Climb: Saints of Sin, #3

By Bella Love-Wins

From Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Bella Love-Wins, comes CLIMB, a riveting continuation of the emotionally dark mafia crime family romance serial.

 

Antonio DeLucci

 

I'm closing in on Natalia.

Her father, my boss, can show up anytime, and the first thing he'll want to know is if his daughter is safe.

My answer needs to be yes.

Natalia belongs here.

With me.

With her famiglia.

It's time I bring my girl home.

I'll walk through Hell if I have to.

I've fallen far from grace but it's not the end yet. I'm ready for this climb.

 

Author's Note: CLIMB is book three of the four-part Saints of Sin Series. This is a serial romance that ends in a cliffhanger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bella Love-Wins Books
• Release date: Feb 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224811151

Bella Love-Wins

From Author Bella Love-Wins. I love writing steamy, high-action romance stories about firefighters, billionaires, shifters, and alpha males who know what they want and aren't afraid of laying claim to the women who catch their interest. I love a happy ever after ending. I enjoy reading, hiking, the countryside, and traveling to destinations unspoiled by commercial tourism, like Las Vegas. :) Like so many characters in my novels, I enjoy action, romance and unexpected love connections that take your breath away. For the next while, you'll find me plotting and writing about my latest stories on my Macbook.

Book preview

1

Natalia

I take a step back, staring at the wooden trinket box in disbelief. My heart is thudding in my chest, a chaotic beat that drowns out the sounds of the room. How did someone get their hands on my mother's letters? And how could they have known to come looking for me here?

I'm tense, biting down on my lip as I try to reason with my racing thoughts. Maybe someone found the letters, and that's the reason they're looking for me. It makes sense. I don’t exactly have a common name, but the last time I saw my mother's letters was when I left them with Tammy Lou for safekeeping. Yet, here they are, in a place where I thought I would be safe.

A sinking feeling fills me, and I can't help but think the worst. I should've known that my life would eventually catch up with me. I should've kept running and never stopped. My mind races as I try to piece together what could have happened to Tammy Lou.

My eyes snap to the phone on the nightstand, my heart pounding in my chest. Without hesitation, I grab the receiver and punch in her number. Every second feels like an eternity as it rings, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Finally, she answers on the second ring and I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Tammy Lou, I gasp out, barely able to speak through the lump in my throat. "Thank god you're okay. I've been terrified for you.

Her voice trembles with emotion as she responds, Natalia! Oh my god, I'm so glad you're safe. I've been worried sick about you.

Yeah, me too, I say, my voice cracking into the phone. The receiver feels cold and foreign in my trembling hand, my fingers gripping it tightly as if it's the only thing keeping me anchored to reality.

Where have you been? she demands, her voice trembling with a mixture of concern and relief. Every word drips with emotion as she speaks.

It's a long story, and I know it sounds unbelievable, but I need to explain everything. But first, please tell me you know where my mother's letters are. My words tumble out in a frantic jumble as I speak into the phone, my voice cracking with suppressed emotion. My heart races and my palms sweat as I wait for her response.

She pauses, and I can tell she's thinking. What do you mean? I didn't see any letters when you left. What's going on?

Someone must've taken them, I exclaim, panic rising in my voice. Did anyone come to the house while I was away? The image of someone rifling through my belongings sends a shiver down my spine.

She hesitates for a moment, and then admits, Yes, a man came looking for you last week. He said he knew you from somewhere and wanted to talk. I told him you weren't here, but he seemed insistent. I should have called you. Tammy Lou's voice trembles with fear as she speaks, her words barely audible in a shaky whisper that seems to trail off into the distance. The sound of her ragged breaths, coming in quick gasps, fills the air and reverberates through the phone.

My jaw drops in disbelief at Tammy's revelation. A man? What did he look like? Did he threaten you?

He was tall, with short dark hair and a low, trimmed beard. His presence didn't seem threatening, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I just wanted to help you, Natalia.

My mind races as I try to make sense of this new information. Could it be that this man has been searching for me all along, and now he knows where to find me? How did my letters make it from Tammy's house to the person that left it at my door? Questions swarm around in my head, begging for answers. I know why more people would be looking to take me hostage as leverage, but why would they go through these lengths to drop the letters off here and not try to grab me at the same time? Fear and urgency grips me. I know one thing for sure – I can't stay here anymore. I need to find a new place to lay low, and fast.

I take a deep breath and steel myself before speaking to my best friend. Tammy Lou, can you go somewhere tonight? Somewhere other than your house?

Why? The sound of worry is clear in her voice as she asks for the reason I want her to go somewhere else. Everything's fine here.

I know you said you haven't seen the letters, but I need to know that you're safe.

Of course, Natalia. I'll go to--

No, I cut her off firmly. Don't tell me where you'll be. It's better that way.

What's this all about? Doubt seeps through her voice as she questions me.

I need you to trust me, okay? You know my family used to be into some shady stuff from the past, and now it's come back to bite us. Listen to me, just pack and leave, okay? I may not be able to reach out to you right away. Not until it’s safe. But I'll explain everything as soon as I can. Go. Now.

Fear creeps into her voice as she quickly agrees. Okay, we’ll gather up a few things and leave town.

Good. Go. Now, I urge her wondering whether I'll ever be free from my family's our dangerous past.

I'll message you soon.

The phone call ends with a deafening click, and I sink to the cold, hard floor, feeling like my insides are about to come spilling out. The reality of my situation is clear - there's no stopping with these people. My mind races as I try to come up with a plan, my breathing quick and shallow. I need to find a way to keep moving. I need to go somewhere they won't know to look for me.

With trembling legs, I force myself to stand up, the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Every second counts now. I can't afford to waste any more time.

I inhale deeply and press my palms against the cool, smooth surface of the kitchen counter. My fingers tremble as I try to calm myself down. I can feel the weight of my family's expectations bearing down on me, and I know I need to strategize if I want to survive.

Grabbing my phone, I frantically search for bus routes to nearby cities. Canada seems like a safe bet - far enough away from the famiglia and its connections. As I hastily piece together a plan, I focus on finding a discreet place to hide out where no one will recognize me. The last thing I need is more attention from those who want me for leverage against my father.

I frantically toss items into a plastic bag from the gas station convenience store - a few pieces of clothing, a few snacks, a bottle of water, and my mother's letters. Every second counts as I quickly scan the room for any other essentials before stuffing them into my backpack. With a heavy heart, I leave a note of gratitude for my kind host and swiftly leave. My heart thumps in my chest as I make my way down the street, constantly looking over my shoulder for anyone who may be after me. As I navigate through the small town, my mind races with thoughts of survival and finding a new safe haven. Adrenaline courses through my veins, urging me to keep moving forward as I search for a new place to call home, at least for now.

I walk up to the dingy bus station, the dim streetlights barely illuminating the cracked pavement.

At the bus station, I head over to the ticket window and ask to buy a one-way ticket to Taos, New Mexico. The clerk gives me a curious look as she hands over my ticket, but I have more important things to worry about. Taos is a dusty desert town known for its eclectic community. My plan is to find a job that pays cash and lay low until I have an idea of what to do next. As I wait for my bus on the deserted platform, I can't shake the nagging feeling that something terrible is about to happen. The guilt gnaws at me, knowing that Tammy Lou and her family are in danger because of me. Leaving those letters with her was a huge mistake, and now we're both forced away from the life we know.

I hate to admit it, but my family's issues have always haunted me. No matter how hard I try to distance myself from them, they always find a way to creep into my life. And right now, with everything that's been happening, I can't shake off the feeling that I'm still tangled up in their mess. It's suffocating and overwhelming. But even though I have to run away and start over, I know deep down that I can't escape it completely. So for now, I'll just have to survive until I know the truth behind all of this chaos. Because as much as I want to deny it, I still need answers from my family.

A bus comes into view, its bright red and orange exterior standing out against the dark grey of the night. The words Taos, New Mexico are displayed in bold illuminated letters on the front, a confirmation that my exit plan might work.

It rolls to a stop, and the automated doors open with a hiss, revealing the driver perched on his high seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel with ease. His uniform is a crisp navy blue, with shiny buttons and a badge, giving off an air of authority. His eyes are tired and his face is emotionless.

I step up and show him my ticket, giving him a nod in return when he waves me back. As I head to the seats at the back, I try to not to make eye contact with any of the seven people that are aboard while at the same time, I scan my surroundings.

In a few hours, I'll be in Taos, and the journey to stay one step ahead of these people will continue. I just have to make it out of this.

The sleek grey bus glides to a stop, and the doors slide open with a mechanical hiss. The driver sits tall in his seat, hands resting confidently on the steering wheel. His navy-blue uniform is crisp and clean, adorned with shiny buttons and a polished badge that exudes authority. Despite his tired eyes and emotionless expression, he efficiently checks tickets and directs passengers onto the bus.

I go up to him and hand him my ticket, receiving a nod in return as he waves me towards the back of the bus. As I make my way to an empty seat, I discreetly assess the other seven or eight passengers aboard, trying not to make eye contact as I assess whether I should be worried about any of them. I doubt any of them is after me, but after what I've been through, and with these letters mysteriously appearing out of nowhere, paranoid thoughts swirl in my head as I continue my journey to stay one step ahead of whoever is chasing me.

In just a few hours, I'll arrive in Taos. But until then, I must remain vigilant and trust no one. This is just another leg of my ongoing escape, and I can't afford to let my guard down.

As the bus continues on its journey, my thoughts inevitably drift towards Antonio. I wonder if he's alive, if he's thinking about me, if he's still searching for me. It's been so long since I last saw him, and he still fills my thoughts and dreams. I can't help but think about him every now and then.

I remember the day I knew I wanted to be his. I was way too young for him, so I kept that secret to myself until I was legally an adult. A shiver of recollection sends a tremor through my body, sparking