Page 127 of Bellini Born
I proceeded to put on an award-winning performance, clutching my stomach and making loud retching noises. From my periphery, I could see his feet moving further away.
That’s right. Keep backing up, buddy.
Once the distance between us grew great enough that I liked my chances of making it inside one of the nearby storefronts before he caught me, I pushed off on my palms and made a break for it.
Pumping my legs wildly, I got within three feet of the door to a bakery when an arm looped around my waist and I was lifted off the ground. “Stupid cunt. You can’t run and you can’t hide.”
Shrieking, I thrashed violently, desperately trying to get him to drop me. Tears streaked freely down my face as I continued to struggle, even when I realized my efforts were useless. My assailant outmuscled me with ease, hauling me toward wherever he planned to violate me before taking my life.
I tried, Matteo. Please know I went down fighting.
“Will you shut the fuck up,” he hissed in my ear.
That only made me yell louder, calling for help, praying that someone would do the right thing and alert the authorities. A dirty hand was clamped over my mouth in an attempt to muffle me, and though my stomach revolted at the idea, I bit down on that grime-coated flesh and ripped a chunk out of it.
There was an inhuman wail, and I was released so suddenly that I barely managed to break my fall when I crashed to the sidewalk. The minute I rose to my feet, I was knocked off them again in a move that had me spinning around to where I landed on my back. My head cracked against the concrete so hard that I saw stars.
My attacker took advantage of my temporarily stunned state, straddling my waist and curling his fingers around my neck. He increased the pressure, cutting off my air supply. I clawed at his hands, but it was no use as he slowly choked the life out of me.
“More trouble than you’re worth, you little whor—“
A spray of something warm hit my face a split second before the man atop me disappeared from view. My lungs expanded with great heaving gasps, and I frantically searched to see where he’d gone, only to be met with the sight of him lying beside me, half of his face missing.
Recoiling in horror, I scrambled to get away, but with my vision swimming, my movements were sluggish. Dizzy, I turned onto my side and purged the contents of my stomach before collapsing, too weak to continue.
“Summer!” I was vaguely aware of my name being roared in the distance. Or maybe it was closer; I couldn’t really tell. All the sounds around me were distorted, almost as if I was underwater.
Warm hands touched my face, and I screamed, slapping them away with what little strength I had left.
Eventually, my eyes focused enough that I was able to recognize the man who came into view, backlit by the setting sun.
Matteo. I knew he’d come for me.
That thought brought comfort as my world went dark.
Chapter 29
Matteo
WithSerafinacrawlingovermy body, using it like her own personal jungle gym, I couldn’t wipe the goofy grin from my face as I watched the charge notifications pop up on the lock screen of my phone.
Gabi took Summer out this morning with strict instructions to have my black card run through so many machines that the magnetic strip wore out. And that girl was following orders like a champ.
$17,000 at Sophie Calloway—shoes.
$32,000 at Valentina Morello—jewelry.
$26,000 at Verity Jane—clothing.
But it was the last one that had my cock twitching: $12,500 at Arabella Reign—lingerie.
Fuck, I was going to make Summer model every single piece tonight in our bedroom before I destroyed each one, forcing her to buy more so I could repeat the process all over again.
I was just about to pocket my cell when it began to ring with an incoming call.
Chuckling, I answered, ready to congratulate my wife’s best friend on a job well done when her panicked voice came down the line. “Matteo.”
All my muscles locked in unison as I instantly went on alert. “Gabi? What happened?”
