Captivated

ChapterFifteen

Salvatore

Icouldn’t think of a single thing to say as we flew back to our home. Angelina’s legs and arms were a mass of bites and scratches from where the familiars had torn at her. Seeing her surrounded by so many monsters chilled my heart. I wanted to shake her and shout at her for her stupidity, but what good would that do? Luca was angrier than I. Usually, he was the most chilled out of the two of us. Today, he was furious. Filled with rage.

“We could have lost her, Sal. That’s why I’m so fucking angry. I don’t know how to deal with this.”

“You need to calm the hell down, Luca. We both do. Like Antoine said, she’s had a God-awful day.”

We headed directly to our bathroom. Angelina looked deathly pale. We had to get her wounds sorted out immediately. Luca stood her upright, only to have her collapse on the floor.

“Get a blanket and lay it on the floor for her,” I instructed.

I helped her up and stripped her out of her clothing. Then I stripped off mine too. Luca came back and put the blanket down on the floor.

“Let’s get her in the shower. I’ll hold her and you wash her.”

His only response was to nod curtly. We cleaned off her wounds under the warm shower. Afterwards, I wrapped her in a towel and led her to the blanket. Luca was already crouched down. His expression was lethal.

Between us, we healed each of her wounds. Throughout the whole procedure, she’d kept her eyes shut and her mind blocked off to us.

“She shouldn’t be able to do any of this until we’re mated. She has speed, fangs, and extended her fingernails.”

I had to agree with Luca. “I know. It’s not something I understand, either.”

“She needs to be made to understand that putting us all in danger like this is going to get us all killed!”

“Cut the crap, Luca, and stop behaving like a fucking child. She needs love and tenderness.”

“Really? Anyone would think she wants us all to die when she keeps chasing Viktor like she does.”

I sighed heavily as we finished healing her. “Come on, Angelina. Let’s get you to bed.”

“You don’t want me. Luca has said as much. This is never going to work.”

I was shocked when she snatched the towel back and wrapped it around herself. With her newfound speed, she left the bathroom.

* * *

Angelina

I felt sick to my stomach. The pain from my wounds hurt like hell, but I wasn’t going to cry or let them know how much pain I was in. Salvatore was being sweet, but Luca’s anger was almost as bad as the soreness of my wounds. Once healed, I just wanted to get out of there and hide. I ended up in the library. The room was a calm space for me.

When I reflected on what I’d been through and my most recent actions, I felt nauseous. Luca and Salvatore had every right to be mad at what I’d done. My grief and rage had clouded my better judgement. How could I have been so naïve to think I could get away with going out on my own? Hell, Viktor had already gotten to me twice. Tonight had almost been third time lucky for him.

I decided to sleep in one of the spare bedrooms that night. My heart was broken at the loss of Cassie and Jake. And now the two men I loved completely were angry at me. What was I going to do? I had no home. No income. I felt that no one loved me. I was also afraid about certain abilities and changes in my body at the club. Speed. Fangs. Long talons. The ability to close my mind off from everyone. My head pounded. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pulled the towel around me and sobbed.

* * *

Luca

I was an asshole for treating Angelina with such contempt. She needed to understand how serious this was, though. My frustration got in the way of my love for her. If only she hadn’t closed her mind off to us, I would have shown her exactly how afraid Sal and I had been.

“We have to find her, Luca. She needs to know she is loved.”

I sighed with a weariness I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. “Of course.”

And then we both experienced it. Angelina had dropped her barrier down and the full force of her emotions hit us head on. The grief. The guilt. Pain. Loss. Without a word, we headed to where she sobbed.

When we entered the bedroom, Angelina sat at the bottom of the bed, huddled in the same towel we’d used on her earlier. My heart broke at the sight. Her cheeks were soaked with her tears, eyes swollen, lips trembling. Sounds like a wounded animal emanated from her. She stood up when she saw us and immediately collapsed to the floor as more heaving sobs came from her.

Together, we went to her and gathered her up in our arms. Initially, she tried to fight us, but we held her tightly. She stilled and then trembled as more tears fell.

“This is killing me,” I said to Sal.

“It’s killing me, too,” she responded. The pain of her admission was like a knife cutting my flesh.

“Come on. We need to make certain all your wounds are healed. You’re so cold, bella.”

She glanced up at me, her eyes so very swollen from her crying. “You must hate me so much.”

I cupped her face in my hands, and Sal clasped his hands around her waist, keeping her warm. “Jesus, Angelina. Is that what you really think?”

“You… you were so angry with me. I could feel it. My stupidity could have led to all three of us dying. I wouldn’t blame either of you if you did.”

“Luca, let’s get her to our bed. We can keep her warm and talk.”

I couldn’t have agreed with Sal more. Lifting her into my arms, we headed off for our private apartment.

* * *