Page 14 (1/1)

So my captor said What was he supposed to do to me?

But just as I try to process what that couldwithwhat I always do—about being stolen away in the dead of night, but instead of erously handsoe replaces the void

8

DeLuca

I reach s, and lo and behold, it’s exactly who I was about to call

“DeLuca,” Ferro barks,my nostrils flare “Where the fuck is my wife?”

My hackles rise at the piece of shit laying any kind of claim one at theto murder Arabella

“I took care of it There was a struggle, so it wouldn’t have looked like the suicide you wanted to portray I got rid of the body You’re welcoh I’d have no proble to him

There’s a pause, and I hear hione, so now I can be with… Wait” He curses, his voice rising “Got rid of the body Got rid of the body? What the fuck? Now she’s going to be aperson, you idiot You were supposed to kill her and leave her to be found so I could be done with her!” he yells into the phone, and I have to take deep breaths to calh not to crush my cell in my hand

“It’s Desolation, Ferro Who the hell is going to care about onewoman who has no friends and stays holed up in her apart the arm of my chair with my other hand

He lets out a frustrated ru dad, asshole Our ether, a business transaction If she turns upcommitted suicide, he won’t stop until he finds her or what really happened to her”

I put half-assed effort into placating him “If he finds her body, then it will just look like any old ot what you wanted She’s gone, and you’re free to do… whatever it is you truly wanted her dead for”

I stopto say exactly what’s on , deep in my soul, that Arabella had no information that would wreck The Ruin There’s a different reason Ferro wanted her dead, and he kneouldn’t have taken the job if I knew the truth So I have no quals to hiets to be with…” even though he didn’t finish the sentence And that tellsto destroy The Ruin is the truth

“You better fucking hope he finds the body and finds it fast so we can put this all behind us In fact, just tell me where it is so I can find some way to lead the, just seeing the wiry fucker inhe can make demands of me

“Not my problem I did what you paid me to do, and now our transaction is coain” And with that, I end our connection,to the little one upstairs in my bed

By the ti up such a s bed has fallen asleep Arabella looks stunning, even in her slu her dreams in her soft features She’s scared, yes, but I can tell she’s wrestling with the feelings that draw us to one another

We shouldn’t be this way, the feelings—those shouldn’t be transpiring But I kno just how evil the man she’s married to and planned her death when her back was turned is I vow to protect her froer to me If I must run for the hills with her chained to ain

I watch her aon the water, I let it stea felt before I even step in Once inside, I let the scalding water cascade around my bunched muscles They haven’t relaxed since thehter, to the point that I will combust if I don’t soon make her mine completely