Page 40 of The Villain's Beloved (The Villain's Duet 2)

“She’s right here.”

I blinked rapidly, my eyes adjusting to the light. “Jesus,” I breathed when I saw Charlotte across from me, tied to a chair, still unconscious with her head hanging down. There was blood on her coat, and my heart wanted to crack through my ribs as panic soared.

“Charlotte!” I cried. “Charlotte, wake up.”

“She’ll wake up soon enough.”

My attention snapped in the direction of the voice just as Julio Bernardi revealed himself, stepping out of the corner.

“You son of a bitch,” I spat at him. “Let her go.”

“Not yet. I need something from you first.” He grinned, and the scar above his upper lip curled. “Give me what I want, and I’ll consider letting her go.”

“I know you want her, but it will be a cold fucking day in hell before I’d let you harm her in any goddamn way.”

“Oh.” Julio paused. “I don’t want her.”

I recoiled, narrowing my eyes, not trusting this son of a bitch one little bit.

Julio frowned. “You thought I wanted her?”

I didn’t respond, my mind racing.

“Oh, no, Elijah.” Julio cackled. “How wrong you are. I don’t want her. I never wanted her.” He mimicked a gunshot in my direction with his fingers. “It’s you I want.”

Me? What the fuck was he talking about?

“Well, not you, but rather something you have.”

“Then what the fuck is she here for? By having her here you’re only pissing me the fuck off.”

He laughed, those mouse-colored eyes of his filled with amusement. “You know how long I’ve been searching for you?”

“I don’t give a fuck,” I bit out, still pulling at the cable tie around my wrists.

Julio pulled his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, auburn strands falling back to fan his ugly motherfucking face. “I’m pretty sure when it comes to her,” he walked up behind her, placing his filthy hands on her shoulders, “you give quite the fuck.”

“Take your fucking hands off her.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll cut your motherfucking hands off right before I tear out your goddamn liver.”

Charlotte stirred, moaning softly.

“Oh,” Julio smirked, “look who’s waking up.”

“Keep her the fuck out of this, Bernardi!”

“You know,” he leaned down, bringing his face closer to her, “all this time I was searching for you, I never thought I’d get two for the price of one. Yet here we are. The man raised by Gianni Guerra, and the dead man’s granddaughter.”

“Elijah,” Charlotte whimpered, lifting her head, dried blood covering the side of her face.

“Charlotte!” I jerked, yanked, and fucking pulled at my tied hands. “Charlotte.” I cut my glare to Julio. “Let her fucking go.”

Julio leaned closer, pressing his face against her cheek, taunting me. “Get away from her!”

“Give me what I want.”

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