The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 28: Found Her

~Riccardo’s POV~

After seven whole hours of calling, searching, raging, and tearing through every contact I had in this city, her name finally flashed on my screen with an incoming call.

I answered before the first ring finished.

"Anne?"

My voice came out rougher than I intended, but it was understandable. I had spent the last seven hours being restless and anxious. My security team had been working overtime, yet they had failed to track her down. Her abductors, whoever they were, were clearly skilled at hiding their tracks. And just thinking about that made me even more terrified than I should be.

"Riccardo..."

Her voice trembled, barely audible. And without needing to see her, I could tell she had been crying, probably for hours now.

"Where are you?" I demanded, already grabbing my keys and coat, striding toward the door. "Tell me right now."

There was silence at her end, she was probably trying to figure out where she was, and the fact that it took her more than a second to do so meant that she was probably somewhere she couldn’t recognise. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Stay on the phone with me, I’m already on my way, okay?"

"Please... please come pick me up," she whispered through a broken voice.

"Stay on the line, I’ll be there in a second!"

I was already running down the stairs to the garage, my phone still pressed to my ear. Marco’s voice came through the car’s speakers the moment I started the engine.

"Boss, we’ve got a ping. Her phone just came back online. Sending coordinates now."

The navigation lit up on the dashboard: an abandoned stretch near the old docks, industrial wasteland on the river’s edge. It was close to the outskirts of town, the part where people rarely visited.

I floored it, driving like a maniac through the streets. From time to time I would check on her, speak to the phone, and made sure that she knew I was right there with her.

"I’m coming, amore," I comforted her, not taking my eyes for the road for even a second. "Just hold on. I’m almost there."

Soon arrived at the coordinates that Marco had sent me. I slammed hard on the brakes, barely throwing the car into park before I was out and running.

She looked up when my footsteps echoed toward her. Her facewas swollen, eyes red-rimmed, cheeks streaked with dried tears. Her lips were pale from the cold, her body trembling uncontrollably in the thin blouse she’d worn to work this morning.

The second she was within reach, I pulled her into me. My arms wrapped around her so tightly I was afraid I’d hurt her, but I couldn’t loosen them. I couldn’t let go. She was here. She was breathing. She was alive.

Anne didn’t move at first, her body stayed rigid, frozen from cold and shock, hands limp at her sides. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling the faint trace of her shampoo beneath the scent of fear and damp night air.

"I’ve got you," I whispered against her temple, voice breaking despite every effort to keep it steady. "I’ve got you now. You’re safe."

A shudder ran through her, and then finally her arms came up slowly, fingers clutching the front of my shirt like she was afraid I’d vanish.

I shrugged out of my coat without letting go, draping the heavy wool over her shoulders, wrapping it around her until only her face peeked out. She was ice-cold, those bastards had left her out in the cold to freeze to death. I swore I was going to find them, make each and everyone of them pay, but that was my secondary priority. Anne mattered most at the moment.

I cupped her cheeks gently, thumbs brushing away the fresh tears that welled up the moment our eyes met.

"Look at me," I said softly. "I’m here. I’m right here, and I’m never letting anything touch you again."

Her lips trembled. A broken sound escaped her—half sob, half my name.

I leaned down and pressed my forehead to hers, then kissed it, slow, lingering, pouring every ounce of apology and love I had into that single touch.

"I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner," I murmured, voice raw. "I’m sorry you were alone. But you’re with me now, Anne. You’re safe. I promise you nothing and no one will ever hurt you again."

She closed her eyes, more tears slipping free, and finally sagged against me, letting me hold her full weight.

I held her tighter, one hand cradling the back of her head, the other wrapped around her waist. She was traumatised, and while I desperately wanted to know who had hurt her, what they had done to her, I was sensible enough to know that this wasn’t the time. She was still too shaken to be interviewed. Right now what she needed was love, as much as she could get.

"I love you," I whispered into her hair, the words spilling out unfiltered. I had wanted to save those words for a more romantic setting, but after today, I realized that I’d probably die if I lost her without at least letting her know that I loved her.

She didn’t answer, couldn’t yet—but her fingers tightened in my shirt, and she pressed her face into my chest like she was trying to disappear inside the safety of my heartbeat.

"Take me home please...just take me out of this place..." she finally whispered into my arms.

Without warning, I lifted her into my arms and headed for the waiting car, gently scooping her into the back seat. Then I took control of the wheels and immediately sped off into the road.

I kept my eyes on her through the rear view mirror. She was still shaken, still traumatised, and I hated seeing her like this.

"Anne—"

"Take me to my apartment, please..." she interjected before I could get a word out.

"I’m taking you to my place, I’ll call my doctor to come and make sure you’re doing fine—"

"I AM FINE." Her answer was rigid, like her mind was made up about going home. But I was equally stubborn, and I know she would be a lot better at my place where resources weren’t limited.

"I promise you I have no ulterior motives, Anne. I just want the best for you." I assured her, but she clearly wasn’t convinced.

"If you really want the best for me, take me back to my apartment, please."

Now I was concerned. Was there something wrong? Was she really that scared of going to my house? No, it wasn’t it, she wasn’t afraid of me, she was afraid of something else.

"What’s the problem, Anne, talk to me." I demanded, my gaze fixed on hers through the rear view mirror.

She didn’t speak, not immediately though. She just sat still, gathering her thoughts. Then after what seemed like eternity, she took a deep breath and finally spilled the tea.

"I’m leaving town, for good."