Forever (Betrothed 7)

He must’ve been rendered speechless because he didn’t say a single word. His eyes were focused on me, unable to blink.

“This is pointless.”

Still, nothing.

“We’re done, Liam. You can keep me locked in this room for years, and I’ll never change my mind. You can’t brainwash me.”

“I’m not brainwashing you. Just reminding you where you belong.”

That comment pushed me into a blind rage. “There’s only one place I belong. And that’s with him. Not you.” I got off the bed and picked up the tray before I threw it down at his feet. All the dishes cracked and broke, and the food got all over the rug. Ants could swarm it, and I still wouldn’t pick it up. “Fuck you, Liam. Keep me hostage. Rape me. Brainwash me. But none of that will work. I know where I belong, and it’s definitely not with you.”

Seventeen

Damien

There was only one person in the world who knew exactly what I was going through.

And he was in my bedroom with me, pacing in front of the recently repaired window while he spoke on the phone. “Ask everyone we know. I want Liam de Luca’s head, and I’ll pay any price for it.” He hung up and stared out the window.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. It was like a bad dream that never ended, a nightmare that continued to torture me even though I tried desperately to wake myself up. When I’d come to in the hospital room, her bed empty beside me, I hoped none of it was real.

But it fucking was.

Liam took her. I knew it was him. He staged everything, paid off everyone at the hospital to pull it off.

I was too fucking stupid to prevent it.

I sat in the wooden chair at the table, staring at the stained wood beneath me. A bottle of scotch was in front of me, but I didn’t pour myself a drink because it felt too painful. Annabella wanted me to quit, and now that she wasn’t there, I couldn’t allow myself to have a drop.

I couldn’t begin to describe the emotions pounding in my chest. I was furious, bloodthirsty, murderous. But I was also stricken with grief, so upset that I even cried. I was supposed to protect her, and I’d failed twice in a row.

What kind of man was I?

Now I was tormented by the fear of what he was doing to her. Was he punishing her? Was he forcing her against her will? It was too much to handle, so I tried to think about something else. But since she was the only thing that mattered, I really had nothing else to think about.

Hades walked back to me and sat down. “I’ve got everyone looking. He hasn’t been on a plane, unless he chartered a private one, but I doubt that. I think he’s in the city.”

I maintained my blank stare.

“He couldn’t have gone far with her unconscious. And when she’s awake, it’ll be impossible to move her. She’ll fight like a dog.”

None of that made me feel better. “Doesn’t matter. We have no idea where she is…and no idea what he’s doing to her.”

Hades stared at me from his chair across the table, his expression a mixture of many different emotions. He was angry about what happened to Annabella, but he was also hopeful for a return and also concerned about my sadness. He knew exactly how it felt to be in my shoes, to feel the overwhelming fear. Some other man took my woman, and those memories were still fresh in his mind. “We’ll get her back.”

“I know.” I just had no idea when or how. I had to figure this out soon, because the longer I waited, the longer Annabella would be subjected to whatever Liam was doing to her. The thought of him… I couldn’t even think about it.

“Liam isn’t like other men. He wouldn’t hurt her. And I don’t think he would do anything else…that might upset her.” That was the most he was willing to say on the topic that was in both of our minds.

She’d been gone for a week, and I had no idea where she went. Their house was abandoned. Nothing had been touched, no clothes had been taken. I was only unconscious for a couple hours, and that was enough time for him to disappear with no trace. That was what made me wonder if he was nearby. We checked the activity on his bank account and his credit cards, and he hadn’t done anything that we could detect. That meant he was only using cash.

“Everyone’s a snitch for the right price. Someone will give us a clue.”

“Unless Liam didn’t tell anyone at all…”

Hades looked out the window, as if he feared the exact same thing but just didn’t want to say it. “I’m sorry, Damien.”