I nodded slowly, confusion saturating every cell in my body.
He tried to be gentle, but my lips smarted against the strong adhesive.
“W-what is—”
“Shh. I need you to be quiet, okay? We don’t have long, and I need to deal with this… mess.” He gently took my arm and led me around to the front passenger door. “Get in and wait for me.”
Dominic opened the door and helped me inside, not offering to cut the restraints binding my wrists and ankles. Did he think I was a flight risk, or was I still a prisoner?
My head was spinning as I slumped against the cool leather seats.
“I’ll be right back.”
“W-wait,” I said as he went to shut the door. “Why are you doing this?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll explain everything soon.”
I nodded, watching through the rearview as he rounded up the dead bodies of his men, and loaded them into the trunk.
When he came around to the driver’s door, I caught the glint of his pistol as he climbed inside. “Who are you?” I breathed, my body trembling.
Dominic looked at me and gave me a strained smile. “A friend.”
We rode in silence. Every time I went to ask a question, the words died on my lips. Exhaustion anchored me to the seat, my limbs heavy and sore.
It was the middle of the night, the rest of the world sleeping while Dominic Cabrioles was driving me to some undisclosed location.
When we eventually pulled off the highway and the car stopped, I twisted around to face him. “Where are we?”
“I need to make a call,” he said, slipping from the SUV.
Glancing around, I tried to find a landmark or something, but it was futile. There was nothing but miles and miles of highway flanked by dense trees. We could have been anywhere.
Headlights flashed up ahead and my body went rigid. The vehicle slowed, making the same turn as us until a black SUV much like this one, slowed to a stop.
Dominic walked over to the driver’s window, and it lowered. I couldn’t see inside though. Fear skittered up and down my spine, making me shiver.
But then, the back door opened, and a figure climbed out. He stepped into the stream of moonlight and my heart almost burst out of my chest.
Matteo.
Matteo was here.
I tried to open the door only to realize I was still bound. Our eyes collided through the glass, and I saw it then. I saw what I hadn’t been able to see back at the warehouse.
He cared.
Matteo cared.
With big sure strides, he approached the SUV and opened my door. “You’re here,” I choked out as he reached for me. “You came.”
“Shh, I got you. I got you.” Gingerly, he lifted me out of the SUV, lowering me to my feet. “Really, Cabrioles?” He hissed, noticing my restraints.
“What?” Dominic shrugged. “I couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t try to gut me like a fish. Fuck knows I deserved it for what I put her through.” His eyes glittered with apology.
“I-I don’t understand.” Silent tears streaked down my cheeks.
Nicco appeared, dipping his head slightly toward me. “Sorry for the theatrics. We needed Lombardi to believe everything was okay.”
“Wait a minute,” I swung my head between them. “All that back there… you were acting?”
Relief slammed into me. Matteo hadn’t meant it; he hadn’t meant any of it.
It had all been for show.
A wave of emotion crashed over me, and I swayed on my legs.
“Easy there,” Matteo caught me.
I realized now; he would always catch me.
“Lombardi?” Dominic asked.
“He’s secure. We need to get Cait… Erin—”
“No,” I blurted out. “I’m not Erin, not anymore.”
That girl was dead to me. Everything she was, everything she’d survived. I didn’t want to shackle her past to my future. I couldn’t.
Matteo’s expression softened and he nodded with understanding. “We need to get Cait somewhere safe. We’ll deal with DiMarco and Lombardi tomorrow.”
“Very well. I’ll lay low until I get the call.” Dominic settled his hard gaze on me. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry for how things went down at the club. I’m ambitious, but I’m no monster.”
Matteo pulled me closer, and I drew strength from being in his arms. I still didn’t understand all that had transpired to get us to this point, but one thing was certain, Dominic had betrayed Massimo to deliver me safely to Matteo and Nicco.
And for that I would always be grateful.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere warm,” Matteo led me back to their SUV, climbing into the back with me.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, running his eyes over me.
“I’m okay.”
“Cait, I am so sor—”
“Don’t.” I slid my finger against his lips. “Not yet. I know we need to talk. I know we both have things we need to explain, but right now, I just want to be here with you.”
“I can do that.” He slipped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. “I love you, Cait. I need you to know that. I think I’ve loved you since that night I saw you standing in that alley.”
“Matt, I—”
“Don’t. Not yet. I just needed you to know.”
My eyes fluttered closed as I finally let myself relax. Matteo was here.
He came for me.
And he loved me.
I woke up in soft sheets in a bedroom I didn’t recognize. It reminded me of my room at the cabin, but the décor was different, and it was smaller.
Sitting up, I ran a hand over my wild curls, trying to tame them. I could hardly remember getting here. But I remembered Matteo. The way he’d carried me to bed, whispering promises in my ear that had carried me off into a deep sleep.
Smiling to myself, I touched my lips. He’d kissed me. That I could remember.
Voices beyond the door caught my attention, and I pushed back the sheet and padded over to it. I was in a brand new, oversized Tinkerbell t-shirt.
I was desperate to go and find him, but I needed a girl’s minute, so I went into the bathroom and cleaned up a little.
When I was done, I took a deep breath and went in search of the man who had saved me.
I found Matteo in the kitchen area, making a fresh pot of coffee. “Good morning,” I said.
“Cait?” His head whipped around, his expression softening the minute he laid eyes on me. “You’re awake.” He smiled.
“I am. Sorry for crashing on you like that.”
He abandoned the coffee, taking big strides until he was in front of me. “You have nothing to be sorry for, not a damn thing.” He slid his hand into my hair and leaned down, touching his head to mine. “How are you feeling?”
“Weary. A little confused. But I’m okay.”
I’m here with you. It’s more than I could have ever asked for.
“You must have some questions.” He searched my eyes.
“I do. But no more than you, I imagine.”
“Go get comfortable and I’ll make us both a mug of coffee.”
“Okay.” I went to walk away, but Matteo snagged my wrist, whirling me around to him. His hands cupped my face as he stared at me with a heady mix of relief and longing.