Page 41 of His to Claim

The issue with Caitlin is I wasn’t there—emotionally and, most of the time, physically, too. Of course, realistically, no two people can always be together twenty-four hours a day. But, for the first time, I’m beginning to realize having me around isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I have contacts, I have skills and, most importantly, I have the experience necessary to do whatever it takes. And with zero regrets.

Traffic is a pain in the ass, as usual, but I don’t let it slow me down. I know I’m driving too fast, being reckless, but Carlotta’s life is on the line. I’m almost to Miceli’s place when the worst thought in the world hits me.

What if we can’t save her? What if I lose Carlotta?

The idea of Gallo killing her makes my gut clench and churn. She’s so sweet, so good, so innocent. I can’t let her become collateral damage like Caitlin. Suddenly, worst case scenarios start bombarding me like shrapnel. What if none of my contacts come through? What if we’re too late and, just like Caitlin, I walk into a room somewhere and find Carlotta’s lifeless body on the floor, blood pouring from her mortal wounds and soaking the floor?

“Fuck.” I push my foot harder against the accelerator and swerve around a car stopped at a four-way stop sign and blow through the intersection after a cursory glance. I don’t have time to stop or yield or wait around, and I can feel each precious second draining away like the sands in an hourglass.

And that fucking terrifies me.

Doing my best to stay focused, I suppress the biting panic threatening to make me go into a tailspin. It’s important, now more than ever, to stay level headed and be prepared, both mentally and physically.

“Get a grip, Archer,” I scold myself. “You’re no good and can’t help her if you panic.”

In all my years of ghost ops, I never panicked. Not once. I’ve always remained calm, cool and collected under pressure. But the idea of losing Carlotta is making me a little crazy and a lot worried.

Yes, we had sex, but it was so much more than that. Thinking back over our brief time together at the cabin makes my heart squeeze painfully. I’m not sure when or how, but that little firecracker cast a spell over me. She charmed me into feeling things I’ve never felt before and now all I want to do is wrap my arms around her and keep her safe.

Unfortunately, I can’t do that. Not yet, anyway. Instead, I’m trapped in some horrible waiting game, not knowing the consequences of what’s going to happen, and it’s killing me.

After what feels like forever, I pull up into the visitor parking spot at Miceli’s building and jump out of the car. Once I’m inside the tall, extravagant building, I hop in the elevator and it zooms me straight up to his floor.

Heart in my throat and clinging to my phone like a lifeline, I knock on the door and it’s immediately opened.

“Archer, come on in. Have you heard anything yet?” Miceli asks, brow furrowed and gaze intense as he closes the door behind me. I can see the worry in every line on his face and I wish I had better news to deliver, but my contacts haven’t responded yet. It’s barely been twenty minutes, though, so that’s not unusual. Just frustrating as hell.

“Not yet,” I say. “Hopefully very soon.”

He motions for me to follow him into the living room where his brothers and their wives are gathered, along with Leo Amato, his bodyguard and best friend, and his woman Gia DeLucca, Alessia’s older sister. Everyone looks so serious and glum. It fucking shreds my heart. I’m blaming myself, wishing I could’ve done more and stopped those assholes. But I can’t focus on that because what if’s and could have’s aren’t going to help Carlotta right now. I have to remain positive and we need to come together and do whatever it takes to get my girl back.

Because, yeah, she’s mine. There’s no point denying it. I’m falling or maybe I’ve already fallen. To be honest, I don’t know what the fuck is going on. My heart is in a turmoil and these feelings she’s stirred up inside of me are all so new. Whatever the case, I need Carlotta Rossi like I’ve never needed anyone before.

I need my girl like the very air I’m breathing.

The realization clobbers my normally cool heart like a sledgehammer and a fire begins to burn inside my veins. I’ll do anything to find her. Even if that means putting myself in danger or sacrificing my life in order to save hers.

I’ve always been a protector and a warrior, and I’ve sacrificed a lot for my country. But this is extremely personal. It’s not just business as usual. If this rescue mission goes up in flames and ends in disaster, I will never get over it. The guilt will be my undoing and losing Carlotta means I will lose myself, too. And this time there won’t be any coming back.

I can’t sit around and continue to do nothing or I’ll go out of my blasted mind. We need to come up with a plan. We need to find her. Leaning against the wall, I cross my arms as her brothers begin to ask a million questions about what happened at her place.

I fill them in as quickly and thoroughly as I can. There’s not a lot to share because I was down and out for most of the time. But I tell them three armed men broke the door down and when I rushed into the living room, they were waiting for me.

“I told Carlotta to hide, but your sister doesn’t exactly listen very well,” I say, my tone dry.

“Who? Lottie?” Angelo makes a mock-confused face. “You’re kidding, right?”

“She’s definitely a firecracker,” I murmur, picturing the cute way her face pinches and her nose scrunches right before she goes all ballistic about something.

“Ah, so you’ve witnessed Carlotta the Crusher?” Vin asks wryly.

I snort back a laugh. “That’s a fitting nickname.”

“Yeah, our baby sis can crush the biggest balls with ease,” Enzo states.

“She sure can,” I murmur. My heart clenches with emotion and I look down at my phone’s screen, willing a text to appear with information about Carlotta’s whereabouts. Fuck, any lead at this point will be something.

Heaving out a frustrated breath, I rake a hand through my hair then look back up and realize everyone is staring at me. Her brothers have curious expressions on their faces while their wives exchange knowing smiles.

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