FIERCED 3: Finale of the Stepbrother Raider Romance Series Read Online Free

with jewels. But I'm too angsty and miserable to take in much of the incredible renaissance murals covering the walls, the massive chandeliers and the all-white flower arrangements bigger than boats.
    I do manage to grab a couple of the exquisite canapes from the silver trays shouldered by the waiters as I head for the bar and a glass of prosecco – the Italian champagne.
    After downing a couple of the carved crystal flutes of ice cold bubbles, I feel a little more able to cope but still loiter close to the gilded walls, not wanting to answer too many questions about my alleged kidnapping. The waiters must feel sorry for me as they keep passing with amazing platters of shrimp and tiny concoctions of raw beef in a tiny basket made of wonton.
    I grab another flute and head out to the terrace hanging over the Grand Canal. My heart rips at the total romance of the view, the water lapping gently beneath my Italian satin pumps, the glow on the water as the sun sets across the lagoon.
    As darkness falls, the lights in the palaces edging the water cast a thousand twinkles in the water. I clasp my own elbows in a faux hug wishing deeply that Rocco was encircling my whole body with his powerful arms nestling me into his hold and keeping me safe from everything bad in the world.
    Where is he now? Probably on his way back to Tenley. She'll be waiting for him to return and stay in the camp with her for weeks, as she'd called out to him before he sent me home. They make such a beautiful, model perfect couple and she plainly adores him so I can hardly blame him for dashing back to her. I just wish he'd come back to me.
    “A beautiful girl should never be alone in Venice.”
    I whirl around to see the face of my admirer hidden behind a black mask with an impossibly long nose. So ugly amidst all this beauty.  What on earth could be the significance of that protuberance? There's something about his mouth where the mask stops, making that vile nose even more creepy.
    “I just wanted to enjoy the view,” I say. There's something about this guy that's familiar although that's hardly possible as I've never been to Venice before.
    “May I join you, Lisa?”
    “How do you know my name? Have we met?”
    “I've been waiting for you.”
    What is it about his voice, as well as the lips? It's low and rough, but it still seems familiar. The man has a wide chest that he uses to press me into the low wall surrounding the terrace. He's enjoying his power, as though he's been working out for the purpose.
    “I'm not really in the mood for socializing,” I say, concerned by his creepy stalking of me.
    “After your abduction you must be very sensitive to men coming on to you,” he says.
    At least he's got some empathy. Still he makes me uncomfortable as he presses too close to my body, almost pinning me to the wall. If I make a wild move I could go right over the edge into the dark water.
    His face is too close to me and far from mysterious, his mask is really freaking me out. The long black nose seems evil and his breath is rasping fast as though he needs something far too urgently. He lifts his gloved hand and strokes it along the curve of my naked shoulder, down my upper arm making my shiver and the goosebumps rise cold.
    “I have to get back to the party now.” I attempt to slither around his rigid body, but no dice. He slams a leg against me and forces his mouth over mine, squashing that vile tuber into my cheek so I can hardly breathe. I push back on him and he steps away, shocked at my dismissal, then raises a hand to slap me.
    “Don't be a bitch your entire life, Lisa. You know you want me.”
    “I don't even know you, get the fuck away from me,” I choke.
    The shock of the smack on the side of my head has my ear ringing. I don't hear the speedboat kick up a gear and rev across the Canal, weaving its way across the traffic in the wrong direction, swerving in and out between the hundreds of crafts plying the wide waterway.

 
     
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