A Dangerous Love

Sergio

RAINE

The man called Rowan grabs me by my arm and my back collides with his front. His lips graze my ear.

"Whatever you do, don't tell him anything. Be strong." he whispers in my ear, making me shiver.

What the hell? What is this guy's agenda, I wonder.

We walk into a huge study. The man sitting at the large black desk looks dwarfed by the sheer size of the furniture. He looks up from his paperwork and his dark gaze meets mine. He reminds me of an Italian cook. His portly, apple cheecked face doesn't look at all scary.

"Don Morello, as you instructed." Rowan greets the older man.

"Ah yes. Good. Ms Thornton, please have a seat. Rowan, you are excused. Jules can stay. I will call you to take Ms Thornton to her room when we are done."

Rowan just nods his head, his eyes meeting mine briefly and leaves the room. I feel my heart speeding up. Must stay calm. My palms are sweating already.

" I am sure you are wondering why you are here, my dear." Morello gets up out of his bulky swivel chair and ambles towards me. The other man Jules regards me speculatively, a smirk on his face. I scowl back at him.

"I have no clue. Kidnapping is a serious offence."

Jules laughs loudly. The older man silences him with a cold stare.

He takes my chin in his meaty hand and lifts it so I can look at him. "For now Ms Raine, you are my guest. Until I decide otherwise." his cold voice sends a tremor through me. "Please tell me, where is your father?"

Oh dear God! What has my father gotten himself into?

"I... I really don't know. I haven't spoken to him in a while." My voice is hoarse from fear.

The hand around my chin feels like a vice as he applies more pressure. I let out a squeek of pain and I try to move out of his grip. He let's go.

"I am not a patient man, bella ragazza. So don't f*****g lie to me!" he hissed. He grabs both my arms and hoists me from the chair. His face is so close to mine I can smell his breath.

"I need to find your figlio di puttana father. He stole from me, little one. And he owes me a lot of money, see."

"I don't know where he is, I swear!" tears start welling up in my eyes. He is hurting me. I am really getting frightened now, my heart is about bursting through my chest. He pushes me away from him and I fall at Jules' feet. The latter grabs me by my hair and pulls me up. I am crying now. I don't want to, don't want to seem weak, but I can't help it.

"You'd better tell the truth, puttana! We have ways of making you talk. You are very pretty. It would be a shame to mark your face." his warm breath in my neck makes me squirm. His one hand fondles my breasts.

"Please, please.. I don't know. I.. I tried phoning him, but I couldn't reach him." I push his hand away from my breasts and he snickers.

Sergio looks at me contemplatively. "Let her go, Capo." he says eventually. "Fine. For now, Ms Thornton, Rowan will take you to your room where you will be fed and can rest. I will decide what to do with you in the morning."

ROWAN

As soon as I left Sergio's office I went outside to the SUV. I take out my phone and phone my partner, Jason Smith.

" Hello Mother. How are you? "

" I'm guessing you are at Morello's? What is the latest? Tell me you found him. "

"Yes, Mother. Are you ready for your trip to Berlin? I hear the weather is quite cold this time of year."

Jason lets out a low whistle. "Good job, Rowan. I don't suppose you have a precise location?"

I smile as one of the men walks in my direction.

"Unfortunately not, Mother. I am swamped with work, but I would have loved to go with you. Take care now. I'll speak to you soon."

The man smirks at me.

"I'll have the FBI place a bolo on him."Jason replies."We'll be in touch."

"Love you too, Mother. Bye now."

"The Boss is asking for you." he states when I hang up.

My stomach clenched, I hope Raine didn't tell them where her father is. I know Sergio could be very 'persuasive'. Not to mention that psycho Jules... I grind my teeth painfully hard just thinking about how I would like to smash his goddamned ugly face in.

I knock and enter the study. Raine is sitting on one of the overstuffed chairs, looking drained and petrified.

Sergio looks up at me. I look like a giant against the short Sicilian. But although short and a bit chubby, I know how dangerous a man he is. He snaps his fingers at the girl.

"Come! You go with my soldier. He will take you to your room. Get Ms Thornton some refreshments and guard her well." he instructs me. "in the morning I will decide what her fate will be. She is very beautiful, no?"

"Yes, Don she is." I keep my face impassive. When I take her arm she winces and I notice a bruise forming.

"Our men haven't had entertainment in a long time, Boss." Jules implies. He looks at the girl like she is something edible, lust turning his eyes dark.

I have to keep myself from kicking the bastard in the balls. Raine shivers in my grasp. I pull her closer to me before she collapses.

Sergio silences Jules with a glare. He motions for me to go and I happily take us out.

I walk briskly down the passage, almost dragging Raine with me. When I turn to look back at her, my heart skipped a beat. She fainted into my arms.