“I don’t know.”
“It’s happening,” she says, white-knuckling the sheet. “Whatever it is, it’s happening.”
“Nothing’s happening that you need to worry about.” I stand and press my lips to her forehead.Your nightmare is almost over.“Sweet dreams,Princesa.Only sweet dreams.”
“Antonio,” she cries, before I reach the door. “Promise you’ll come back to me. Not in a body bag, but with your heart beating strongly.”
I go back to sit beside her on the bed. The sheet is somewhere at her waist, exposing her creamy tits. Her dark hair is curling around her taut nipples. I take a ringlet between my fingers.
“Don’t let your imagination get away from you. It’s not what you think. I’m in no danger.” I let the lock of hair slip from my fingers. “We’re stretched thin today. Behave. Don’t give Alvarez heartburn. I’ll be home before you know it, and then I’m going to own this gorgeous body all day and all night, on every surface in this place, until Valentina gets back, when I’ll have to own it more discreetly.”
Her eyes dance at the promise of lust-filled days and nights, where she’ll revel in my darkness, while I bask in her light. I allow myself one last look, my gaze lingering on her round breasts, before it reaches her eyes. She trembles—not in fear, but in anticipation.Her angels play so nicely with my demons.
Given what I’m about to do, I’m surprised to feel the tug at the corners of my mouth. But there’s no denying it.
“Te amo,” she murmurs, cradling my jaw.
Te amo.Words I never expected to hear from her.
An unfamiliar swell of emotion knocks, but I don’t let it in. “I’m not deserving of such a gift, but I’ll take it.”Like I’ve taken everything else.
I press a rough kiss to her mouth, tamping down the desire to crawl back into bed and bury myself inside her one last time, before our world turns upside down.
61
ANTONIO
When I get to the dungeon, Tomas is chained to a folding chair in the center of the room. I don’t know how Will’s men lured the rat out of his hole, but he doesn’t appear to have a scratch on him.
I grab a chair and straddle the back about five feet away from him. I don’t say anything. I just wait. There’s a rhythm to these types of interrogations.
This is the fun part. The part where the initial adrenaline fades, and he begins to think somewhat clearly about his situation. Plotting a way out. It doesn’t take long before a sheen forms on his neck. The question is, will he begin by begging for my mercy, or will he lash out?
“You left yourputato come to see me. How nice.”
I want to wring his neck, but I don’t flinch. This is as personal as it gets, but I can be a disciplined motherfucker when warranted, and I will interrogate him like any other traitor.
“I hope every time you’re inside her used-up pussy, you think of me. I was there first. While it was pure and tight.”
Control, Antonio. You have all the power.
Interesting.Most men in his situation wouldn’t begin to lay out the facts like this. They’d hold onto this type of information, so they’d have something to barter with later when things begin to get really bad.
But Tomas is a coward. He’s goading me because he knows I’m going to kill him, and he wants it to be quick.Not a fucking chance.He’ll suffer, and he’s going to tell me plenty before I let him take that last breath.
“Huh? Do you think about me when you fuck her? I know she thinks about me.” The sheen on his neck is thicker.
“Actually, Tomas, I don’t think of you at all when I’m with my wife. And she doesn’t think of you either. No one who has access to my dick would ever give your tiny pecker a second thought.”
Outwardly, I’m a man in control, but inside I’m craven and the devil has taken over. “I heard the day you raped her, you got in two pumps before you blew your load like a chump.” I sneer, but the thought of him on Daniela—inside her innocent body—claws at me, like nothing else has.
“My knife.” I hold out my hand to Cristiano. “This is my favorite knife. Pity it’s going to get all dirty when I plunge it into your belly.” I stare straight into his eyes. “Did you take a shit this morning, or are your bowels full?” I run my fingers along the edge of the blade before I set it on my thigh. “If you want the end to come quick, you’ll answer my questions truthfully. If not, I’ve cleared my schedule for the week. I’m prepared to wait alongtime.”
He turns his head away from me. “I’m not telling you a damn thing.”
You will tell me everything before this is over.Without a word, I get up and walk over to him. I stand perfectly still for several long moments, before bringing the knifepoint to his throat.
“Do it,” he spits out.