Page 74 of Taking Adalisa

“Is he the same as you remember him?” I ask. “Everything you talked about with him, seeing him for the first time, I didn’t think that was him.”

“He’s a little different, but he’s the same man I fell in love with. He’s the same man I love with all my heart,” she replies, clasping her hands together. “It was rough with how he came back into my life, but I’m glad he did. I knew I would never be able to find love like I had with him again. I’m glad I don’t have to settle or be single for the rest of my life.”

“I’m glad. You look really happy.”

To our right, I see a guard looking around the compound, and I feel myself relax a little more. I am safe here. No one can get to me or take me away.

“Want to head back? I’m starving.” Margery pats her stomach.

“When are you not?” I laugh. “But yeah, let's go back.”

It doesn’t take us long to get back to the house. Margery walks toward the kitchen, a smile on her face.

“Nala!” Margery yells.

I rush after Margery only to find my brother in the kitchen. Nala is in his grip with a knife pointing to her neck.

“You don’t need to do this,” I tell him, terror rushing through me as I stare at them. “Let Nala go, and I’ll come with you.”

I don’t know Nala that well, but she has been nothing but kind to me. She has let me and Matthias cook in her kitchen. She doesn’t let anyone else cook in. She has a special place in my heart, and if anything happens to her, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.

“Ava,” he says, keeping hold of Nala. “Or would you like me to call you Adalisa instead?”

I suck in a breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Margery look at me.

“I haven’t gone by Ava since you were sent to prison,” I tell him. “Ava is dead to me. I’m Adalisa and have been for years.”

Even though I was young, I begged for my name to be changed. Was it a hard process to finally convince them? Absolutely, but I needed it. I needed to feel like I was starting over, especially after everything.

“Let Nala go, and I’ll come with you. You can do anything to me as long as you let her go and you don’t come back here.” I take a step closer.

How did he get past all the guards and over the fence? Where are Matthias and Ethan?

“I think I might stay here.” He twirls the knife in the air.

I breathe easier knowing it isn’t as close to Nala’s neck.

“You don’t need to. There is nothing here for you. It’s all cheap and won’t sell for much. I don’t own this house,” I tell him and briefly look at Nala.

Her eyes are on me, and she shakes her head. Does she know that I will do anything to get her away from him, even if it means dying? Nala looks over at Margery, but I don’t follow her gaze. I can’t take my eyes off him for too long, not when he could do anything with the knife.

“Who does it belong to?” he asks.

“Ethan Montgomery,” I honestly say. “He owns this house.”

My brother scoffs and shakes his head. “Liar! You just don’t want me to have the house. You aren’t going to get your wish. I’m taking this house now, and you are going to stay here and do what I say. I’m going to watch the life drain from you slowly as I finish what I started.”

My heart rate speeds up, and my palms are getting sweaty. None of that is going to happen. Matthias is going to find me before Gerard can make me eat anything. I have to believe he will come after me. But he doesn’t even know anything is wrong. I’m in the house like he told me to be.

“It’s true. Ethan is my husband,” Margery speaks up. “If you let us all go right now, nothing will happen to you. You can get away before anything happens.”

My brother places the knife back to Nala’s neck, and I leap forward.

“Not another step!” he yells. “You stay right where you are. If any of you move, your friend is dead.”

I hold my hands in the air, letting him know I’m not going to do anything. Calm. Everyone needs to be calm.

“Matthias isn’t going to be happy when he finds out you’re being held captive,” Margery says.

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