Page 26 of Their Reckless Thief
Dorian moved over to the wall where a gleaming sword was mounted like a trophy. He pulled it down, the deadly sheen of the blade catching the light, and handed it to Vincenzo with a casual air that made my skin crawl.
The man on the floor whimpered and trembled as he tried to crawl away, but there was no escape. “I swear she wanted it! She was playing hard to get! I swear it!” His pleas fell on deaf ears. Vincenzo stepped forward slowly and deliberately, as if savoring every second of the man’s fear.
He raised the sword.
My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat as the blade sliced through the air, clean and swift. The man’s head hitthe ground with a sickening thud, rolling a few feet away before coming to a stop at my feet.
I gagged, my body revolting. The metallic tang of blood filled the air, and for a moment, I thought I might actually vomit. My knees buckled, and I slumped back into the chair, trying to keep the bile from rising in my throat.
Vincenzo turned to face me, his eyes cold and unfeeling, the sword still dripping with blood. “You understand now,dolcezza?” he said quietly, his tone eerily calm. “This is how I keep control. Through consequences. You fuck with me, and there will be consequences.”
I nodded weakly, unable to form words, my whole body trembling. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen death. Hell, I’d killed plenty of creatures. But it was the first time I’d witnessed something so brutal. So personal.
He wiped the blade clean, then handed it back to Dorian, smirking as if this was just another day at the office. I fought to keep my composure as the image of the man’s headless body burned permanently into my mind.
“Get her out of here,” Vincenzo ordered. “I’ll deal with her later.”
Dorian grabbed my arm again, but this time, I didn’t resist. I couldn’t. My legs were like jelly, my mind spinning as he led me out of the office. My heart raced, and my thoughts were a chaotic mess. I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything—my entire life—had just shifted. And not for the better.
As Dorian led me out of Vincenzo’s office, my head spun, the gruesome scene of the beheading flashing over and over in my mind. My breath came in short, shallow bursts as my stomach churned, but it wasn’t from the blood.
Maybe it was the intensity of how it happened, the cold detachment in Vincenzo’s eyes as he severed the man’s head like it was nothing. Or maybe it was the realization that I was nowdeep inside a world where that kind of thing was... expected. I wasn’t sure anymore, but my legs weakened with every step, a strange dizziness creeping over me.
The marble floors blurred beneath my feet, the walls shifting as if they were closing in. I shook my head, trying to push it away, but the more I fought it, the heavier I felt. My legs buckled beneath me, and before I could even register what was happening, the ground surged up toward me.
But I didn’t hit it.
Strong arms caught me mid-fall, pulling me against a solid chest. I blinked, dazed, and realized Dorian had scooped me up. His face hovered mere inches from mine, and concern creased his brow. His warmth seeped into my skin as he held me close.
“Whoa, easy there,” he murmured, kissing my forehead in a surprisingly tender gesture. “What’s going on with you, love? You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning,” I mumbled, the admission slipping out before I could stop it. “Plus, the excitement of almost getting killed and, you know, watching a man get beheaded... I think it’s getting to me. I have a hard time processing my emotions.”
Dorian’s face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes. “You haven’t eaten?” he growled. “Fuck, I should’ve noticed. I’m sorry.”
Before I could protest, Dorian scooped me up into his arms, lifting me as though I weighed nothing. I rested my head against his shoulder, and the steady beat of his heart pounding through his chest grounded me. I should’ve been embarrassed, or at least tried to wriggle free, but I didn’t have the strength. And the warmth of him felt safe, comforting in a way that took me off guard.
He carried me through the mansion’s winding corridors until we reached the kitchen. My eyes widened. It was hugeand gleaming, the kind of setup you would see in a high-end restaurant. Stainless steel counters stretched out beneath sleek cabinets, and an enormous stove dominated the far wall. The scent of spices hung in the air, mingling with the faintest hint of something sweet, like vanilla.
Dorian gently set me down in one of the chairs at the island, his hands lingering on my shoulders for a moment as he looked down at me, his expression softening. “Sit tight,” he said, his voice a little less gruff now. “I’ll fix you something.”
I watched as he moved around the kitchen with surprising ease, pulling out ingredients. For a man who looked like he spent most of his time running fight rings and dodging bullets, he sure as hell knew his way around a kitchen. He grabbed a loaf of bread, cheese, butter, and a can of tomato soup. My stomach growled, reminding me that I was starving.
“Grilled cheese and tomato soup,” he said over his shoulder as he threw a pan onto the stove. “Comfort food. Exactly what you need right now.”
I blinked at him, a little taken aback. “You cook?”
He shot me a sideways grin, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. Besides, I’m not about to let you faint on my watch. That wouldn’t look good on my babysitting résumé.”
I leaned back in the chair, watching him butter the bread, then layer it with thick slices of cheese before tossing it into the pan. The smell of the bread sizzling in butter made my mouth water. My head was still pounding, but the aroma of melting cheese and tomato soup bubbling on the stove was the perfect antidote to the chaos in my mind.
The way Dorian moved made it seem like this was a calming ritual for him. When he finally turned back to me, he had a plate of grilled cheese and a bowl of soup balanced in his hands.He placed them down in front of me, the golden bread perfectly crisp, the soup steaming.
“Eat,” he ordered, though his tone was more caring than commanding.
I didn’t need to be told twice. I picked up the sandwich and dipped it into the soup. Warmth filled me as soon as I took a bite.
Dorian pulled up a chair beside me, his eyes never leaving mine as I ate. There was a quiet intensity about him now, a softness I hadn’t expected. “Better?” he asked, his voice quieter now, almost concerned.
