“Oh yes I did.” I laugh. “And I’d do it again, even if it meant getting my mouth washed out with the nasty dollar-store soap.”
Cal’s expression gets serious, though I find it hard to take him seriously at all. “Always go for the blue bar if it’s available. The green one tastes like perfume-infused ass.”
We both burst out laughing.
“Really, though, Cal. I’m so tired of trying to fit in with these kids. Me and you. It’s me and you. Ride or die.”
Cal holds out his pinky. “Promise?”
I wrap my pinky around his and give it a shake. “Forever and ever, until kingdom come.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Get him!” I shout through gusts of wind as pelts of ice lash at my face. I’m running as fast as I can, unable to see a damn thing. But I won't stop. I will not stop until I have her.
I watch in slow motion as Anders takes Byron down to the ground, Bella’s body falls weightlessly from his arms, and she topples face-first into the snow.
The two of them begin a wrestling match, rolling, punching, kicking, but I offer no help to my guard as I go straight for Bella.
My eyes skim over her body. Bruised, cold, and bloody.
“Jesus Christ, Bella. What did he do to you?”
Her eyes flutter open, lips smacking, and as much as I want to warm them with my mouth, I have to make sure she’s okay first.
“Am I dreaming?” she asks through parted, cracked lips.
I breathe a sigh of relief at the sound of her beautiful voice. “No, baby. You’re not dreaming.”
Scooping her into my arms, I head for the castle. Looking over my shoulder, I shout to my men. “Rough him up. But keep him alive.”
I don’t even look back. I may have lost some men when the world assumed I was dead, but the ones still standing by my side are an army of soldiers. They have what it takes to restrain Byron and they’ll be on guard until I’m one hundred percent certain Bella is safe. Not that I plan to take my eyes off her.
Her lashes bat snowflakes off them as I carry her in my arms like a small child. “Cal. Is it really you?”
“It’s really me. You’re safe now.”
A sigh of relief escapes her, followed by a gasp. “Oh my God, Cal. Your face. What happened to you?”
She’s taken notice of my swollen eye and bruised cheek. That son of a bitch holding me captive thinks he’s got away with what he did because I paid him a measly seventy-five grand. He also expects the rest by this evening. Joke’s on him. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me.”
Bella locks her arms around my neck, peppering my face with kisses through cries of happiness, while sharing my breath to fill her lungs.
“You’re alive and you’re here.”
I look down on her, smiling, though my insides are screaming for what she’s endured. “I’m here and I’m never letting you go.”
“Mark,” she whispers through parted lips. “Byron has Mark.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll find him.”
This day has been like a repetitive kick in the gut. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop blaming myself for what has happened to Bella. She’s in a wedding gown. Why the fuck is she in a wedding gown? I can’t even think about what would have happened to her had I not made a deal with the prison guard.
Once we’re inside, I go straight up the elevator to the sitting room. Every few steps, I peer down at Bella and see her soft, green eyes staring back at me, trying to figure out if this is real or not.
We reach the sitting room and I take her straight over to the fireplace. It’s like a moment of déjà vu, only this time, I’m not the monster she took me for that night. At least, not to her. Everyone else in this world? Well, they are about to see just how much of a villain I really am.
I lower her down to the ground and reach over, grabbing a throw blanket off the chair. My legs straddle her from behind. I quickly wrap the blanket around her cold body and squeeze her tightly in my arms.
My chin rests on her shoulder, and I inhale the scent of her damp hair. “Tell me everything.”
“I…I don’t even know where to start.” She turns to the side, legs draped over mine. I press a chaste kiss to her cheek, still reeling from this unexpected reunion with her. “I’ve missed you so much, Cal.” Tears slide down her cheeks and I use my thumb to sweep them away.
“I’ve missed you, too. But we’re together now and nothing is going to tear us apart.”
She begins sobbing, head resting on my chest, and I stroke her hair in an attempt to calm her. “Is Byron really gone?”
“He’s gone, baby. I swear over everything, that guy will never touch you again. No guy will ever touch you again.”
Fuck. The thought of him putting his grubby hands on her makes me fucking crazy. Like boiling water coming to the surface, ready to implode all over anything and anyone who comes near me.
“Bella,” I tip her chin with my thumb, looking into her eyes and searching for the courage to ask what I’m about to, “did he…did he touch you?”
If she says yes, so help me God, I will go out there and dismember that son of a bitch before I’m able to get any answers. I will chop his body up into tiny pieces and use it as bait.
“No. Not like that.”
A heavy breath of relief parts her hair and I pull her head against my chest. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”
We sit quietly for what feels like hours. Warming by the fire, just breathing and holding one another when the sound of heavy footsteps grabs our attention.
I look back first and see Anders, holding up another one of my men. He’s severely injured and in dire need of medical assistance.
I tuck the blanket around Bella and scoot out from beneath her. She grabs my leg. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m just going over there. I’m not leaving.”
Once I’m on my feet, I walk steadfast to Anders. “What the hell happened?” I whisper, trying not to alarm Bella.
“He got away. Greg and Nico are dead. Ben, here, was shot in the abdomen.”
I look at Ben, who begins coughing, spewing blood from his mouth. My eyes wander down to his stomach, where Anders has his hand pressed firmly. Blood oozes from his wound, dripping onto the hardwood floor. “Lay him down,” I tell Anders.
He helps him down to the ground and I kneel over him, until the coughs and groans subside, then I sweep his eyes shut.
One glance over my shoulder and I see Bella coming toward us. I hold up my hand. “Stop. Don’t come over here.” Her movements halt, but it’s too late, she sees him.
Her hands clap over her mouth, and she points her finger at Ben. “Who did that?”
I get to my feet, hurry over to her, and lead her toward the door. “Call for another boat for me and Bella. You guys go with Leo to the main island. I’ll meet you at the docks.” I keep walking, then shoot Anders one last look. “And get rid of all the bodies.”
Anders nods and I take Bella out of the room.
“It’s okay. I promise. We’re going somewhere safe. We just have to get Peter first.”