Page 123 of The Freedom in Captivity

The strands of my hair he was petting get gripped by his hand as he yanks on a chunk of my hair and pulls my head back. He moves closer to me, almost over me, his lips brushing over mine as desire courses through my core, making my entire body tight.

“Gonna lock me in your tower then and never let me go?”

He blinks and his gaze goes far away for a moment. Something passes through his head that has him smirking, and with his free hand, he reaches into the pocket of his leather coat, coming out with something in his palm.

Bringing his hand between us, he opens it, revealing what he has.

A key.

“How about I lock you in a house and never let you go?”

Flynn

1 Month Later

“No! I’m sorry—s-s-sorry! I-I’ll get you the money. I swear!”

His excuses slide from him, as slimy as the sweat plastering his hair to his forehead after the hour of begging. He’s had his chances though and he pissed off Nico, so this is his price. This fucker thought that Nico taking over as Boss meant control would slip when, in fact, it’s tightened.

“Too late. You had your shot. See you in hell.”

Between his next scream and his plea, I slam my knife right into his heart. A clean, simple death because Nico didn’t want this dragged out too long. Just enough the fucker understood what he did wrong and to send a message to his crew. Also why the kill needed to be clean, so when we drop off the body later, it’ll be intact and not in unrecognizable pieces.

Small hands come around my arms, massaging my biceps. “I ever tell you how hot you make me feel when you’re in your element.”

I turn away from the dead body to haulmon soleilto my chest. “A few times, but I like hearing it.” I lower a hand between us, pressing two fingers over her, over her pants. “Or I can just feel it for myself.”

After I deliver the news to her.

She grins cheekily and slides her hands up my arms until she’s gripping the back of my neck, pulling me down to her height. It puts my face nearest my new favourite part of her body—her collarbone and the tattoo she had done last week. A black and white piece of a full moon, half shadowed by clouds. It was her first tattoo and she did really well through the process and even the healing stages she’s still experiencing.

I kiss the inscriptionMa Lune,which is beneath the moon, every time I have her naked. My favourite piece of artwork has become one not even on my body. It even encompasses the piece I had done for her many years ago, becauseI’monher.

My only regret: not knowing how to tattoo because seeing her flinch when someone else put the needle to her skin had me ready to gut the fucker. Even if he’s the same artist that did most of mine and I know it’s all part of the process.

“Is it weird to say down here holds so many good memories for me?” She scans the space, pausing on the dead body behind me, barely blinking and that right there guarantees she’s the woman for me.

Nico’s been understanding to her presence and she’s kind of become my partner down here. Of the five kills I’ve had, this is only her second she’s witnessed because I won’t allow her down here for any of the torture.

But taking her comment as an opportunity, I say, “Well, let’s add another to your list of good memories.”

Smiling, she presses herself to me and while my dick wants to take her greenlight, my hands push her away a few inches, disliking the look she gets.

“Soon, but Nico gave me news this morning. Someone’s on his way to B.C. to search for your sister.”

Her mouth drops open in an O. “Someone here?”

“Someone from theFamiglia.”

Her forehead dips. “Why would New York care about Yasmine?”

“It was at Ariella’s request.” She jerks in surprise, answering my next curiosity. “Did you know Yasmine was visiting Ariella in the medical centre?”

Her arms slip from my body. “No. What the hell? When…what?” She shakes her head roughly and looks up again, more determined. “No, that doesn’t even make sense. She barely spoke to Ariella, even before the accident.”

It’s what Nico reported and he too was confused, so I have no answers for her. “I don’t know. One of Rossi’s men gained Nico’s permission to be in the country. They handed over all the information we have on the Seven, and he’s on his way to get her out.”

She whirls away and heads for the stairs, but before she manages a full three steps, I grab her waist and haul her back to me.

---