- LUCIANO - 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

When I take Rory’s hand, preparing to lead her back out into the resort and expose her to every open corridor and space that exists in this place—not to mention the entire jungle surrounding it—my skin bristles with the competing emotions that I’m feeling.

I spoke with the resort manager while Rory was with the doc, and she assured me her security team will be searching the hotel and grounds. But I’m not relying on that. It’s helpful unless someone in her employ is responsible. That’s not exactly a possibility I’m ruling out with the way my questions about video surveillance are being deflected.

It could just be that this place’s security is shit and they’ve never had a serious problem before this, and now they’re going to try covering for that fact. Hardly any time has gone by, and there’s so much I don’t know.

Typically I would be out doing the work of trying to find the fucker responsible, but right now the most important thing is holding onto me. Rory’s trusting me when she doesn’t typically trust anyone. And I’m not letting her down again.

So when I open the office door with Rory behind me, the lethal part of me narrows, remembering the weapon I’ve trained it to be—focusing on where my gun is in case I need to draw it. The manager must not have anything new to offer, because she backs up and lets us through—avoiding my eyes in the process.

As we make our way down the hall and out toward the dining area with the forest beyond, I keep Rory behind me. Every flash of movement gets my attention until it’s eliminated as a threat. I can’t keep Rory in that office room, but the options in this place aren’t exactly great.

Without a team of my own guys, it’s a security nightmare. I should have had them all pack into the jet and fly down here. If I knew this would happen, I fucking would have.

The best place to go will have to be my cabina. The guys will know by now if anyone is lurking in the immediate area.

Rory’s comfort is another vivid, immediate concern. Thankfully the diners who were here have gone by now, so I’m proving true to my word that she doesn’t have to worry about strangers. And I know she won’t want to return to her cabina when it’s the place she just escaped—even though I’m eager to know exactly what she saw and where.

We’ll take it slow. I’ll ask her to show me the details when she’s ready. God knows she’s already been through enough these past few months, and I know how hard it’s been for her to recover. That’s not happening again. She’s just starting to climb out of that specific darkness, and I’m not letting her slip back in.

When we reach the area where the trees form a dark canopy over the wooden walkway to the cabinas, Rory pulls closer to me and I feel her energy change. Her breath gets shallow and ragged, but she doesn’t say anything to tell me what she’s feeling—that she doesn’t want to go this way because this is the way she came. That this is the path she took when she wasn’t sure she was going to make it free from yet another waking nightmare.

A small whimper escapes when I know she doesn’t mean for it to, and the depth of her fear makes me ache all over. I glare at the shadows like I can make them behave—tame them somehow—so as not to let loose any threats for the few moments I need to take to comfort her before moving on. And I can’t explain it, but it feels like I get an acknowledgement. That’s why I feel safe taking my eyes off of them to turn and look at her when I do.

Her bottom lip is trembling, her stormy eyes fighting to hold onto that steel inside that we both know is there, and all the flinty edges of the shield I’ve become soften and fall away.

Rory is strong. She’s faced demons. She’s fought them, and she’s survived. It’s what makes her so fucking beautiful and also what breaks my heart and makes me want to incinerate every single person responsible.

"Rory, what happened to me in your dream?" I ask, the question making her lip stop quivering with her sharp intake of breath at the reminder.

I don’t know why that question is the one that comes to mind, but her fear changes the moment it’s spoken. It doesn’t leave, but it mingles with a steely determination that is entirely focused on me. She’s not staring wildly out at the shadows and caged there.

"Luci..." she says, wetting her lips, preparing herself for whatever severe thing I think she is about to say. Her hand squeezes mine, though I can tell she’s not entirely conscious of it. "I don’t want you getting hurt, Luciano."

Why the hell it’s those words and the tender way she says them that makes a wildfire of desire rush through every inch of my body is beyond me. I don’t have a clue. But the air instantly feels heavier between us, and she glances down at my lips, creating a fresh wave of it—heat. Rolling heat like I’ve never felt before.

"Rory..." I take her face in my hands, drawing our breaths closer.

"No, I’m serious. You have to listen to me," she takes hold of my wrists, her forehead cleaving with insistence. "Luciano, please. It’s not worth it."

A flame ignites around my heart that feels so bright and so beautiful, I have to squeeze my eyes shut against the pain it causes. It doesn’t make any sense. They’re just her words, but it’s like Rory has given me something sacred—slipped it right between my ribs and broken me open.

When I open my eyes again, she is frowning, still concerned... the pout of her mouth the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I can’t help the soft laughter that escapes, and I drop my forehead to hers in submission to whatever this is—in submission to her.

"Please stop pouting," I whisper with a smile, slowly drawing my fingers down through her hair. "You’re so fucking beautiful, it hurts, Lorelei. Let me lead us through this. I’ll keep us safe, dolcezza."

She pulls away, brows knitted like she’s uncertain... about my meaning or about my sincerity or whether or not we should walk this path together.

"It’s not really that big of a mystery, is it? The dreams?" I ask, dropping my hands from her beautiful face and taking her hand in mine once again. "Obviously they know that we’re stronger together."

She gasps softly, some kind of understanding igniting in her stormy eyes.

"What?"

She wets her lips again, trapping the bottom one between her teeth when a smile tips on one side. But then her eyebrows pull together again. It’s like happiness and sadness are warring in her expression, creating their own mix of emotion. But I don’t see fear anymore. And I don’t see uncertainty.

"I heard you say that before, Luci. It’s what you said in my dream. Right before I woke up, and..." her eyes look back and forth between mine, the faintest hint of color flushing her cheeks. "It’s why I woke up when I did. It’s why I knew I had to run and find you. Only... only you."