Page 117 of Tempted By the Devil

I reach through the open window and wrap my arms around her torso to lift her out. Except Sergio and his men have strapped her in by the seatbelt. They’ve even fucking bound her wrists in rope. Even if she were awake and could swim, she wouldn’t be able to free herself and swim to safety.

They’ve made sure of that.

Pushing myself halfway through the open window, my hands push at the button on the seatbelt, fumbling with it to release her. The band finally retracts and she’s freed. I hook an arm around her waist and drag her out with me.

Then I start toward the surface, kicking upward. My lungs are burning and I’m starting to run out of the breath I’m holding. If I don’t make it soon, we’ll both be dead.

We breach the surface with a gasp tearing out of me. I suck in air like I’ve never tasted it before. Portia’s limp in my arms, eyes closed and wet hair covering half her face. I pull her with me to the dock, looking wildly above ground for help.

The scene before me is even more chaotic than I left it.

The men Gavino hadn’t mowed down have been killed by Adagio. But they’re no longer alone—several more of my men have finally shown up. They rush toward me and Portia as soon as they see us floating in the dark water.

We’re pulled out, returning to safe, dry land.

I ignore my men, pushing myself up onto my knees beside Portia. Lowering my head to her chest, I pray I’ll hear a heartbeat. That she’s still alive.

It comes, a dull and slow beat that tells me she’s been through it tonight. But she’s hanging on.

“Grazie a dio,” I mutter, breathless. My hand strokes her face, brushing some of her wet hair away. “Dolcezza, per favore apri quei bellissimi occhi e guardami.”

She comes to… gradually.

First her eyes roll from behind her eyelids, then her head slips to the side as if she’s fighting her way to consciousness. She releases a soft groan.

I cup her cheek and whisper more tender words, hoping it’ll bring her back to me. Her skin is so damn cold. She has bruises on her throat and her dress is torn at the hem. She really has been through hell tonight, and I need her to wake up so I can make it better.

I can take care of her and right every fucking wrong done.

“Rafael…” she murmurs, her eyelids finally fluttering open. She stares up at me hazily, telling me she’s barely clinging to consciousness.

“Dolcezza,” I say, caressing her cheek. “I’m here. You’re safe. It’s going to be okay. I’m taking you home with me.”

My arms slip under her. I stand up, holding her close. She curls against my chest like she’s desperately seeking the warmth of my body heat. Though I don’t have much to give as usual; I’m soaking wet like she is.

“Where is my car?” I yell at my men. “We need to leave immediately.”

Adagio and Maurizio both fall into step beside me. One on my left. The other on my right.

“Sono tutti morti,” says Adagio. “Gavino ne ha uccisi quasi tutti. Noi abbiamo fatto il resto. Ha detto che lo avevano attaccato, ma lui li ha seguiti fin qui.”

“Tranne Sergio,” adds Maurizio. “Lo abbiamo lasciato vivo per te.”

“Bene. Voglio che venga portato nella mia camera. Mi occuperò di lui più tardi.”

I gently slide Portia into the back seat of the Audi then get in after her. She can barely sit up, her head rolling from her left to right shoulder. Her whole body is quaking, even her teeth chattering.

“Th-thanks,” she says through a deep shiver.

“Shhhh. Don’t speak,dolcezza. Conserve your energy.” I throw my suit jacket over her like a blanket. Thankfully, Adagio had enough sense to grab it on our way back to the car. I look up at the front where he sits behind the steering wheel. “Crank up the heat. We need to warm her up.”

Adagio nods. “We’ll be at the penthouse soon.”

Good.

Then I can have my private physician take a look at her.

Portia drifts off to sleep almost as soon as the car sets into motion. She casts me a small, grateful smile before nodding off.

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