Page 76 of Bound in Obsession
Camilla’s eyes widen in shock. Her mouth opens, ready to scream my name.
I lunge forward and cover her mouth with my hand. “Shh! Don’t say my name. Please.”
She nods frantically, eyes glassy with tears. I slowly lower my hand.
“Eleonora…” she breathes, voice breaking.
We crash into each other at the same time, wrapping our arms around one another in a fierce hug. She holds me so tightly it almost hurts, and I bury my face in her shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume.
“I thought you were gone,” she whispers, voice shaking. “We’ve been so worried. Papa has been… awful.”
“I’m okay,” I whisper back, holding her tighter. “I’m really okay. And Sienna is safe. She got away with Domenico. Nico doesn’t have her.”
Camilla pulls back just enough to look at me, eyes wide. “He doesn’t?”
“No. But you can’t tell Papa. If he knows Sienna is free, he’ll hunt her down. We need to keep her safe. Promise you won't tell him.”
“I promise,” she says immediately, squeezing my hands. “God, I’ve missed you so much. Are you really alright? Is he hurting you?”
I shake my head, forcing a small smile. “I’m ok. He’s… complicated. But I’m not hurt.”
We hug again, both of us crying quietly. “I have to go, before Nico notices I've been gone for too long,” I whisper, pulling back reluctantly. “I can’t be seen with you. Please tell Daniela I’m okay. And you both need not worry.”
Camilla pulls back just enough to look at me, her eyes searching mine with worry. “Are you sure? Are you really okay?”
I nod, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
She glances toward the door, voice dropping to a frantic whisper. “We have to find a way to get you out. There has to be something we can do to save you from him?—”
“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “Running now would put Sienna at risk. We need to keep her safe. And… I don’t want to ruin Nico’s plan. He’s not… he's not all bad.”
I'm surprised at myself as the words leave my mouth. A week ago I was doing everything I could to escape him. Now I’m standing here defending him. Protecting his plan. I feel Camilla’s confused stare on me, questioning, but I don’t have time to explain the complicated mess inside my head.
“Eleonora, are you sure? What are you talking about? He kidnapped you.”
“I don’t have time to explain,” I whisper urgently. “But you have to promise me, you cannot tell Papa that you saw me. And you cannot tell him that Sienna isn’t with Nico. Please, Camilla. It’s important.”
She searches my face for a long second, then nods slowly. “I promise. Is there a way I can at least reach you?”
I let out a shaky breath. “I huh… you can send a letter to Nico’s downtown office. It will get to me.” I take out tissue and write the address with lipstick.
Camilla folds and places it in her bra and pulls me into another tight hug, her arms trembling.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Nico
I knew I shouldn’t have brought her here.
This is far riskier than taking her to my own club. Here, every dangerous player in our world is present. Her father, Gallo, and too many others who would love to use her against me. And yet I still did it. Because I couldn't bring myself to say no to her.
Yeah, I'm whipped.
Ever since we arrived, I've been planning the murders of men who have been staring at her all night.
One bastard in particular was practically undressing her with his gaze as she walked toward the powder room. If Nikolai wasn’t standing right beside me talking business, I would’ve already crossed the room and strangled him with his own tie.
Nikolai gets pulled away by another guest, and for the third time tonight, Marco leans in. “You sure this was a good idea?”
