Chapter 25 Zoe
ZOE
“I’m going crazy,” Gracie moans.
I totally understand what she means. We have been locked up in a gilded cage for the past three weeks. They are no closer to finding Nikolai and his crew. Gracie and I are not allowed to leave the house, even though the boys are able to attend meetings and events.
“I know, but just think of this as a forced holiday.” I try to make it sound better than it is because, in all honesty, I’m two seconds from throttling my sister.
I love her, but being in confined quarters with her for so long is driving me insane.
The only link to the outside world is our FaceTime sessions with our parents and sisters.
“Zoe, come on, can we not go shopping or something?” Gracie whines.
I pace the living room. I’m going stir-crazy too.
“Look, we have an army of bodyguards outside, get one of them to drive us into town, and he can even come in with us, anywhere. I don’t care if he has to handcuff us to each other and to him, I just need to get out of the house.”
“Fine, I’ll ask,” I say, picking up my phone and giving Mateo and Tomas a call. The boys are in meetings today, so hopefully one of them will pick up. I’d feel bad just leaving without them knowing where we’re going. I’m sure they’ll freak out, but at least they’ll know where we are.
“Carino,” Tomas answers the phone.
“Hey, I have to ask you something and please don’t freak out.”
The line is quiet.
“Gracie and I want to go into town and look around. We’ve been stuck in the house for weeks and we’re going crazy.” I sound just as whiny as my sister.
“I don’t like this, Zoe,” Tomas says sternly into the phone.
“Please,” I beg.
“Mateo is not going to like this, you know that. But …”
I fist-pump the air and do a little happy dance, showing Gracie that we are being granted permission.
“Enrique says that Nikolai has been spotted back in Russia, but the threat is still there. You take the guards, you hear me? Never let them out of your sight.”
“Yes, I promise.”
“I’m sorry you’ve been locked up in that house for so long. I’ll call the security guys and run through it with them.”
“Are you going to break it to Mateo? Because I know he is going to be upset.”
“Yes, I know how to handle him,” he grumbles. “In my desk there’s a credit card. I want you two to go crazy, okay? To make up for all the days stuck in confinement.”
“Tomas, no, it’s too much.”
“Hush, Zoe, please do this for me,” Gracie adds.
“Okay, I’ll make sure I buy something we can all enjoy together.” I lower my voice to a whisper.
“Good girl, but still buy some fun things for you. I had better go. Love you, Zoe.”
“Love you too.” And with that he hangs up.
I run into the office, find his black credit card, and return to Gracie, waving it in the air.
“Shopping spree!” she screams, and we jump up and down, all giddy.
After getting a full security briefing from our security team we head into the small village near the house. Gracie and I are filled with excited anticipation. I didn’t realize how much I needed to get out of the house until we are sitting in the car.
“Ibiza is beautiful,” Gracie marvels as she watches the white-washed walls of the village pass by.
It really is. I don’t remember why I came here, that part of my story is missing, but seeing the island outside those four walls is nice.
It’s a quick trip into the little village. It’s quaint and beautiful, with the hustle and bustle of tourists walking around and locals enjoying lunch. It’s a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky.
“We’ll stay close; you won’t notice us here,” our bodyguard advises.
Gracie grabs my hand and pulls me into a brightly colored dress shop.
Hours later, Gracie and I have been to the hairdresser and beautician, and our arms are laden with bags. Our tummies are full of wine and tapas, and we are utterly relaxed. Today has been the best day in a long time. It was exactly what we needed.
As the car rolls to a stop at the front of the house, I see Mateo and Tomas rush out, and before I know it, I am in their arms.
“Thank god you are safe,” Mateo says.
“You made it home,” Tomas adds.
“I’ve missed you guys too, but I’m okay,” I mumble as my face is pressed hard against them.
They eventually let go of me.
“Guys, I’m okay. We kept an eye on security as we went and made sure we didn’t put ourselves in any dangerous situations.
It was great, we had a brilliant day. Thank you.
” I smile at them. I can see the tension leaving their bodies.
It breaks my heart that they are so scared for me. I hate them worrying.
Security brings in our bags and places them at the front door.
“Looks like you ladies did a bit of shopping?” Tomas says.
“Yes, among other things.” I flip my hair.
“Oh shit, your hair.” Mateo catches on first and runs his fingers over the silky strands. “It looks good.”
“I like it,” Tomas says.
“Okay, well, I’m going to go to my room,” Gracie announces, leaving me with my two boys.
Mateo nuzzles my neck. “Are you going to show us what you bought?”
“Yes, I am. But this isn’t all for me.” I pick up the bags. “I wanted to grab some things for you two as well. It’s what doting girlfriends do, isn’t it?”
I swing the bags in my hand as I walk down the corridor to our bedroom.
After the success of our first shopping trip, the boys let us go out once a day for a couple of hours if we feel like it.
Most days we didn’t, but it was just nice knowing we had some freedom.
The boys had been called back to Barcelona for a couple of days, Mateo had an interview and some contract negotiations to attend to and Tomas needed to check in with his office.
Before they left, they agreed to us exploring Ibiza Town. They were still not happy about us going out exploring without them, but they understood they couldn’t keep us stuffed away in the house all day long.
Enrique has been keeping us informed of Nikolai’s whereabouts, and it seems he is still in Russia, which has calmed the boys down a little.
I kissed my men goodbye and promised we would behave and stick close to security just like we always do.
Gracie laughs as we walk arm in arm. “I’m giddy on the freedom.”
We spent the day just like any young tourists, checking out the sights of Ibiza Town.
We wandered the old town, which overlooks the beautiful ocean.
The cobblestone roads, the white-washed walls; everything is steeped in history.
We explored the marina with its million-dollar yachts and designer fashion and sipped champagne with the holidaying billionaires.
We people watched, killing ourselves laughing as we tried to work out backstories, a game we used to always play as kids.
“I’m sorry about this whole situation,” I say to my sister.
She takes my hand across the table. “Hey, there is nothing to be sorry about.”
“But you can’t afford to take time off from your job, you’ll miss out on opportunities.”
“I would miss out on them if I were dead as well.”
I blanch at her candidness.
She gives me a smile, letting me know it’s okay. “If I’m honest, I kind of like having this time away from work. I haven’t had a break from studying for years. It’s making me reassess my life a little.”
I laugh. “Well, I’m glad I could help, I think.”
“Come on, let’s go home and watch more of Mateo. I need to know if his brother’s lover is really their sister.”
This cracks us up as we find our security detail and head back to the car.
“Thanks for sharing your bed with me,” Gracie says as she jumps into the king-size bed. With the boys in Barcelona, Gracie and I are having a slumber party.
“It’s just like when we were kids.”
She smiles, remembering the times we would jump into each other’s bed if we feared something. As the two youngest, we shared a room while Sophie and Mackenzie shared another.
We curl up beside each other and watch the shadows dance across the ceiling. Eventually, we both drift off, exhausted from a big day of walking, wine, and non-stop talking.
Screams wake me.
My eyes frantically search the room as they try to adjust to the darkness.
“Zoe!” Gracie screams again, but before I can react strong arms grab me, and I’m ripped from the safety of my bed.
I try to thrash about, but they have a tight hold on me.
I kick my legs out, and the person stumbles.
I do it again, catching them in the shin hard enough for them to lose balance and stumble, which lets me escape.
“Gracie!” I scream as I frantically run down the corridor, then I freeze.