POV: KATHERINA
I stayed in the cottage with anticipation rushing through my veins like the crimson headache in my temples.
It takes three to four hours to reach Amalfi, and these had been the most dreadful hours of my life.
My mind was racing to prepare myself, but my body wouldn’t move from the couch as I stared straight ahead at the door that could open anytime, and Luca would walk in.
My senses were high on alert, and every sound was sharp in my ears. A tiny drop of sweat glided from my temple, curving at my jawline, and trembled on my chin before dripping down.
My eyes flickered to the clock; the time seemed to be moving slower, but it didn’t help the rising heartbeat in my chest.
I stopped thinking of all the possible ways I could make this situation less painful to me, took a deep breath, and got ready to face Luca.
The courage and hope in me had grown after seeing my family and friends safe and out of possible danger hereafter.
Knowing I had an effect on Luca’s mental health was an added advantage, so I was ready to face this monster, even with the fear that was making me tremble and shrink before he even set eyes on me.
When the agonizing hours passed, a car screeched up at the gate, and I immediately stiffened. Taking a deep breath through my mouth, I got up and opened the door.
Cruz was standing at the front of the car, and in the passenger seat was Edward. No sign of Luca.
Cruz gave me his crooked smile that seemed more relaxed than sinister, and I closed the door behind me and locked it.
Edward gave me the cold shoulder instead of his usual friendly greeting, and I got into the backseat quietly.
Cruz took off after buckling up, and even though I was relieved that Luca hadn’t come, I wanted to confront him and get it over soon so my panic would settle down.
We stopped at Agatha’s house and handed over the cottage key before heading to the airport, where Cruz left me alone with Edward in the waiting area.
Cruz spoke on the phone to Luca, smirking at me like I was going to die by Luca’s hand tonight.
We went through security and took a common flight instead of Luca’s private jet.
Edward ignored me throughout the journey, and Cruz sat at the other end, making the air hostess uncomfortable with his scrutinizing gaze.
When we reached Rome, Edward took the wheel, and we took off to Luca’s mansion without a word. My heartbeat became more rapid, and by the time the car stopped, I was a shaking mess.
Edward opened the door for me. Pulling myself up, I got out of the car and mumbled a quick thanks, which Edward ignored.
“Edward,” I called him, despite the adrenaline rushing in my veins, knowing I was about to see Luca. “Why are you ignoring me? You all knew that I would run away from him.”
Edward looked troubled for a moment before replying to me.
“We all knew that you would run away, Katherina, but we never knew that you would fool us all and then run away.”
“I didn’t!” I defended myself.
“You didn’t?” Edward chuckled humourlessly. “Then why did you put on such a good act in front of us? He was better off when you refused and fought him in the beginning.
“Why did you start accepting him?”
“I didn’t put on an act!” I snapped back at him, “I’m sorry that you people weren’t raised in a civilized society and can’t figure the basics of being polite and kind toward each other.
“I had no one other than Luca, who abused and traumatized me! I needed some connection, and you people weren’t like him! And I had to accept him. Else he would’ve hurt my family.”
“Oh shut up, Katherina! He would never do anything to your family, but he didn’t want them anywhere close to you because he wanted you to look to him as your only hope for living!”
“Hope for living? Are you even serious? After everything he did to me, hope for living with him?”
“He stopped hurting you once you stopped trying to escape him,” he replied.
“That doesn’t change the fact that he kidnapped my family and me, broke my boyfriend’s legs, and put him in a damn wheelchair—"
“Luca is not stupid. He deliberately put him in a wheelchair so his mother would stay out of his business.
“He’s been a criminal for his whole life, and he knows where and how hard to hit. He didn’t fucking paralyze him for life!”
“Don’t lie to me! Karen got involved in this case after what Luca did to her son and after he took me away from Bridgehills. And I’m pretty sure she won’t stop till I’m out of his clutches!”
“You’re stupid if you think everything revolves around you and all the sacrifices were made just for you.”
Edward pointed his finger at me. “If I were you, I’d shut the fuck up and stay by Luca’s side, because trust me, at this moment, he’s your only hope, whether you like it or not.”
He got in the car before I could fire back and took off from the driveway.
Victor came running toward me and gave me the key for the house, stating Luca hadn’t come yet.
I went inside and locked the door behind me, letting the familiar surrounding’s envelop me again.
Everything seemed to be intact, nothing out of place. You’d never know there was a shootout here a week ago.
I sprinted up to the bedroom. After a quick shower, Victor bought some pizza since there was nothing in the house, and I fell asleep on the couch after eating.
My eyes fluttered open and met his chiseled jaw above me. His arms were wrapped around me, and he was walking up the stairs to our room.
I immediately closed my eyes and acted as if I was still asleep. He leaned lower, and my back hit the soft mattress. I had to work hard to keep pretending.
I heard his deep chuckle, and my stomach did a dance. He withdrew his arms from me, and I felt the bed dip beside me.
I felt his hand push up my shirt and trace my skin in slow motion. I felt the goosebumps on my hands and tried hard not to shiver.
He dipped his face into my neck region and felt him place a tender kiss there.
“I know you’re awake,” he murmured, trailing his nose over my neckline.
I slowly opened my eyes as he lifted his head up to stare down at me with those black orbs as dark as night.
“I missed you,” he said, making me shift my eyes to his lips and back to his eyes.
When his hand came up, my reflexes were fast as I held my hand up as a shield. He stopped in mid-air, looking at me with his eyebrows scrunched.
“I’m not going to hit you, baby. I just want to kiss you.” His voice was soft.
Pushing away my hand, he cupped my jaw and captured my lips for a soft kiss. My hand gripped the nape of his neck, and I kissed him back.
I gripped his shirt in my other hand and pulled him onto me, and he gladly came on top of me without crushing me with his whole weight. I spread my legs wide, accommodating him.
I kissed him hungrily though he wanted it slow and steady. He tasted the same way I remembered, and I couldn’t get enough as I pulled him close to me, so there was no gap between us at all.
Luca chuckled and moved down my jawline, leaving a trail of wet kisses along the way.
“Guess you missed me,” he commented and looked up at me. “Say something, Katherina. I want to hear your voice,” he said softly, his thumb tracing my bottom lip.
“Don’t go after my family and friends. I promise I will not escape again,” I said desperately.
“You didn’t escape me this time,” he trailed his fingers at the side of my face. “I promised I would give you your freedom if you submit to me and be mine forever. And you submitted before leaving.”
“Then why did you capture Isabella and Anna?”
“I didn’t know where you were,” he replied.
He kissed me again and moved to lie on his side, so we were facing each other.
I expected him to shout, yell and punish me. Instead, he looked at me like I was unreal and could disappear at any moment.
My nerves relaxed, and I believed what he said was the truth, and that was why he hadn’t hurt me.
“Tell me you’re mine,” he said softly.
“I’m yours,” I said.
He gave me a warm smile and pulled me into his arms, placing my head on his chest. “Go to sleep, tesoro.”