Alessandro beat his ass and then they tied him up, carrying him into the trunk area. Cosimo took over driving the hijacked vehicle and Alessandro came back to me.
“La casa, per favore.” He wrapped me up in his arms, cradling me and then said, “I’m sorry, amore, but our plans will have to be canceled for the night.”
“How am I supposed to get back to my hotel?”
“It’s not safe there for you.” I knew he had a point, so I rested my aching head on his chest. “I’m so sorry. Tell me. Are you hurt?”
“I have a bit of a headache, but that’s it.”
He rubbed my temples with his big strong hands. “I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again, Isabella.” I knew at that moment that I could trust him with everything, including my damaged heart. “I’m so sorry.” He kissed my temple and held me close the rest of the drive.
Chapter Five
Alessandro
We arrived at the house in just twenty minutes. Still, it felt like a fucking eternity getting to where Isabella would be safe. My heart had never experienced a panic like I had. Everything in my body demanded that revenge be meted on everyone involved. She fell asleep in my arms, so I carried her to our bedroom and laid her down in bed and covered her up. Sitting next to her, I admired her beauty and prayed that she wouldn’t leave me. My life wasn’t always like this, but someone finally saw a weakness in me and decided to take it.
As much as I didn’t want to wake her, I refused to let her freak out when she woke up. “Amore. Isabella. Isabella,” I stated, calling her name two more times before she would look up at me. She looked around and then back at me. Caressing her cheek, I said, “I have to go.”
“Alessandro, don’t leave me.” She clung to my shirt, making my soul burn with more anger than before. The thought that fear invaded her gutted me.
“You’re safe here. I promise.”
“What about you? What if he has friends?” I loved how worried she was for me, but they couldn’t do shit when I had a reason for coming right back to my queen.
“Then I’ll kill them all.” Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her to me and slammed my lips on hers. A low rumble rips through my chest as I slip my tongue into her mouth.
I pulled back, still clinging onto her biceps as I dipped my forehead to hers. “Fuck. I really have to go.” A sigh escaped her lips, and I smiled internally. At the very least, she was going to miss me. “How about you rest, and I’ll be back soon.”
“Promise.” Her pout was so damn cute that I wanted to taste her lips again—and I did.
“Indubbiamente. Without a doubt, cara mia.” She gave me a smile that gave me a little relief that she would be okay in time.
After settling Isabella back down in our bed with some pain medicine and water, I went to handle the garbage that took her from me in the first place. There was something else going on here, and I wanted answers before I disposed of him for good. Others were involved.
Since I’d just met Isabella yesterday, this was an opportunity shot. Still, they fucked up big time because the second I saw her, I’d kill a thousand men to keep her safe.
Since I already had his blood on my suit, I kept it on and went into the room where we kept him. “Ciao, Carlo. Is there something you need to say to me before you meet your father?”
“You are a pathetic fool to fall for a woman. It will make you weak, and the others will get you.”
“The others?” He nodded with a smugness that pissed me off. “Names.”
“I’m going to die either way. Why would I tell you?” he scoffed.
“Okay. That’s the way you want to play it. Fine.” For the next hour, I tortured him before he finally confessed that there were no others. He wanted to ransom Isabella off, and he hoped that I would take the bait. I finished the job with one between the eyes. Then the men began the cleanup, making sure that Carlo would never be found.
An hour later, I was clean and changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt while my clothes had the fasteners and buttons removed before they were burned. The buttons and buckles would get washed and used for mending my suits if needed.
When I opened the bedroom door, I spotted my woman sleeping on my side of the bed, curled into a ball, hugging my usual pillow. I climbed into bed, trying not to wake her. She stirred and then turned into my embrace.
“Alessandro,” she whispered. “You’re back.” Her mouth brushes gently against my jaw. I loved the way it came off her lips. “It feels so good to be in your arms.”