CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“ I t feels strange to be going out,” Sofia called out, putting on a pair of black strappy Louis Vuitton’s and looking in the full length mirror in the corner of her bedroom.

It was strange to be so excited under the circumstances, but during those long days and nights in prison, she never believed she’d be back in her apartment, freely living life again. Not that she was free.

Lance would trail behind her and so would a dozen other elite members of the Moretti Royal Army. However, she was about to walk down the street and do whatever took her fancy. Well, in theory, it would look like that, but Sofia had a set destination the team had mapped out for her right down to the millisecond, or at least that’s how it felt after Lance had made her go over and over the plan with him. Obsessively.

After being in a prison cell for weeks and then holed up in her apartment for over two more, Sofia was looking forward to walking outside like a free female. Not that she was at all complaining about the time she’d spent with Lance. While there was a dark shadow constantly over them as they waited for Stefano to ring or turn up, they had learned more about each other’s lives and bodies.

Lance had told her about his sister Janie, and how he hadn’t been able to save her or find her abuser. It helped her understand him so much more. Sofia felt so much for the poor, young vampire, and wished she had opened up to Lance, though she knew how it felt to be silenced by one’s father, and hated that the female had been blamed. It most definitely had not been her fault. Never.

Then, when she’d learned how he’d left home and how he’d lived until Craig found him, she had cried tears of sadness for him. Lance had been surprised by her actions and had held her tightly in his arms. It now seemed silly that he had been the one comforting her.

Sofia could feel them getting closer, their hearts opening to one another, and yet Lance would only please her with his mouth and hands. Both were delicious, but she desperately needed to feel him inside her.

He told her he trusted her, but Sofia knew he didn’t. Not completely.

Lance believed she was his mate.

Was he?

Sofia wasn’t sure.

But she knew Lance was right to stop things from going too far. Sofia couldn’t make any decisions with the way her life was right now. She was grateful to be alive, and her goal was to ensure she kept living. And that was all she was doing right now. Living. Because, despite appearances, she was still a prisoner. Despite appearances, it was still Lance’s job to guard her. Until the Morettis had Stefano Russo in their prison, she wasn’t free.

There was no way any of them would trust her until that happened.

So there was no potential for a relationship until all of this mess was resolved, if it ever could be.

Sofia was just surviving one day at a time right now. Well, that is, until Lance wrapped his solid, enormous body around hers; then she forgot about everything. She desired his touch in ways that surprised her. His lips on her neck melted her resolve, and when his fingers found their way between her legs, her mind blanked.

She loved having him in her mouth as he stared down at her like she was the most incredible thing he’d ever seen. His body was unlike anything she’d laid eyes on. He was like a damn Greek god. Whenever she could, Sofia ran her fingers over his eight pack and over the golden flesh of his pecs. When he lay over her, she gripped his large shoulders as his fingers dipped into her and she cried out his name. She relished the little nail marks she left on him as if they were indicators that he was hers to keep.

But he never could be, and she knew that deep down.

When Craig had given the order for her to resume her normal life, Sofia had felt a mix of emotions. Excitement, fear, and dread. She couldn’t return to work because there was nothing to go back to. The office was in pieces after it had been stormed by Lance and his team, and she still hadn’t heard from Stefano again. She had tried logging into her work computer from home, and all her access codes had failed, which had been expected.

As it turned out, she lived near a bar the SLCs regularly frequented, and so it had been decided she would go for what appeared to be a random wander and stop there for a drink. They knew the location, and their presence there would not be unusual, so they could keep an eye on her. If any of Russo’s people were watching her, hopefully they would feed back to him that she was just out and about living life.

At least that was the plan.

They just needed to trigger him into action.

Sofia stepped out of the bedroom and found Lance leaning his arm against the glass of the sliding door, staring out at the beautiful Rome skyline. She had a well-positioned apartment in Trastevere, which meant a short walk to a number of establishments in the metropolitan area. Lance was dressed all in black, his shirt rolled to his elbows and an expensive watch on his wrist. His hair was still damp.

From behind, she took in his enormous size. His presence in her home was intoxicating. Lance was a strong and powerful male. Sofia had to clench her fists to stop herself from reaching out and running her hands over him. She constantly wanted him. It didn’t take much to get moist between her legs when she remembered the pleasure he regularly gave her. One look in her eyes and Lance would sense it and act, even if he only went so far.

He hadn’t answered her.

“Hey,” she said, knowing he was running through the plan in his head for the millionth time. “I’ll be fine, Lance.”

He turned, and his eyes widened. “Jesus.” She allowed herself a small smile. Like the predator he was, he stalked toward her with dark and hungry eyes. “You won’t be damn fine. Looking like that, you’ll be damn well...”

He stopped. Apologetic eyes darted to hers.

Attacked.

Well, that had already happened.

“Fuck, sorry,” he said.

“I will be fine because you’ll be close by,” Sofia replied.

Lance growled and cupped her face as he pulled her body against his. The solidness of him gave her such a sense of safety that she wanted to stay there forever. She felt his cock harden and grow against her.

“Goddamn it. You aren’t close enough.” His voice was husky as she closed his eyes.

Lance was struggling with their limited intimacy. It wasn’t like he hadn’t had release; he had. She was giving as much as she was getting.

He watched her, heat in his eyes still as he ran his hand down her neck, across her décolletage, and down the side of her breast.

“Lance,” she moaned, her eyes shuttering as his thumb nudged one of her nipples. Then his mouth dropped to her neck, and she felt his hand tighten on her hip. “You’re fucking beautiful.”

“I’m wet,” she said, reaching between them to cup his hardness.

“God,” he groaned. “This is like heaven and hell.” His mouth smashed onto hers and devoured her. Their tongues lashed each other, his body hard against hers as frustration overwhelmed them both.

Lance pulled her away, his hands gripping her arms, and he looked over at the table beside them. Next minute, she was lifted on to it and her black dress was up around her waist. That it was vintage Chanel didn’t register, especially when he ripped her panties off and licked the length of her pussy in one long, big swoop.

She grabbed the edge of the table and hung on.

Lance widened her thighs with his large hands and stared at her while his tongue circled her clit. “Pull your tits out,” he growled. “I need to see them.”

A flush of pleasure ran through her as she obeyed. Flicking off her tiny black straps, she pushed the fabric down, and because she wasn’t wearing a bra, her breasts popped free. Her nipples were hard and aching.

“Fuck me, Lance,” she cried out.

“Touch them,” he ordered next, lapping at her.

She began thumbing one of her nipples while Lance devoured her pussy. Ecstasy laced through her body as, inch by inch, he reached all the right spots with the skill of an artist. “OhGodohGodohGod.”

“You want more?”

She nodded, not knowing what she was agreeing to, but plenty willing for whatever he would give her. A finger pressed inside her. Then another. She arched back as he found her G-spot, and when he licked her clit again, it was all over. An explosion of pleasure fired through her, and she began to scream.

“I’m going to do that again when we get home,” he told her, sucking the inside of her thigh before standing. He took one of her breasts in his hand and ran his finger over the nipple, staring down at her. “You are so fucking beautiful.”

“My turn.” Her eyes dropped to his pants.

Lance looked at his watch. “We’re out of time.”

Sofia smiled and began to pull her clothes back into place. Lance held her chin. “I know you need more. So do I.”

“My body aches for you, Lance.”

“Mine too.”

It was no longer enough for either of them. Something was shifting between them, and Sofia didn’t know what it meant. She had to get the information they needed and make some big decisions. Lance pulled her dress up and lifted her off the table. “If Russo doesn’t hurry up, I’ll fucking find him myself.”

Sofia went in search of new panties. “That wouldn’t prove my allegiance, and you know it.”

Suddenly, Lance was behind her. “I’m beginning to not care. I need you like my next breath, Sofia. We’ll find a way.”

LANCE KEPT TO THE SHADOWS as he followed Sofia to Freni e Frizioni. It was a local bar the SLCs had begun frequenting since arriving back in Italy. If any of the rebels was following them and saw her entering the establishment, it would simply look like a coincidence. At least they hoped.

Kurt was waiting for them, while Tom remained outside directing the team. They had no plans to jump Stefano, but they had enough vamp power to follow him. Finding out where he currently resided was essential. He hadn’t been at his family home since the coup, a smart move on his part.

The night was sticky and humid as Lance watched Sofia tuck her bag under her arm and step out onto the sidewalk. How she walked in those black high heels, he had no idea, but one day he was going to teach her how to use them as weapons.

And one day he was going to fuck her while they rested on his ass. His cock jutted in his pants.

Down, boy.

Lance watched as the men passing her ran their eyes over her curves. Sofia was a small female. Her long dark hair was falling down her back in soft waves tonight, and the short black dress clinging to her ass did nothing to divert eyeballs.

Sofia stopped for the crossing, and he waited across the street, leaning against a doorway. Her vampire sight allowed her to see him, and their eyes met. Lance had to dig deep to stop himself from flying across the road, his jaw tense as he took in the fear in her eyes.

He fucking hated this for her. With every day that passed, they all knew she would eventually be in the presence of her abuser once more. There was nothing he could do to stop it, and no way around it.

The buzzer began, and Sofia crossed the road with the rest of the evening crowd. She stopped at a few shops, window-shopping, and then eventually—as per their plan—arrived at Freni e Frizioni.

He walked in a minute after her and saw she had ordered wine. She sat at the bar, crossing her legs, while he walked straight past to the other end. He picked up a pint of beer in front of him. “ Salute ,” he said to Kurt.

“Glad you could make it.”

He grinned.

“Anything?”

Kurt shook his head.

His fellow SLC had a small mic like his in his ear, allowing him to communicate with the teams surrounding them, both inside and out. Lance spotted two of them in the bar and looked away. He’d trained both of them.

Nothing much happened. Sofia had another glass of wine, and around an hour later, two familiar blonde women walked into the bar and made their way toward them.

Kurt stiffened. “Oh, shit.”

“Are those the twins from the other night?” Lance asked, turning away from them.

“Mm-hmm,” Kurt mumbled as he raised his glass of beer to his lips. “Joshua, take the lead for a minute.”

“ Roger that. ” Lance heard in his mic.

“ What’s going on? ” He heard Tom ask.

Crap.

The two females stepped between them, all hands and wiggly hips.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Sierra said, crossing her arms as she glared at Kurt. Then she turned to look over her shoulder. “Hello, Lance.”

Lance raised his eyebrows. “Hey.”

“Hey, sexy. You disappeared rather quickly the other night.” Lance’s eyes dropped to Mia, who had wiggled closer to him. He tried to step backward and felt the barstool hit his legs. He glanced across the bar and found Sofia staring at him.

Dammit. Get rid of her, Kurt.

Yup. Gotcha.

Lance narrowed his eyes at him. The guy looked uncomfortable. You want me to blank their memories or something? Come on.

No! Just. No. Give me a moment.

“Sierra, listen...” Kurt began, but the blonde leaned in and laid a hand on his chest.

“No, you listen. You don’t lick a girl and then fucking vanish.”

Lance choked on his own saliva and tried to ignore the smirk Mia was giving him as he coughed. He looked across the bar at Sofia and saw she was paying the bartender.

What was she doing?

He glanced at his watch. She needed to stay put another ten minutes. That was the plan. He narrowed his eyes and tried to mind fuck her into looking at him.

She didn’t.

“Kurt!”

“You seriously think it’s okay to go down on a girl and then—I mean, where did you go?”

“You did have a lot to drink, baby girl. That’s not how it went down,” Kurt begged, and Lance’s brows furrowed in confusion. The fuck was wrong with the guy?

Jesus.

Because yeah, that’s exactly what would have happened. Both Kurt and Marcus had been called back by the king that night. Lance recalled walking into the ops room and noticing they both looked disheveled. God, he hoped the guy had brushed his teeth.

Gag.

The world spun around him as Sofia gathered her bag, shoving her phone inside. Fuck, he couldn’t just go over there. It could put her in danger and blow their entire op. Lance sent a look to one of his men and he nodded, moving to the entrance.

Tom, don’t let her out of your sight.

Roger that. What’s going on?

We’ve had a little distraction. Or two.

Sofia hopped off the stool, glared at him, and walked out of the bar.

What the fuck are you doing? He texted her.

Silence.

He glared at Kurt, then leaned down and gripped Mia’s face. “Leave. Change of plans; you’ve decided to go to another bar tonight. Take your sister and go. You don’t remember seeing either of us.”

Kurt’s head darted up, and he glared at him.

“Do it or I will,” he commanded. Not that he had any authority over the guy, but they were in the middle of a fucking important job.

“Do what? What’s going on?” Sierra demanded.

“Let’s go. I want to go to Baylon Cafè,” Mia said.

Kurt growled and pulled the female against his lips, kissing her. “I never left that night. I was a stallion in bed. I called you the next day, and you know I’ll call you again,” he said, then planted another one on her lips. “You don’t remember seeing me tonight. Go with Mia. Now.”

The two twins simply turned and left. No fuss, no questions. Just left. That was the power of vampire mind control.

“Really? A stallion?” Lance asked, raising an eyebrow. He might have been pissed, but he wasn’t letting the guy get away with that.

“Just sticking to the facts.” Kurt grinned, slamming some money on the bar. “Let’s go.”

They stepped outside, fucking around looking at their phones, attempting to look like human locals while they checked in with Tom.

Where is she? Lance asked, switching to telepathy.

Heading back to her apartment. About to cross over by the department store. What happened? She looks pissed, Tom replied.

Twins.

Twins?

Yeah, she...never mind. Kurt can explain.

Nope.

He cocked an eyebrow at the guy. I’m going to port over to her.

“Don’t be a dick. If the rebels see you, it will fuck up everything,” Kurt growled under his breath.

“They won’t see me,” he said and stepped into the shadows of the alley, disappearing.