Page 103 of Savage Prince

Her grin turns wicked as she tugs the top over her head, revealing her breasts through that lace bra. “You’ve been throwing that L-word out a lot lately.” Her jaw snaps shut as if she hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

But I won’t let her out of it that easily. I erase the space between us, framing her face with my hands. Her eyes are wild as they lock on mine, chest suddenly heaving. “I did not simply throw the word ‘love’ around. Much like I’ve never thrown my actuallovearound. To anyone.” I suck in a steadying breath, steeling my feelings for yet another rejection. “When I said I loved you I meant every word. You’ve become a part of me that I didn’t even know was missing. If I lost you, you would take a piece of me with you—it’s as simple and complicated as that.”

Raw emotion glistens across those lively sapphire irises. Her lips purse, and a tear slips down her cheek. I sweep it away with my thumb, completely speechless. Is she crying from happiness? Is she upset with me? I can’t for the life of me tell.

A loud chime rings out, breaking the spell between us, and I mutter a curse, whirling back toward the door. “I’m sorry,” I mutter. “That must be Pietro.” I press my thumb print to the digital scanner by the doorframe and the video surveillance system turns on.

Pietro’s full face fills the screen. “It’s me,capo.”

I press the button, granting him entrance, then turn back to Serena. “I’m going to let him in. Hold that thought, I’ll be right back.”

She nods and spins toward the bed. “Wait,” she calls out and I watch as she digs through her purse and reveals the gun I gave her. “Take little Toni with you. Just in case.”

The hint of a smile curves my lips. She may not love me yet but at least she’s proven time and again that she doesn’t want to see me dead. I’ll take it for now. “There’s a safe in the closet. There are guns, fake I.D.’s and enough cash to take you around the world. The code is zero six two nine.”

Mamma’s birthday.

“Got it.”

I move toward the door, turning back with my hand strangling the knob. “Stay in here and if anything happens?—”

“Nothing is going to happen,” she blurts. “We still have to finish our conversation…” A full smile flashes across her face andDio, it’s the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen. With foolish hope kindling in my chest again, I toss her a smile and close the door behind me.

Holstering the gun at my waistband, I look through the peephole when I reach the entrance. Again, Pietro’s familiar face fills the circular frame. Unlocking the door, I whip it open, and my heart catapults up my throat.

A man holds a gun to Pietro’s head, just outside the field of the camera’s vision. Tears stream down my friend’s cheeks,his face bruised and bloody.Merda. Then another familiar face pops up behind my righthand man.

Santiago.

CHAPTER 50

TRAITOR

Serena

“Run!” Antonio’s panicked voice sends ice rippling through my veins.

What the fuck just happened?

I dart toward the bedroom door and twist the deadbolt, my pulse skyrocketing. Muffled male voices leech through the thick timber, but they’re too warped to make them out. I tap the screen by the door, but I’m locked out, the system requesting a fingerprint. Shit. Pressing my thumb against the reader, I pray for a miracle, but no luck.Access Deniedflashes across the screen in bright red.

Wait a second… maybe there’s a manual override option.

I jab my finger at the screen again and again until a keypad appears. “Insert override code now or the alarm will be triggered,” a robotic voice drones.

Either option could be good. I tap out the code Antonio just gave me, again praying to all the gods it’ll work.

“Access granted,” it hums in response, and the screen flares to life.

I stare at the grainy image of the doorway, and fury pours through my veins as the familiar face coalesces. “Santi?” I blurt.

No, it can’t be. I’ve known him for months, told him everything. He’s been my best friend from day one at Dolce & Gabbana. Betrayal cuts deep, a knife carving out my insides. How is this happening?

Worse, how could I have been so stupid to trust him?Papàis right; I am just a naïve child. Or at least I was…

I squint trying to get a better view of another guy standing behind Pietro and just out of the camera’s view. Santi shoves Antonio’s man inside and the other male’s face flashes across the screen. Federico Sartori.

“I knew it!” I hiss.

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