Page 2 of Armando

She’s silent for a few moments, and I encourage her to take a few deep breaths. She’s shivering from head to toe, and I notice for the first time that her shirt is ripped. It’s a V-neck with some logo I don’t recognize, and it’s far too tight for her ample chest. It looks like someone grabbed the hem to keep her from escaping, resulting in a good-sized tear up one side.

My gaze wanders up her arms, pausing to examine the dark bruises on her wrists and biceps.What the fuck has she been through?Rage rolls over me in waves, my adrenaline spiking once more at the thought of some motherfucker’s grubby hands on this precious woman.

“I just s-saw you and knew you were big enough to p-protect me.”

“I am. I will,” I vow. I’ve never meant anything more in my entire life. She’s tied to me now. I can’t explain it, and I don’t want to. I need to get her to safety. We’ll figure everything else out from there. “What’s your name?”

Her cheeks flush a light shade of pink, making her glow even as she’s falling apart in front of me. “Allegra,” she murmurs, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. She gives me the smallest of smiles, and Jesus Christ, I can hardly breathe when she looks at me like that.

“Allegra,” I repeat, committing each syllable to memory. I like the way it rolls off my tongue. “I’m Armando,” I tell her, lifting her hand already clasped in mine and shaking it.

Another hint of a smile lights up her face, but it’s soon replaced by a nervous, desperate anxiousness.

“Can I get you some tea? Something to calm your nerves? Or maybe a muffin? They have great coffee cake here too.”

Allegra shakes her head no, then drops her gaze. “I don’t have any money,” she whispers. “I don’t have… anything. I don’t haveanything.” She blinks a few times as if the reality of her situation is dawning on her. “I don’t have anything,” she repeats, her bottom lip quivering.

“Hey now,” I say in what I hope is a calming voice. “That’s not true. You have me.”

I hoped to make her feel safe and protected like she asked, but the terrified woman muffles a sob as tears stream down her cheeks. Seeing her in this kind of agony is excruciating, and without thinking, I pull her into my lap.

Allegra curls up against me, burying her head into my neck. I cup her head, keeping her close as I wrap my other arm around her back, pressing her further into my embrace.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur, running the tips of my fingers up and down her spine in soothing strokes. “I don’t know what you’re running from, but you picked the right person to protect you.”

Allegra nods, settling something deep in my soul. On some level, she knows she’s safe with me. It’s a start.

I push down the crazy, possessive thoughts of her going to someone else for help. They could have taken advantage of her situation. They could have hurt her worse than she already is.

“Everyone is staring at us,” she whispers, her body growing stiff in my arms. “I’m making a scene.”

“I’ll pluck their eyes out if it will make you feel better,” I half-joke. She has no idea what lengths I’d go to in order to keep her comfortable. I’m already obsessed with her, and I’m not sure what to do about it.

A soft giggle falls from her lips. God, I’m already addicted to it. This woman is going to destroy me.

I can’t wait.

CHAPTERTWO

ALLEGRA

Idon’t know what comes over me, but hearing the handsome man grunt about plucking eyeballs out is hilarious. A laugh bubbles up from some hidden reservoir as this stranger holds me in his arms.

A million thoughts race through my mind as my laughter turns into something else. Something manic. Unhinged, almost. I hear myself laugh and then choke on a sob, but it doesn’t feel real. It doesn’t feel like my body or my voice.

“I’ve got you,” Armando whispers again, cupping my face. “You’re safe now. Look at me.” He wipes away my tears with the pad of his thumb, guiding me to face him. “That’s it, sweetheart,” he says softly. “I’m right here, and I’m going to get you through this.”

I want to protest, to tell him he shouldn’t get involved with me and that I’m not worth the trouble, but the words die on my tongue when his hazel eyes meet mine. They’re filled with understanding and surprising tenderness, and the longer I stare into their depths, the warmer I feel.

He’s surrounding me with his strength and presence, but it’s not suffocating like so many other men in my life. Armando may be nearly double my size, but he’s treating me gently like I’m some treasure. Truthfully, I’m the furthest thing from precious. I’m a disaster, and a dangerous one at that. Still, I want to soak up every ounce of peace and safety from Armando while I can.

Armando gives me a small smile, his thumb still stroking my cheek soothingly. What is it about this man? Why did I jump into his arms? After what I’ve been through, throwing myself at a giant muscular beast probably wasn’t my best move. Maybe my self-preservation instincts are broken, which makes a lot of sense.

“I, um…” I trail off, not knowing what I was going to say.

God, I’m such a mess. How did I end up here?My uncle…

I slam my eyes shut, unable to even think the words. Shit. I need to get out of here. I need to move far, far away, and disappear. Go off the grid. He has connections all over the city, and the longer I stay here, the more time I’m giving him to track me.

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