Page 57 of Ruined By Blood
That's not what I asked. How IS she?
Better, I think. Talking more. Told me some of what happened to her.
And?Lucrezia prompts.
And I want to kill every man who ever touched her, starting with her father.
Join the club. But that's not what she needs right now.
I frown at the screen.What do you mean?
She doesn't need another man making choices for her, even if it's about punishing those who hurt her. She needs to reclaim her power.
I stare at Lucrezia's words, letting them sink in. She's right, of course. What good is my rage if it doesn't help Sienna heal?
When did you get so wise?I type.
I've been in self-therapy for three months. You pick things up.
Her reply makes me smile despite everything.Fair enough. Going to bed?
Soon. Don't worry about me. Focus on keeping her safe.
I will. Love you, Luce.
Love you too. Even when you're annoying.
I set my phone down, thinking about what Lucrezia said. Sienna doesn't need my vengeance. She needs to reclaim her power. The question is, how do I help her do that while keeping her safe from Sterling?
I'm in the shower after a nap that made me wake up in sweat. I close my eyes and let my forehead rest against the cool tile, steam swirling around me like a protective cocoon. For these few precious moments, I can almost forget everything—my father, the danger, the confusing feelings I have for Enzo.
The kisses we shared replay in my mind. The gentleness of his touch surprises me still. His fingers on my cheek felt reverent, nothing like the grabbing hands I've endured before.
I'm reaching for the shampoo when a sharp crack cuts through the peaceful hum of running water.
Gunfire.
My heart stops. I freeze, water running down my face, suddenly unable to move. Before I can react the bathroom door splinters open.
A man in black tactical gear storms in. His face iscovered, but his eyes are cold as they sweep over my naked body.
"Found her!" he barks into a radio.
I try to cover myself, but he grabs my arm with bruising force, yanking me out of the shower. My feet slip on the wet tile as I struggle against his grip.
"Let me go!" I scream, fighting to break free. "Enzo!"
Water drips down my body as the man drags me through the cabin. My heart hammers against my ribs, panic clawing up my throat. I twist and pull, but his fingers dig deeper into my arm.
He shoves me into the living room, and my blood turns to ice.
Enzo kneels on the floor, hands bound behind his back. Blood streaks down his temple from a gash near his hairline. Two armed men stand beside him, weapons trained on his head.
Enzo's eyes flash with murderous rage when he sees me. "Put some fucking clothes on her," he snarls, straining against his restraints. "Now!"
The man holding me laughs. "Shut the fuck up."
"I'll kill you," Enzo says, his voice dropping to that deadly quiet I recognize now. There's no bluster, just cold certainty. "I will take you apart piece by piece if you don't cover her up right now."
