“Okay,” I finally say, my voice almost a whisper, “let him go and I’ll marry you.”
Byron squeezes my wrists harder, his blue eyes wide and full of anger. “Stop treating me like a fool. You will marry me, then I will let him go.”
I clench my jaw, attempt to jerk my wrists away to no avail, and hiss, “And you stop treating me like a damn fool. How do I know you won’t kill him anyway?”
“Your brother doesn’t know who has him or why. He has not seen any of my men’s faces; therefore, I can safely free him without implication.”
I’m trying so hard to piece together the events of the last twenty-four hours and come to terms with my reality, but it all feels too unreal. Like a horror movie playing out before me.
When I don’t respond, Byron tosses my wrists away and stops the livestream on the screen. “It’s been a long day. Get some rest and we will talk tomorrow. Before the ceremony.”
“Tomorrow?” I spit out in one breath. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I am serious. This time tomorrow, you will be Mrs. Byron Davis.”
My eyes pinch shut as tears still manage to find their way out. I open them abruptly. “Like hell I will.”
I storm out of the room, my feet never stopping until I make it to the elevator. I hit the button and take it up, then go straight to my room.
My door slams shut, and I curse Cal for never putting a lock on this door.
I’m hungry, exhausted, and feel like I’m on the verge of vomiting, but sleep is the last thing I plan to get. I have to devise a plan to either escape this island, or kill Byron.
One way or another, I’m saving Mark, and it will not be by me taking Byron’s hand in marriage.
CHAPTER SIX
I’ve paced the length of this room at least a dozen times. I’ve even gone as far as throwing a leg over the banister on the balcony, thinking I’d attempt to escape even if it meant falling to my death. Death actually sounds more appealing than marrying that scumbag.
I don’t have a clock, so I’m not sure on the time, but I’d say it’s somewhere around midnight. For all I know, Byron could be a night owl. I’m also certain that there are eyes on me at all times, but I have to try something. I can’t just sit in this room while Mark is being held prisoner and Cal is still missing.
Barefoot, in a pair of black, silk pajamas, I creep down the hall, glancing at all the cameras I pass by. I see them, but most importantly, they see me.
Screw it. I’ve got fight left in me and it’s time to prove it.
I stroll down the hall, casually, as if I’m up for a midnight snack. Heading for the elevator, I pass by Cal’s old room. My heart twinges, and I find myself backstepping. One hand reaches out, presses to the door, and my eyes close.
God, I miss him.
We spent so many years apart, and I really wasn’t sure I’d ever see Cal again. Our reunification was not as sweet as I would have wanted it to be; in fact, it was torturous at best. But the more time we spent together, the louder his heart sang to mine. I wanted to fill that empty void inside him and repair all his broken pieces. In the end, I’m the one who paid the price. I paid with my heart shattering and now Byron expects me to pay him with my soul.
Fuck that.
I drop my hand and continue to the elevator, but stop abruptly, when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. My heart jumps and, on impulse, I go back to Cal’s door and take the risk of it being locked.
To my surprise, it opens. I go inside, closing the door quietly behind me.
With my breath held, I tiptoe over to the closet, hoping like hell I don’t have to go inside. But when the bedroom door creaks open, I go in as fast as I can.
I don’t let go of the handle as I close the closet door behind me. I grip it tightly, afraid that if I let go, it will latch and Byron will hear it.
I hear a switch flip, likely the light. “They’re still here,” Byron says, angrily. “I told you I want these fucking snakes gone or else I’ll chop their damn heads off myself.”
Oh my God, the snakes. I forgot all about them. I hope someone has been feeding them and giving them care. I don’t even like snakes, but the thought of them being harmed while Cal’s been missing breaks my heart.
“I don’t give a shit who takes them. Call a fucking reptile shelter, for all I care.”
There’s a long beat of silence before I hear the shuffle of feet through the room.
My abdominal muscles pull in as I hold my breath. He comes closer. And Closer.
I’m a millisecond away from being caught and a sense of horror ripples through my bones.
My body jolts when Byron’s phone begins ringing. I blow out a pent-up breath as the sound continues.
“It’s about damn time you called back. How are our guests?”
Guests? As in hotel guests?
I can’t imagine anyone else staying here. Especially since I have the freedom to roam. Byron knows I can’t leave, but he wouldn’t risk me alerting guests of my kidnapping.
No. It’s only me and the staff that he’s paying. He has to be talking about another hotel.
“Keep the brother bloody. I need her to see how far I go to get what I want. As for the other one, bring him to the brink of death, for all I care. Just make sure he’s able to view the livestream of the wedding. I want him alive when I take everything he loves.”
I gasp, clapping a hand over my mouth as the sounds continue to ride up my throat.
He has to be talking about Cal. He has him held captive somewhere with Mark and plans to livestream the wedding, just so he can watch before he kills them.
But the wedding is supposed to be tomorrow, or today, since it’s past midnight. There’s no way I can save them both. I only have one choice. I have to—
The door to the closet flies open, and I lose all train of thought.
I stumble back, tripping over a box and falling into the hanging suits.
“Aren’t you just a sneaky little bitch?”
My hands move backward, attempting to crawl to get away from him. I reach back, touching the wall in search of the opening where the door to the basement is.
“Get out of the fucking closet, Bella.”
I keep searching for the door, finally finding it, but I’m too late. Byron grabs my foot and begins pulling me. Slapping my hand around on the floor, I look for something to hold on to or to grab to use as a weapon against him, but all I find is a metal hanger.
Byron keeps pulling until I’m flat on my back and he’s standing over me.
He crouches down, looking into my eyes with a heinous scowl. “Looks like we have to do this the hard way.”
Gripping the hanger, I bring it up quickly, shoving the hook right into his eye. Well, at least that’s what I tried to do. Instead, I missed and got the side of his face. Blood runs down his cheek, falling onto my chin.
“You’re gonna pay for that. Oh, are you gonna pay.”
Cold hands wrap around my throat, and it’s a feeling I’m not foreign to. It was only yesterday Byron choked me from the driver's side of my car.
With his hands still around my neck, he lifts me up, and I press my hands against the floor to gain momentum as I’m pulled to a standing position.
I gasp, and fight, and try to get out of his clutches, but once again, I’m too weak.