The problem was: we were still in danger.
Leda’s face hovered over mine, pale in the dim lighting. “Why?” she asked tearfully. “Tell me the truth, Lucas.”
Swallowing, I didn’t turn away from her intense gaze. “I thought I had to choose. And I chose wrong.”
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything, realizing what I was saying. It had been either her or the Mafia, but I couldn’t have both.
Now that I had her, I made my choice, a choice that I couldn’t go back on.
Because it was the right choice.
“Oh, Lucas,” she said softly, some of the anger fleeing from her face. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Yeah, I didn’t know that answer either.
We fell silent the rest of the way to the docks, and by the time we pulled up to the yacht, the bleeding had slowed. Leda climbed out first, but it was Rocco that helped me out of the car.
“You look like shit,” he said, grimacing as we made our way down the dock to the yacht.
“I know,” I said instead, stepping down into the boat. “Get this thing out into the water quickly. Adrian will be coming.”
Rocco frowned, but he nodded, and I grabbed ahold of the railing to steady myself, my body still weak from the blood loss. What I would like to do was to get Leda into bed and sleep for fucking days, but now wasn’t the time.
I felt the engines start under my feet and continued to move inward, finding Leda standing right inside the outdoor living room area where I had had my discussions with Emil this morning. She was shivering in my coat, her hair blowing around her head.
I gritted my teeth. “You need clothes,” I bit out. “Go to the bedroom and find some.”
Leda turned to me, and there were tears on her cheeks. “Tell me that you love me,” she whispered, her arms wrapped around herself tightly. “Because if you don’t, I’m not coming with you.”
“Leda,” I growled. “Thisisn’tthe time.”
Didn’t she understand what I had just done? I just declared war with my own Mafia.
“No!” she shouted. “Thisisthe time! You put me back on that block, Lucas! After you promised to take care of me. You were ready to give me up to those, thoseanimals.He was going to kill me!” She marched toward me, not caring that I had just been in the fight of my life. “So tell me that you love me. Because if you don’t, I will jump from this boat.”
“Fuck,” I swore, reaching with my free hand to cup the back of her neck. “You have no idea, Leda, no fucking idea.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I sighed, pulling her closer.
“I love you,” I growled. “Or else I wouldn’t have come back for you.”
It was true. I wouldn’t have been able to leave that place without her by my side.
Leda was meant to be with me.
She rested her palm against my chest. “Alright. I’ll come with you for now. Where are we going?”
I pulled away from Leda’s touch, and cleared my throat. “Back upstate,” I told her. “I can protect you better upstate.”
Leda opened her mouth, but I placed my hand on her cheek, rubbing my bloodied thumb over her delicate skin. “I promise, Leda. I promise that I’m going to protect you. I know that my words may not mean anything to you now but it’s all I have to offer. You are the only thing that matters right now, and I’ll never let you go.”
Her lips parted, but I was already hobbling away as the yacht started to pull out of the harbor. This was far from over.
Chapter 60
Leda
I didn’t know what to think as Lucas hobbled away, blood sticking to his dress shirt. I had half a mind to go after him again. He had come. He had rescued me from that asshole who had purchased me, but at what cost?