Page 26 of Valentino

I take calming breaths as I continue walking through the remote neighborhood containing the Di Salvo compound. The magnificent mansions grow farther and farther apart until I come across a large fortress surrounded by gates, cameras, and guards.

Bingo.

Shoring up the last of my courage, I straighten my spine, press my shoulders back, and lift my chin as I stride toward the front gate. The two guards out front take notice right away. One of them says something into the walkie-talkie attached to his shoulder while the other widens his stance and rests his hand on the gun tucked into his jacket.

I continue walking forward, my head held high, projecting a confidence I don’t feel. I can see the moment they recognize me. Both men turn to each other, a look of disbelief and confusion shared between them.

I know they won’t shoot me now they know I’m royalty. I’m too high up the food chain for them to pull the trigger without an order. Raising my hands in surrender, I continue moving forward until one of the men grabs my wrists, gathering them up in his large hand and holding them behind my back.

“What’s a little Colombo princess doing so far away from her father’s castle?” he sneers.

“That’s between Romeo and me,” I reply in a crisp tone.

The other man grunts, and the two exchange a glance and a nod. He stays put while the first guard shoves me forward, nearly making me fall on my face.

“Right this way, your highness,” he says in a mocking tone.

I’m dragged through the house until I stand in front of a set of double doors made of solid oak and accented with gold. The guard pounds his fist on the door twice, then clears his throat.

“Boss? I’ve got a visitor here for you. You’re going to want to talk to her.”

“I don’t have time,” comes the harsh voice of who I assume is Romeo Di Salvo.

The guard is about to knock again, and I use the momentary distraction to pry my wrists from his death grip and lunge forward, grabbing the door handles and pulling them with all my might. The doors fly open, catching me off balance as I stumble inside the room.

My eyes are immediately drawn to Valentino, who jumps to his feet at the sight of me. Two other men I don’t recognize are seated on the opposite side of the room. Before Valentino can say anything, I fix my gaze on Romeo, staring into his dark brown eyes and pleading with him to hear me out. “I’m Katya Colombo, and I ran away from my family over a week ago. I don’t want anything to do with them anymore.”

Romeo’s eyebrows twitch upward slightly before he gains control of his features. Aside from that, his face is one of practiced indifference. “And why should we believe you?”

“Because–”

“I can vouch for her,” Valentino says, stepping up next to me. I glare at him, and he glares back.

“I’m doing this to save you,” I hiss at him. “Stop ruining it!”

Valentino doesn’t back away. Instead, he wraps an arm around my waist and tucks me into his side. “If we go down, we go down together, princess.”

“Someone better tell me what the fuck is going on,” Romeo commands, his voice hard as granite.

“It’s not Valentino’s fault. Please don’t blame him,” I start, focusing on the Boss. “I ran away last week, and he found me.”

“Katya,” Valentino warns, but I keep going. I have no choice now. I jumped off the edge of a canyon, and I’m praying to every god I can think of that I land on the other side.

“Don’t tell me she was the squatter in the warehouse,” Romeo grits out, cutting a fierce glance at Valentino.

“I can explain,” Valentino hedges.

“I was hurt,” I jump in. “Bleeding real bad.”

“My men roughed you up?” Romeo asks, some of the bite gone from his tone.

I’ll never get used to people being upset over me getting hurt. Even though I’m part of a rival family, these men have a moral code not to harm me unnecessarily.

“No, the damage had already been done,” I answer, looking away from him. I feel weak and stupid, but I press on, knowing that my mission is life or death. “By a man my father promised me to. I knew running away was risky, but I’d rather die fighting for my freedom than live with that abusive piece of shit day in and day out.”

Valentino squeezes me closer to his side, turning his head so he can press his lips to my temple. I’m shaking from head to toe, but my man is right here with me, giving me the strength to continue.

“And you’ve been staying with…?”

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