Sonny helped his family run their shipping empire. Drake had taken over as CEO of his father’s tech company, Battle Industries. Bastian and Damian were the owners of their biological parents’ airline, Atlantic Airlines. Even Cole Marshall was in the family business. One day he would take over for his dad as the Commandant of York Military Academy.
When the pilot landed in the water beside the DeLucas boat, Luca tapped my shoulder. My cousins had been an enormous help. Damon DeLuca was the boss of the Atlantic City Mafia and assisted us in the girls’ capture.
As planned, we were getting off the plane to see the girls and leaving the rest of the Knights behind. I stood on the wing beside Luca, my palm on the side of the aircraft for support. The waves crashed against the plane. Two men in suits leaned over the DeLucas boat, throwing ropes to us. This wasn’t the brightest idea. I’d tried to talk Luca out of it, but he was desperate to see his bride.
We grabbed the ropes and climbed up the side of the boat. Luca struggled more than me. I was on the ship before him, leaning over to hold his hand.
“You’re out of shape,” I joked as I pulled him aboard and slapped him on the back. “You should come running with me when we get back to Devil’s Creek.”
He rolled his eyes, annoyed with me for suggesting he wasn’t in optimal condition. Luca prided himself on being the best at everything and hated when someone pointed out his flaws.
“I work out seven days a week. I’m good.”
“Follow us,” a dark-haired man said to us. “Damon is waiting for you.”
We took one last look at the seaplane and waved to the Knights. Then we followed Damon’s men into the cabin and down a long hallway. My cousin owned the largest casino in Atlantic City, the Portofino Hotel and Casino. After a rival family murdered his father last year, he had inherited the family business.
Damon DeLuca waited for us in the last room on our right. He sat behind a long mahogany desk with his younger brothers, Angelo and Gio, perched in the chairs across from him. They dressed in expensive black suits, dark hair gelled into place, and rose from their chairs to greet us.
Damon slid out from behind the desk and gave Luca a one-arm hug. “Cousin, I wish we saw each other under better circumstances.” He repeated the same motion with me, and I nodded.
“Thanks for helping us out,” Luca said. “How is Alex?”
Damon tipped his head to the couch at the far end of the room. “She passed out the second her head hit the pillow.”
Alex slept with her head propped up on a stack of pillows, her body covered with a blanket.
“She’s a fighter.” Damon put his hand on Luca’s back. “I can see why you chose her as our Queen.”
Damon exchanged a few words with Luca before ordering his men to bring food and drinks for us. My brother dropped to his knees beside the couch. He brushed Alex’s cheek with his fingers, staring down at her lovingly as he studied her beautiful face. As he lifted the blanket, I spotted dozens of bruises and cuts on her arms and legs.
I wondered if Rhi had endured the same suffering. It was hard to tell when I saw her dashing down the hallway and sneaking into the dark room. Now that Luca was with Alex, I wanted to see Rhi. To know that she wasn’t hurting like our queen.
“Drea,” Luca whispered into Alex’s ear. He was the only person who called her that. “Wake up, baby girl.”
He stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
She stirred from his touch, rolling onto her side. “Luca,” she whispered, eyes closed.
“Yeah, baby. It’s me.”
Her chest rose and dropped in panic.
“You’re safe now,” Luca told her. “I won’t let anyone touch you ever again.”
“Luca,” she sobbed. “Luca, they…”
She struggled to get the words out.
“I saw, baby.” He shoved her curls behind her ears. “I know what they did. They will pay. I promise.”
“I want to do it.”
Luca cocked his head to the side, confused. “Do what?”
“I want to kill them.”
He roared with laughter.
A proud smile graced my lips.
“I’m serious,” she whined.
“You need to eat something first. Can you sit up?”
Alex sat up and hissed, wincing in pain.
“What hurts, baby?”
“Everything.” She slumped against the couch, shoved the blanket off her legs, and lifted her shirt.
My mouth widened as I gazed upon her once-perfect body that was now fucked up beyond belief. Up close, her bruises looked much worse. She had deep cuts starting at her inner thighs, the gashes long and bloody, spanning down to her ankles. In addition, she had black and blue marks around her wrists from the restraints. Luca lifted her shirt to appraise the bruises covering her ribs and stomach.