She felt Jackson put an arm around her. “Ama …from now on, we will be a happy couple. Together. Tonight, we will be flying to another place, somewhere they will never find us. Thank you for giving me this gift, my love.”
Christ, he really is insane, isn’t he? A happy couple? Play along, her subconscious told her.
She looked up and smiled at him. “Thank you, Jackson. Thank you for keeping your word.”
Jackson kissed her and she forced herself to respond. He pushed her dress away from her shoulders and stripped her, and Ama went along with it, kissing him passionately and freeing his cock from his pants. Clarity had come to her since the doctor told her about the baby, and she’d figured out that this room, this terrible room, was her way out of this place.
That and Jackson’s arrogance. She smiled at him. “I want to taste you.” She nearly gagged on the words, but Jackson, smiling, nodded and pushed her head down to his lap. Ama took his cock into her mouth. As she teased and sucked him, she flicked her eyes around the room, taking in every chance she had to get an advantage. His rack of knives was the most obvious, but they were over on the other side of the room.
Anything. Anything will do …adrenaline coursed through her body as she realized this was the moment. This was the time.
Jackson grunted and grinned down at her. “That feels so good, baby. So, good. Let me cum in your mouth…”
And as he came, groaning, Ama clenched her jaw and bit down as hard as she could.
As soon as Selima confirmed that they had been held somewhere near Fresno, the F.B.I. and Enda, Raffaelo, and Olivier flew out in helicopters to the place where Olivier and Jackson played as kids. Inca had wanted to come, but Raffaelo forbade it, telling her, “No way. I don’t want you within a million miles of guns and Jackson Gallo.”
She had protested, but gave up when Raffaelo made it clear he was serious. “And besides,” Raffaelo told her. “Selima is being brought here. You’ll need each other if …anything goes south.” He lowered his voice so Enda couldn’t hear him. “Keep away from the news. Obviously the F.B.I. have ordered a news blackout until after the operation, but you never know.”
Now, as he sat in the helicopter beside Enda, he could see his friend was beyond anxious. Enda jiggled his legs constantly, staring out of the window as California passed beneath them. But Raffaelo felt optimistic for the first time in days. They had a lead.
As they reached the small, isolated place called Humphrey’s Station, an F.B.I. Agent met them. “We’ve found it. It’s buried in the hillside, and we would have missed it, except that we spotted a car coming out of one of the valleys leading to it. A doctor. We picked him up, and he caved and spilled his guts to us. Mr. Gallo, your partner is being held inside. We’re concerned that there are many armed guards in there with her, as well as Jackson Gallo. We need to approach this carefully.”
Enda could have screamed in frustration. Just go in there and get her. But he knew they were right. If Jackson were alerted to the fact they had been found, he would kill Ama and shoot his way out.
Raff put a hand on his shoulder. “We’re nearly home, Enda. Stay strong.”
Jackson screamed as Ama’s teeth clamped onto his penis. Ama tasted blood, and when she saw him buckle, she released her grip and staggered back away from him, over to where he kept the knives. In horror, she saw that a glass lid had been placed over them and locked.
Fuck.
Jackson was recovering now—as best as he could with only half a penis. Ama had spat him out. Now he was staring at her with murder in his eyes.
But instead of being scared, Ama found herself angry. Furious. Raging. She grabbed whatever she could find and hurled it at him as he lunged at her, ducking out of his grip. She found a paddle in her hand and slammed it into his face. Jackson reeled, but just as Ama thought she might have the upper hand, Jackson grabbed a whip and caught her on her face before looping it around her neck and pulling it tight. Ama choked, twisted, and turned, trying to free herself, but her airways were cut off, and she felt unconsciousness coming. Desperate—giving into the darkness would mean certain death—she grabbed at anything she could. It was a studded harness, leather and heavy. She flung it back, again and again, hoping to catch Jackson in the eye, and when he gave a howl and the whip around her throat eased and fell to the floor, she knew she’d hit her mark. She dived across the bed and threw herself onto the glass-topped credenza, hoping her weight would smash the glass. It cracked, but didn’t break.
“You fucking bitch! I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you!” Jackson was lunging at her again, and in desperation, she plowed her elbow into the glass with all her strength. Both her elbow and the glass smashed, and despite the agonizing pain shooting up her arm, she grabbed what she could—a shard of glass—and as Jackson grabbed her, she lashed out.
Jackson staggered back as Ama was covered in a mist of blood from the gushing wound in his neck. Jackson fell to the floor, his carotid bursting from the pressure of blood escaping the wound. Ama dropped to her knees, gasping for air and searching for the keys in Jackson’s pockets. He grabbed her arm. “I’ll kill you …”
She shook his hand off. “Go to hell, Jackson. Which is where you’ll be in a few more seconds, I’m guessing. You’re bleeding out, idiot, and no one, no one, will mourn you.” Her anger was still ruling her as she grabbed a knife from the smashed cabinet. “This is for Selima, for Inca, and for Penny.” She slammed the knife into his chest, straight into his heart. Jackson made a gurgling noise in his throat, then his head fell to the side, his eyes staring but unseeing.
Ama sat back, catching her breath. Now what? She had to find the exit, unarmed and facing god knows how many armed guards who would shoot her in a second. She placed a hand on her belly.
“Come on, little one. We’ve come this far.” She grabbed Jackson’s keys, unlocked the door, and slipped out of the room into the corridors.
Enda watched the F.B.I. and the S.W.A.T. team planning and felt a rush of irritation. He knew it wasn’t fair, but they had been there hours, and Ama was still in there, the authorities deeming it too risky to go in yet.
“Why? How much more risk can it be for Ama?”
But Raff calmed him down. Now it was getting dark and they were still strategizing. Fuck this. Enda ducked behind the police vehicles and ran around to where they said the entrance was, ducking behind shrubs and trees and moving stealthily in the gloom. At the entrance, he saw a guard outside, patrolling. He padded silently behind the man and took him out with a punch to the temple. The man crumpled silently. Enda grabbed his gun and cold-cocked him again just to make sure he was down. He relieved the guard of his handcuffs and bound his hands behind his back.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
Enda spun around to see a furious Raff behind him. Enda sighed. “Go back, Raff. This is my battle.”
“No way.”
Enda shook his head. “Don’t be stupid …you and I both know this is a suicide mission. Don’t leave Inca a widow.”
Raff’s face was hard. “No, just give her a coward as a husband. You go in, I go in. That’s how this is going to work.”
Enda could tell Raff wouldn’t shift. “Fine. Stay behind me. We only have one weapon between us.”
He unlocked the entrance door and slipped inside, Raff close behind him.
Olivier was talking to the F.B.I. Agent in charge, and now he looked around to bring his brother, and his friend, into the conversation. He couldn’t see them anywhere.
Olivier frowned. Where the fuck were they? Then it hit him and he cursed loudly. The F.B.I. Agent looked at him, and Olivier turned his grim-set face toward him.
“Yeah. We may have a problem.”
Armed with a knife, Ama staggered through the hallways, her ears on high alert. She had to duck into rooms she didn’t know were occupied, and more frustratingly, she seemed to be getting deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels. She paused in a dark corridor, trying to quell the rising
panic. She heard two men approaching ad slid back into the darkness.
“What do you think he’s doing to her tonight?” The man had a mocking tone to his voice.
“Don’t know, but I wouldn’t want to be that girl. He’s a sick fucking freak. If he didn’t pay so well, I’d take him out myself. Poor kid.”
“Yeah, right. She looks like a whore.”
“Have some respect, asshole.”
Ama frowned. They hated Jackson as much as she did. Maybe they would help her …no. Don’t be stupid. You’ve just killed their money maker. When they had passed, she tracked back where they had come from and followed the hallways back past the room where Jackson lay dead, then toward the room where she and Selima were held. Something told her this was the right way. She felt a pain shooting through her—a cramp, or maybe her wound had opened up. She glanced down to see blood soaking her bare skin, remembering she was only clad in her underwear. What a fucked-up situation. She nearly giggled, a hysterical reaction to the circumstances.
“Stop right there, beautiful, or you’ll force me to put a bullet in that gorgeous body.”
Ama froze. Shit. Stupid woman. You lost focus. She turned slowly to see one of the guards aiming his pistol at her. “Put the knife down, sweetheart.”
She dropped the knife, raising her hands.
“Where’s Jackson?”
Ama swallowed. No way out now. “Dead. I killed him. So, do what you want to me. He’s dead and I’m fucking glad.”
The guard looked surprised, then grinned. “Good. Then maybe I can have some fun with you before I kill you, gorgeous.”
He had started to approach her when Ama heard the shot. She felt the rush of air over her head and saw the bullet hit the guard straight in the forehead. He dropped like a stone and Ama spun around …to see her love, her Enda, his gun still raised. She couldn’t believe it. Enda lowered the gun and handed it to Raff, who was smiling at her. Enda walked slowly at first, then as Ama started to run toward him, he started to run too and swept her into his arms. Ama was sobbing now, not caring who heard them. Enda kissed her face and her hair, his voice breaking as he told her he loved her over and over.
“Guys, we have to go. Now.” Raff looked apologetic, but Enda nodded. Still carrying Ama, they raced back towards the entrance. As they reached the door, shots rang out, barely missing them, and they threw themselves outside and ran.
Spotlights flooded the area, then, and they blinked in the lights. Chaos ensued. F.B.I. Agents took them to safety, and soon Ama and Enda were in an ambulance racing towards Fresno and a hospital.
At the hospital, a doctor examined her as Enda went to call Olivier. Ama grabbed the doctor’s hand. “I’m pregnant,” she whispered,” No one knows. Can you tell how far along I am?”
The doctor, a kind looking woman, smiled. “We’ll run some tests. Discreetly,” she added. “In the meantime, you’re going to need a minor surgery to help you heal.”
Later, Enda came back, and they enjoyed some alone time, finally. Enda hugged her tightly. “God, to think I nearly lost you.”
Ama relaxed into his arms. “It’s over now, baby. We can be happy.”
“Damn right.”
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Ama looked at him, her eyes serious. “I killed Jackson. Your brother.”
“Half-brother. And fuck him. The world’s a better place.”
“Do you think Olivier thinks so?”
Enda swept her hair away from her face. “Cara mia, Olivier loves you. You did what you had to do to survive. He knows you did the right thing.”
“He’s grieving, though?”
Enda nodded. “Just for the idea of a brother, rather than Jackson, I think. But believe me, he’s one-hundred percent behind you.”
Ama sighed. “I can’t wait to get out of here.”
“The minute we do, I’m marrying you.”
Ama laughed. “Well, you’d better.”
“Knock, knock.” It was the doctor from earlier, who smiled at her. “We’ve run the tests.”
Ama felt her heartbeat quicken. “How many?” Months, she asked silently, and the doctor nodded.
“Three.” And she grinned. Ama burst into tears, smiling through them. Enda was utterly confused.
“What’s going on?”
The doctor smiled again and left the room, closing the door behind her. Ama couldn’t speak from relief and joy, but finally, when Enda was starting to look worried, she held his face in her hands, her eyes shining, and told him that in six months, he was going to be a father and their life as a family could really begin
The End
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His Brother’s Wife Extended Epilogue
Erotic Romance
By Michelle Love
Amalia Gallo shifted her daughter onto her hip. Serafina, with her caramel skin, bright green eyes, and dark wavy hair to her waist, grinned up at her mom. At two years old, she was merry and loving, and Ama kissed her forehead now, feeling the familiar swell of love as she breathed in her daughter’s smell of powder and soap.
“Come on, Piccolo. Let’s go see everyone.”
She took Serafina—Sera, as they called her—out onto the terrace of the villa, where Sera’s dad, Enda, greeted them both with a kiss. Their best friends, Raffaelo and Inca, greeted her with smiles, and Inca stole Sera away from her mother immediately, making Ama laugh.
“You wouldn’t take her so quickly when she’s in a bad mood,” she chuckled, and Inca rolled her eyes.
“Don’t give me that. This scruffy muppet is a bundle of sunshine.” She tickled the little girl, who shrieked with laughter and cuddled her ‘aunt.'
Ama sighed happily. In the two-and-a-half years since she’d escaped from and then killed her abusive ex-husband, her life had changed immeasurably. She had made Sorrento her home permanently since her marriage to Enda Gallo—the love of her life and the reason she was still alive. It had been his half-brother, Jackson, to whom Ama had been unhappily married, who had abducted her, and who had tried to kill Inca to teach Ama a lesson and get his revenge on his ‘bastard’ brother. Jackson was dead now, though, and since the day she had escaped, they had lived happily and safely in Italy.
Their friends were there for breakfast, and as the morning sun beat down, they ate fresh fruit and pancakes, Serafina tucking into as many things as her little hands could hold. Ama ate yogurt and fruit and asked Inca about her upcoming fortieth birthday celebration. She couldn’t believe her friend would be forty soon. Inca could have easily passed for her early twenties still, but her looming birthday didn’t seem to bother her. Raff, her drop-dead gorgeous husband, was in his early fifties and his dark hair was shot through with silver.
“I still haven’t decided what I want to do to celebrate it,” Inca said. “Raff wants to take me away somewhere remote and paradise-ey—is that a word?”
Ama grinned. “No, but it works.”
“So, yeah …I really don’t want a big party or anything. I’d rather just go out for a great meal with you and Enda, and Tommaso and Bo.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Ama smiled at her friend. She and Inca had become incredibly close since Ama had moved to Italy and they were now more like sisters than friends. Ama’s own sister, Selima, had recently gotten engaged to her American boyfriend, Chase, who was another victim of Jackson’s psychopathy. Their wedding didn’t have a date yet, but Selima was laid back about the whole thing. “Don’t be surprised if we just do it in the Elvis Chapel in Vegas,” she had said down the phone one evening, and Ama had laughed.
“That wouldn’t surprise me at all.”
Her own wedding had been as low key—City Hall in San Francisco, with Selima and Raff as their witnesses. Inca, who had been in a wheelchair because she was recovering from being stabbed, was an honorary flower girl, much to her delight.
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After breakfast—and after Inca had reluctantly given Sera back to her mother—their friends departed and Enda smiled at his wife. “Good way to start the day.”
“Isn’t it? Now, what shall we do today? I’m assuming you’re not working?”
Enda looked a little guilty, and Ama frowned. “Really?”
“Only for an hour, I swear. Just to finalize the details of the opening. One hour, I promise, and then we’ll take the munchkin to the beach.”
Ama sighed. “Deal. I’ll make a picnic.”
Sera helped her mother as best she could, smearing butter on crusty bread to make sandwiches as her mother chopped and sliced the fillings for them. She grinned at the concentration on her daughter’s face. Ama still couldn’t believe this adorable little creature was hers.
“Mama?”
“Yes, pooh?”
“Why hasn’t Auntie Inca got a ‘Fina?” Sera hadn’t yet realized that her name wasn’t every child’s name.
“Well, nugget, some people can’t have children.”
“Why?”
Ama swallowed. God, the inevitable ‘why’ questions had begun already. “It’s to do with …stuff inside the human body. It’s hard to explain. But Auntie Inca loves you very much. She just doesn’t want children of her own, and there’s nothing wrong or strange about that.”
Sera seemed satisfied with that and gave a wide yawn.
“Sleepy, muppet?”
Sera nodded, and Ama lifted her into her arms. “Come on, then. Nap time before we go to the beach.”
Settled in her own little bed, Sera fell asleep almost immediately. Ama stroked her daughter’s hair back from her face.
She felt Enda’s arms snake around her waist and pull her to him. “Nap time?”
She turned in his arms. “Work’s done?”
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