Page 81 of Bound in Obsession
Gallo nods slowly, but something in his eyes tells me he doesn’t fully buy it. The way he’s looking at me makes my skin crawl.
“I should get back to him,” I say, trying to step away. Before I can move, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist in a bruising grip.
“Not so fast,” he says, voice low and threatening. “I think we should talk a little more.”
“Let me go!”
I try to yank my wrist away, but his grip is so tight.
His fingers digging into my skin hard enough to leave marks.
“Your father has no idea what a liar his daughter is,” he says, voice low and venomous, laced with dark amusement.
My stomach drops. He knows it's me.
The realization makes my heart beat so fast, I fear it might jump out of my chest.
The party noise fades into a dull roar in my ears. The scent of his cologne, mixed with cigarette smoke, turns my stomach.
“Hello Eleonora.”
Hearing him say my name makes my skin crawl.
He leans in closer, his breath brushing my ear. “I only needed to look into those eyes to recognize them. You really thought you could hide from me, Eleonora? Your father and I have been tearing the city apart looking for you and your sister and you were right under our noses”
I try to pull my arm away, but his grip tightens, almost painful now. My skin burns where he’s holding me.
“Where’s your sister?” he demands, voice dropping even lower. “I was told that bastard kidnapped you both. Yet here you are, looking very cozy with the enemy. Tell me, are you sleeping with him, hmm?”
I yank my arm harder, finally managing to twist it free. “Get your hands off me.”
I push at his chest, stepping back, but he follows, crowding me against the balcony railing. The stone presses cold and hard into my lower back.
“Oh, I like this fire,” he says, eyes gleaming. “Maybe I chose the wrong sister after all. Sienna was always too soft. But you… you’ve got claws. I think I’d enjoy breaking you.”
My heart is pounding so hard it hurts. I lift my chin, forcing every ounce of defiance I have left into my voice. “You will never have me!”
Gallo laughs softly, but there’s no humor in it.
“Bold words for a girl playing dress-up in enemy territory.”
I glare at him, refusing to cower, even as my legs shake beneath me.
I need Nico.
But I can’t call for him without causing the exact scene I was trying to avoid.
As if being beckoned upon, Nico appears out of nowhere.
One second, I’m trapped against the balcony railing with Andrea’s hand still gripping my wrist, and the next, a powerful arm wraps around my waist and yanks me backward into a hard, familiar chest. The scent of Nico’s cologne floods my senses.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Nico growls.
Andrea releases me instantly, but his smirk only widens as he faces Nico. “Lombardi. I was wondering when you’d show up to claim your stolen goods.”
Nico steps in front of me, shielding my body with his own.
Everything happens so fast. Nico’s fist crashes into Andrea's face with brutal force. The crack of bone is sickening. Andrea staggers back, blood spraying from his nose, and he whips out his gun. Shouts erupt around us as people nearby notice the commotion.
