Chapter 120: The Donna Takes Command

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The first thing that hit me was someone yelling my name.

The next thing was a curse. Honestly, if things had been normal, I might have found the mix amusing.

After everything I’d been through...being kidnapped, drugged, beaten, escaping through a service corridor, finding out there was a bomb in the building, and dashing through half a gala looking like I’d just fought a furniture store—it was probably the closest I’d get to a welcome party.

But right now, I was too focused on not collapsing.

"Alex!"

I turned toward the voice and almost tripped over myself. A group of guys in black suits came rushing toward me from the far end of the corridor, and for a split second, I just stared. Castelli security...Lorenzo’s men.

Thank heaven. I almost laughed in relief, then quickly reminded myself that I should be freaking out.

"I found him!" one of them yelled.

Another guy grabbed my shoulders. "Are you hurt, Donna?"

"Define hurt."

He was staring at me like I’d lost my marbles, and I returned the look. There was blood on my fancy suit, my cheek, my hands, and probably in a few other spots I hadn’t had the chance to check.

My head was still pounding from whatever poison or drug they’d used on me, and my knees felt like they could give out any second.

The guard’s face tightened. "Don needs you out of here. Now."

"No."

His eyebrows knit together. "No?"

"No."

"Sir, you’ve been missing for almost an hour. We’ve been searching everywhere for you."

Those words hit me harder than I thought they would. Almost an hour. I glanced up at the clock above the corridor entrance, and my stomach dropped. Lorenzo had been searching for me for nearly an hour.

My husband was out there somewhere in the building looking for me while I was locked away, fighting against men who thought kidnapping Omegas was a legit job even if it pays well.

I swallowed hard. "He’s been looking for me, too?"

"Yes."

Something twisted in my chest. Of course, Lorenzo would look for me; I knew that. He’d probably tear the city apart if he thought I was missing. But that didn’t make it any easier to picture him doing just that.

"Where is he?"

The guard reached for my arm. "We’re getting you out first."

"No--"

"Donna—"

"Where is Lorenzo?"

"Don is still inside."

"Then I’m staying inside."

The man’s expression hardened. "His orders are clear. If anything happens to you, we extract you immediately. Your safety comes first."

I actually laughed, though it was breathless and a bit hysterical. "That’s cute."

Nobody found it funny. Apparently, mafia security didn’t appreciate sarcasm.

"I’m serious," the guard said.

"So am I. I’m not leaving."

"Alex."

"I said no."

He tried to guide me toward the exit, but I yanked my arm away. The movement made my shoulder scream, and my vision blurred for a moment, but I didn’t let it show. I’d been dragged around against my will enough tonight. "I’m not leaving my husband in a building with a fucking bomb."

The corridor went silent. One of the guards stared at me. "A bomb?"

"Yes."

His expression shifted instantly.

I started talking before anyone could cut me off. "They kidnapped me, three guys at first, then more showed up. They said Volpe ordered them to keep me alive. I escaped and overheard them. The bomb is already in the building and Lorenzo is the target!"

The guards exchanged glances, some looked absolutely shocked that an Omega was able you escape a kidnapping attempt orchestrated by multiple men with only a few scratches. "And you’re sure, sir?"

"I’d love to lie about this!" I snapped. "But tonight’s been awful enough without conjuring up fake explosives for fun."

The oldest-looking guard moved closer. "Where?"

"I don’t know exactly."

His jaw clenched. "But you heard them say there was a bomb?"

"Yes."

"And...Volpe?"

"Yes."

He looked toward the ballroom. "We need to get you out."

I stared at him in disbelief. "No, you idiot! We need to get everyone out!"

"Alex—"

"I’m not getting in a car while hundreds of snobby rich, but innocent people are still inside!"

"The Don ordered—"

"I don’t care!"

My voice echoed down the corridor and the guards fell silent. My breath was speeding up, and I could feel the remnants of the drug battling against the adrenaline that was keeping me upright.

"You want to protect me?" I demanded. "Fine. Then help me save the people in there. Help me find my husband. Help me get everyone out before that bomb goes off and fucking turn us into barbecue, okay? Just because you morons are in the mafia doesn’t mean you can’t do good and help innocents for once!"

Nobody moved and I looked at each of them in turn. Then it hit me who I was. Not just Lorenzo’s husband. Not merely the omega they were supposed to protect. I was the one standing between them and a room full of people who had no clue they were about to become collateral damage.

"I order you to help me save these people."

The resulting silence was almost ridiculous. One guard shot a look at another. Then another looked toward the ballroom.

Finally, the oldest man sighed. "Understood, Donna."

He turned to the others. "Split up and get the guests moving. Use the gas leak story and tell them there’s a security issue if they won’t listen. We don’t want a panic unless it’s necessary."

Several men sprang into action and two stayed by my side. I pointed toward the ballroom. "Let’s find my husband."

One of them nodded. "And Alex?"

"What?"

"You’re bleeding."

I looked down.

"Oh." I stared at the blood on my hands. "That’s probably fine, I guess."

"It is absolutely not fine, sir!"

"Then we can talk about that after we stop the explosion."

We pushed through the doors. The gala looked almost normal, which was the strangest part. People still wore expensive suits and elegant gowns. Waiters continued to carry trays of champagne.

Soft music still played in the background, though the tension in the air was palpable after the earlier disturbance.

Nobody knew. Nobody knew that there was a bomb somewhere beneath their feet. Nobody knew that people had been trying to kidnap me.

Nobody knew that the dumbass psychopath responsible thought that killing half a ballroom was a fair way to get to Lorenzo.

And then I spotted him... Lorenzo. He stood near the center of the room with Timothy by his side, speaking to one of the guards. He looked furious. Not loud, not frantic...just cold. His green eyes swept the room again, searching. And then they landed on me.

Everything inside me froze. For one horrible moment, neither of us moved. Then Lorenzo’s expression shifted. His eyes widened a bit. He closed the distance between us so quickly that I barely had time to react before his arms were around me.

I stiffened and Lorenzo didn’t usually hug me like that. Not in public. Not without warning. His arms wrapped tighter around me, and his face pressed briefly against my hair. I could feel his heartbeat...it was fast.

"What happened to you?!" He demanded. "I thought I told not to wonder off."

That realization nearly shattered me. He’d been scared, Lorenzo Castelli had been scared.

I gripped the back of his jacket and held on as his arms squeezed tighter. "I thought I lost you."

My throat tightened. For a moment, the entire ballroom faded away. It was just him. Warmth. His scent. His heartbeat. The steady grip of his arms around me.

Then I remembered the bomb...Jesus. I pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. "There’s a bomb, Dracula."

Lorenzo’s expression shifted instantly. "What?"