SWNOVELS Devoted: Chapter 74
Rage consumes me as the word ‘Capri’ falls from the priest’s lips. Rosa’s bottom lip quivers. Frankie, in the row opposite me, mutters, “Fucker.”
I turn to Maria, who’s facing straight forward, not hiding the grin on her big lips.
“Surprise,” she whispers.
My heart races. I rip my hand from Maria’s and rub my sweaty palms along my suit trousers.
This can’t be happening. This whole damn time, the assholes set us up. I raise my head and Rosa’s watery eyes lock on mine, pleading with me for help.
My heart stops for a second as her lips open, and her voice cracks as she says the one word on this planet that changes everything for us.
“Treasure.”
My heart is in my throat as I stand. The eyes of the crowd are completely on me. They gasp as I snake my hand around my back, resting it on the handle of my weapon.
“Treasure,” she repeats, this time louder, laced with pure hopelessness.
My whole world stops. Everything fades around me. Fuck the consequences. I’ll fight a war to keep her safe. I’ll give up my own life if I have to.
Nothing comes close.
I hope Enzo is watching this closely, because our army needs to arrive any second.
I unholster my gun and point it straight at Dante.
“You piece of shit!” I shout.
He holds up his hands in surrender.
“Sir, you need to—” The priest raises his palms, stepping between Dante and Rosa.
Swinging the barrel at him, I drop it to gesture at his chest. “I suggest you back up. This isn’t a time for God and forgiveness. I am the devil, and I’m here for revenge.”
His lips thin into a straight line, but he backs slowly away from the podium.
Keeping my gun aimed at Dante’s head, I take a step towards Rosa, cupping her face in my palm. She flinches as the sound of gunfire outside the church erupts. I look into the crowd as our men all stand and scatter around the room. It’s us against them.
Thank you, Enzo.
“Baby, it’s going to be okay,” I whisper, bringing my forehead down against hers. “I love you. I promise, he will never get a chance to hurt you ever again.” I pull her into me and hold her tight, then turn my attention to Dante. “On your knees.”
“Luca. Don’t do this. Not for her. You saw what I did to your mom. ”
My nostrils flare.
Fury builds until I explode.
“You fucking cunt,” I grit through my teeth, taking a step towards him. He doesn’t show a single shred of fear.
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Antonio.” Frankie bellows from behind me. I glance up to see that he and Grayson have their guns pointed at Antonio.
Dante takes a half a step away and crosses his arms. “That little slut asks for it. She even whored herself out to me years ago when I was working with her dad. She was obsessed with m—”
“Shut up!” Rosa releases herself from my hold and kicks her heel straight into his crotch, hard enough to make me wince.
“I hate you! Give me back my sister!” she screams at him, clawing for his face.
I keep my gun aimed at him, holding her by the waist. “Baby, I will handle all of this. I need you to focus for me.”
Rosa turns into me, her tears seeping through my shirt.
My mind is still reeling from his last words.
“Say that again,” I command.
“What? That I took her virginity?” He gives me a crooked smile.
I look at a now pale Rosa, her bloodshot eyes meet mine, and she nods.
“It was him, Luca,” she whispers.
I stumble backwards as the realization hits me.
This whole time she’s been trapped with her rapist. And I’ve let this happen to her.
“Took. Not given.” Every piece of me is shaking as I tower over him.
His eyes go wide as I press the gun against his forehead, itching to pull the trigger. Rosa grabs hold of my arm and tugs. “Luca, he has my sister,” she whispers.
Dante grins at me. “Well, I’ve already had her.”
So this is what he had over her. Her sister.
“Where is she?” Rosa’s screams rip through me.
“We will find her, I promise you.” I kiss the top of her head, pulling her flush against my side again. I won’t let him anywhere near her.
“A single bullet isn’t enough justice for what you’ve done to her. Right now, I really have to fucking shoot you.”
I smirk at him, switch my aim to his right kneecap, and pull the trigger.
It feels so good watching him fall to the floor, clutching his leg as he cries out in agony.
The room erupts into screams.
The gunshots outside get louder as the guests and our guys work their way from the church. Frankie appears by my side.
He puts his hand over my arm that is still shaking with my need to shoot Dante over and over. “Your car is out back. Take her. We’ve got this.”
The entrance door opens and in walks Jax and Keller, an army of men filtering through the door behind them.
Frankie grabs Dante by the collar. “You, Capri piece of shit, are coming with me.”
“Take him to the basement. Find out where he’s keeping Eva,” I spit out.
“He has Eva?” Frankie’s tone turns into a growl of pure anger. “I’m going to make you regret even being born, you prick,” he seethes.
“Let’s go.” I keep Rosa in front of me and head towards the back exit.
I help her fold the hideous dress into the passenger seat and speed off. Once we’re free of the church, I put a call in to Enzo.
“Boss? You’re good?” I can hear the chatter in the background of all of his radios.
“Yeah. Did the commissioner come through?” There hasn’t been a sign of police yet, but that doesn’t mean anything.
“I haven’t heard anything yet on their scanner. So far it’s hush-hush.”
Good. Cops make shit messy. “What’s the status?”
“Maria slipped out. Antonio is dead. An armored SUV is waiting outside for extraction. Frankie has Dante in there already.” His voice gets muffled as he talks on another line.
I let out a huff of air. “Any injuries? Do we know where Romano is?”
“One dead, boss. No updates yet on Romano.”
“Who?” My heart races.
“Rico.”
As bad as it is, relief washes over me at the fact it’s not any of my family. “I’ll send a payment to his family. Recover the body when this is over.”
“Will do.”
“I’m taking Rosa to the safe house now. Thank you.” After tossing my phone into the center console, I gather her hand back in mine.
We have guys stationed there twenty-four seven. They understand they die before anyone touches our women, our families.
I turn to Rosa, who’s staring blankly out of the window, shaking like a leaf.
“You saved me,” she whispers.
“I will always be there to save you, il Mio Tesoro.” I squeeze her hand tighter. “And I will always be there to love you.”
As soon as we are in the clear, I pull over on the gravel shoulder and take her face in my hands.
I drop a kiss to her lips. “I hope you know how brave you are.”
I thought I knew her strength. But today, she showed me how truly powerful she is. How big her heart is. The fact that she would sacrifice herself to save her sister makes me love her even more.
“W-we need to find Eva. He said he’d kill her. Maria is in on it with him, and she knows where Eva is!”
“So that is what he had over you this whole time?”
She nods. “And then he threatened you, Luca. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t marry him. Even if I did, he would never stop. He’s already raped Eva.”
Her face pales. I squeeze her hand tighter.
“He would have killed us all, eventually. I’m so sorry. I’ve messed up, haven’t I?” she sobs. Her head lowers, and she hides her face in her hands.
“Rosa. Look at me.” I pull her hands away. “You should have told me a long time ago. I will do anything for you, Rosa. You are my whole fucking world. My entire soul is yours. If that means I tear down a whole city to keep you safe, then that is what I will do. I swear to you, from this moment on, no more pain.”
“I wanted to tell you. I tried to keep him away, to protect everyone. I had no idea until last night who he really was. My dad killed his mom, Luca. That’s why he’s haunted me.”
I stroke her face, holding back my own tears. “Did he—” Acid rises up into my throat.
My stomach rolls, thinking about him touching her, forcing her all this time.
I brace myself, waiting for her response.
A look of disgust flashes over her. “No.”
I close my eyes and tip my head back. “I love you, Rosa. After today, he won’t be able to terrorize you again. I promise.”
“Can we go home now, Luca? I just want to go home.”
I press a kiss to the tip of her nose. “We will be at a safehouse for now, everyone is there. Until we work out a plan and find Eva, we won’t be going home for a little while, baby.”
“But you’ll be with me, right?” Her fingers wrap around mine tightly.
“Yes, I’ll try and be there as much as I can. Once we find Eva, you and I are out of here.”
Her smile breaks out with a flash of her white teeth. “I want that.”
“Me too, baby. Me too.”