Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

N ico

Time had no meaning when trying to save something you loved with all your heart.

Together, with the help of almost one hundred percent of the people employed by the corporation, the fire was slowly brought under control. The fire department eventually showed up, taking over, but without our efforts, everything could have been lost.

I’d seen my incredible ward several times, working alongside others in pulling hoses and lines from the irrigation, barking her own orders as if she was an expert.

All in a ruined party dress that hadn’t fazed her.

This had been planned. I didn’t need the fucking fire investigators to come back with some shit. How had the fucker disabled the entire system? It had to be through Alexandra’s laptop. She and I would have a long discussion, but long after I made certain she was okay.

As I bent over, placing my hands on my knees, I was finally able to breathe. The smoke continued to roll, but fresh air was crowding in.

The hard crack on my back was followed by a squeeze of my shoulder. “Thank God for the irrigation,” Domino said.

“Yeah.” What else could I say at this point? I was still enraged, trying to calm my nerves.

I was handed a bottle of water by one of the workers. I’d yet to figure out what I would say to them. I was eternally grateful, hopeful there were no injuries.

Romeo was suddenly racing toward me, the work lights placed all around us illuminating fear on his face. “Where is Alexandra going?”

“What do you mean where is she going? I haven’t seen her in a few minutes.”

“There was some guy on a horse. He… took her.”

Those were the only words I needed to hear, the ones I’d feared. “Which direction?”

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Domino warned.

“Don’t tell me what to do. Which fucking direction did they go?”

Romeo pointed.

I took off running, managing to capture one of the horses and jumping on the mare’s back. “Go, girl. Go. Go.” The horse took off running toward the open field. If the fucker believed he was going to get away with kidnapping her, he’d soon learn crossing me was the worst thing he could do.

I raced full out, hoping the half-moon would help navigate my way. There was a way off the property from the back, a single road leading to a much larger one. It was two miles away, but a fast horse could make it at full speed within twenty minutes or so. At least five had already been wasted.

The need to push the traumatized mare weighed on my mind, but if Alexandra was taken off the property, the likelihood of seeing her again would diminish to near nothing. I knew a shortcut that could cut some time. The asshole would have a vehicle waiting. How many men had it taken to almost destroy what most mattered to me?

How many enemy soldiers had infiltrated the property, their moves clandestine enough they hadn’t been noticed by my men? I couldn’t question how it had happened until everyone was safe.

I could tell the horse was breathing heavily and needed to slow down, but the fear and anger remained.

“Come on, baby. Only you can help me find her. She’s very important to me. I promise you that if you push a little longer, you’ll have all the apples you could ever want to eat. Deal?”

I guided her to the river, allowing her to drink as much as needed. When she lifted her head, she snorted and stamped one hoof.

“I knew I could count on you. Let’s go, girl.”

Maybe I wasn’t a horse whisperer like Romeo, but the mare responded to my request, pushing herself to full speed. We jumped over debris and a small portion of the river, heading toward the road at record speed. I was lucky I always carried a weapon, yet the single magazine of ammunition was all I had.

I only prayed it would be enough.

Voices sounded off in the distance, men speaking in Italian. Another confirmation Mattia was behind this. I slowed the mare, moving as close as I felt comfortable before stopping and sliding off. I patted her on the flank, whispering in her ear to stay where she was before advancing.

With the weapon in both hands, I crept closer.

The voices became clearer, their intentions easy to discover.

They were taking her to an abandoned warehouse to wait.

There were four of them. Not the best odds, but I’d handled worse.

I moved even closer, careful not to make a sound. It was entirely possible I had one shot at freeing her. When I was able to catch a limited view between the trees, I didn’t see a horse or a rider.

But seconds later, I heard the labored sound of a horse being admonished for taking too much time. The whinnying cries of the horse indicated he or she was being abused. From what I could tell, the man cursing in Italian was wielding a crop. The bastard.

The voice I recognized. Mattia.

My rage reached a pinnacle, but I had to be cunning about this.

“Don’t hurt the horse. You fucking asshole.” Hearing Alexandra’s sharp cry was enough to push me to the breaking point.

I sensed she was struggling with her captor, the horse still crying from the abuse. They were coming closer. I shifted through the foliage, gaining a couple of feet. As the horse finally started to come into view, the beauty reared back, finally unable to tolerate her abuser.

As luck would have it, something that was rare in my world, my beautiful ward took matters into her own hands by jamming her elbow into Mattia’s gut at the same time a branch cracked against his face.

The two of them went down, the horse running off immediately. Alexandra was yelling, frantically trying to get away.

“Not a chance, bitch,” Mattia yelled, immediately grabbing her by the leg. I bolted from the trees, tackling the man all the way to the ground. His hold was broken.

“Run!” I barked at her, praying to God she was listening to me.

Commotion sounded from where Mattia’s men were positioned. This was going to be dicey as fuck, but if she could get away, that was all that mattered. We pitched and rolled, Mattia managing to grab the weapon.

I’d never been in this kind of a struggle, matching strength for strength. I used a wrestling move taught to me by Domino, getting the upper hand and straddling his legs. But he was stronger than he looked, managing to regain traction almost instantly.

With our fight continuing, both of us grunting like animals, the enemy soldiers were fast approaching. There was no time left. This had to be finished.

I threw my head back and roared, using what was left of my agility to drive my finger across the trigger.

As my father had always told me, those who hesitated even for a split second were the first to die.

That wasn’t going to be me.

Pop! Pop!

The close shots immediately echoed in my ears, preventing me from hearing anything else. After a deep breath, I said a silent prayer thanking whatever divine being had provided me with another day to live.

But as with all things as of late, there was no time to rest on my laurels. I shoved the bastard’s body off mine. There was only enough time to roll onto my stomach before the four thugs appeared in close proximity.

All four were ready and eager to fire. I was a damn good shot, but I wasn’t positive I could eliminate all four prior to being shot myself.

Pop! Pop!

The first two I fired were completely accurate, catching the two intended targets between the eyes.

But the fourth fired off a shot. I rolled, trying to reposition myself, but I didn’t have another chance to fire.

Pop! Pop!

But someone else did.

I pushed myself away, certain I would feel explosive pain then nothing but cold as the life began to ebb from my body.

But there was none of that, just additional heat from the continued rage.

What the hell had just occurred? Who’d fired off the shot?

“Jesus Christ. I really can’t leave you alone for a minute. Can I?”

Domino. I wasn’t certain I’d ever been so happy to see him. He headed toward me, offering his arm.

“Are the motherfuckers dead?”

“Yeah,” he said. “What the hell is going on?”

Once on my feet, I moved toward the man I’d killed at point blank range, kicking him onto his back. “Mattia.”

“Well, fuck. Do you want me to send some of the men out to pick off as much of his crew as possible?”

I grinned, the shadows unable to block out the light. “Yeah, do that. And here I thought you’d become such a playboy you forgot all about your upbringing.”

“Bullshit, brother. You’re the weak one.”

Another sound drew both of our attentions, the sharp cry coming from only feet away. As Alexandra bounded from a clump of trees, I could feel her terror.

“You’re alive. Oh, God.” She jumped into my arms, wrapping both her arms and legs around me.

“I ain’t going anywhere, little flower.”

She pulled away, shaking her head. “I thought. I just…”

“No more talking until we get back to safety. Then we’re going to have a nice, long chat.”

“Oh, that.”

I was shaking from the rush of adrenaline inside, thankful that she was safe. I’d never felt so out of control, so helpless. I didn’t like it one bit. I’d pledged to protect and keep her safe and I’d almost lost her on my property.

That was never going to happen again.

As I crushed my mouth over hers, she clung to me with all the ferocity of someone in love. Maybe that was me. One week was all it had taken.

One week.

If only this could be a fairytale ending.

But there was more, much more to deal with.

Only this time, I would have the upper hand.

And keep it.

Alexandra

“You can’t do this. Not now. We have people waiting.” I was feigning shock when I knew I deserved punishment. Keeping the threat from him had possibly allowed Mattia the feeling of security that he could get away with arson and kidnapping. To think about what Nico and his family had almost lost would forever haunt my nightmares.

Six of the longest days had passed, most of the time spent with Nico in one meeting or another. Clean-up had already started on the estate, every employee pitching in to help with clearing debris and replanting.

Including myself.

Thankfully, only twenty percent of the crops had been lost, but several of the oldest trees had become casualties. I was as heartbroken as anyone else, blaming myself.

Not just for keeping the threat a secret, but for being here.

But I’d never, ever witnessed such amazing, resilient people or felt so needed and cared for as I had the last few days.

Including by Isabella, Domino, and their mother. She’d insisted on cooking for the employees, taking over Nico’s kitchen and appearing as if she was loving every minute of it.

When she wasn’t barking orders to various chefs she’d hired.

The amount of food that had come out was astounding. And I’d gotten to be a part of all of it.

This was… my family.

“I can do anything I want,” Nico said as he ripped off my bath towel. He even taunted me by lifting the bath brush into the reflection.

I bit my lower lip, giving him a hard look. “But we have guests downstairs and I need to look presentable. More so today than any other day.”

“They can wait. This is important. I almost lost you. That is never going to happen again. Do you understand me?”

He could still make me smile more than any person I’d ever known.

Even if he was determined to spank me.

“I understand.”

Nico’s eyes were shining, but they were still haunted, his breakthrough of emotions powerful these past few days. “I hope you do.”

He was about to spank me and I was admiring him in a towel. What did that make me after everything we’d been through? I wasn’t certain if I’d like the answer.

He didn’t waste any time, bringing down the hard wooden portion of the brush against one side of my buttocks then the other.

I never knew both water and an implement for the bath could hurt so much. I attempted to hold in my cries, fearful the visitors waiting downstairs could hear me. Sadly, with every crack of the brush, it was becoming close to impossible.

My mind was reeling with the thoughts of how important today was even as he continued the spanking, the cracking sound unable to free my mind. He was damn good at issuing punishments, maybe thinking concentrating on real pain instead of fear of the unknown would help.

It didn’t.

I was petrified, fearful I would screw up and what I was about to do was terribly important.

It didn’t seem to faze the man I loved, however. He was bringing the horrible instrument down one swat after another, the thudding feeling matching the sound as the wood hit my bottom.

It was already on fire, likely sensitive to the touch. How could I possibly ignore the spanking from minutes before at the meeting?

Well, maybe the continued discomfort would allow me to concentrate on something else. Maybe.

“Five more.” His tone was far more lighthearted than I’d heard in the limited time I’d spent with him in six days. Although our nights had been full of passion.

I wanted to ask him why not make it five hundred, but I knew better than to say anything. Instead I breathed out, the raw burning in my bottom contrasting with the warmth of his body next to mine. He issued the last strikes slowly. The bastard.

When the round of discipline was finished, I finally took a deep breath. He gripped my arms, pulling me close. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“Normal?”

His laugh held a slight tone of bitterness. “I don’t know what normal is.”

“Big holiday events with friends and family. Lots of food and decorations.”

Nico gave me a solid smirk. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I hope you do.”

He kissed me on the shoulder and sighed. “Are you ready for this?”

“I think so.”

“Just relax and remember to breathe.”

When someone told you to remember to breathe, I always wanted to smack them for their stupidity. But I did understand what he was saying.

Stay calm.

I would. I was determined to do so.

He waited as I got dressed, donning one of his usual dapper suits. After fixing my makeup, I stared at my reflection, hopeful the strong girl would make an appearance today.

After everything I’d experienced, this should be a piece of cake.

We would see.

Nico took me by the hand, leading me out of the room and down the stairs. I’d already met both Francesco Lombardi, an attorney and personal friend as well as Walter Reed, the attorney who would handle what we were about to do. Correction. What I was about to do. That included asking me questions to prompt my memory.

The brutal images were still very vivid. I had a feeling they would remain for a very long time.

I took my seat, noticing both Domino and Isabella had slid into the room to offer their support. I’d even had a lovely long discussion with my aunt, who was still under protection. She’d taken a fancy to one of the men guarding her, baking for all the men. Go figure.

This was… important.

“Are you ready, Ms. Christian?” Mr. Reed asked.

“I am.”

As the camera was turned on, I glanced at Nico quickly. There was such love and admiration in his eyes that I could easily breathe.

And feel love myself.

“Ms. Christian. Would you please state your full name?” Mr. Reed asked.

So it began with one strong hope.

The end was near.