Page 30 of Danica's Revenge

More gunshots ring outside, so many more.It’s making my ears hurt but I can’t do anything to cover them.I can’t move.I just wait in the dark and hope nothing happens to Danica.I am powerless to defend her; I can’t even defend myself.

And then it goes quiet, eerily so.

“Danica?”I breathe, weak, my voice barely a whisper.It can’t be her, right?

But itisher.I know that scent anywhere, the feeling of her proximity.My body instantly reacts, melting into the chair with relief.

“Dante!It’s okay, darling, you’re safe now,” Danica replies as her delicate hands pull the blindfold from my face.

I’m still blinded though.I can’t see anything.Even the dim light in the room is too much for my sensitive eyes accustomed to only darkness.

“You came for me.”I’m in utter disbelief.

“Of course I came for you,tesoro.I will always protect you.”

She kisses my forehead, arms wrapped around me.

I feel like crying, I’m so relieved—not just to be saved, but to feel her near me again.Being away from her was agony.I didn’t want her last memory of me to be throwing her out of the house.

“I’m so sorry,” I say weakly.

“It’s okay, baby.You did what you had to.”She presses her forehead against mine.

I think I am crying but I don’t know.My senses are flooded with Danica.I feel overwhelmed.My eyes slowly adjust to the light and I take in her beautiful face.She looks different.Dressed all in black, hair tied back, thick boots—she looks ready for war.

“You have never looked more beautiful,” I tell her.It’s true.

“I wish I could say the same,” she grins, touching my cheek gently.I can’t even imagine what I look like, how she can still touch me so affectionately.

Behind her, Emilio and some other figures come into focus.I recognize some of my men but the others appear unfamiliar.Emilio’s limping a tad but it does little to make him look less threatening.

“Capo,” he smiles, nodding in my direction but respectfully not interrupting Danica.

“Thanks for rescuing me,” I tell him.

“You should thank Miss Matthews, boss.”

“Oh trust me, I will.I’ll spend the rest of my life thanking her.”I rest my head on her chest, closing my eyes for a moment.

“Sometimes the Queen must save her Knight too, you know.”Danica kisses my hair.“Let’s get you out of these ties, baby.”

Please can this not be just a dream.

?

Chapter twenty

Queen

“Everyone,out!”Ishoutloudly, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.Nobody dares question the authority in my voice.

Emilio ushers the men out, closing the door and giving us a moment.I know he’s guarding the door, just like always.

I carelessly drop my gun on the ground.It makes a clinking sound as the metal hits the bare cement.

I take Dante’s face in my hands.Tears are trailing down his cheek, leaving a pale smear in the middle of the dried blood.I kiss them away, not caring how dirty he is.His eyes meet mine and for an eternity we just stare at each other.So much to say, but no words seem appropriate.

I take the knife from my belt and finally cut the ropes from Dante’s bruised body.I struggle momentarily, hindered by the cut in my arm, but push through.His pants are ripped, his feet bare.My heart breaks to see him this hurt, so weak.Nobody gets to hurt my sub but me!I think protectively.But he’s alive.That’s the most important part.Still, I’m furious—like a lioness whose cub has been threatened.How fucking dare they?How dare any of them?Fucking Luca.

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