Page 49 of Savage Prince

His gaze heats, and he shifts uncomfortably between my legs where he kneels. His arm brushes the inside of my thigh and despite the layer of clothes between us, a whisper of heat streaks across my core.

Oh, thank gawd.

After what happened, I was convinced I’d feel nothing but numbness down there for the rest of my life. The fact that I felt something, anything, sparks hope in my chest. Sure, I shouldnotbe turned on by my captor, but semantics…

Clearing his throat, he starts to rise, placing his hands on my thighs to steady himself. A hiss escapes my clenched teeth, and he jerks his hands away so fast he staggers back a step andlands on the opposite bench seat. “Scusi,” he mutters, holding his hands up.

“It’s fine,” I mutter. “You just surprised me.” I wrap my arms around my middle and curl into his sweatshirt, the warm amber scent bringing a surge of relief that makes absolutely no sense.

Pushing himself up to stand, he turns toward the stern of the boat. “We should probably start heading back.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” I busy my hands, rifling through the picnic basket. I’m not hungry in the least but I need to do something.

We spend the rest of the ride back to the villa in silence, but it’s not awkward which is odd. Instead, I alternate between watching the opulent villas nestled in the hillside and my driver. He keeps his gaze intent on the horizon, never deviating in my direction. Watching the muscles across his back bunch and coil beneath his black shirt as he maneuvers the boat is weirdly relaxing too.

“Cazzo,” he hisses, a sharp gasp pulling my attention from his back to over his shoulder toward the shore.

My heart leaps up my throat as I spot the villa and the raging flames engulfing the entire structure.

CHAPTER 25

AN INFERNO

Antonio

I stare, numb, as the brilliant flames lick up the façade, consuming every inch of the villaMammaadored. The smoke billows, pouring from the terrazzo of the master bedroom and spreads like wild. An inferno shoots up into the blue sky, darkening the clouds and thickening the air.

Mariuccia? Fabi? Fear tears at my insides.

Dio, I hope they got out.

I gun the engine, needing to get closer to see if there is anything or worse, anyone left to salvage.

“What are you doing?” Serena shouts, suddenly standing beside me.

“I have to go back.”

“Are you crazy? There’s nothing you can do.”

“What if Mariuccia and Fabi are still in there?”

Her eyes widen, understanding flickering across her face before she shakes her head. “You can’t just run into a burning building.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,tesoro, but I sure as fuck hope it’s the last.”

Her hand curls around my arm, trying to tug the steering wheel off course. “You can’t, Antonio. There’s something wrong…” Her gaze narrows along the shore as I push closer. “There’s no way a fire like that got so out of control so quickly.” Then her hand shoots up, pointing at something moving amidst the thickening clouds of ash. “Look!”

I never would have spotted it if it hadn’t been for her. The glint of a gun and a figure skulking across the garden. Then another behind the olive tree and another behind the stone wall.

“Merda,” I grit out. “Who the fuck dared to attack my home?” The Sartoris, the Salernos? Or one of the countless others?

Dante wouldn’t… would he? I never thought he would risk his daughter’s life like this, but what the hell do I know.

Serena wrenches the steering wheel to the right, jerking it from my grasp. “No idea but now is not the time to find out.”

“But Mariuccia?—”

Her eyes turn glossy, lips pulling into a pout. “I’m sorry, Antonio, but if she didn’t get out...”

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