Page 73 of Wicked Knight 2

CHAPTER26

We Came to Save You

Donata

His gaze met mine across the room. I ached to run to him and throw my arms around his neck, to hold him and never let him go. But first, I had to deal with Papa. That man was a master at messing with Maxim’s head. Maxim knew the whole truth and he still wanted to be here. After I spoke with Alfred earlier tonight, I waited for Maxim to come to me. But he didn’t. He left me no choice. I wasn’t leaving the compound without my husband.

“What are you doing here?” He took a single step forward.

The second Santino, Enzo, and Rex filed into the library, he moved to block Papa from our view. Maxim was willing to give his life for the guy who’d killed is family. His fear of being alone in the world made him blind to everything. “You went through all that trouble to escape. I didn’t think I’d see you so soon.”

“We came to save you.” Santino flanked me on the left. “You look like shit by the way.”

“Your men are outnumbered three to one.” Enzo prowled around the sofa to get a better look at Papa. “Not much of a security team.”

“They put themselves in danger for her.” Papa said in Maxim’s ear, though he said it loud enough for all of us to hear it. “Now you know what you have.”

“Enough.” Rex slammed the door shut. “Old man, we’re here to collect our friend. Kindly, let him go. And we won’t kill every living thing under this roof.”

That had come out a bit dramatic, but based on Papa’s hardened expression, Rex had hit a nerve. Papa cared if his crew lived or die? Could’ve fooled me. Slowly, I approached Maxim. The sofa separating us might as well be a dark abyss.

“Come with us. Please,” I begged, and I didn’t even care that my friends heard the desperation in my voice. “You don’t owe him anything.”

“He’s dying, Donata.” Maxim braced his hands on his hips.

“And you believe him?” I raised my voice.

“I do.”

“He’s been lying to you for months. He created a whole identity for you. Luca, think about it. Think about how insane that is. Those are the machinations of a psychopath.” I scanned the room, looking for the right words to change his mind. “Do you honestly believe he’ll make you Pakhan when he dies? You know that’s impossible.”

“It’s not about that, Donata. You asked me to wait for you.” He exhaled and winced as if something as simple as breathing hurt him.

I was hurting too. His gaze raked over my body as he leaned ever so slightly toward me. And fuck me if I didn’t react to his apparent desire. He wanted to hold me, but duty kept him glued to the floor right next to Papa.

“Now I’m asking you. Wait for me.”

Wait for me.

Those were his exact words the last time he left me. We had done the right thing, and in doing so, we erected the biggest wall between us. For years, I saw him once a month or every other month. I couldn’t go back to that life, where I was barely alive. I couldn’t spend the rest of my days, waiting for Luca. I wanted all of him, not just the scraps.

“No.” I raked both hands through my hair. “You can’t do this to me again. You keep leaving me. I can’t stand it anymore. I came here for you. Why are we still here?” I stomped around the sofa so I could face him properly. “You belong with me.” I cupped his face.

“Donata.” His eyes fluttered closed. “You don’t understand.”

“Don’t do this.” My voice faltered. “If you stay, there’s no going back. With him, whatever is left of Luca will be gone forever.”

“This is my choice.” He peeled my hands off his cheeks. “Go home, Donata.”

I slapped him. He slow-blinked and stood there like a statue—immovable. So I hit him again. And then again. Anything to get him to snap out of it. Papa could kill him in his sleep whenever he decided.

“He’s using you. Don’t you see?” I shoved at him, but he didn’t budge. “When he’s done with you, he’s going to kill you.”

In the next beat, a pair of arms wrapped around my body. Enzo spoke softly in my ear. “The man has made his choice. Let him be.”

“I can’t. You don’t understand. He doesn’t want this. He wants to be with me.” I pointed at Papa. “That old man brainwashed him somehow. Luca, you remembered. When you went home. Alfred said you recognized the brownstone, the furniture, your bed.”

“Donata. Don’t make this harder than it already is.” He clenched his jaw. “You never should’ve left.”

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