Dangerous Kiss

by Michelle Love

  For once, Agent Luke Harris wasn’t being cocky. “We have men on the way to the cabin now, but there’s a pretty bad storm going on up there. We can’t fly in.”

  “No. No, you get there however you can as fast as you can,” Cosimo was yelling, his terror making him almost wild. “He’s going to kill both of them.”

  Sifrido, Lars, Channing, and Franco were equally worried. “Look, if you won’t send people out, we’ll go,” Sifrido said. Harris held up his hands.

  “No, you’re not listening. We are sending people out, lots of them, but I cannot control the weather. We send choppers up there, they will crash. More people will die. I swear to you all—we have an army headed up to the Olympics. Quinn won’t get far.”

  Cosimo ran his hands through his dark curls and closed his eyes. “I gave her to him.”

  “How the hell would you know any different? Reggie fooled us all.”

  Franco nodded. “And look…we still don’t know for sure that anything is wrong. It could be the storm’s taken out Steve’s cell service.”

  For an hour or so, Cosimo kept that in his mind to stop himself from going crazy. But his resolve was shattered when a pale, stricken-looking Harris caught up with them. “We found Steve Kimmel’s body. He was shot in the head, and Reggie’s car is gone.”

  Cosimo put his head in his hands, and when Harris left them to go get an update, he looked up into Sifrido’s concerned face. “I need to get there, ’Frido. I need to save her… them.”

  Sifrido hesitated for one second. “My car is outside. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Biba woke, feeling woozy and nauseous. Stella was cradling her head in her lap. “Biba?” Her voice was a whisper. Biba realized they were in a vehicle, moving.

  “Where are we?”

  “Going towards Canada, I think. I’m not sure. No, don’t move too much. That cut on your back is bleeding like crazy; I can’t get it to stop.”

  Shit. That meant the slash of the knife had gone too deep, probably nicked a kidney. She was bleeding to death—slowly. Biba swallowed a throatful of vomit.

  “Stella…get closer.”

  Stella bent her head to Biba’s, and Biba felt Stella’s tears on her cheek. “Don’t cry, Stel. I’m going to get you out of here.”

  Stella gave a strange laugh. “Beebs, you can’t even walk.”

  “I can…just. I’m going to go for Reggie and get him to steer off the road. I want you to hang on in here as hard as you can. The moment we come to a stop, you get out and you run. Don’t stop, just get as far as you can…flag down a car.”

  “You’re delirious, baby. You can’t make it. We won’t make it.”

  “It’s our only chance.”

  “He has a gun…he’ll shoot you.”

  Biba laughed softly. “I’m dying, anyway. The least I can do is go out in a blaze of glory.”

  Stella buried her face in Biba’s shoulder and sobbed. “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you, Biba…the truth is, you’re the only person in this world who I trust, and one of the few I truly love. You’ve always had my back. Always. But I can’t leave you here to die for me. Not going to happen. We do this together or not at all.”

  “Girl power.” Biba’s voice was weakening.

  “You bet your ass. And—”

  Her words were cut off as the van lurched to a stop, and Reggie got out. They heard him unlock the back doors. They’d run out of time.

  “Pretend I’m dead,” Biba whispered urgently. “Scream, make a fuss. It’ll give me time.”

  Stella nodded, and let out an ear-piercing scream. Biba tried not to flinch as her eardrums protested. A rush of freezing cold air.

  “She’s dead, you bastard! Biba’s dead! She fucking bled to death while you…Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?”

  There was a silence. Biba could only hear Stella’s heavy breathing. Then… “She’s dead?”

  Faint hope ignited inside Biba—Reggie sounded shocked, even a little heartbroken.

  “Well, Goddamn, he catches up,” Stella said, sarcastically, cradling Biba’s head in her arms. “She was your best friend, Reggie, and you killed her. How does that make you feel, huh?”

  Then Reggie chuckled, and Biba’s hope dissolved. “Well, I guess it saves me killing her later. Leave her body. They’re following us; they’ll find her. Wish I could stay to see DeLuca’s face.”

  “No.” Biba’s whisper was urgent. “Don’t let him take you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without her.”

  Biba felt Stella being dragged away from her. No… no… As she heard Reggie’s voice growing distant, she hauled herself up, her clothes sticky with blood. She limped to the van’s driver’s seat, hunting for anything she could use as a weapon. Underneath the passenger’s seat, she found a tire iron. Better than nothing. Ignoring the searing pain in her back, Biba staggered out into the storm to follow Reggie and Stella.

  Cosimo and Sifrido drove in silence, both on edge as the storm grew worse around them. Two hours into the park, and they saw the van on the side of the road. “Where the hell are the FBI, if we can find this?”

  “It might not be anything,” Sifrido cautioned as they got out of the car, but when they inspected the van, Cosimo saw the back of it awash with blood, and on the floor: a small charm bracelet. He reached in and picked up the delicate gold chain with the single diamond hanging from it.

  “It’s them,” he said in a dull voice. “I gave this to Biba for her birthday.”

  Sifrido patted his shoulder. “I think they went this way.”

  Cosimo didn’t move. “’Frido, look at all this blood. Someone bled out here.”

  “Not necessarily…Cos, there’s a blood trail here. C’mon.”

  They found Biba, slumped over in the snow, barely conscious. Cosimo scooped her into his arms and held her close while Sifrido examined her wounds.

  “Jesus, it’s deep. We need to get her back to civilization.”

  “No,” Biba moaned, “we’re so close. They’re just ahead of me. Please, save her… For me, Cos, save her.”

  Cosimo hesitated, and Biba touched his face. “This will all have been for nothing if we don’t.” She wriggled out of his arms and stood as best she could. “I’m okay, I think.” She saw the skepticism in her face and tried to smile. “Okay, I’m not, but fuck it, he isn’t going to win.”

  “Then hold onto me and do not let go,” Cosimo said, sliding his arm around her waist. “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it together.” They set off slowly along the tracks Reggie and Stella had left.

  “He has a gun. Just thought I’d mention it.” The blood loss was making her lightheaded and squirrelly. Cosimo almost smiled.

  “Always helpful to know.”

  Ten minutes later, Sifrido stopped them, putting his finger to his lips and pointing downhill. They saw flashes of color amidst the snowy trees and heard a woman’s voice carrying back to them.

  “Stella’s giving him hell,” Biba whispered, and Cosimo nodded.

  “If he thinks that’s hell, he’s about to find out what hell is really like.” He lowered her to the ground, propped up against a tree. “Baby, we need to take him by surprise, and as much as I love you, we can’t do that holding you up.”

  Biba nodded. “I get it.”

  “I’m going to be back before you know it.” He pressed his lips to his. “My little warrior. I love you.”

  “Love you too…be careful.” Biba smiled at him, then her eyes lit up. “I have a weapon.” She pulled the tire iron from her pocket. Cosimo stroked her face.

  “You hang onto that, just in case. We brought our own.” He showed her the guns he and Sifrido had brought with them. Biba nodded.

  “Kill that motherfucker. He murdered Rich and his own mother.”

  Cosimo nodded, his eyes dangerous. “Don’t worry…Reggie Quinn is going down.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Stella struggled with Re
ggie, no longer concerned about herself. She was just determined that if she was killed, she was taking this asshole with her. “You piece of shit, you left her to die.”

  “I thought you told me she was dead.” Reggie was smirking. His fingers were tangled in Stella’s blonde hair, dragging her down the hill.

  “Motherfucker!” She kicked out and caught him on the knee. Reggie buckled and dragged her down with him as he fell.

  “You fucking bitch!” He hit her hard, making her ears ring, but then she heard it. A gunshot.

  Hope.

  She looked up and saw two very angry Italian men bearing down on them. Cosimo levelled his gun at Reggie. “Time’s up, Quinn.”

  “Fuck you, DeLuca.”

  Reggie attempted to grab Stella to hold his own gun to her head, but Stella had really had enough. With the heel of her hand, she slammed it into his nose. With a screech, Reggie dropped the gun, his nose pouring with blood. Stella kicked him away from her and scrambled in the snow to get away. Cosimo scooped her up as Sifrido aimed his gun at Reggie’s face.

  “Due process?” He asked Cosimo and Stella.

  “Rich didn’t get due process.”

  “Or this scumbag’s mother!” Stella spat. Sifrido smiled grimly.

  Reggie started to laugh. “Nor your precious Biba. I enjoyed slicing her up, DeLuca. I really, really enjoyed it.”

  Sifrido shot him in the face, and Reggie dropped. Calmly, Sifrido wrapped Reggie’s fingers around his own gun and fired it into the trees. “Cos, go walk around over there, make it look like he was firing at you.”

  Cosimo did as he asked and then they left Reggie’s body for the FBI to find. The three of them hurried back to Biba who smiled at all of them. “I love you all,” she said, sounding drunk. “Is he dead?”

  “As a dodo.” Cosimo lifted her into his arms. Stella smoothed Biba’s hair away from her face.

  “Love you, Beebs.” She ignored Cosimo and Sifrido’s astonished glances, but Biba saw them and grinned.

  “You boys never see some lady love? Love you, too, Stel. Now, can I ask a question?”

  “Anything, baby.” Cosimo kissed her forehead.

  Biba smiled. “Anyone mind if I pass out now?”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Four months later…

  Stella touched Franco’s face. “Thornton, after everything we’ve been through—the horror, the torment—surely now you know that I have loved you from the very beginning.”

  “Thornton” nodded. “My darling Lucy…I just wish it hadn’t taken your death to convince me…I wish I could have saved you, my love, my precious love.”

  “We will be together soon, my darling…I am waiting for you…I am waiting…”

  “And cut! That’s a wrap, folks! Congrats and thank you all.” Cosimo led the applause as the cast and crew finally relaxed. They had been back on set for a month finishing up the movie, and everyone had returned, all determined to finish what they started. The film would be dedicated to Rich Furlough—to Cosimo that was a no-brainer, but he also wanted to honor Biba, too. It had been Stella’s idea to start up a foundation to provide opportunities within the movie industry for young people. The Biba May Foundation for the Arts, Stella had declared, as they had sat in Biba’s hospital room, talking and recovering from the terrible events of the past few months.

  Biba had objected at the name. “I really don’t think it should be named after me. Who am I?”

  Cosimo had opened his mouth, but Stella had beaten him to it. “You’re the heroine who saved me. You put yourself in danger multiple times to save my life—and yes, Cos and ’Frido had a huge part to play, too, but Beebs, do you know the inspiration you are to young women everywhere?”

  “I agree. The Biba May Foundation for the Arts, and that’s final. And I’ll personally put ten million in to start.” Cosimo nodded, pleased.

  “I’ll match it.”

  Biba had watched as Cosimo and Stella had gotten more and more excited over their plans and wondered about how her life had turned out. Her boss was now her best friend, and her employer was her lover. And she loved these two people more than anyone.

  She had spent months recovering from her physical wounds—to her relief, her kidney hadn’t been badly damaged by Reggie’s knife, but the psychological horror of Reggie’s betrayal, of his years of lies and manipulation, had left her depressed and at times, inconsolable.

  With the exception of Cosimo and Stella, Biba had lost the person she trusted most, and even though she was glad he was gone, she missed having that comfort. She hated feeling like that and had slumped into a depression that even Cosimo had trouble rousing her from.

  Now, though, she was making it out onto the other side. Watching her lover finally finish the film they had all come to Lakewood to make, seeing the relief on his handsome face was exhilarating. Cosimo came over to her and took her in his arms.

  “We did it, Snooks.” His eyes were shining, and Biba smiled.

  “We did. Congratulations, baby.”

  Cosimo pressed his lips against hers. “I love you, Miss May.”

  Biba wrapped her arms around his neck, not caring about the others who were chuckling and watching. “I love you too, Mr. DeLuca.”

  They kissed passionately until the others started to catcall them, making them laugh. Stella came up to them. “Listen you two, we’re having a wrap party this evening, and we have a little surprise waiting for you.”

  Cosimo grinned, and Biba’s eyebrows shot up. “You do?”

  Stella hugged her. “A good surprise, I promise. Until then…there’s a suite up there that needs to be used.”

  “Pimp.”

  “You know it.” Stella grinned at them both then went back to talking to Franco, Sifrido, and the crew. The change in her attitude since the abduction was still astonishing to everyone. Stella was laid back, inclusive, friendly, and warm.

  “The weird thing was,” Biba said now as she and Cosimo made their way back to the manor, “is that I believe that was always the real Stella, anyway. That the diva thing was a way of protecting herself.”

  “I think you may be right,” Cosimo said and grinned down at her. “But then you always saw the best in everyone.”

  Biba’s smile faded a little, and Cosimo stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Biba, he fooled us all. Reggie Quinn had all the appearance of goodness. Don’t blame yourself for him.”

  In their suite, they undressed each other slowly, kissing every piece of exposed skin until they were both shivering with desire.

  “The bed,” Cosimo said with a grin, and Biba, laughing, wiggled her eyebrows.

  “On the floor, baby.” She shrieked with laughter as Cosimo wrestled her playfully to the floor and covered her body with his. Cosimo himself had seemed more fun-loving since the horror of her injuries had faded, eager to enjoy every moment of their time together. In a couple of days, they would be flying to Italy to visit his hometown of Venice and plan their wedding. Biba couldn’t wait to go, to get away from the States for a few weeks.

  Stella had insisted Biba take a few months off.

  “Full pay, of course, and there’ll be a bonus as well. Just hang with Cos, relax, chill, plan the wedding. When you’re ready to come back, we should talk about you being my manager, not my assistant. You’re too good for that, and I’ve known it for years.”

  So, now, relaxing with Cosimo, making love slowly and leisurely, Biba should have felt the happiest she’d ever been. Cosimo was trailing his lips against her jaw, pressing them against her throat, working his way all the way down her body. Biba wriggled with pleasure and moaned as his tongue touched her clit. “God, Cos…yes. Yes…that’s it…God…”

  Cosimo took his time, lashing his tongue around her clit then burying it deep into her cunt until she was gasping his name and coming hard, arching her back, and when he plunged his cock inside her, she came again, shivering and shuddering.

  And she was happy except…something was mis
sing. Something was unresolved, and now as they relaxed together, wrapping their arms around each other, she talked to Cosimo about how she was feeling.

  “What do you think it is?” Cosimo asked her, stroking her cheek. Biba shook his head.

  “I honestly don’t know, baby. I’m sure the feeling will fade.”

  But even as they made their way back to their friends, that evening, Biba felt it—something was unfinished. Yes, that was it, she needed closure on…what? What was it?

  Soon, though, her attention was taken by the lakeside gathering as they lit Chinese lanterns and set them onto the water. “Oh, this is gorgeous,” Biba said, and Cosimo smiled.

  “I’m glad you think so, Biba May. Come with me.”

  He led her out onto the tiny jetty where they had almost made love for the first time. Biba chuckled. “Dude, there’s like a hundred people watching us, so if you’re hoping for a do-over…”

  Cosimo laughed, his green eyes dancing. “No, this isn’t that…for now. But, Biba, Stella helped me organize this little soiree, because there’s a very important question I need to ask you.”

  Warmth flooded her system. Emotion rushing up her body as Cosimo knelt in front of her. “Biba May, my darling love, you have changed my life. You are my heroine, my savior, my very best friend. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

  Biba, tears in her eyes, grinned. “You bet your sweet Italian ass I will!”

  Cosimo burst out laughing. “And there was me being all formal. So, it’s a yes?”

  Biba threw her arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes!” Cosimo picked her up and swung her around, and Biba heard their friends cheering, obviously guessing her answer.

  Cosimo put her down finally, tears glistening on his long lashes. “I love you so much, Biba May. You are the love of my life.”

  Biba was shocked into silence, for a few seconds. “I am?”