26. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Serena
T he next few days pass with no more packages or notes from my stalker. I feel like I’ve been given a temporary reprieve, and I can’t help but think they were just trying to scare me and won't act on their threats. Surely someone is not stupid enough to attack the wife of Emilio Esposito.
As the days stretch on, my guard goes down and I itch to get back to my normal life and routine. My body is changing weekly now that I'm in my third trimester, and Emilio is becoming increasingly obsessed with it. He kisses my baby bump goodnight and even talks to the baby. He falls asleep with his cock inside of me and his hand on my belly. It's odd, but I feel empty when he's not with me. I've never felt so comfortable and at peace as I do when my husband sleeps inside of me.
This morning over breakfast, I let Emilio know I’m tired of sitting at home. "I need to get out of the house. I feel like I'm caged in and can't take it anymore."
"We don't know who is stalking you, and I don't want to put you or our baby at risk."
"They have forgotten about me."
Emilio stares at me, clearly contemplating what he's going to say next. "You need to stay close to Antonio. I'm going to make sure he's extra vigilant."
"Okay, my mom and I want to go baby shopping. I refuse to stay shut up in this house for the rest of my pregnancy."
About an hour after Emilio leaves the house for a meeting, I get into the car, inhaling the fresh breeze and absorbing the sunshine I've missed so much. Grumpy ass Antonio is driving me today, and he speaks as little to me as possible. I wish Emilio would get me another guard because my anxiety around Antonio is always high.
The glares he gives me, the short and rude remarks, most of which Emilio has no idea about, make me feel uneasy. I don't want to be a tattletale but he's a jerk, and I can tell by the way he acts when Emilio isn't around, that he despises having to guard me. I don't know what I've ever done to him, but I know I don't like the way he's looking at me in the rearview mirror.
I've been tempted to mention that he gives me the creeps to Emilio, but he seems to trust him, and I don't want to cause any problems. Sometimes, I also question if I'm overreacting when I get creeped out from the way he glares at me. Maybe he just has a resting bitch face.
His stare is so loaded with hate that the hair on my arms is standing up. "Do you have a problem with me, Antonio?"
He rolls his eyes in disgust. "Nope, not at all."
"I want to go by my brother's house and pick up Everly and Sam. We are going to go shopping for baby stuff. My mother plans to meet us there, so we're going to have a car full."
"No problem," he replies as he looks back towards the road.
Our house is about thirty minutes from my brother and parents, so I pull out my kindle to pass the time. Reading a sexy romance novel, I become distracted and lose track of time. When I realize we should be getting close to my brother's house, I look up from my kindle.
As I peer through the window, the scenery before me unravels a world far removed from the familiar cityscape. The rustling trees and winding road paint a picturesque countryside scene. I used to find peace in the quiet, but now it just makes me uneasy. This is not what I should see on the way to Gio's house. Something is wrong.
"Antonio, where are we?" I ask with a quiver in my voice.
I feel the car slow and, without answering, Antonio pulls over. Getting out, he comes around to the back seat and throws the door open.
"What the fuck are you doing? This is not where I said we were going." I know there is something seriously wrong with this situation, but I don't want to jump to conclusions and accuse Antonio of anything if I'm overreacting.
He grabs the phone resting on my lap.
"Hey, give that back." I try to grab at the phone, but he gets a grip on my arm and twists it until it snaps. The pain is excruciating. Screaming out in pain, tears fill my eyes.
Antonio types something into my phone and I can't see what he's doing.
He pulls his gun from his holster and uses the gun's butt to shatter the screen. Pulling back his arm, he throws the shattered phone into the woods.
My heart races as I realize the gravity of the situation. Panic surges through my veins like liquid fire as he yanks my choker, hard. I try to resist, but Antonio's grip on my choker tightens, cutting off my air. The metallic taste of blood fills my mouth where I've bitten my tongue. Damn Emilio and this fucking choker that he loves to see on my neck.
"Get your ass inside the trunk now and I won't have to hurt you."
Every instinct screams at me to run, to fight for my life. But a paralyzing fear grips me, making my legs and feet feel heavy. As I reluctantly shuffle towards the back of the car, my mind races, searching for any possible means of escape. But my hope seems to evaporate in the suffocating air. I have to protect my unborn baby. The look Antonio gives me makes it clear he's willing to hurt me if I don't follow his instructions.
My heart pounds against my ribcage, its rhythm a desperate plea for salvation. I reach down and wrap my good arm around my middle. Hold on, baby. Mama is going to figure out a way to get out of here.
A searing pain in my scalp makes me cry out. With a sudden, sharp tug of my hair, he pulls me towards the open trunk, and I fall awkwardly, my knees hitting the hard ground. Unceremoniously, Antonio hoists me off my knees and throws me into the trunk, and I land hard, the jarring impact stealing my breath.
"Emilio is going to kill you for this!" I spit.
"Not if he can't find me," he snaps. "Now stay quiet or else I'm going to put a bullet in your head and call it a day."
The metallic clank of the trunk lid closing echoes like a death knell. Plunged into darkness, my panic rises in the suffocating silence. Then I hear the car engine start and the vehicle lurches forward, the momentum jostling my body.
Time stretches, each second an eternity of uncertainty. I cling to the last tendrils of hope, fighting against the encroaching despair that threatens to consume me.
Emilio has to save us. I know he and my brothers will come for me. There's no doubt in my mind. I just hope they find me soon and Antonio doesn't do something that will hurt my baby.
My thoughts begin to spiral, but in the depths of this nightmare, a flicker of defiance ignites within me. I refuse to be a victim; I will not fail my unborn child.
With newfound determination, I steel myself for the battle ahead. It's time to unravel the mysteries that lie with this asshole and establish exactly why he's kidnapping me. I also need to survive.
Is he the one stalking me? If so, why? It seems unfathomable that he's somehow connected to the hit and run. Fear is running through my veins like ice, but I know, for my baby's sake, I have to get us out of here or survive until Emilio comes for us. He will come for us; I just have to have faith.
After what feels like an eternity, the car hits what sounds like a gravel path. We travel down the rough road for just a few brief minutes before coming to a stop.
As the trunk pops open, a flood of sunlight streams in, causing me to close my eyes against the sudden brightness.
When I open my eyes, I see Antonio standing in front of me with a grave look on his face. "Get out of the car and don't run. If you do, I'll shoot you in the head."
"Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing to you."
The stoic man who has been guarding me at Emilio's request for months bursts into laughter. Over the entire time that I've known him, he's never even cracked a smile, but this time his laughter is genuine, but not in a good way. It’s jarring, especially when his normal expression is emotionless.
"You have done plenty. You and Emilio both took something from me, something you had no right to take."
Antonio grabs my upper arm and drags me toward a cabin. There's a throbbing ache where his fingers dig into my skin but the pain in my broken arm is excruciating. As my eyes take in my surroundings, I realize we are in the woods with nothing but a dirt path in front of us and an abundance of trees. There's a cabin that seems to be in decent shape ahead. The little house has a quaint, rustic charm.
"This is where I come to vacation. I was on a two-week holiday from my job, staying out here in this cabin, not bothering anyone, when some spoiled bitch ran me over."
I gasp; it was him, the man I hit and left there to die.
"I had no idea; I swear."
"You left me out on the road. You drove off and left me. All you cared about was yourself. Do you realize how much it took to recover from you running me over?"
As we walk through the door of the cabin, I look around. The rooms are clean and well maintained. The musty smell suggests it's been shut up for a while.
"I need to use the bathroom." Being pregnant, there's no way I can hold it, and I'm praying Antonio has mercy on me and allows me to go to the restroom.
He eyes me suspiciously.
I reiterate, "I'm pregnant. Pregnant women have to pee, a lot." It’s not a lie.
"Don't try anything stupid or I’ll kill you and the kid."
I can't help mumbling under my breath. "Asshole."
"What was that, princess?" He jerks my arm again, harshly, causing it to throb. I’m pretty sure the other arm is broken. It’s so painful I can’t help the tears that well in my eyes.
"Nothing. Please, just let me use the bathroom."
Antonio leads me through the cabin to a small bathroom and opens the door. The bathroom window I hoped I could escape from is covered in plywood.
My stomach falls as I realize he boarded it up, planning to keep me here. When I start to pull the door closed behind me, I hear a growl.
"Keep the door open."
What the hell? "I'm not taking a piss with you standing here with the door open."
"You will or you can piss your pants. I'm not telling you again, bitch."
I really have to pee. As I dance back and forth from foot to foot, I consider my options. Realizing I have none, I try to negotiate. "At least turn around and don't look, asshole."
With a sigh of frustration, Antonio turns his back towards me. "Fine, but hurry the fuck up."
After using the bathroom, I go to the sink and wash my hands. I notice there is fancy, scented hand soap from one of the bath and body stores. That looks like something a woman would have bought and put here. What a weird man Antonio is.
"Get your ass in this chair, now."
Antonio shoves me down into a chair and picks up rope, uncoiling it in his hands. “Please, I think my arm is broken. Don’t tie it.”
Ignoring me he starts wrapping it around my wrists and ankles, tying me to the chair.
"Emilio trusted you."