The elevator chimes, signaling our arrival on the ground floor. Matteo steps away from me, reaching down and adjusting the bulge in his pants. “Now, be a good girl and follow us. We can explain everything to you once we’re somewhere safe.”
Antonio motions for me to walk out of the elevator first. I stride out and head toward the door, waiting for my chance. As soon as my hands are on the door handle, I push it open and take off running down the street.
I have no clear destination, just wanting to get as far away from the two men I’m sure are following close behind me.
“Come here, Celia.”
“Fuck no!” I bellow, my lungs burning from the cold air as I push harder, trying to put as much space between us as possible.
Once I reach the corner, I take a glance behind me but only see Antonio.Where did Matteo go?Just as I finish my thought, I run into something hard and tumble to the ground. My heart races in my chest as I stare up at Salvatore Genovese. His eyes narrow down at me. Scrambling to my feet, I turn to run when his hand shoots out, pulling me into his chest.
“Get off me.” My arms and legs flail in the air. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You’ve ruined me,” he responds cryptically as I feel a sharp pinprick on my skin.
“What the hell, Sal!” Antonio shouts. “We have everything under control.”
“Clearly,” he growls, burying his nose in my neck.
Why the hell do they keep doing that?
“Because you smell delicious.” Salvatore chuckles before sliding his arm under my legs and lifting me into the air.
My head spins, and my eyelids droop, but I fight to keep them open. Someone opens a car door, and Salvatore slides in.
“Sleep,” he whispers, planting a kiss on my forehead.
I open my mouth to speak, but my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. I want to scream for help, to beg him to spare me from whatever they have planned, but my head drops to his shoulder, and my eyes drift shut.
Please save my sister.
CHAPTERTWELVE
ANTONIO
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I shout in Salvatore’s face as soon as I walk in the door.
I thought I was going to die right there on the street when he shoved that needle into her neck. I wanted to rip her from his arms and run in the opposite direction, protecting her from my brother and every other asshole that wants a piece of her.
Not that you’re any different.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Antonio.” Salvatore is the picture of ease, sitting at the head of the table as always.
The king of the castle waiting for his subject to bend to his will. Usually, I wouldn’t care. I left the business end of the family to him, wanting to enjoy life to the fullest, but when it came to Celia, I was done with the games. The moment I laid eyes on her, I was obsessed to the point of madness. The sound of her moans made my cock incredibly hard. I’ve wanted women before, but this was something different.
“Don’t play dumb with me. We’ve resorted to kidnapping woman now?” I slam my fist on the table in front of him.
I love pushing my brother’s buttons, getting him angry for the dumbest reasons, but this time, I’m doing it on purpose. I’ve never been serious about anything in life, and I know it. I’ve been floundering, partying, and getting into trouble that I’ve wanted my brother to get me out of. Sometimes, he doesn’t have a choice but to bail me out, but mostly, he leaves me just enough rope to hang myself with. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’ve spent so many years trying to prove to everyone that I don’t need my brother’s approval that I’ve almost started believing it myself. Call it daddy issues or whatever you like, but my father only cared about one son, Salvatore. He was the oldest and the heir to the Genovese Family organization, and I was just the spare. Because of that, when my parents died, I was alone. Salvatore cared for me, taught me about life and the family business, and for that, I’d die for him. But I’m not a little kid anymore. My idol worship has developed into a need for his approval in all aspects of my life. Deep down, I’ve always wanted his approval and acceptance. I want him to tell me he’s proud of me. I want to share everything with him. It’s one reason we go to Club Sin. It’s the one place I can explore this need for approval from my brother. The only place he gives it to me.
“Don’t be so dramatic, brother. She was coming with us either way. I just expedited the process.”
“You’ve seriously lost your mind.” My hands clench into tight fists as anger fills every part of my body. “Anyone could’ve come by and seen what you did. What would you have done then?”
“Take a step back, Antonio.” Matteo grips my shoulder, pulling back on it and stepping between my brother and me. “Your temper is getting the best of you.”
“You’re serious right now?” I scoff, pulling out the chair to my left and taking a seat. “You didn’t have a problem with what he did to Celia?”