Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I know.”
Evan walked in again. “Listen. When I had the drones at the racetrack last time, I landed a couple remote ones on the roof in case they were needed again. I’ve been busy and haven’t recalled them. I just did a flyover. There’s a car parked at the back—a dark sedan. And there are three heat sources, all in the one area.” He showed it to Finn and me.
“That’s where Lopez’s office was located. He must have had a living space there too.”
“That’s where they are,” I said. “It has to be.”
“Then let’s make a plan,” Roman said. “Simple, quick, and quiet. In and out. We get Anna. We end Juan. Once and for all.” He met my gaze, his furious. “We kill him so hard and bury him so deep, he’ll never fucking crawl out. The bitch with him too.”
I nodded. “Agreed.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ANNA
Iheard them return, their footsteps echoing in the empty building. The closet door was flung open, and Juan stepped inside. He held a hammer in his hands. Fear built in my stomach.
What was he going to do with it?
He stood over me, sneering. “Heidi thought maybe you were too comfortable on the floor.” He stepped over me, hammering a hook into the wall, then dragging me to my feet. I couldn’t help the whimper that escaped my throat.
He liked that.
He loved it even more when he cut the cable ties from my hands, and I cried out as the pain rushed through the numb flesh. I felt my bracelet fall to the floor, and I had to let it go. He narrowed his eyes when he saw it, picking it up.
“Your precious Irishman give this to you?”
I stayed silent.
“He will pay for taking what is mine. Touching it.”
He threw the bracelet back on the floor and smashed it with the hammer, not stopping until it was crushed. Ruined.
Useless.
Then he laughed and picked it up. “So poignant that this will represent you soon. And your Irishman will be dead.”
“No,” I gasped.
“Oh yes. We leave tomorrow for Colombia. And when he gets in his car next time—” he made a hand gesture “—boom. Both of them.”
He leaned close, his hot breath hitting me. He stank of cigarettes and stale booze. “That’s what he deserves.”
“That’s what you deserve.”
He shook his head. He grabbed my hands, holding them at the front this time and wrapping another cable tie around them, tightening it until the plastic cut into my flesh. I cried out as he pushed my arms above my head, hooking the tie to the wall. “Heidi was right. You have a smart mouth we will have to beat out of you. And how we will enjoy it.”
He stood back with a frown. “All of my marks are gone. Fading away. All the love marks I bestowed on you.”
“You know nothing of love,” I spat at him.
“I know you will worship me. Only me.”
“Never.”
He laughed, running his hand down my arms. I had to turn my head, hiding my revulsion. “When we arrive to your new home, your life will be mine. I am going to cover you in my marks. They will never be allowed to fade.” He pinched me once, hard enough I whimpered. “And you will wear them like a badge of honor.”
He walked away, leaving the door open. He flung himself onto the chair, pulling Heidi to his lap. She looked at me in triumph as she pulled his face to hers.
I shut my eyes and hung my head, concentrating on the pain and not them.
Tears slipped down my cheeks as I prayed for a miracle.
A miracle named Niall.
The next while, they acted as if I wasn’t there, except on occasion when they said things to upset me. They argued a lot. Bickered—both wanting control. I wondered briefly if I could somehow use that to my advantage.
I hurt from standing, my shoulders screaming in pain. I was scared and cold. My head ached and I was exhausted. I was terrified of my future. Longing for Niall. His arms and the safety he provided.
Heidi lounged in a chair, making plans.
“I miss the pool.” She turned to look at me. “Not that you’ll be allowed to use it.”
“As if I’d go into water you were in,” I snapped. “That would be like blood to a great white shark. Although I understand they are intelligent animals.”
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, then she laughed. “Oh, bringing you to heel will be fun. I’m so glad I convinced Juan that we should have the fun of breaking you.” She glanced at Juan. “Maybe instead of killing him right away, you should send him pictures of his precious Anna as she progresses into the perfect slave. That would hurt the doughy Irishman more than a bomb.”
“Stop calling him that! Niall isn’t doughy—he’s a perfect specimen of a man.”