“We have far more in common than you think,” I said, chuckling. “I appreciate the time and passion all artists put into their work. Doesn’t mean I’m a fan of the message.”
“I—”
“Sir?”
A guard came down the garden path. I felt sorry for them dressed in three-piece suits in this heat. It certainly made it easier to pick them out as villa guests ran around the property.
“Yes?”
“Mrs. Desai asked to speak with me and Boone,” he said as he stepped onto the terrace. “Do you know where she is?”
“She didn’t tell you where she was when she asked to see you?”
“No, as a matter of fact.”
His hand flashed. Ripping the baton from its holder, he struck Preston across the temple, snapping him around.
My scream ripped through the calm morning.
Blood splattered my face and open mouth. Feet on his lap, we crashed together, Preston limp and bleeding beside me.
“Shut up!”
Rough hands hauled me up. The horrid, brute of a man dwarfed me in height and doubled my size. I kicked and punched, screaming my head off.
“Help! Help!”
He tried to cover my mouth and I lunged, sinking my nails in and raking them across his face.
“Argh!”
Shoving me off, he backhanded me, and sent me flying over the toppled chairs.
My skull bounced off the stone. Dazed, my vision blurred in pain as I struggled to get up.
“P-Preston,” I croaked.
“Let’s go.”
He tangled in my hair, covering my mouth in time for the next scream. I was pinned to his chest, arms held down, and cries held in.
He swung me around, turning to go.
“Belle?!”
Through the glass, Nathan appeared. My love shoved open the door, racing to me, and relief dripped tears over his hand.
“Let her go!”
Nathan ran at us and the man released my mouth. Gripping our table, he overturned it on Nathan, narrowly missing him as he flung himself back.
My captor made a run for it.
Leaping off the terrace, he bolted down the garden path. A force slammed into us.
“Nathan,” I screamed as we fell face-first into the fountain. The murky, greenish water surged into my nose and mouth, and I kicked out, throwing the man off me.
I tipped out of the fountain, gasping and coughing up water.
“Belle!”
Nathan struggled with the would-be guard. Water drenched him from head to toe, plastering his hair over his eyes and covering the wound weeping blood down his chin. Ruthlessly, Nathan wrenched his arm back, holding the man’s head underwater as he thrashed.
“Run!” he bellowed. “It’s him! You know it’s him! R—”
The guard burst out of the water with a roar. Flinging himself back, he threw Nathan off and landed on top of him.
Nathan didn’t get up.
“Nathan! Na—”
The guard snatched me as I ran to him. “You keep struggling, bitch, and it’ll be you found drowned in that fountain.” His voice was a terrible, scraped rasp injected with fury that fueled a desire to carry out his threat.
But I fought.
I screamed into his hand. Kicked. Clawed at the bind around my chest.
He picked up the pace, hurrying down the hill to where the property ended on a private road. A lone car idled at the bottom.
As we came into view, the car door open and a man emerged—more beautiful than I remembered. The wind played with his blue-black hair, sweeping it over eyes that shone iridescent in the sunlight. He looked up at me, and smiled like a lover gazing at his sweetheart home from war.
I wrenched the guard’s fingers back. “Don’t do this,” I cried. “Whatever he’s paying you, I’ll give you more. I—”
“Shut up,” he said, shaking me. “I want double,” he barked at Mal. “She put up more of a fight than you said, and her fucking boyfriend almost drowned me. Half a mil and you get away clean.”
I trembled as we stopped in front of him—face-to-face as we came full circle. Four years since another traitorous guard delivered me on a platter.
His gaze scoured every inch of me, drinking me in, tracing my features in a way that made my skin tighten with revulsion.
“Arabella.”
Mal touched my bruised cheek with a hand wearing his favorite spiked ring. “Did you do this?”
“I told you she fought me,” he hissed. “Wire the money now, or you’re not getting out of here.”
“Relax.” Mal was as he always was. Calm. Controlled. Unhurried. “You’ll get your money. Help me restrain her.”
The man held me immobile as Mal went to the trunk.
“It’s not too late,” I said to him. “Take me back. My parents will give you all the money you ask for.”
“Be quiet.”
Rage flared hot, bursting through my terror. “What the fuck do you think is going to happen? He just lets you walk away? At least save yourself!”
“Hold her still,” Mal ordered. He emerged carrying restraints. “We have to hurry. I’ve been here too long.”
Quickly, he bound my wrists and ankles. At our last encounter, I realized what was going on when we turned a wrong corner and found Mal standing at the end of it. I threw open the car door and rolled out, making a run for a crowded street where he was forced to give up on me. Mal would not let that happen again.
“Please, don’t do this. I d-don’t want to go.” Rivulets soaked my face. “Why can’t you just let me go?”
“Shh,” Mal crooned like I truly was a child afraid of the dentist. “It’ll be okay. I’m taking you home.”
He opened the door and let the guard toss me bound in the back seat. Mal towered through the window, staring down at me with what could only be described as triumph.
“My money,” the guard demanded. “Now.”
“Did you do what else we discussed?”
“He’ll be there Friday at noon. If you’re a minute late, he’s gone.”
“Then our business is done.” Mal bent over me and reached under the driver’s seat. “Let me get my tablet.”
My eyes widened. “No.” My voice trembled to reach above a whisper. “Please.”
Mal lurched back, leveling the gun between his eyes.
“Whoa, wait—”
“No,” I shrieked. “Daddy, no!”
Bang! Bang!
The bullets ripped through my screams. The man dropped out of sight—dead. Malcolm stepped over him like so much trash.
He climbed in, started the car, and met my swollen, red-rimmed eyes in the mirror.
“We’re finally together,” he said, “and I promise, this time nothing will keep us apart.”
Chapter Twelve
Nathan
“I don’t understand, sir. Who is Malcolm Byrne?”
“He’s who took her!” I burst out. “Am I fucking speaking to myself? Can anyone actually hear me?”
“Nathan, please.” Rosalie rubbed her temples, wincing like my very voice would break her. Tears still clung to her eyelashes, and her skin was pale and drawn. “Just tell the detectives what they need to know. Preston is waiting for us.”