Page 121 of Arturo's Temptation

Fuck!

“BELLA!”

38

Five minutes earlier…

Everything about today had been perfect.

Perfect wasn’t something I was used to, but when Arturo was around it seemed effortless.

With each passing day I was falling deeper and deeper and there was no stopping it… I licked my lips and heaved a deep breath.

But how could I tell him when there was a chance it could shatter my family? There was no way my father would allow it.

Sighing, I dried my hands on a paper towel and made my way to the door only to find it locked.

What the fuck…

Just as my fingers began to turn the lock, I felt a pair of burley hands grip my shoulders.

“Isabella Ricci, nice to finally get you on your own,” he breathed against my ear, making my skin crawl. “Arturo didn’t listen, did he? Arrogant bastard. We warned him what would happen if he didn’t stay away.” The voice was sinister, there was no emotion, just hatred.

“Get your hands off me,” I seethed, shrugging off his hands and throwing my head backwards.

“You’re a little spitfire, aren’t you?” he chuckled. “No wonder he likes you.” One leather gloved hand flattened against my stomach in a vice-like grip while the other brought a tattered cloth to my face, forcing it against my nose. I squeezed my eyes shut, my mind trying not to go into panic mode. Fear began to creep in, making my body want to give in, but I couldn’t let that happen.

Arturo had taught me too well. Fighting the urge to black out, I wrapped the fingers of one hand around the wrist pressed up against my face, then with the thumb of the other I thrust it backwards as hard as I could into his eye.

“Ow, you fucking cunt!” He pulled back, loosening the hand pressing against my nose. With him distracted, I thrust my hand forward. To my relief there was a small crack. Howling in pain he finally let go of my middle and I took the chance to jab my elbow into his ribs. But I was quickly losing consciousness as the drug flooded my bloodstream and my jab had no strength to it.

He gripped my hair, and slammed my forehead into the door with an almighty crack.Fuck, that hurt! Bastard!The pain brought me out of my dazed state long enough to allow me to throw my leg up and swiftly collide with his crotch. As he doubled over in pain I ran for the double doors that opened out onto the beach.

“You whore! I’ll cut your face for that!”

My head throbbed as I ran, but I shook it off and stumbled onto the sand. Just as I turned to face the ocean I collided head first into another masked man’s arms.

“You’re a slippery one aren’t you. I’m going to have such fun torturing you before I send your head to Arturo.” His finger trailed down my face, bile rising in my throat. “Shame really. You’re quite the beauty.”

“F-f-fuck off,” I mumbled, as my vision swam and started blackening at the corners. He started dragging me to a waiting SUV in the distance, hidden from the rest of the wedding, but I pummelled my weakening fists into his chest, making him laugh.

“You’re a fighter, I’ll give you that.” His voice grew rough as he started trying to haul me over his shoulder. “Where the fuck have you been?!”

“That bitch nearly castrated me!” Another voice shouted. I didn’t know why, but this for some reason really tickled me and I began to chuckle loudly.

“Think of it this way, I would have done everyone a favour, you fucked up cunt.” To relief, my vision was slowly creeping back in. My head still felt heavy but at least I’d be able to see.

“Shit. She even sounds like the bloody traitor,” the one who now had me over his shoulder scoffed. I wriggled in his hold, thumping my hands at his back.

It can’t end like this. Not after everything. Not after I finally found him?—

“BELLA!” I choked on unshed tears at the sound of his voice. He was coming.

“Fuck!”

“Oh, you’re in deep shit now, buddy. Just wait till he gets his hands on you. He’s gonna bleed you dry,” I laughed, which irritated them more.

“Gag her!” The one still gripping his balls demanded. The sound of the waiting SUV’s engine drilled into my ears as we neared the road at the top of the dune, but I knew Arturo and he was built for speed. He’d make it. The second they tried to bundle me into the SUV, Arturo leapt over the top edge of the dune, and sprinted down the road towards us.

---