I remembered what the traitor, Federico, had said when he tried to take Nora and me from our home: Dante wants her alive. She won’t be harmed. He wants to see you both.

Dante wanted us both alive. He didn’t intend to kill me quickly.

My stomach lurched, and I took another stumbling step toward the exit. I would have to regroup and come back for Nora. I was useless to her if I let him capture me.

Through my wavering vision, I saw several of the cars pulling away, retreating. The others remained as ruined husks, dead and bleeding men strewn across the pavement around them.

I’d led them all into a trap. My friends were dead because of me.

No. Because of Dante.

The motherfucker appeared in my line of sight, grinning like a madman. I lunged for him, and my knees gave out. I tried to clench my fists, but my arms were so heavy at my sides.

“Fight me like a man, you coward,” I seethed, my tongue too thick in my mouth.

A single black brow raised. “But you’re not a man. Not anymore. You’re mine.”

He leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest, settling in to watch me fall. The last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me was his glittering green eyes, shining with feral triumph.

18. Nora

Chapter 18

Nora

My heart dropped to the floor when the door to the dungeon opened, revealing Dante’s imposing form. He shot me that maniacally pleased grin as he stepped inside. I choked on a horrified gasp when I saw who was behind him: two men dragged Luca’s bulky body between them. His head lolled forward, and his knees skimmed the tiles.

He was naked.

“Luca!” I grabbed the bars on the cage, trying to wrench them apart so I could get to my husband.

He groaned at my sharp cry, and his muscles rippled. He shook his head slightly, but he couldn’t seem to lift it.

“What did you do to him?” I demanded of Dante, my voice too high-pitched.

“He’s fine, darling. He’s just drugged. I don’t intend to kill him.”

My stomach churned. Judging by Dante’s sharp smile, he planned something worse than death for his rival.

The two men heaved Luca’s limp body onto the bed and shackled his wrists and ankles to the bedposts. Nausea stirred in my stomach. My strong husband, my savior, was a captive. He was stripped and powerless, just like me.

“Luca.” This time, his name left my lips on a broken moan.

Somehow, the nightmare had gotten so much worse. Deep in my heart, I’d expected him to save me. There hadn’t been an alternative in my mind; the prospect of remaining trapped with Dante was unbearable.

Luca stirred at the sound of my voice, and Dante slapped him hard across the face.