Page 29 of The DeLuca Crime Family: Vol. 1

“One of our guys has her on her way here now, sir.”

With a lift of my chin, I indicated he should head to my office, then stalked the rest of the way down the hallway to a door marked “Personnel Only,” and punched a code in the keypad next to it. The door unlocked and I swung it open, quickly crossing to a lone desk on the far wall and slipping my hand under it to locate a small button. It wasn’t easy to find unless you knew where it was, and once I felt it, I pressed it and felt the rush of air that accompanied the wall beside me sliding open.

“Niccolo!” My mother burst into the room making a beeline for us as I stepped to the opening. She wrapped her arms around us and Sophia, whose cries had quieted, began to sob once more, breaking my heart with every tear.

The wall revealed one last door and I punched another code before putting my eye to a scanner, and at last, the door unlocked. I transferred Sophia to my mother’s arms. I loathed to let her go, but was aware it was the best thing for the time being. Opening the door, I stepped into a room that closely resembled a studio apartment. I’d had panic rooms like this built into each of my warehouses and office buildings, as well as one in my home. They locked securely from the inside, the keypad and eye scanner becoming useless until the inner security was turned off.

My eyes met my mother’s and she nodded, silently communicating her understanding of what I needed.

“We’ll be right here when you find her, Niccolo. Now go. Save your love.”

“Antonio or I will call when we have news.” I kissed their cheeks, my lips lingering on Sophia’s tear-streaked face, whispering how much I loved her.

“Don’t go, Daddy,” she begged and it shattered the last remaining pieces of my broken heart.

“I’ve got to go get Gianna,preziosa.” I swallowed hard before speaking one last time. “I’ll bring back your mommy, Sophia. I promise, baby girl.”

I waited outside until I heard the security system click the locks into place, then pressed the button to close the wall, and dashed back to my office, my fingers furiously typing a text on the way. I pressed send as I entered the room, seeing Devon on his phone, barking at whoever was on the other side.

Walking to the wall safe behind my desk, I opened it and took out my gun, checking to make sure it was loaded. Then I grabbed a shoulder holster and slipped it on, securing the weapon into it. The message had been an alert for my men to rally and get ready for a fight. They filtered in, some coming straight to my office and others arming themselves before joining us.

“Enzo called,” Antonio informed me as he entered the room. “It seems Devon’s contact located Darby. They’re bringing him in now.”

“The men hiding him?” I asked, my jaw clenching in fury.

“Dead,” he deadpanned.

I nodded in satisfaction. Any motherfuckers willing to align themselves with that weasel didn’t deserve to continue breathing.

“Take him to the back,” I instructed a couple of my guys. Turning to Devon, who was no longer on his call, I barked, “Get two of your guys to keep patrols around this section of thebuilding. My mother and daughter are in a panic room, but I don’t want anyone getting close enough to even test its security.”

He nodded and began to exit.

“Devon,” I called and he halted, looking back at me. “Brecken is my friend and someone I highly respect. Those are the only reasons you are still alive. If anything else happens to my family, or my fiancée is harmed, those reasons will no longer keep you from my wrath. Is that clear?”

There was no denying the truth in my words, and I knew he could see it in my steely gaze. I would stop at nothing to protect my family. Nothing.

He studied me for a moment, but I couldn’t read anything in his expression. Then he said simply, “Yes, sir,” and left the room.

“Nic.” I looked to Antonio when he said my name, seeing his grim face as he finished listening to what one of my guys was whispering in his ear. His eyes met mine and like the angel of death, he said, “Darby’s here.”

There was no doubt I’d be sending his ass straight to hell after I beat the location of my Gianna out of him.

Chapter Nineteen

ANNA

Waking up to find myself lying on a stone cold floor, my arms tied in front of my body and the black hood still over my head, I was filled with a certainty that Nic would come for me. The darkness in him which I’d worked so hard to ignore was going to be the very thing to save me from this mess. I was surprised to discover the concerns I had over Nic’s lifestyle had fled. Considering it was the reason why I found myself on that floor, the timing might have seemed odd except for one thing—I knew he would never give up until I was back where I belonged. Right by his side.

I chose not to focus on what might happen to me in the time it took for him to figure out where I’d been taken and come to my rescue. Instead, I reflected on the time I’d spent with Nic. I thought about why I fell in love with him so easily, the passion he awakened in me, and how he made me feel cherished, protected, and... safe. He was big and strong. Scary at times, too. But even when his intensity was aimed my way, I never felt a twinge of fear.

When he was bossy, a part of me wanted to obey so I could see the satisfied approval shining from his eyes when I gave himexactly what he wanted. And when he threatened to spank my butt until it was cherry red, I trembled with need rather than alarm. Nic DeLuca made me come alive in ways I never had before. He made me feel excitement and pleasure. He made me laugh as often as I wanted to scream in frustration at his high-handedness. He just plain old made me feel.

Nic was perfect for me, darkness and all. It wasn’t because he was drop-dead gorgeous. It wasn’t his beautiful house or his fat bank account. It wasn’t even because he was an amazing father to the most adorable girl in the world—well, maybe it was partially because of Sophia and how he was with her. He was perfect simply because he loved me as much as I loved him.

I’d finally found the man of my dreams and now I was in the hands of his enemy. I fought the tears in my eyes, filled with a determination to stay strong until Nic found me. I refused to believe I might die or think this might be the end. I wanted the future Nic had promised me, my belly full of his child and both his rings on my finger. Thinking of Nic’s reaction to my puke-fest this morning, or whichever morning since I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out of it, I thought about what it could mean. Chuckling softly, I un-fisted my hands and cupped my stomach. My laughter died at the sound of a door opening and closing.

“I’m no’ sure what ya have ta laugh about.”

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