Jennie

Lisa carries me to the main bedroom and kicks the door shut behind us.

My heart is beating out of my chest with nerves.

Today I saw a whole different side to her. Watching her fight and kill –really drove it home that she's the head of the bratva.

Honestly, it's intimidating but also one hell of a turn-on.

There's so much I have to process, as well.

Bobby paying my debt. All the men of the Priesthood coming to my rescue. Watching Lisa break a man's neck. What my family did.

God, I don't know if I can process it all.

I feel the strength in her arms as she sets me down on the bed.

When I glance at the covers, Lisa gently takes hold of my jaw and nudges my face up. Her eyes touch on the bruises before she captures my gaze.

She stares for a moment, then asks, "What's that look for?"

I squirm from the intensity building between us. "What look?"

"I can't place it. You look at me differently than before."

Under her penetrating gaze, my heartbeat speeds up until it flutters wildly in my chest.

It's because I'm stunned out of my ever-loving mind by seeing firsthand how powerful she is.

It's because I've never seen anything hotter than Lisa in action.

It's because I'm free to love her.

Lisa brushes the pad of her thumb over my bottom lip, then leans closer, pressing such a gentle kiss to my mouth. Warmth bursts in my heart, filling every inch.

She only pulls back a little. "Do you have any idea how much I fucking missed you?"

I sound breathless when I whisper, "I wasn't even gone for two weeks."

Her eyes lock on mine, making my stomach do somersaults. "I know I promised to let you go, but…" she shakes her head, "I can't."

My left hand trembles as I lift it to her face. I cup her jaw, loving the feel of the bristles against my skin. "I don't want you to let me go."

Her eyes sharpen on my face. "Does that mean you've forgiven me?"

I shake my head, and worry instantly darkens her eyes.

"There's nothing to forgive, Lisa. I now understand why my family had to die."

I can't believe what they did. Trading in sex slavery? Stealing from the Cosa Nostra? Because of them, all these bad things have happened to me.

Air bursts from Lisa, relief washing over her features. "Christ," she whispers before she pulls me to her chest. She peppers the side of my head and neck with kisses. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

"You should've told me sooner what my family did." The raw heartache and disappointment are in every word.

She pulls back again, shaking her head. "You wouldn't have believed me, and I wanted to spare you the pain."

There's a knock at the door, then Jackson calls out, "We have to leave soon."

"I know," Lisa replies. "We'll be out in ten minutes." She turns her attention back to me. "Let's get you out of this ugly as fuck dress." She looks at the chiffon with disgust. "Jesus, how do I get you out of this?"

Laughter bursts from me as I stand up. "There's a zipper at the back."

When her knuckles brush against my skin as she pulls the zipper down, goosebumps erupt all over my body, and tingles explode in my stomach.

The chiffon bunches at my feet, and I'm standing in my underwear.

The memory of Alessandro touching me hits hard, making tears jump to my eyes. I rush to my luggage and struggle with my left hand to unzip the bag.

Lisa comes to crouch next to me and takes over, opening the bag. She pulls a pair of leggings and an oversized shirt out.

"Underwear too, please," I whisper, my cheeks flaming up.

I watch as she rummages for a bra and panties. When we straighten up, I try to reach for the clothing, but she shakes her head. "Let me help you, so you don't use your right arm."

Oh, Jesus.

Feeling incredibly self-aware, I stand rooted to the spot as Lisa sets the clothes on the bed. She comes to stand in front of me, so close, her scent fill my lungs. She unclasps the bra at the front and pushes a strap down my left arm before focusing on my right arm, making sure not to jar it.

She doesn't even try to hide that she looks at my breasts, and I watch as heat ignites in her dark brown eyes.

There's a weird mixture of panic and anticipation in my chest. On the one hand, I know Lisa won't hurt me. I've had sex with her already. But… A repulsed shiver races down my spine when Alessandro pops into my mind again.

Then it spirals – my family did the same thing to so many people. They took away their rights and dehumanized them by forcing them into hideous situations.

I can't deal.

Don't think about it.

Lisa takes hold of my panties, and as she slides them down my legs, she crouches in front of me. My breaths are coming faster as a feeling of distress skirts around the edges of my heart.

This is Lisa. She won't hurt you.

You love her. Her touch is safe.

I place my left hand on her shoulder to keep my balance as I step out of my underwear.

While Lisa is crouching at my feet, she locks eyes with me right before she presses a kiss to my hip.

She makes me feel loved. She's safe.

A breath quivers over my lips, and I quickly look away. I have to swallow hard on the tears threatening to escape from the phantom feel of Alessandro's fingers touching me, still lingering between my legs.

Oh God, make it go away.

Lisa straightens to her full height, then takes hold of my chin and tilts her head to catch my eyes. "What's wrong?"

I quickly shake my head.

"Jennie," she pushes. "Tell me."

I pull my chin from her hold and duck my head low, squeezing my eyes shut.

Breathe. Just breathe.

Now that I'm safe, all the memories and emotions are spiraling out of control.

The pain and terror.

The absolute cruelty and abuse.

My breath hitches.

"Hey," Lisa murmurs tenderly, her tone so caring and filled with worry it makes the gates burst open.

A sob sputters from me, and my voice is hoarse from how vulnerable and violated I feel. "The p-past four d-days were j-just really h-hard."

She pulls me into a hug, wrapping me up in the safety of her strong arms. "I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner."

I place my left hand over her chest and rest my cheek against her. "I r-regret leaving you. More than I've r-regretted anything in my life."

I feel her mouth brush against my hair. "Did you at least find some of the answers you were looking for?"

In the most horrible way.

I nod, my cheek brushing against her shirt. "I found all of them."

"That's good." Lisa pushes me back. "Let's get you dressed. Seeing you naked is pushing my self-restraint to the limits."

While Lisa helps me put on the clothes, my eyes stay glued to her. I drink in every line on her face, once again thinking she's really the most attractive man I've ever seen.

Especially after seeing her in action.

God, who thought I'd ever be thankful that the head of the bratva kidnapped me?

When she has me dressed and it looks like she's going to pick me up, I say, "I can walk. Will you bring the luggage?"

"Of course." She quickly closes the bag, then takes hold of my left hand. Weaving her fingers through mine, she leads me out of the bedroom.

When we join the other members of the Priesthood downstairs, I glance at each of the men before my gaze settles on Bobby Jiwon.

He catches me staring at her and offers me a reassuring smile.

I have to summon all my courage to say, "Thank you for paying my debt."

He shakes his head. "It was the least I could do for you."

I inch closer to Lisa, and she gives my hand a squeeze.

A grateful smile forms on my face as I tell the group of men, "Thank you for coming to help me."

They all smile at me.

God. I'm surrounded by so many powerful men it's actually scary.

"Let's get out of this city," Jackson says as he grabs one of my bags.

When we all bundle into the elevator, I'm practically glued to Lisa's side. She lets go of my hand and places her arm around my shoulder, allowing me to press even closer.

"And so the last of us fall," Suho mutters.

"I still win," Lisa chuckles. "You all fell long before I did."

I glance up at Lisa. "Fall?"

"For a woman," she explains. "They're all married already."

Oh.

Ohhh.

Lisa fell for me.