Page 50 of His to Claim

Running fast, I leap up onto the ladder and take two rungs at a time, my boots moving fast, one after the other. Yes, I’m being reckless because a guard could be up here. But time is nearly out. I don’t have the luxury of dicking around. Besides, Miceli is below me, gun aimed up, ready to blow away anyone who might suddenly appear.

Jumping up into the loft, I see Carlotta and my heart falls. Fuck me. She’s up on her toes, a rough rope wrapped around her neck, and her eyes are wide in fear.

“Hurry!” she rasps, her body twisting, her fingers clawing at the rope.

I race over to her, swoop my arms around her body then step back off the trap door. Lifting her up, holding her tight to me, I support her weight so it eases off her neck. A second later the door drops and I wobble slightly, teetering right on the edge.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, my attention zeroing in on the empty space between us and the floor below. The idea that we just got here in the nick of time makes me hold Carlotta that much tighter.

That was way too damn close for comfort.

“Oh, God,” Carlotta murmurs, voice full of emotion.

“Hang on, sweetheart. We’ll have you down in just a minute,” I assure her.

“Damon,” she cries, arms around me, holding so tightly. She’s still scared she’s going to fall, but not on my watch. No fucking way.

“I’ve got you, Lottie, and I’m not letting go. I promise, honey.”

Miceli appears and I tip my chin downward. “There’s a knife in my boot,” I tell him, and he quickly drops down and unsheathes it. It’s military-issued, sharp as shit, and will get the job done fast in a heartbeat.

Standing back up, Miceli quickly gets to work, using the blade to saw through the rope. I can feel Carlotta’s fingers digging into my shoulders. Poor thing is holding on for dear life.

“Hurry,” I whisper to him.

“Almost there,” Miceli states, working as fast as he can.

Several loud popping sounds pierce the air right outside the barn and I exchange a worried glance with Miceli. No doubt about it—they were definitely gunshots. And that can only mean Vin, Enzo and Angelo ran into some trouble or bad company.

A moment later, the rope breaks and Carlotta is free. I let her slide down my body then hug her tightly to me. “I was so worried about you,” I whisper, running my hands down her head and back. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she murmurs against my chest then pulls back. “Please just help me get this thing off my neck.Please.”

Her voice has a raspy quality because the rope was wound so tightly around it and I can feel my blood boil. How dare Gallo string up the woman I love by her delicate neck.

The thought moves through my head and, a second later, I realize its significance.

Love.

I love Carlotta Rossi.

I knew I did after she was taken, but I’m surprised at how easily the thought came.

Holy shit.I am a man who is head over ass in love.

But before I can think too hard about what that means, I want that fucking rope off her neck. Together we remove the horrible noose and drop in on the hay-covered floor. I’d like nothing more than to burn the offending thing, but we haven’t got time for that.

“I thought I was going to die,” she says, her dark eyes bright with unshed tears. I can tell she’s already been crying from her red face and my heart swells.

“Not on my watch, sweetheart.” I pull her close and press my lips to hers. But before anything can get too steamy, a throat clears and we reluctantly move apart. Miceli is watching us closely and I slide my arm around Carlotta’s waist, making it clear that she’s mine, whether he likes it or not.

Hopefully we get his—and her whole family’s—approval. But, first things first.

“No time for that,” Miceli interrupts, his lips twitching as he tries not to smile. “We have a plan to follow through with and an asshole to eliminate. Plus, those were gunshots and they might need some backup.”

“Roger that,” I say, my voice firm, steady and full of determination. Right now, my part of the plan, and my first priority, involves escorting Carlotta back to the Range Rover and making sure she gets to safety. Meanwhile, Miceli will join his brothers and confront Gallo, along with the other members of the Five Families.

We climb down the ladder, leaving that god awful loft behind, and now it’s time to go our separate ways and fulfill the plan.

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