Run To Rome

“Then you understand.”

Her gaze returned to his, direct and unwavering. “I understand you must not anger Alrigo again if you and your sister wish to leave here alive. I assure you, for now, she is fine.”

Her sultry accent made the sincere sounding words all the more convincing. This time, he didn’t move when she reached to apply the icy compress. He studied her face, appreciating the dark beauty of her Italian heritage. A thick shiny mass of ebony curls framed her small, rounded jaw line and high cheekbones, a shade lighter than the impossibly long eyelashes that highlighted her brown eyes to perfection. Her straight nose led down to a set of lips that promised a sensuous cushion for a man’s demanding mouth.

His gaze strayed lower, resting on the abundant swell of her breasts at the top edge of h

er skin-tight spandex leotard. As he watched, her nipples stood out against the tight material. Ben swallowed hard and averted his attention in time to see her tongue slide across that full bottom lip. Her awareness of his appraisal sent a surge of lust to quicken his pulse. It was followed almost instantly by a tide of disgusted guilt.

Wrestling his hormones back in line, he asked, “Tell me, Eva, how is my buddy Alrigo?”

“Very unhappy.”

“Got him good, didn’t I?”

He caught a flash of a smile on her glistening lips a split second before she turned away.

“You are too arrogant. You must be careful.”

“Will you help us?”

Surprised brown eyes met his. “No.”

Dammit. He’d intended to feel her out, get an idea of how deep her loyalty ran, not ask her outright. But he couldn’t take the request back now, so he tried to appeal to the kindness he’d glimpsed in her eyes.

“You’re different than them. I saw it last night. I can see it right now, otherwise you wouldn’t be taking care of me.”

Her spine stiffened and she shoved off the edge of the bed. She scanned the empty room before leaning forward, her eyes lit with an internal fire. “You are mistaken. I do what is necessary, nothing more.”

Ben stared at the door after she’d slammed out. He wasn’t that far off base. Her gaze had blazed with anger and something more. An emotion he could easily identify, because over the past twenty four hours, he’d become familiar enough with the feeling to recognize it in someone else.

Fear.

Time dragged for what felt like hours, and the sun told him the morning had advanced before the door opened again. Rachel entered with Nino and Alrigo. Ben caught a glimpse of the stress lines bracketing Alrigo’s mouth. His lips were pressed so thin there was no doubt the man was in pain. Good.

Nino released Rachel’s arm and she quickly limped toward the bed. Alrigo gave them a menacing smile. “Take a good look, carina. Your brother’s life hinges on how well you follow instructions.”

Rachel sat next to Ben, her light blue eyes full of worry and unshed tears.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

She wiped a tear that spilled down her cheek. “They’re taking me to Milan. I’m supposed to wait outside the consulate for Halli.”

Realization sent a combination of dread and anger through his aching body. They were going to use her as bait. Halli wouldn’t think twice about running to Rachel, and Alrigo would grab her in a heartbeat. The man had no conscience.

Looking at the bastard’s stony expression, Ben highly doubted he had any intentions of letting them go. They knew too much. Once he had Halli, and whatever it was she possessed that he wanted so desperately, they’d be nothing but a liability.

It was up to Ben to make sure his sisters stayed safe. But what the hell could he do, laying here in fucking handcuffs? He wanted to kill the men in front of him with his bare hands.

When Rachel leaned over to kiss his cheek, he turned his head and pressed his lips to her ear as the Italians conversed in their native language.

“Promise me something?”

“Anything,” she breathed softly.

“Take Hal and run,” he whispered. “Don’t worry about me.”

She pulled back to look at his face, her eyes wide as she shook her head. “Ben—”