I could feel the bile pushing at the back of my throat. "Hurry, Rafe." We were standing outside the door of my apartment after the prep shopping we'd done for my parties this weekend. Finally, he got the door unlocked. He dropped our stuff and picked me up and rushed me to the bathroom. We made it just as my stomach gave its last shove towards victory."Fucking Nico," Rafe said as he held my hair back as I emptied my stomach into the toilet again. I barely had time to wipe my mouth before more came gushing from me. He held me tight against his body. My abused legs were unable to support me or allow me to bend.Finally. Finally, he was going to pay. Granted, I didn't want it to be this way, but if this whole thing could be over? I'd submit to the rape kit even. They could poke, prod, take pictures of anything they wanted if it meant he would finally be stripped of his medical license and put behind bars. Another round of heaves shook my body as the five years of horror and ter
The slightest downturn edged her sexy as fuck mouth when I accepted her gratitude. I wasn't giving up the mission to get her in my bed, but I knew bulldozing her wasn't going to get me where I wanted to be. Under her. Over her. Inside her. It might not be tonight or even next week. But I would wear her down. I could give her what these Amatuccis were too fucking scared to give her. I don't know how they held out against her begging. Domenico and I had walked in, joking about something stupid when Rafe had yelled fuck like his soul was being ripped from his chest. I'd pushed both Amatuccis away as I ran for her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her voice quavered as she asked them to save her. They'd shaken their heads and denied her mercy. They claimed to love her, but would only love her in ways they found acceptable. Regardless of what she actually needed. Actually hurting her, knowing I caused her physical damage, did something to my heart and soul. But I wasn't willing t
"Hey sleepy head. Time for dinner," Tali called sometime later. The last thing I remember was going to sleep after I cried myself out in Rafe's arms. Dom and Ryker had left as Rafe and I talked. I pushed myself upright and slid back into the arm of the couch. My lower body still ached. My right leg definitely more than my left. I still wasn't angry that Ryker had done it, though. I'd gladly suffer the extra pain to keep the mental demons away. I was still a little hurt that Rafe or Dom had been unable to help me. Or rather, unwilling. I knew I shouldn't be. Knew they just didn't understand. But their lack of understanding killed something inside me. Slowly. So freaking slowly. "What are we having?" I asked as I pushed the morose thoughts away. "Lemon garlic chicken and asparagus," she announced as she turned from the stove. "Sleep well?"I was in the middle of stretching when she asked, so it took me a hot minute to answer. "Yeah. Pretty well. What time is it?""A littl
I knew I was dreaming. But even knowing that didn't help ease the terror that held me captive. My body was stuck as my brain raged. I came to already strapped down and immobilized. The tube in my mouth forced air into my lungs. He stood over me, his handsome face stretched into polite lines. "You have to do better this time, Willow. She'll die if you don't. Do you understand?" Just as I was getting some feeling back in my fingers, I saw him depress the plunger on the syringe that he'd inserted into the IV line he'd set up in my arm. "-ease don do is," I said, my words garbled around the tube in my mouth. I knew any begging was futile before he started. I had about thirty seconds before everything shut down again. "You know why I'm doing this, Willow. I'm going to save lives. It's you who are causing all of the failures and errors. How do you think it makes me feel when I have to throw another subject away just because you can't get your mind in the game? All of these deaths
"Penn," I mumbled into the phone. "Hello Mr. Penn, I have a Mr. Rafael Amatucci and guest here at reception. I'm calling to verify your connection," a pleasant feminine voice said down the line. My eyes popped open. I turned to see the glowing numbers of the clock on my side table. "It's four-fucking-thirty in the morning."The woman laughed softly. "Indeed, it is. Can you verify the relationship, please, sir?"I got my head out of my ass. "Yes. Rafael Amatucci is a friend and I'll vouch for him." It was the second time in as many days that I'd claimed a closer relationship to an Amatucci than I'd ever thought possible. "Thank you, sir. Enjoy your day." "Wait! Is the friend with him a female in her early thirties?" I asked before she could hang up. "I can't answer that information request, sir. If you would like to speak with Mr. Amatucci or his guest, you need to provide the correct name or visit during regular business hours. Have a good day." The line went dead.
"Seriously though, Will, are you doing okay after the exam?" Rafe asked as he pulled away from the hospital parking lot. "I know you sugar coated it for Penn. But this is me asking."I sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Mostly. Steph really did talk to me for the most part. And it did help to not feel like a piece of furniture. I just feel like an idiot all the way around. Nothing anyone can do about it." I looked out my window, my chin in my hand as I leaned against the door. "As long as she didn't make you uncomfortable." He patted my thigh lightly. "You're walking better." He chuckled. "Well, you were before the exam. Right now, you walk like you've got a cob shoved up your butt."I slapped his hand away as I laughed. "Jerk."He chuckled. "What else is on your agenda for today?"I dug my phone out of my pocket. Opened the calendar and bit my lip. "Well, I need to do final walk-throughs of the venues. Get some measurements for the first party on Friday afternoon.""Which party is
I didn't have to see Willow's face to know that I was going to get an earful. The woman practically vibrated with outraged affront. Did it make me a little sick that I was looking forward to it? Maybe, but damn if I wasn't excited to see the flash of her anger fill those pretty mossy eyes.When she'd gotten lost in her mind again, I hadn't thought of anything except bringing her back. To the room. To me. I'd bullied my way forward to grab at her. Grab her hand, bring her brain some soothing pain. The look in her eyes as she'd drifted back into herself had made something deep inside me ache. Made me want something more from her than I've wanted from anyone. I had no idea what that was, but I knew I had to have it. This woman, this bruised and abused woman, was going to be mine. For as long as it took to get her out of my system. She was screwing with my mind and I didn't like it. Not one damn bit. No one shook me, derailed my thoughts. I was driven, focused, and ambitious. None
I woke in the dark. Granted, I had to slap myself in the face to make sure I was actually awake and not stuck back in the hell that had comprised my life before. But I was definitely awake. And someone was about to lose his head. I reached out next to me, checked for Talia. Nope. Cold blanket. Next, I raised my head and tried to turn enough to see the wall clock that was faintly illuminated. It better only be a couple hours later than when I remember falling asleep. "RAAAAAAFE!" I shrieked it. "GET YOUR FUCKING ASS IN THIS ROOM RIGHT FUCKING NOW, YOU FUCKER!" I pushed back the blankets, saw that I was still in my dress from earlier. That was his only saving grace. The door slid open, Ryker stood on the threshold. He raised his hand. "His brothers roughed him up. He's going to be nursing a sore body for a while."I glared up at him. "Did you know he planned to drug me?"He looked insulted. "No. I'm the one who figured it out, actually. Can I come in?"I nodded. I fe