The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

It seems like an eternity we sit in here, the windows steaming up until they are too foggy to see anything clearly and Camilla has managed to get her breathing under control. It’s obvious she is in a lot of pain and trying not to move a whole lot. Stiff, immobile, and focused fully on not moving a muscle.

They put us in another car and moved us somewhere new. Another back-street alley, another group of terrifying men and I’m starting to become so dizzy and weak with lack of sleep and food. It’s been hours, it feels like days, since I watched Arry get in the cab and I have no idea anymore what time it is. It’s all become so surreal that I don’t even feel afraid anymore, caught in a dreamlike state, like this is never going to end.

Movement through the misty window catches my attention and I can just about make out two black four by fours entering the front of the alleyway. The driver’s eyes flicker in the mirror and I turn to look behind us automatically, to see what he sees. Another two identical four by fours pulling up behind us, so we are all trapped in this narrow lane with no escape. It seems like the cars start spewing more men than could possibly be in the vehicles as soon as they stop, and they all make towards each other. I nudge Camilla gently and nod with a head gesture.

She sits up a little and glances around slowly, taking in all the new vehicles. She’s been quiet, no more blood to be seen and doesn’t seem to be getting worse since they put us back in this car. She looks out of her head now, some of the booze taking effect from earlier.

“Guess your cavalry is here. Those are Alexi’s cars and men. Not that I have ever met him, but I’ve seen his entourage before.” She croaks, finding it hard to talk and slumps back down with a heavy exhale. I hold my breath, afraid to hope, afraid that this is real and watch silently.

A very familiar and welcoming sight saunters out of one of the cars, looking very much like the big mafia boss in a black overcoat and perfect groomed hair. That tall foreboding and familiar handsome sight, so clearly strong with Carrero DNA. Strong, muscular and like this, completely different to how I normally see him.

hit me in my throat, the unwelcome sob as tears hit me hard and I couldn’t love Alexi more than in this moment. Never been so happy to see

I know that he has the palest grey eyes, rimmed with almost black, a defined jawline and flawless set of Carrero features. His tailored clothes molded on that tall Lothario body, his hair jet black, cropped in a neat modern style and groomed while Jakes has a hint of brown to its darkness. Like his cousins he’s another lover of tattoos, but his peek up his neck as one curls behind one ear into his hairline to disappear and one that covers the full

but now, seeing him like this, in a tailored suit and expensive overcoat, there’s a tremor of uncertainty.

young.” She watches him steadily move through the sea of men. A powerfully built male that screams Alpha and

Jake or thereabouts.” I answer impulsively and

name eludes me. As a teen his father insisted on his presence but Arry ditched him as soon as he hit maturity. I smile and literally throw myself out of the car and into a relieved embrace, feeling him stiffen with the shock of my unusual affection and pats me lightly on the back. I’m overcome with so much emotion that these are men I recognize, these are Arry’s men and I’m truly safe and about to

car gently, by another man in a black suit, one with a

him go, he will disappear. My chest is constricting with so much weight, my head aching with stress and I want so badly to leave, to

be a lot of strange men standing around. As we get near that familiar asshole from the strip bar, Alexi