Page 5 of Sweet Retribution

“Where is he?” I don’t have to say who.

“My guess? He figured he’d been tracked. He won’t be returning here. I’ll make sure of it.”

I scan the small property. Three men spread out across the backyard, two in the front. From their positions, they can see all corners of the house. Still, I won’t leave Gia alone. Not until she’s coherent.

Marco and I go inside and sit at the kitchen table. We connect our leads, check on Lorenzo’s status–I want him alive and suffering–and secure a new location for Gia.

When her IV is finished, I retract the needle from her arm and hand it off to Marco.

Once he’s outside, I dress Gia, wrap her in the blanket, and carry her to the backseat of the town car. She stirs and moans.

“Shh. It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe.” I repeat over and over until she’s calm again.

We reach the new location in less than an hour. I wait while Marco secures the property. My men have been there for the past hour in their posts, but I can never be too sure.

Lucca greets me on the front steps. I see him sigh in relief at the sight of Gia in my arms. I don’t expect him to ever make a mistake again. At least not where Gia is concerned. I wait as he enters the house first.

It’s a nondescript three bedroom villa at the end of a dead end road. The lake behind the house offers some sense of security, and there are eight men on guard, stationed every hundred yards, and will be until Gia is safely back at my estate.

I want her home. In her bed. In my bed. But until we locate Antonio and figure out his next steps, it’s best to keep Gia in an undisclosed location.

I bring her to the back room and set her in the middle of the four-poster bed. It creaks lightly and she stirs.

“No!” she calls out.

“Gia, it’s okay. You’re safe.” I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know if she’ll even remember any of this. I hope not.

She moans again and falls back asleep. Torn between staying with her and checking on the status of my men’s research, I stand at the foot of the bed and watch her sleep.

CHAPTER TWO

Islowly wake and stiffen, careful not to move too much. I don’t want to alert Antonio I’m awake. I don’t hear any sounds in the room and wiggle my fingers, thankful to have feeling in them again.

My fingers caress my leg and... my leg? They’re not restrained? I move my arms freely by my side, then roll my ankles, also no longer tied down. I open my eyes and blink rapidly. It’s dark. I give myself a moment to adjust and attempt to make out my new surroundings.

The smell is gone. I’m not naked. The sheets are soft and clean under me. At first, I’m relieved, then sheer panic sets in. I remember Antonio talking about raping me, although he didn’t call it that.

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