Page 70 of Vow of Desire

“Ok.” She slumps against the box, no energy left. Despite how hot the box is to the touch, it doesn’t seem to bother her. That’s a concern. She’s going to die on me if I don’t get her out of here.

I manage to maneuver myself into a position where I can use my foot to kick the box. I don’t stop kicking and kicking and kicking until the door finally bursts open.

I crawl out of the box, gasping for air. And that’s when I feel a gun pressed to my forehead.

“Don’t even think about it,” one of Dante’s guards growls. “Get back in that box.”

“Matteo,” Luciana whimpers as she crawls out of the box after me. “Please. Don’t kill him. I need…” She slumps right onto the floor, her eyes rolling back into her head. And she doesn’t get back up.

“Luciana,” I gasp, rushing to her side. The guard stands there, clearly in shock. It’s then that I notice he’s the only one in theroom with us. The other guard is gone and Dante is nowhere in sight.

I scoop Luciana into my lap and pry her eyes open. “Don’t fall asleep on me, baby. Don’t do that.”

A soft sound leaves her lips but other than that, there’s no indication she heard me. She’s dying.

“She has an infection,” I snap. “She’s going to die. Does Dante want her to go out like this? What were your orders?”

“To keep the two of you inside that box.”

“What happens if she dies on your watch? Do you think Dante will be happy with you? I got the sense he wanted to hurt her himself. How can he hurt her if she’s dead?”

The guard hesitates, knowing I’m right. We both know how much of a lunatic Dante is. “I… I have a first aid kit. Somewhere.”

“Do you think that will stop her infection? She’s going to die.”

“Fuck it.” The guard pulls out his phone and calls someone. “Dante? The girl has an infection. She’s on death’s doorstep. Either get here now if you want to do something to her or she’s dead.” He nods as Dante responds on the other end. “Ok. Are you sure? You don’t care? I should kill them both?”

My chest squeezes in panic. I have no weapon. Nothing to defend myself or Luciana with.

But right now, the guard is distracted and that gives me everything I need.

I gently lay Luciana on the ground while the guard speaks to Dante. And that’s when I strike. Lunging forward, I grab his arm and aim it at the sky. He pulls the trigger and the bullet goes into the ceiling, raining plaster down on us.

“What the fuck was that?” I can hear Dante ask as the guard drops his phone.

We grapple for the gun. If he aims it at me, I’m dead and then so is Luciana. I am her only chance. Despite my own injuries, I have to fight for her. I made a vow and I intend on keeping it.

My hands wrap around the guard’s wrist and I snap it. He shrieks as his wrist breaks. That’s enough to loosen his hold on the gun. I grab it from him and aim it at his head.

There’s no hesitation on my part when I shoot him. The bullet goes clean through his skull, instantly killing him. After tucking the gun in my belt, I run back to Luciana’s side. I check her pulse. She’s still alive but I doubt she’ll be for long.

It’s difficult for me to pick her up with my injuries. My stomach and ribcage is screaming at me but I do what I must. It’s the only way we’re going to make it out of here alive.

Once she’s safely in my arms, I trudge towards the stairs. It takes all my strength to walk up them while carrying Luciana. She’s dead weight in my arms. I have to hurry. There’s no other choice.

I stumble into the main room covered in broken glass and human shit. Where did Dante even find this place? It’s fucking disgusting. But then, I doubt anyone would come looking at a place like this. The police tend to avoid these areas since they’re so run down. The perfect place to bring a kidnapped victim to.

My feet are bare but in this moment, I don’t care if I step on glass. I just have to get the two of us out of here. I grit my teeth when my feet scream at me. A trail of blood is left behind from my cut skin. But I have to keep moving. I cannot stop.

I gasp when I make it out onto the street. A phone. I need a fucking phone to call for help. My body is weak and breaking down. I slump to my knees and carefully set Luciana on the ground. She makes another sound but still, her eyes don’t open.

“Please wake up, baby,” I murmur, tapping her cheek. She doesn’t respond. I catch my breath. I’m pretty positive I have broken bones and I know my feet are at risk of an infection nowtoo. I just hope I don’t have any internal bleeding from when Dante kept kicking me. I can’t die. Not until Luciana is safe.

With a grunt, I pick her back up in my arms and walk away from Dante’s house of horrors. I just need to find a phone.

The problem is: this area is mostly residential. No businesses I can go into. It’s full of the elderly and everyone is asleep this time of night.

“Help!” I shout. “I need help! Anybody! Please!”