Page 53 of The Prodigal Prince

His turn to change the subject. “What’s your favorite movie? Your movie.”

She lifted her head off his shoulder to stare at the ceiling. “Oh goodness. I don’t know. Maybe… No. I don’t know. It’s impossible to choose. There were some co-stars I liked better than others, but none of them have been bad. I really enjoy working with Pete Barker from Eyjania.” Fiona leaned forward and turned to look at him. “Your cousin-in-law.”

Before Mac could respond, the door opened. He started to move, but the weapon pointed at him caused Mac to bide his time.

“You.” Mr. Villain pointed it at Fiona. “You’re coming with me.”

Mac wanted to get in the way, to stop them from leaving with her, but when Lefty grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the room, Mac was left staring at the door.

“Mama?”

Gray’s voice reminded Mac that he needed to make certain his son was protected.

That had to be his priority.

16

With a blindfold wrapped around her head, Fiona feared tripping and hurting herself.

Mr. Villain kept a tight grip on her upper arm as he forced her through passages she couldn’t see. Around twists and turns. Up and down stairs. She tried to keep a mental map so she could retrace her steps later, but even as she did, Fiona knew it wouldn’t work.

He hadn’t said where he was taking her or why. Or if she’d ever see her son and Mac again.

She couldn’t think about that. Walking took too much focus to think about anything else at the moment.

It seemed like forever before he shoved her away from him.

Fiona hit a wall with her shoulder and slid to the ground when he ordered her to sit.

She wanted to protest, to insist on knowing where she was, where she was going.

But something told her it would be better to bide her time and wait.

Angry muffled voices told her that Mr. Villain and Lefty didn’t quite see eye-to-eye on their game plan - whatever it might be.

At least they hadn’t tied her hands together. She couldn’t really fight back when she couldn’t see but it made her feel a little better to know the possibility existed that shecould. It would even be possible for her to take off her blindfold, but she’d already contemplated that and Mr. Villain had let her know in no uncertain terms what he thought of that idea. The risk seemed too great.

“A couple of hours.” Lefty’s voice drifted to her. “Why so long? Get rid of her now.”

Intellectually, Fiona knew that “get rid of her” could mean a variety of things and didn’t necessarily indicate a permanent solution of any kind.

Mr. Villain didn’t answer immediately. “Maybe you’re right.” The words spoke of a concession, but his tone made Fiona wonder if it hadn’t been his plan all along, and he just wanted Lefty to think he had some impact on the decisions.

Footsteps approached, but before Fiona could prepare for it, she was pulled roughly to her feet. She stumbled a bit further down the passage for a couple of minutes.

Then her fears came to pass.

One of them tied her hands.

The other tied her feet.

Lefty picked up her shoulders. Mr. Villain picked up her legs.

After a slight whispering sound, Fiona felt a breeze flow over her.

She couldn’t help but breathe deeply as the fresh air flowed into her lungs. With it came the tang of salt. They had to still be near the ocean. Nowhere in Sargasso was far, but this seemed like they were still on the estate grounds.

If she listened carefully, she might even be able to hear the waves.

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