Page 74 of Tempt Me
Once we're all inside the villa, the door shutting behind us, I take a deep breath and begin to tell my parents about our captive's revelation. "He told us that Marco – Antonio'sson– wants to marry me," I say, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. "Apparently, he wants to take control of the land I now possess in Arachon," I continue, seeing their faces go dark at the idea of such deception they weren't a part of.
Mom's eyebrows furrow together. "This is despicable."
"Yeah. Isaac managed to get it out of him," I explain, gesturing toward Isaac, who stands stoically beside me, his eyes locked onto some distant point.
As I think about Marco's intentions, disgust coils in my stomach like a snake preparing to strike. The thought of being married off to someone like him – someone who would use me as nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game of power – makes my blood boil and makes me angry at my parents for doing the same thing. Clenching my fists at my sides, I try to keep my anger in check, but I'm pretty sure my face must say it all.
"Absolutely not happening," I spit out even though no one has said it is, the force of my rage at my parents evident in my tone. "I'd rather die than be forced into a marriage with him."
"Rue, we need to stay calm," Dad says, placing a placating hand on my shoulder, as he knows how pissed off I am. His touch is meant to be soothing, but it can't extinguish the fire burning within me.
"Rue, you know we won't let anything happen to you," Mom adds, her voice laced with determination. "We'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
"Yeah," I mutter, this obvious statement not quelling my fury. But beneath the surface, my anger simmers, waiting for the perfect moment to erupt.
As we stand in the dimly lit room, I know that something has changed – not only in our lives but also within me. And as the shadows on the walls seem to shift and darken, I know that Marco's intention has set us all on a dangerous path, one where there may be no turning back. Isaac will not step back from this. Not even an inch.
My mind races, searching for a solution to our perilous situation. But then I frown and glance around the villa. The diplomatic status of the place should be a source of comfort, but now it feels like a double-edged sword. Yes, we're protected from the authorities, but that also means Marco and his minions have free reign to make their move.
As Isaac and I step outside, the tension in the air is palpable. The sky above Coe Bay is overcast, casting a dull gray light over the villa. The clouds are rolling in, and the heavy air carries the scent of salt water and impending rain, echoing the storm brewing within me.
"Rue," Isaac says, his voice quiet yet resolute, "we need to get the captive inside. We'll figure out what to do with him."
I nod, unable to say anything. My thoughts are consumed by everything that has happened and what might happen next.
Isaac retrieves the keys from his pocket and opens the trunk of the beat-up sedan. The car has dents and scratches on its surface, the result of careless driving and numerous close calls. As the trunk lid creaks open, the bound and gagged captive stares up at us with fear-filled eyes. He is disheveled, bruised, and clearly terrified.
"Let's get him inside," I spit, struggling to suppress the anger in my voice.
Isaac hauls the captive out of the trunk and slings him over his shoulder. His muscular frame barely strains under the weight. We hurry back into the villa, my parents' watchful gazes following our every move.
"We need to know what Marco is planning and how to stop it," I say to my parents before they can interject with their thoughts on this matter. I'm learning where Marco is so I can go and kill him, if I have to torture this asshole to do it.
"Of course," my mother says, her face a blank mask, "we'll support you in whatever way we can."
Offering them a small, grateful smile, inside my heart pounds with adrenaline, knowing that my life has been irrevocably changed by the pregnancy. As we drag the captive into the depths of the villa, I wonder if we're all walking into a trap from which there is no escape.
Isaac drags the captive into a dimly lit room and forces him into a chair.
"Keep an eye on him in case he tries anything," he says quietly.
"Of course," I reply, narrowing my eyes dangerously at the captive.
The man looks back at him with a mix of fear and defiance.
Chapter41
Isaac
The captive sits in a chair, bound and bruised, but bravado is still strong in his gaze.
"Where is Marco?" Rue demands, her voice cold as steel.
"Go to hell," the captive sneers, his contempt only fueling her anger.
"Wrong answer," I mutter, my fist colliding with the man's face. "Try again. Where is Marco?"
The captive smirks, the corner of his mouth lifting despite the blood that cakes his face from hitting his head on the rock outside the cabin and my fist that just broke his nose. "You think I'll just tell you everything? You're mistaken."
