Страница 69 из 76
I'm grateful I'm not facing him because bile is burning my throat and shame is coursing through my body.
“How much have you missed me, Bambina?” he sneers.
My response is automatic. “So much.”
He reaches for my hand and brings it over to his package. The tremors and shakes begin but DeLuca doesn't care. “Do you have any idea how much I've missed you? Do you have any idea how important you've become to me?”
When I don't answer, his hand wraps around my throat.
I quickly shake my head because I can't bring myself to open my mouth. I'm afraid that if I do...all that will come out are sobs.
Because these aren't Ricardo's hands.
I know the difference between having his hands on me...and having this monster's hands on me.
I know the difference between the touch of a man who cares and one who uses and hurts me.
And that makes what's about to happen so much worse.
Ignorance really can be bliss.
I feel the tears stinging my eyes. I miss Ricardo.
I miss everything about him.
And if I could go back to that night under the stars...I would have given him every single part of me.
Because now I know...it's better to know one moment of true love...then to spend a lifetime without it.
I draw in a shaky breath as I begin to tremble, wishing for a miracle to stop this from happening.
My eyes burn and I force myself to do what I have to in order to get through this.
Because wishing for a miracle right now? Is like wishing for a torrential downpour while standing in the desert.
And wishes don't come true for girls like me.
I'm no princess...I'm just the villainess servant.
DeLuca bends me over the bed and I close my eyes. I swallow back vomit when his fingers dig into my skin. I dig deep within myself and try to find that dark, cold and numb place. Anything to make this bearable for me.
He's starting to take my underwear off when we both hear a knock on the door.
“You have an important phone call, Mr. DeLuca. Someone from Italy.” Marlene says.
“Transfer it to my cell,” DeLuca barks.
“I can't,” Marlene says. “There's something wrong with the phone lines. You have to take it in your office.”
“Goddammit,” he grumbles while getting off the bed.
I stand up and he grabs my chin. “This could take awhile, Bambina. Do something to occupy yourself.” His hold on me tightens and I wince. “When I get back, I expect to find you naked on my bed with your legs spread for me.”
“Of course,” I whisper, that dirty feeling growing and spreading like a fungus.
When he leaves, I hightail it to the adjoining bathroom.
My hand is barely on the doorknob when the bathroom door opens and someone yanks me inside.
I'm about to start screaming but then I see who it is.
“Ricardo?”
His jaw flexes when his eyes rake up and down my body. “If you thought I was going to stand by and let him fuck you...you're out of your fucking mind.”
My heart practically leaps out of my chest when he backs me into the door.
“I'm going to ask you a very important question.”
He glances at his watch. “And your answer will determine everything that happens next.”
His hand slides down to stroke my neck and I know he can feel my pulse beating rapidly against the pad of his thumb.
“Do you want me…or him?”
I can't lie to him anymore. I can't go on pretending. Even if DeLuca kills me...I don't care.
I'll gladly die a thousand deaths just so he knows the truth.
“You,” I say. “I want you, Ricardo. I choose you.”
This time, when he tilts his face and moves closer, I welcome what's about to happen.
His kiss is what the angels sing about and what teenage girls wish upon a star for.
First kisses just like this one. Kisses that turn nightmares into fairytales.
He's repairing me with his lips, mending me with the stroke of his tongue and saving me with his breath.
His kiss is killing me and rescuing me all at the same time.
His kiss is washing away all the dirty and making me feel renewed and revived.
He's making my ugly, beautiful.
I groan when his hand tangles in my hair and his tongue continues dancing with mine slowly and sweetly.
He pulls me closer to him and I can't tell who's heart is beating faster, his or mine.
I see fireworks and swear, I hear bombs go off when he sucks my bottom lip into his mouth and I feel his hardness against my stomach.
But when every wall in the house begins to shake and knickknacks start falling all around us...I realize.
There are actual bombs going off.
Holy shit.
He pulls away and shoves my car keys into my hand, appearing unfazed. “Don't worry. Only the west wing of the house was bombed.”
I stare at him speechless when he hands me a towel to wrap around myself.
“You know how to get to the secret hallway that leads out front from here?”
I blink and look down at my keys. “Yeah.”
He opens the second door to the bathroom and shoves me out of it. “Good. I'll meet you back at the apartment.”
I somehow find my footing but stop to turn back around. “You bombed DeLuca's house just to kiss me?”
His mouth curves into a sideways smile. “It was a damn good kiss. Now...go. I'll see you in a little while.”