Taken (Dark Desires 1)

“I’m sorry!” I yelled. “But you can’t convict him! Alessio is a free man! Alessio is a free man!”

“Shut the fuck up,” one of the guards hissed. He dug his fingers into my shoulders and dragged me down the aisle. I locked my legs and refused to walk, letting my high-heeled feet. Finally, the guard sucked in a titanic breath and pulled me hard until I was gasping in pain. My heart was racing and my body was soaked with sweat by the time the guards managed to drag me out of the courtroom.

Behind me, everyone was silent. When I glanced back inside before the guards slammed the doors in my face, I saw that everyone’s face was pale and bloodless with shock. They were all staring at me with their jaws hanging open. The one exception was Douglas Bennett. He looked murderously angry, like he wanted to rip me apart with his bare hands.

I couldn’t help it. I waved to him. If I hadn’t been so upset, it might have almost been comical.

After the guards barred me from re-entering the courtroom, I heard the judge screaming for order and the sound of his gavel banging, but that was no match for the uproar and cries from the crowd. Everyone was screaming and yelling – some were even cheering.

That’s when I saw a huge line of guards rushing towards me, hands on their guns. Shrieking in fear, I kicked off my high heels and ran out of the courthouse. The day was a sunny, warm spring one, and the hot air felt good on my face as I closed my eyes and scrambled quickly down the courthouse steps. My heart was pounding as I darted down the street. I knew that looking over my shoulder would cost me time, and I had to keep going until I managed to lose my tail.

It was like I’d completely lost my mind. I ran and ran until my lungs were bursting for air and I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. Horrible, dangerous thoughts kept running through my mind. Now that I’d broken free and run away, what would happen to me? Would I be arrested? Would the cops put an APB out for me?

Would they stalk Heather and demand to know where I was? What about Douglas Bennett? Would he sue me for making a scene at the trial of his son’s killer?

Michael, Alessio, everyone – I’m so sorry, I thought as I darted down an alley and ran into a café. I know I failed you all. I tried to do the best I could, but I know it wasn’t enough.

The café looked blissfully normal and ordinary compared to the busy madness I’d seen at the courthouse. As discreetly as I could, I bought a small latte and walked over to a seat by the window. The coffee brought back memories of the time Alessio had saved me from an attacker, right before we’d had sex for the very first time. When I looked back on that time, it was hard to believe that I’d been so afraid of him. I’m never going to see Alessio again, I realized sadly. The tears came back to my eyes and soon was I cradling my face in my hands and sobbing.

I cried and cried until my throat was hoarse. The c

offee on the table cooled in front of me, and I became oblivious to my surroundings.

Just as the tears finally started to dry up, I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder.

Oh no, I thought. This is it. The cops found me, and now I’m going to be arrested and thrown in jail.

When I glanced up, I was shocked to see Alessio Amoruso, standing there and grinning. His dark eyes were staring right at me, and his chest was heaving. There was a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead, and I could see his pulse pounding in his neck.

“Alessio,” I said in a strangled voice. “What are you doing here?”

Alessio didn’t answer. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up until I was on my feet. Then he wrapped his arms around me, crushing me against his body until my knees were weak. When our lips touched, it was like we’d never been apart. Passion and lust swirled through my body and I wrapped my arms around his neck, weak in the knees with desire, fright, and wild lust.

“What happened?” I whispered, pulling away. Alessio kept kissing me everywhere. He kissed my cheeks, my forehead, my ears – even the tip of my nose.

He grinned. “As soon as you were dragged out, the jury went for a recess. When they came back, they said they wouldn’t be able to provide the judge with a reasonable verdict.”

My jaw dropped. “What?”

Alessio nodded smugly. “So the judge had no choice but to declare a mistrial.” He raised his eyebrow. “I’m free.”

I swooned against Alessio, my heart thudding with excitement and relief in my chest.

“I can’t believe it,” I murmured. “I can’t believe that you’re free, finally.”

Alessio grinned. “You’d better believe it,” he growled in my ear. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

“I love you,” I said softly.

Alessio kissed me passionately. He nibbled on my lower lip and I swooned in his arms.

“I love you, too, Beth,” Alessio said. “And I always will.”

Beth – One Year Later

“Beth, are you ready?” Heather leaned close to my face and dabbed at my cheek with a napkin. “You look beautiful.”

I grinned. I was standing in the foyer of the magnificent Ashford Estate – one of the biggest historic homes in New Jersey.