Page 108 of His Kidnapped Queen
I jump on top of him, my breathing ragged as I rain punches on his face, his throat, his body. By the time I come back to myself, Nico has one eye swollen shut and he’s unconscious. I groan and roll off him, my body hurting everywhere.
I could kill him. I could snap his traitorous neck right here. I’d be better off. Father would be better off.
But all I can think about is Nico, after he got in trouble, sniffling and wiping the back of his hand across his nose, wide eyes looking up at me.
“Are you mad at me, Luca?”
I swept back his shaggy hair from his face. “I’m not mad at you, buddy.”
I grit my teeth, hating myself for being unable to do it. I stand up unsteadily, bracing my hand against the post I was tied to. I stagger for a moment but then get my bearings, rushing over to Diego. I want to go to Sophia, want to find her, call out to her, but I know I can use Diego if more of Nico’s men show up.
And they will. There’s no way he did this all on his own. I know at least Alfonso is involved, probably Johnny, too, some others.
I help Diego to his feet and he spits out more blood. Nico’s guys really did a number on him.
“How many men?”
Diego snaps back to reality even though he looks dazed, jerking his head around to scan the room.
“I only saw two, other than Nico. I recognized Alfonso’s voice, but not the other guy. Might be a newbie.”
I nod sharply. “We have to find Sophia.”
Diego’s eyes shoot to mine. “She was screaming. Luca?—”
“I know,” I bark. I don’t want to think about it. I don’t know if they’ve hit her, hurt her. All I know is anyone who laid a hand on her is going to see the business end of my gun.
“Stay here, near the exit. If you see anyone, holler.”
Diego chuckles mirthlessly. “I can’t do much else.”
I clap a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get you fixed up after all this is over.”
Diego nods and I walk out of the large foyer and into the hallway. There are three doors on the right. One is a bathroom, the other two bedrooms.
“Sophia!” I hiss, not wanting to yell too loudly and alert the rest of Nico’s men.
A muffled sound comes from the second door and I rush to it, fumbling with the doorknob before I just yell and kick it down. It takes one kick, two, then the wood splinters.
Sophia’s hands come through the broken wood before I can even get the door open. She melts into my arms, wrapping them around my neck. I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in.
“Are you alright? Are you hurt?”
She slowly shakes her head. “I don’t think so. You? Diego?”
“I’m okay, but Diego is pretty roughed up. We need to get him medical attention as soon as we can.”
She nods quickly. She’s not tied, just trembling. I caress her face, looking for bruises, but I find none.
She’s okay. She’s really okay.
“We have to get out of here,” she says frantically, gesturing wildly. “We have to leave and Luca?—”
The sound of more splintering wood jerks me back to reality and I whip my head around.
What’s next?
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