Page 192 of Wicked Villain

“Sleeping Beauty is awake,” Danillo taunts.

“You bastard.”

“Yes. I’m a bastard. It’s probably the tamest thing I’ve ever been called.”

“You are everything despicable. Let us go.”

He moves closer, and his hand shoots out, slapping me across the face. Stars speckle my vision, and pain tears through my cheek. It makes me feel like I might pass out again.

“You are in no position to make demands, Gabrielle.”

He just called me Gabrielle. Through the pain, I realize he doesn’t know the truth yet. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.

He grabs my face, forcing my gaze back to his. His fingers dig into my cheeks, his nails breaking my skin.

“You are mine,” he says. “You have always been mine. Let me tell you what’s going to happen today. Your asshole husband is going to come here thinking he’s bargaining for his wife, but really, he’s walking into his own assassination. As soon as he hits the ground, we’re leaving—you and me. Your father can keep the hag.” He tosses a look at Mama.

The door across from us opens, and Papa walks in. A taller man follows him, younger and stronger, with longish hair and a cold, hard face.

“Awake just in time,” Papa says, clapping. “Lev’s here.”

I glare at him.

The man steps around him, comes right up to me, and makes a show of studying my face. He places a hand on his heart. “I’m Micah Moretti.”

My blood stills. Oh God. This is the man Lev has been looking for—and now he has me.

“I just wanted to see what I’m bargaining with.” Moretti continues studying me, then grins wickedly. “She’s pretty, Corrado. I can see why the husband handed over his biggest leverage to get her back.”

“Just end his miserable life,” Papa spits back.

Oh God, Lev.

Does he know he’s walking into a trap?

He’s Lev. He knows.

But he’s doing it anyway, because it’s me. He’s come for me.

I know that just as well as I know my own name.

Moretti straightens. “All in good time. Release her. Let him get one last look. I want to see his face when he realizes he’s been defeated.” He snaps his fingers at Papa, who moves toward me and unties me.

“You’re despicable, Papa,” I hiss in his face. “You’re dead to me.”

“The feeling is mutual, my love.”

He grabs my arm and yanks me to stand, then he shoves me into Danillo’s arms.

He catches me and grins. “You’ll be mine soon enough.”

I don’t answer. Better not to. I don’t want him to hit me again.

As Danillo drags me away, I look back at Mama and pray she’s okay. I don’t know what kind of drug they gave her, but with her condition, it could be dangerous.

We leave the room and continue down a long hallway. At the end, we enter a cavernous space with boxes and crates lining one wall.

Lev stands in the center, waiting.