“We need more information in order to protect her. I know Thanksgiving is a few days away, but do you think she’d be willing to talk with the three of us so we can help her?” Mark asked.
“She doesn’t have a choice here. This guy hired these men to find her and they were taking pictures of her here in Pearl. They know where she is. She’s going to panic, and the only way to keep her from running is to show her that we can keep her safe. I’ll talk to my brothers and we’ll work it out with Lucia. Can you give me tonight?” Maxwell asked.
“We’re around, so we’ll plan to meet here tomorrow morning at eleven, okay?” Fisher asked.
“Okay. We’ll be here,” Maxwell said then shook their hands.
He didn’t know how he was going to explain all this to Lucia and make her feel safe. She was going to panic, and when she did, he hoped she trusted them all enough to protect her from such evil people. He couldn’t lose her, and he sure wasn’t letting the man who hurt her get his hands on her ever again.
Chapter 13
There was a severe thunder and lightning storm going on as Gabriele and Lucia ran from the truck to the front door. She was soaked. They headed inside, surprised at how dark it was there. Lucia could hear Brutas crying. It was more like a whimper, and one look at Gabriele and he appeared concerned. He flicked on lights, and they called out to Salvatore. Brutas was outside the door to Salvatore’s bedroom.
“What’s wrong, buddy?” Gabriele asked as Lucia pet the dog and he opened the door. The bedroom was pitch dark, and Salvatore was sitting in the corner on the rug, his hands covering his ears.
Brutas approached slowly, and Gabriele whispered as he put his hand up for Lucia to remain where she was. She had never seen Salvatore like this. She wondered if he was crying or in pain as he sat there looking so upset.
“Salvatore, what’s going on, buddy?” Gabriele asked.
“Leave me alone,” he mumbled, and Brutas crawled closer, but Salvatore yelled at the dog.
Lucia placed her hand over her chest and gasped. His tone, his demeanor was all wrong. Something was seriously bothering him.
“We’re not going to leave you,” Gabriele told him.
“Salvatore?” She said his name, and he yelled at them to get out. She jumped from his tone.
“Lucia, leave the room. Go call Maxwell and Lucifer.”
She shook her head. She remembered what Salvatore had shared with her a while back. He nearly hurt a woman once when he was so lost in a nightmare and he feared he could hurt her. He confided in her, and explained what had happened and how he lost control. The lightning struck and the thunder rolled. It was fierce. He yelled at them to leave.
“No, Salvatore. I’m not leaving you.” She approached, and the moment she was within reach, he grabbed her and was on top of her on the rug. His eyes looked fierce, and his hold on her wrists hurt as he straddled her waist and breathed heavily. It was like he was out of his body, and fighting something only he could see and feel.
“Salvatore, release her. You don’t want to do this,” Gabriele yelled.
“No, Gabriele, he’s not going to hurt me. Are you, Salvatore? You said that you loved me and that you’d protect me always. You’re my soldier, my lover, and best friend. Let it go, Salvatore. Listen to my voice and feel my body. Feel that it’s me and not those demons,” she said, and he growled and hung his head.
“Please, baby, open your eyes and look at me,” she begged as Brutas nudged his hand with his snout. Salvatore looked from the dog to Lucia.
The thunder and lightning struck again, and instantly Salvatore lifted her up and pressed her to the bed. She hugged him tight and rocked him as he growled and cursed about almost hurting her.
She ran her fingers through his hair as he knelt between her legs where she sat on the bed. She continued to caress him, and he hugged her, his face against her chest, his arms wrapped tight around her.
“You just needed me to hug you and hold you because a good snuggle takes all those demons away,” she teased as she wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders and squeezed him tight.
Salvatore grunted. “Soldiers don’t snuggle, Lucia, haven’t you been listening to me?” he asked.
They locked gazes, and she held his face between her hands.
“Does that mean you’re not going to make love to me right now?” she asked.
“Come on, Brutas, all’s well, let’s give these two some space,” Gabriele said as he led the dog from the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
They were in the dark. Only the lightning illuminated the room.
“You’re all wet,” he told her as he pulled back and reached for the buttons on her blouse.
“It’s raining,” she whispered, feeling breathless.