Page 68 of One Savage Union

Mario looks me in the eye and squeezes my shoulders. “I know, brother, she's important to me too. Aria thinks the world of her. I've never seen you at peace until she came into your life, and we're going to get her back. But we’ll do it in a way that keeps her and all of us alive. Capiche?

My breaths come hard, but they finally slow down. “OK, what's the plan?”

Mario laughs. Oh, it's the same plan. We're going to crash their party, smash some heads, and grab your wife. We need a few more men to help. Give me two minutes and we're on our way.”

I stomp away. “Fine, meet me in the armored G wagon. You have 119 seconds or I’m leaving without you.”

24

LUCIA

Life moves fast.

One minute, I was in my father’s dining room watching him point a gun at Leonardo Romano.

I was reeling, but in firm control of my faculties.

Then there came the infamous poke.

I really hate needles.

Now, I’m oiled up and wearing a gold sequined bikini, chained inside a cage placed on some sort of stage. My head is killing me, and my throat feels like it's on fire.

The make-up they put on me is so heavy that I can feel it pressing into my skin. My coveted curls are fried and ironed into a straight sheet of hair hanging down my back. The only position my chains comfortably allow is kneeling, and the stilettos on my feet are digging into the back of my thighs. I could stand up if I had the energy, but it would be painful, and from the length, I would only be able to face forward.

I hear murmurs, but I have no idea who’s making the sounds. There’s an audience, but for what?

Then I remember my father saying something about an auction and a high bride price. I shiver, recalling the cold calculation of his voice.

Truly, he can’t mean to sell his child?

The murmurs get louder, and whatever small crowd is gathered is restless.

“Alright, men, settle down. You’ll all get a chance to bid on my lovely daughter.”

My father’s mirth is unsettling.The bastard’s having fun.

With great effort, I turn my neck to peek behind me. Leo stands there with a deadly grin on his face. He winks at me and I almost puke. He’s playing babysitter while my father plays the gracious host. I turn back to the sound of my father’s voice as he continues to calm the crow. It’s clear he’s hosted an event like this before; he’s in his element.

What sounds likea gavel hits thepodium. “Now let’s start the bidding at $500,000.”

“Wait! I want to fuck the whore first. Make sure she’s worth my time. Let’s at least strip her to see the assets.” A Spanish accent answers in protest. Then he approaches the stage and gets close enough to be in my line of sight. He’s at least fifty years old and wearing a hideous suit made out of what I assume is the Mexican Cartel’s flag. My father whispers something in his ear, and the cartel leader laughs before backing off. He was promised something that appeased him.

This is hell.

I once thought my husband’s basement was hell. But right now, I’d give anything to be back in that dark, cool space…alone. I’d even prefer to be laid across his lap waiting for his firm and gentle hand to land on my ass; as I silently beg him to punish me for being naughty. Then he’d kiss me for being his good girl.

His wife.

Rocco lied to me, but he kept me safe. He never made me feel cheap or unwanted. Instead, he put me on a pedestal of his creation. I sat so high above the world and its tragedies that my new reality only had pleasure and peace.

Even if he is an overbearing, overprotective, and controlling jerk.

He’s mine.

I feel guilty because I can’t hate him even if sanity demands that I should. Rocco snatched me, kicking and screaming, from my life. I didn’t love my life, but it was good enough. I spent every day playing the piano and reaping a professional harvest from all my labor. That’s all I thought I had the right to ask for.

Then Rocco came and expanded the borders of my desire by making me fall in love with him on that damn mountain in Italy.

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