Page 40 of His to Claim

That thought hit me upside the damn head at the exact moment that stun gun took me down. Maybe the jolt cleared my head and I should be thankful. I don’t know. All I do know is no one better hurt my girl. I’m coming for her and whoever gets in my way is as good as dead.

I pray to God I get to Carlotta in time because there’s no doubt in my mind that she’s in serious trouble. Gallo fucked up once and lost his chance because I stepped in and rescued her. That means he’s going to be extra careful and diligent this time around. He isn’t going to stop until he snuffs out her beautiful light and I refuse to let that happen.

No fucking way.

My muscles begin to respond as the stun wears off and I sit up and pull my phone out of my jacket. With shaking hands, I call Miceli’s number.

“Archer,” he says in answer. “Is she on the plane?”

“Not exactly.”Shit.I hate having to tell her brother that I screwed up. “We got to her place and less than five minutes later, some of Gallo’s guys broke down the door.”

Miceli swears.

“They hit me with a stun gun and took her. We need to find her and fast.”

“Any idea where they went?” Miceli is all business and ready to roll which I appreciate.

“No, but I can reach out to my contacts.”

“Put an obscene reward up for any information that leads to my sister.”

“Roger that.”

“In the meantime, come over to my place. I’ll call my brothers.”

“Yeah, on my way. And Miceli…” My voice trails off. Christ, I feel awful. If anything happens to Carlotta…

Shit.I can’t even let my brain go there.

“What?”

“I’m sorry. We should’ve gone straight to the airport. I should’ve known better.”

“It’s not your fault. I said to take her back to her apartment so she could pack a bag. If anything, this is my fault.”

“We’re going to get her back,” I tell him, my voice filled with conviction.

“Call your contacts, Archer. Then get your ass over here.”

“Roger.”

We disconnect and I immediately leave the apartment and head back down to my car. They’re long gone by now and the only way I’m going to find Carlotta is by hoping and praying one of my informants comes through with a good lead. And fast because time is running out.

Once I’m seated in my Challenger, I pull up an encrypted message and send it out to everyone I have on my roster. Of course, I also make sure to mention Miceli Rossi’s name and how he’s offering a huge financial incentive for any intel that leads to his sister. After sending the message, I start my car and turn it toward Billionaire’s Row where Miceli and Alessia reside.

His sister.

The words hit me hard because not only did I fuck up by letting Carlotta get taken, I also messed up royally by sleeping with her and then telling her my insensitive demands about whatever happens stays up at the cabin, yadda, yadda, yadda.

God, I feel like an utter ass. She was a virgin and gave me her body and, I think, a little piece of her heart. And what do I do? Toss it back in her face and repeatedly say I can’t be with her because my lifestyle is too dangerous.

Yes, that’s true. Well, partly. I lead a dangerous life and I never want to put her in a precarious position. But what just happened has nothing to do with me or what I do for a living in the shadows. Carmine Gallo is bound and determined to plant his fat ass at the table with the Five Families. In order to do that, he plans on doing whatever it takes to usurp the Rossi family’s seat.

Even if I wasn’t in the picture, Carlotta would still be in danger. But because I am involved, now her chances of being found that much faster have increased. So it’s a good thing I’m in her life, right?

“Fucking right,” I grumble. Finding Carlotta and returning her safely to her family is my number one priority. And maybe, just maybe, me being in her life isn’t a bad thing. If I’m with her then she’s always going to be protected and taken care of and…loved.

My heart does a weird little dip at the thought. I’ve never been in love before, so I can’t say for sure, but I think I am damn close to being in love with Carloota…if I’m not already there. Vulnerability is something I’ve always avoided because I thought it made a man look weak. But I’m learning that having such strong feelings for Carlotta doesn’t make me feel weak at all.

---