CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
DECLAN
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I know it doesn’t matter if vows are spoken. They can be annulled, sure. But I want those words to be said to me. Not some monster.
He’s fucking abducted her.
If they’re not married already, they soon will be. There’s nothing you can do.
The fuck there is! I’m a Navy fucking SEAL, trained and deadly, and I’m going to get my girl.
I know Stella didn’t go voluntarily, despite agreeing to help her father. She wanted every single last minute of her freedom.
Do I know her?
I know she’s scared and trying to save her father. He doesn’t deserve her, and neither does her mother, assuming she knows about this. How could she not?
I’m going to make sure Victor spends the rest of his life in prison.
What sort of man sells his daughter to pay his debt? A sick, weak asshole, that’s who.
I might not be the man Stella wants at the end of this, but at least I’m going to give her the freedom to choose. A freedom that is her God-given birthright.
My heart belongs to her and always will, even if she tells me to take a hike. First, we get her out of there.
We’re parked a few yards down the road, waiting for Ryder and the team to arrive. Josh has been pacing outside the vehicle on the phone to Detective Waters, keeping him informed of the situation.
“You doing okay up there?” Grayson asks, and I hear the metal of his gun as he shifts in the backseat.
“Yeah.” I rub the top of my head and let out a sigh. “Great first day for you, huh?”
“Not complaining. I’m not really a desk guy. Hate sitting around.”
I let out a small laugh. “Yeah, I get it. I thought this gig was going to bore me to hell. So far it hasn’t.”
I thank him for stopping me from doing anything stupid earlier. He seems like a good guy. I’m pleased to have him on the team for operations like this.
Mostly, I thought I wouldn’t rub shoulders with the other guys and girls. But here we are, armed and on a stake-out.
“They’ve got a heavy security presence.” Grayson leans between the seats, staring at the same gates of the Marino Estate.
Stella is inside.
Alone.
“I guess I would, too, if I’d kidnapped an innocent woman and was a criminal.”
“Yeah, a good investment, I guess.” Grayson snorts. “Too bad for them, it won’t stop us.”
“Nope.” My heart rate is high as every unimaginable thing Stella might be experiencing runs like a movie in my mind.
Men like him treat women as if they’re a toy. Disposable. There to serve him. We already know he’s involved with human trafficking, so for all I know, he might plan to sell Stella on.
Fuck.
We need to get inside now. These things happen quickly. Human stock is never held in one place for long.
Josh climbs back into the vehicle. “Detective Waters is on board and getting a warrant to search Marino’s property.”
My head snaps around. “How?”
“I was recording the conversation we had at Voss’s.”
Well, fuck.
“For real?” I grin.
“Yup.” He nods and looks ahead. “Might have to edit some of your chatter out.”
I snort.
“So, can we move in now?”
“Wait for Ryder and the team so we have backup. You two work out how you’re going to get in. I need to not...I need to be out of the loop. Not hear a thing. Capiche?”
He’s not Italian.
He reaches to turn up the stereo. “Can’t hear anything.”
“Neither can we,” I turn it down a bit, and Josh chuckles.
“Let’s go...take a lunch break.” Grayson taps my shoulder, and we both hop out.
“Shit. So, just the two of us?”
I glance at my watch. “Ryder will be here in about two minutes.”
The trunk opens, and we both glance at Josh, who is singing loudly inside the vehicle. He winds down the windows. “Help yourself to some...sandwiches.”
“Thanks, Hawke. I’ll take a BLT. Blow Like Thunder.”
“Yeah, you need to work on that.” Grayson nods, his dark glasses giving him that tough guy look. “Not your best work.”
“Best I could come up with on the spot.” I laugh, and we walk to the back of the SUV and study the equipment and weapons stacked inside the custom-made case.
“This will do nicely.” Grayson grabs a couple of knives and starts sliding them into places on his body, while I take another handgun and a black balaclava.
In another minute we’re packed and ready to go.
A vehicle pulls up. Ryder and Miles climb out.
“Boys.”
“Hey.”
Ryder heads to the driver’s side to speak to Josh. His eyes dart over to me as I wait. Then he nods and rips off his baseball cap and joins us at the end of the SUV and grabs some weapons.
No questions.
He knows how this goes.
Miles circles the SUV and tugs open the passenger door.
“Who’s taking lead?” Ryder asks.
“Me.” I glance at the house. “We go over the fence at the far end of the section and in through the staff entrance.”
Grayson and Ryder nod their agreement.
Josh climbs out of the vehicle and leans his ass against it, back to us. “Enjoy your lunch.”
“What lunch?” Miles glances back and forth between us.
I’ll let Josh explain that.
“Roll out.” I shoot Ryder and Grayson one last look to confirm they’re ready.
Pulling our balaclavas down, rifles clunking, we jog toward the tree line and begin infiltrating the Marino estate.
I’m coming, sweetheart.
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STELLA
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RUN FOR YOUR life.
No, fuck, do not run, or he will shoot you.
My heart is racing as I’m forced to walk toward Tony, who stands next to the priest. The man holds a Bible in his hand and looks only marginally happier to be here than I do.
He’s under duress, as well. The four guards standing around the sides of the room don’t give either of us a choice to leave.
Nor does Tony, who has a gun tucked into the front of his dress pants. It looks out of place with his white shirt and shiny shoes. Then again, perhaps that’s how he looks every day.
Guess I’m about to find out.
My father let him abduct me from his home, and replaying that moment breaks something inside me on a core level. The man who gave me life and should have protected me has betrayed me. He’s failed me.
Worse, he threw me to the lion that was hunting him.
Did my mother know he planned it? Or was she out and had no idea?
Your father is beside himself, and we both know it’s best to do what Tony wants.
That’s what she said on the phone. She must have known. It doesn’t matter. I know the truth. They are both dead to me now, and I plan to never speak to either of them again.
I enjoyed my first taste while dressing you.
The lace of the crotchless panties rubs horribly against my private flesh, reminding me Tony took something from me he had no right to.
He plans to do much more.
You will remain in this room until I’m sure you understand your role in our marriage, dressed as I want, ready for me to fuck you when I please.
I never agreed to this.
I agreed to marry him to save my father’s life, and then I believed we, as a family, had a plan to get me out of this marriage as quickly as possible.
God, I’m so stupid.
This is illegal. He can’t keep me here. Clearly he’s insane and far more dangerous than any of us thought.
Your father knew.
On wobbly legs, I take step after step as my life flashes before my eyes. Lunches with Charlotte, watching her first runway show, publishing my first novel, graduating from college. Holidays in the Hamptons, Christmas with my family. My first kiss.
Making love to Declan.
The way looked at me as if the sun rose and set with me. The feeling of his strength as I pressed my face into his chest.
I reach Tony, trembling, tears running down my cheeks, and my mind almost checks out.
I can’t.
I can’t.
He’ll kill me.
Even if he keeps me alive, he’ll kill my soul. What do I have to live for, anyway? I should just run and let him shoot me.
“Don’t even think about it bride.” He grabs me around the neck.
I gasp, letting out a cry. “Please.”
He turns to the priest and grunts. “Start.”
“Mr. Marino, I need to ask by law if Miss Voss is here of her own free will.”
Tony turns to me, evil pouring from his dark eyes. “Go right ahead. Stella knows what’s at stake if she doesn’t answer the way I need her to. Isn’t that right, my bride?”
My father’s life.
It feels like my entire life hits pause, and I see the morose suffering I’ll live through if I remain here with this man.
Yet, if I leave—assuming I can if I say no—he will murder my father.
Even after what he did, I don’t know if I can look myself in the mirror knowing I’m to blame for his death. Tony wouldn’t do it quickly; I can see it in the way he’s daring me right now. There’s a smirk on his lips, the devil gleaming from his globes.
“Stella Voss, are you here of your own free will?” The priest presses, sweat pouring off his forehead.
Oh God. What do I do? Please help me.
Please!
I know the answer. I don’t have a choice. He’d pull out the gun and shoot the priest and get a new one. He’ll terrorize me until I say yes.
The grip around my neck tightens, a smirk on his lips as if he sees that I’ve worked it out. “Answer him, wife.”
I’m not your wife.
I can’t do this.
I won’t spend my life locked in that room, restrained so he can sexually abuse me as he sees fit. There is one option I’ve never considered. That none of them considered. It’s the only way out.
Me.
My death.
“Fuck. You,” I grate out and close my eyes, awaiting the pain, the sound of the gun going off and saying goodbye to my life.
Pop, pop, pop.
“Stella, get down!” a voice screams, and my eyes fly open.
I know that voice. The one I dream about.
Declan?
Tony releases me and flies into action. I fall to the ground and start scrambling behind the edge of a sofa. Tucking my arms over my head, I try to peek as bullets go flying. One slams into the arm of the sofa, making me scream.
Then someone yanks me to him.
“Stop or I put a bullet in her head,” Tony screams as metal presses hard against my temple.
Declan rips off his balaclava and stands before me, legs spread, his gun pointed ahead, warrior mode activated.
He looks terrifying and beautiful.
He came for me. Despite everything, he’s here.
A wobbly smile crosses my lips because it doesn’t matter what happens next. He’s here.
“Let her go,” Declan growls.
A quick glance around reveals all the guards on the ground. Two other men in black balaclavas are dressed like Declan and stand a few feet from him, their guns also raised.
“I will kill her, and we both know you love her.” Tony drawls.
He does?
I should be focused on staying alive, but my brain is locked on those words. My mouth parts, and I gaze across the space to Declan, waiting for him to respond.
Watching his response.
Does he love me?
The gun presses harder against my skin, and the moment is broken, but for a split second, his eyes find mine, and I see the truth. I don’t know if it’s love, but it looks a lot like how I feel about him.
Oh man, I can’t die.
“You have about three seconds to step back and let her go, or I put a bullet in your forehead,” Declan warns; his voice is strong and clear. “Three.”
Tony chuckles.
“Two.”
“Man’s not joking Marino. Drop your weapon. The cops will be here soon.”
I recognize Ryder’s voice.
Declan’s focus does not falter. His gun moves as we do, all his attention is on saving my life.
“One.”
God, please don’t take this man from me, or me from him. Please let me have him.
Holding my breath as that last count disappears, and the world starts moving, I watch my bodyguard do what he promised. To protect me.
Smiling, I whisper, “I love you.”
Then I scream.