Page 79 of Vendetta

He ripped his mouth from mine, panting, his pupils blown. “Fuck, bella.” The next words were dragged from the depths of the darkest part of his soul. “Finish this. Seal the bond. Put me out of my misery. This is torture.” He rocked his hips, bottoming out and groaning.

I was so close. His swelling knot pistoned into me hard and fast, growing with every calculated stroke. His words stole my breath. Could I take the risk? The pulse in his throat throbbed, beckoning me, and my teeth ached to sink into his flesh. To bind us together forever. The urge overwhelmed me, but I blinked it away. I wanted to, so fucking badly, but I’d had no say when he bit me last night, and I wanted a say. I wanted to make that decision when I wasn’t drunk on his glorious knot. Maybe it was stupid, but I wanted my choice to matter.

A smile pulled at my lips as I reveled in the sensation coursing through my body. “No.”

He growled and slammed into me harder, and when I pulled his mouth back to mine, he kissed me with the desperation and heat of a dying man. I focused on the lava burning through my veins, dragging me higher and higher. My head spun as pleasure unfurled, and my muscles rippled around his length. With one final shove, his massive knot slid home, locking us together, pulsing as his scalding seed filled me until my belly swelled against him.

I couldn’t stop the rapid-fire aftershocks that had me twitching and milking even more scalding hot cum from him.

He groaned low like a satisfied lion, and with some reluctance, rolled us over so I was draped across his chest.

Chapter 51

Rosalina

The trip back from the safe house was too fast. A short ride to the airport and no more than two hours in Nico’s private jet wasn’t long enough. I’d spent the entire time wrapped up in them in the giant bed on the plane, but it left me aching for just five more minutes.

My heart shriveled up like a raisin and died in my chest. Pain rooted around, digging deeper into every part of my being. This was bullshit. Worse than any physical pain I’d ever experienced. Every step I took away from where they’d dropped me off on the deserted road seemed to grow exponentially, making inches feel like miles. A gulf of wretched sadness opened up inside me, leaving me an empty, hollow husk.

I forced my bare feet across the pavement and refused to look back. If I did, I’d end up back in that car curled up with the pack that was starting to feel like home. With my eyes set on the guardhouse at the end of the causeway, I dragged myself away. My father’s island compound was a stronghold. I’d be safe here, but it was also a prison. It always had been, but right now I needed to stay alive. So, I put one foot in front of the other.

Nico arranged to have new clothes, shoes, and a cell phone ready for me as soon as we landed at the airport, but I refused to take them. There’s no way my escape story would hold up if I showed up looking pristine. I could take a little pain if it kept all of us safe.

The nondescript building came closer, but the familiar black SUV was absent from the parking space beside it. Where was the guard? Hopefully, Diego was on duty because at least he’d be happy to see me. Although, he may not believe the lies I’d have to tell. The thought of Maria’s French toast had me picking up my pace, but even that was a reminder of Ollie and what I was walking away from.

As I reached the small building, I noticed all the lights were off, and no one was inside. There was nothing to greet me but crickets. Fucking hell. I couldn’t even call the house to get picked up because the door was locked. It was a long ass walk from here, and I still didn’t have any fucking shoes.

In all the years my father lived here, I’d never seen a day when the guardhouse wasn’t manned. Even if they were sometimes napping on the job.

The hair on the back of my neck prickled with unease. What had happened while I was gone?

I had all the time in the world to wonder about it, and to pine over the pack that never was, as I made my way across the flat bridge and up into the trees. At least there were no wild animals to maul me to death here. Just chipper little birds fluttering through the tropical flowers and the occasional lizard. That didn’t stop me from jumping at every sound. Each step toward my father’s house wound my anxiety a little tighter.

Nico told me my father would protect me. I just had to get there. Maybe that hope blinded me to the possibility that things had changed while I’d been away.

Sweat streamed down my face as the wall surrounding the house came into view. Guards were stationed around the perimeter, and I raised my hand to wave. I knew everyone who worked for my father, so imagine my surprise when two strangers approached with guns drawn.

“Halt! Stay where you are.”

I threw my hands up. “Whoa, whoa, down, boys. I live here.”

One of the men poked me in the chest with the muzzle of his rifle.

What the fuck?

“State your name,” the other guard said.

“I’m Rosalina Reyes. Who the fuck are you?” I side-stepped the barrel of the gun and put my hands on my hips.

The guards glanced at each other, both looking confused.

“I said, I live here. Radio it in. Are you new or something?” Antagonizing the guy with an assault rifle may not be the smartest move, but I was hot, tired, and my feet hurt. What else was new at this point in my life?

Once this was over, I was going to track down Claudia and have a spa day. Those assholes better not have hurt her.

One of the guards turned his back and mumbled into his radio. After a moment of conversation through their earpieces, the gun-happy guy motioned with his AK toward the house. “Come with us.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right, whatever you say.” I was already going to the stupid house, they didn’t need to threaten me with a good time.