Page 68 of Savage Prince

“No!” I blurt. “It’s not safe for you, Bella. You stay right where you are. We have no idea who was behind the fire and they could still be in the city, which is why we’re lying low.”

“We?”

“Huh?”

“You usedwein that sentence twice, Sere.” She pauses, heaving in a breath. “What is going on with you and Antonio?”

“It’s complicated…”

“Oh, shit. Raf’s right, isn’t he? You fell for your kidnapper?”

“No…”Dio, it’s not like I’m in love with him. I just have inexplicable feelings. “Look, he came to my rescue and now I feel like I owe him, okay?”

“Rescued you from what? After he kidnapped you?”

Elena’s head pops into the boathouse, and she signals to the watch on her wrist.

I nod quickly. “Bella, I can’t explain everything right now, and I have to go but try to get a hold of my dad. Tell him I’m safe and that I’m going to return to Milano as soon as I can.”

“Why won’t you let me come for you?”

“I already told you, it’s not safe,” I hiss.

“Then I’ll send Raf.”

“Absolutely not.” He’ll kill Antonio before he has a chance to explain. “Raf needs to stay with you and keep you safe.”

“Fine then, how about Matty or Alessandro?”

“I’ve got this under control, I swear.” But do I really? I blow out another breath, giving me just another second to think. “Okay, tell Alessandro to meet me at the airport in Milano in three days. If I don’t show, tell him to call the cavalry.”

“Three whole days?”

I glance over at Antonio, at the blood already seeping through the pristine bandage. “Yes, three days, Bella. And don’t you dare come with him or tell my father or anyone else for that matter, or I swear toDio, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“You’re crazy, Sere, but I love you. Please be safe.”

“Same here, cuz.” I jab my finger at the call end button and walk over to Elena who still stands by the door.

She throws a disapproving glare in my direction. “You’re not leaving.”

“I’m not leaving.Yet.”

Her head dips with a frustrated sigh. “If you insist on staying, make sure he rests for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.It’s crucial he doesn’t exert himself and reopen that wound. Do you understand?”

My head dips quickly.

“MaybeDiosent you to him for a reason.” Her brow lifts, assessing. “Or maybe it was Maria Graziella herself.” With a shrug, she spins to the door and marches out.

CHAPTER 34

SO LONG SUCKERS

Serena

The next day drags on, and I spend most of it just watching the sluggish rise and fall of Antonio’s chest. Why isn’t he awake yet? I run my hand over his forehead which is cool to the touch. The fever is gone, and I’ve unwrapped and wrapped the bandages twice now, making sure there’s no further sign of infection.

Every time I get a glimpse of the scars on his back, I wince. Now he’ll have another one to add to the collection. I just hope he doesn’t attempt to tattoo over this one until it’s fully healed.

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