Forever (Betrothed 7)

“Tell me where he is.” I didn’t give any specifics because it was unnecessary. He knew exactly what I was talking about, and he was the kind of man that wanted to listen to me beg and plead. I had no pride at this moment, no vanity. I was willing to do anything to get my woman back.

A slow smile came over his expression. “I don’t betray my clients.”

“You’re betraying me, and I’m your client.”

He shook his head slightly. “No. You’re just my fuckboy.” He turned to walk out of my office.

Instead of getting angry at the comment, I was only disappointed. I was terrified I would never get Annabella out of this situation. And I was even more terrified that Heath was my only option. “I’ll give you anything you want.”

He stopped and turned around in the doorway.

“Take my business. Take my money. Take my house. Whatever the fuck you want.” Annabella and I could live in a tiny house with no money and be perfectly happy. I already knew she loved me for me, not the zeros in my bank account, and not just because the gypsy told me that.

He gave me a final look before he turned away. “There’s nothing I want more than revenge. And my revenge can’t be bought.”

Eighteen

Annabella

Two weeks had passed, and there was no sign of Damien.

Liam came to my bedroom and sat with me, as if his presence would be enough to warm me up. Sometimes we argued, sometimes I screamed, but most of the time, we sat in silence because I refused to speak to him.

I was afraid he would force me to be with him, but he hadn’t tried. Maybe it was because I still had an injury…or maybe he was a better man than I gave him credit for. Either way, I was grateful, because being with him would be rape. Nothing less.

I sat in my bedroom, my stomach rumbling because I refused to eat the lunch he’d brought earlier. When he’d carried the tray inside, I slapped it down with my palm and told him to fuck off. The mess was still on the floor.

I was free to go about the house because I didn’t have chains on my wrists or ankles, but I chose to sit in my bedroom alone. I’d rather be alone than breathe the same air as that asshole. I’d rather be lonely than subjected to his nonsense.

But I decided to leave and go downstairs to make something to eat in the kitchen, because I was so hungry I’d started to get a headache. When I reached the top of the staircase, I heard him talking to somebody.

“Grab Catalina. That’s the only person that Damien will trade for. But just to warn you, she’s a spitfire. She’s small, but she knows a couple moves. Make sure you catch her alone because she won’t go easy. She’ll make a scene.”

I heard every word, and I’d never been so terrified. Liam was conspiring to take my friend, Damien’s sister, and do something horrific. I didn’t bother to be quiet anymore, and I ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time, and ignored the pain in my abdomen. I might rip the stitches, but that wasn’t important right now. I got to the living room and saw him standing near the couch.

He watched me, rigid and defensive, like there would be repercussions after what I just heard. He didn’t even have the humility to look guilty, to possess a hint of shame. If anything, he just looked annoyed that I’d overheard his master plan.

“How dare you?” I marched up to him, unintimidated by his large size. I shoved both of my palms into his chest and forced him back, oblivious to the scream of my wound once I exerted myself. “Call it off. Now.”

He staggered backward after my push but showed no resistance at all. He stayed back with a stoic expression, like he was prepared to handle anything I threw at him without an ounce of care. He looked like a martyr, doing something terrible for the greater good. He held his head high when he should be bent over in humiliation.

“Leave her out of this. She’s my friend.”

“Nothing will happen to her if Damien isn’t a piece of shit.”

The phone was still in his hand, and I knew I needed to grab it if I was going to get out of here, if I was going to save Catalina, if I was going to save Damien. “What are you trying to do? You’re bringing an innocent person into something she has no part of.” I crept closer to him, my heart beating so fast because there were so many people on the line, including myself.

“If Damien cares about his sister, he’ll show up.”

“And then what?” I tried to keep him distracted.