Without a second glance, I spun around and hopped off the dais. Marcello blocked my path with his chest. His head was down, but I knew his scent. Why did they even bother with this arcane bullshit?
It was fucking stupid.
I stepped around Marcello, and this time, he didn’t stop me. Before I left the room, I glanced over my shoulder. All eyes were on me, but only Luca’s face was visible.
I took one last look.
Luca was so damn beautiful my heart ached when our eyes met. His upper lip twitched as if he were about to explode at any second. The rage was always present, brewing at the surface. He did his best to contain it, but I knew him well.
I ran from the room so fast my bare feet ached as they scraped the rough stone. At the end of the dark hallway, I stopped in front of the wall, feeling as if they were closing in on me. Hand over my heart, I blew out a deep breath and tried to control my rapid pulse.
Why would they bring me down here? What the fuck were they thinking?
I had to get out of there.
Away from these psychos.
Taking one turn after another, I walked in circles, my head spinning with each turn. Where was the exit? They opened the secret door by removing a brick from the wall.
But which one?
They all looked the same. I spun in circles, trying to retrace my steps. Panic bubbled up inside my chest, the dark walls suffocating me.
It was too dark.
Too cramped.
Too damn cold.
Sinking to the floor, I leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths, reminding myself to calm down. I needed to find a way out of this creepy ass cult hideout. Luca knew I would not get far. That had to be the reason he let me go without having me followed. He did nothing without a plan.
Get up.
Keep going.
I pushed myself up from the ground. Every bone and muscle in my body ached as I walked down the long hallway. The ceiling and walls felt like they were closing in on me. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, my pulse pounding out of my skin.
I swayed from side to side and pressed my hand to the cold, rough wall for support. A chill rolled through the dense passage, the scent of moss filling my nostrils.
As I rounded another corner, I stopped dead in my tracks. Four men with hoods hiding their faces stood in front of the double doors. They were about a hundred feet away, their gazes locked on me.
The one at the center, who I assumed was Luca, beckoned me with his index finger.
I shook my head.
The hell with him.
My heart raced as he approached me. The narrow passage blurred before my eyes, and now there were two of him. On shaky legs, I slumped to the side and grabbed the wall, so I didn’t crumple to the ground.
Fuck panic attacks.
Just breathe, Alex.
Breathe.
“When will you learn?” Luca said in his usual cold tone. “You can’t escape fate, baby girl.”
My fingers slid down the wall, and as my feet slipped out from under me, I saw Luca’s pretty blue eyes that had a murderous look in them.