear the sheets and Alessandro has a chance to cover me.

“Isabella get down!” He shouts at me and I dive for the nightstand where I know he must keep a pistol.

Three men are already rushing the bed. One turns back, reaching for a gun, clicking the hammer back.

“Gun!” I scream a warning, dodging to the side.

Gunfire explodes in a sharp clap that leaves my ears ringing. The man with the gun goes down, clutching his chest. A gurgling cry follows from the other side of the room.

“Alessandro—” My assailants slap my clawing hands aside, crushing me in a hold and lifting me. He reaches up to silence me and I bite down hard, tasting blood.

“You fucking cunt!” he bellows, shoving me away and striking me across the face.

Stars explode in my vision, staggering me to the floor.

“Grab her, now!”

Hands pull me to my feet.

Just as a shadow rips across the room toward us.

It’s him. My lover.

Spatters of blood across his chest gleam in the dim blue light coming through the windows as he surges forward, a beast unleashed.

“Let her go.” His growl vibrates the walls. He points the barrel above me, the dagger in his other hand dripping dark blood.

He never sleeps unarmed. I learned that from searching his room at the lodge.

“Go, Aless! Shoot him!” I can’t break free from my tormentor’s grasp, but I trust Alessandro to make the shot.

“Gun down or I blow her guts out!” Cold steel presses against my lower back.

Instantly, icy sweat breaks out all over my body.

Not the baby!My mind screams, panic blinding me.

Alessandro stops, hesitating. He sees the look on my face.

“It’s okay, Aless…just wait,” I try to control my shaking. Look for an opening.

The two men left standing flank us, guiding us back toward the door.

“Follow and she fucking dies. Back up!”

We shuffle out into the hall, my feet kicking uselessly.

---