Page 40 of Savage Prince

I draw in a breath, fully aware of how ridiculous I sound, butDio, I just cannot speak to my father right now. Not so soon after?—

Antonio must read the panic in my eyes because he heaves out a breath and unmutes the line, pressing the speaker button. “She’s in the shower. I’ll have her call you back in the next half hour.”

More shouting, and this time I can make out each and every Italian curse that explodes from my father’s mouth through the speaker.

“She’s fine, trust me.”

“I don’t have to trust you for shit, Antonio.”Papà’s furious howls echo across the room. “You took my fucking daughter, you cowardlypezzo di merda. If you don’t get her on the phone in the next five minutes, I’m going to get on a plane, hunt you down, cut off your cock and shove it down your throat until you choke on your own cum.”

Antonio swallows hard, his eyes lifting to mine in a desperate plea.

I lift a finger, signaling for him to wait, and shove the comforter back before dragging myself out of bed. Tugging at the hem of Antonio’s shirt, I make sure my ass isn’t hanging out. The idea of even looking at the torn panties sends my stomach into somersaults. I force my feet toward the bathroom, then run the water on full force. Through the open door, I motion for Antonio to come in.

Drawing in a steadying breath, I reach for the phone and force my tongue to move. “I’m fine, Pa,” I call out over the rushing water.

“Cazzo, Serena, how did this happen? I’m going to murder that son of a bitch?—”

“I’m okay,Papà. Antonio’s been the perfect abductor. Just do what he says so I can go home.”

“Of course I will,cuore mio. It’s just that it will take a few days. Your mother and I and Luca and Stella had some business to attend to in Asia. We’re a bit isolated here, and it’ll require some time to get my men out of his territory.”

He’s being oddly evasive. For some reason, he doesn’t want Antonio to know where he is or what he’s doing.

“Just do it quickly, okay? I have to go?—”

“Wait, you’re sure he hasn’t hurt you?”

“No,Papà, Antonio hasn’t hurt me.” My eyes lift to meet the eldest Ferrara brother, lingering in the doorway, and maybe I’m imagining it, but something like regret surges across the dark surface.

Then he reaches for the phone, and I hand it over, eager to end the call with my father. He’s always known me too well. And now with the pleasant steam of the shower filling the room, there’s nothing I want more than to wash away the feel of Otto’s hands on me.

Antonio walks out, my father still yelling in his ear, and I lock the door behind him. Now alone in the safety of the grand, master bathroom, I strip off my clothes and unlock the dam. Tears stream down my cheeks, my entire body shuddering from the stress of keeping the sobs at bay.

My knees give and I drop down to the floor, the cold tile sending another chill up my spine. I bury my head in my hands and allow the tears to fall until there’s nothing left. Once I’m good and numb, I crawl toward the claw foot tub, turn off the overhead shower and haul myself into the warm water.

Closing my eyes, I lean my head on the edge of the basin, carefully avoiding the tender bump. A pair of soulless, dark orbsflash across my vision, and fear snaps my eyes open once again. A strong hand holds me down, a sickening warm breath drifting across my face, then another hand runs down to my panties.

No.Dio, no.

My pulse skyrockets as vivid images of the attack flood my mind. Attempting to clear my thoughts, I slide down beneath the water until my heartbeat begins to slow. Everything is muffled around me and for a few seconds, there’s peace. But my breath is quickly fading, and I’m forced to emerge.

I don’t know how long I stay in the tub, but by the time I get out, my fingers are wrinkly and the chill has returned to my bones.

Wrapped in a new robe that just appeared in my bathroom today, I open the door a crack. Antonio sits at the foot of the bed, at the exact same spot I left him. He rises when his eyes find mine, hands twisted into a knot. “I—I wanted to be here if you needed anything.”

Ignoring his comment, I eye the bed, then the puddle of blood on the floor. Otto is gone, along with my torn panties, and I can’t help but wonder what Antonio did with them. Or was it another one of his goons to dispose of the grisly reminder of the assault? Would I really find the former guard’s head on a spike outside the villa? A dark, deeply buried part of me wants to see the asshole pay. I’d enjoyed seeing Antonio beat the shit out of him. I would never admit that out loud, of course.

I draw in a breath, banishing the dark thoughts. I’m not a monster. Not a monster. Just because I have the Valentino name, doesn’t mean I have to follow in my family’s questionable footsteps. Look at Isabella, she’s going to be a doctor.

A weariness sets in as I stand there, after the spiking adrenaline and the relaxing bath. A part of me wants to sink back under the sheets, but the other part is loath to ever sleep in that bed again. So instead, I remain standing, hugging the softfabric of the terrycloth robe and rubbing my arms to spread the warmth. On the bright side, I re-wrapped my ankle, and it feels a little better.

“What didPapàsay?”

“He said Tony will begin the negotiations while he’s otherwise detained. I’ve agreed to giving him seventy-two hours before?—”

“Before what?” I snap. “Before you kill me?” Anger. Isn’t that one of the steps? Yes, anger is good. It’s much better than fear or pain. I latch onto it, wafting air onto the growing flames.

“Serena, you know how these things work.”

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