Page 247 of Mine Again
I grin. “I’m not opposed to more orgasms, but I’d rather have them elsewhere.”
“Fair enough.” His gaze sweeps over me, still burning with the memory of every sound I made minutes ago. Then his expression hardens. “Let me check the room first.”
Before I can argue, he tugs me behind him. He pushes the door open and slips inside, silent, efficient, a predator making sure the lair is clear. When he’s satisfied, he gives a curt nod and steps aside, letting me pass like a queen into her chambers.
Inside, I splash cool water on my face and loosen my ponytail, dragging my fingers through my tangled hair. Thank God I’m not wearing mascara or I’d resemble a raccoon.
My panties are a lost cause, so I blot myself with tissues. None of it erases the evidence of Luca on me, not that I want it gone, but at least I look a little less like I’ve been fucked against a wall.
I catch my reflection once more, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. No hiding what we did. A shaky laugh slips out. Let them stare.
I tug the door open, and Luca’s eyes lock on me like I’m the only thing worth seeing in this entire house. He ignores the man standing with him, who has his back to me.
As I approach, the man turns. He’s dressed in the same tactical gear, which makes him look almost as hot as Luca.
The aura I remember from before is there, too. Power, command, and determination. It’s the kind of presence that fills a room and refuses to bend. No wonder he and Mia clash all the time.
“Isabella, what a relief to have you back,” Maximo says smoothly, strangely elated to see me. His grin lingers too long, prickling the back of my neck.
“It’s good to see you again, Maximo. Thank you for helping Luca rescue me.”
“Of course. You are family,” he says, the grin never fading.
Family? He’d risk his life for his cousin’s sister-in-law?
I somehow doubt it. The way his eyes spark makes me wonder if this is more about Mia than me.
A groan, followed by a low moan, has all of us turning toward the corridor. Two of Maximo’s men are dragging Hale forward, half-stumbling, his body a wreck of roughly bandaged wounds.
He looks indignant, like this is beneath him, as if he still believes he’s untouchable. Another man follows, carrying the three bloodied arrows they pulled from him. He hands them to Maximo, who turns and offers them to me.
“A memento,” he says with a grin. “Impressive shooting, by the way.”
I take them without hesitation, gripping the shafts tightly. Pride swells in my chest.
My arrows. My shots. Proof that I wasn’t just a prisoner in his game, but that I fought back.
For the first time in so long, I feel powerful.
Before I can say anything, Luca steps up to Hale. Calm. Controlled.
But that’s only on the outside. I can tell by the way his shoulders rise how tense he is.
Then he pulls back his arm and punches Hale square in the face. The crack of bone is sharp and brutal, making me wince.
Hale drops like a stone, blood streaming from his nose.
The sight fills me with a dark, dizzying relief.
“You lost,” Luca tells him coldly. “And you don’t know how much yet.”
Hale tries to spit at my man, but it lands on his own shirt. Pathetic.
I squeeze Luca’s hand. “Don’t let him crawl back out of this.”
“He won’t,” he promises. “Nothing he built will survive today.”
He pulls his phone from his pocket and hits a few buttons.
