Velvet Lullabies

He wanted to kiss every inch of her. To find every spot where she was hurt and make it better. He wanted to fix all of this for her. But first, he wanted to get her home.

???

Adelina was curled up the hot bath tub water. She was silent as Lucian ran the soapy washcloth over her back and down the cut on her arms. He washed the leftover makeup from her face and scrubbed her dirty hair with her favorite lavender shampoo.

The living room of his hotel suite was filled with men, fighting over next steps.

They weren’t going to let this stand.

“He’s coming for them.” Was all Adelina had told him before she passed out in the backseat.

She was covered in dirt and blood, but still Lucian couldn’t shake that this wasn’t the worst beating she’d ever received.

He lifted her from the bath, wrapped her in a fluffy robe, and carried her to the bed.

“Bella,” he said sweetly, “Please tell me what happened.”

He brown eyes, filled with nothing but sadness, lifted to meet his. They stayed like this for a moment. Brown eyes against green.

He could see in hers that she was broken now.

She never was before, she always had a fight in her, but now, he glossy brown eyes looked like they couldn’t take anymore.

He would protect her. He swore to himself he would never let her feel this pain again.

“Theo,” she whispered and then, gaining the smallest bit of strength said his name again. “Theo did it.” The story came rushing out of her. Tears silently falling from her eyes, she told him everything.

Lucian had never felt anger the way he did in that moment.

Someone who was supposed to love her.

Protect her.

How could he hurt her like that?

And how could Massimo protect him?

“We’re ending this.” He told her. “This all ends now. I promise you,” he said, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. “I will protect you. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Bella, please get on the plane.” He was begging, and the sound of it was driving Adelina crazy.

Everything was driving Adelina crazy since the kidnapping. Her entire body felt like it was covered in thumbtacks and weighted down with anchors. She wanted to spend as much time as possible in an alcohol induced haze underneath her covers.

She didn’t want to talk to anyone.

She didn’t want to eat.

And she sure as hell did not want to fly to New York.

Yet, here she was on the runway standing outside Lucian’s family plane. She hated everyone right now, and yes, she knew that sounded mean but she didn’t care.

Depression was a bitch.

But so was being kidnapped by your family’s rivals.

“Just, please, you’ll be safe away from this mess.”