Chapter 14
“This day has been perfect!” Astra sighed as she sat down in the restaurant chair. “I can’t believe that we got all of the supplies so easily!”
Bailey opened her menu, chuckling. “You have a super-assistant. Macie is the one who found that survivalist store. It had everything we needed, plus some stuff we hadn’t even thought of that would be good additions to your stash.”
“Very true. I didn’t even know some of those things existed!” Astra commented, perusing the lunch options. “I’m starving!”
“I didn’t know that survivalists had so many fun toys! The dehydrated meals that you bought sound delicious!” Macie added.
Astra grinned. She’d bought several meals that only needed hot water, as well as a box of protein bars and other treats, a small camp stove and the fuel needed to heat up food or water. She’d also found a container that could safely store water for several months. She’d purchased wool blankets and foil blankets, wool socks, and personal hygiene items. She had several flashlights that could be energized through shaking, plus candles and waterproof matches, an alarm that would most likely pierce through walls of stone, and a strobe light.
“We just need a container for everything,” Macie added. “And a way to camouflage the container.”
They put in their order for lunch, then discussed various ways to hide a large container. As they ate their lunch, the three ladies moved on to talk about plans for the festivals and craft fairs that Astra had thought up.
Everything was finally coming together!
Maria dumped her purchases into the trunk of her car, then slid her sunglasses over her eyes. That’s when she saw her. The bitch was sitting at an outdoor table at one of Maria’s favorite restaurants. She didn’t know who the other women were. They were inconsequential. The other women weren’t obstacles to her life’s goal, so she didn’t bother to examine them.
No, Maria’s focus was on the bitch sitting in the sunshine, laughing. Actually laughing! Wasn’t the woman here in Spain to work? Why the hell was she wasting time at a table, laughing?
With a huff, Maria slipped into her sports car and sped off, ignoring the honks of disgruntled drivers when she cut them off. An hour later, she parked at the prison. It wasn’t visiting hours, but she was sure that she could get through for a short conversation.
Sure enough, after pleading her case to the guards, she was led into the visitors’ room. And a moment later, Ricardo del Campo strolled in. Even in the orange prison uniform, the Marquesso del Campo was a distinguished figure. Sure, he’d lost weight over the past several months. And there was a strange, dark shadow on one side of his face. But otherwise, the man still looked like he should be on a throne instead of in a non-descript prison visiting room.
“You are a sight for weary eyes, Maria,” Ricardo declared as soon as he sat down across the table. “Please…tell me of your progress. Is my son following my orders?”
Maria shifted slightly in the plastic chair. “Not exactly, my lord.”
Ricardo’s eyes narrowed and there was a dangerous tilt to his mouth. “Explain.”
The command was given in that soft, gentle tone that no one would mistake. The threat was real and terrifying.
“First of all, Eldora slipped something into the woman’s tea, but she didn’t drink it.” She shifted again, crossing and uncrossing her legs. “We didn’t know it at the time, but the woman is pregnant.”
She waited, bracing herself for his reaction. It wasn’t long in coming.
“Pregnant?” he repeated, his long, elegant fingers sliding against his chin as if he were contemplating that word. “My son impregnated a commoner?” He reached out, taking her hands. This prisoner was allowed to ignore the no-touching rule during outsider’s visits because of his title, or perhaps it was because of the bribes he’d given the guards.
His touch was gentle initially.
“Well, yes.”
“And you did nothing to stop this from happening?” Ricardo asked, his voice still soft but his fingers closed around her hands, clenching them tightly.
Maria gasped at the pain, her whole body stiffening. “My lord, this happened several months ago! I’d never seen her at the castle or I would have stopped him from…” she closed her eyes against the pain, tugging at her hands. But Ricardo’s grip was too tight. He was crushing her bones and she felt something snap. “I didn’t know!” she cried out, opening her eyes and pleading with the man to let go.
Suddenly, her hands were released and she tucked them under the table, ignoring the throbbing pain. Or trying to, at least.
Ricardo looked as if he’d just taken tea with the queen. “The woman is not dead,” he repeated conversationally. “You’ve failed me, Maria.” He started to stand up, saying, “You are no longer worthy of my time.”
“Wait!” she gasped, reaching out, but then quickly shoved both of her hands under the metal table again. “I need more help!” she told him, pleading with the man. “Eldora says that she won’t kill a pregnant woman.”
Ricardo sat back down, frowning. “Eldora will do my bidding!” he hissed. “Have Jeb and Manuel visit me immediately. I will explain my plan again!”
Maria nodded quickly. “I will,” she told him. “I’ll have them visit you immediately.”
“This afternoon!” Ricardo snapped. “Once I am free of this place, I will be taking up my rightful position within the Spanish government. Remember that!” he hissed, leaning forward. “Those that please me will be rewarded. Those that don’t…” He left the threat hanging, which was even scarier than having a specific punishment prepared.
He stood up and, with shocking dignity, walked to the door for the prisoners.
Maria remained seated, watching him leave and wondering if he was sane. Probably not, which only increased her terror that he would truly be released somehow. He was a psychopath and those kinds of people always got their way!
Did Ricardo have the resources to follow through on his threats? Maria didn’t know. Previously, she’d just wanted to marry Antonio and become a Marquesa. She wanted that title! She could taste that title! But now, feeling the ache increase in her hands, she was starting to wonder if she’d be better off finding someone else to marry. Someone who doesn’t have the cruelty that Ricardo kept well hidden behind a suave demeanor. If she married Antonio and Ricardo became her father-in-law, that meant she’d have to live in the castle with that man!
No, it would be better if she found another man to marry. Someone more powerful than Ricardo. Standing, she turned and nearly cried out as the ache in her hand sharpened. It had been just a throb when she’d cradled her hand against her stomach, but gravity increased the pressure on what she now suspected was a broken bone.
Hugging her hand to her stomach, she made her way out of the prison. It was difficult to drive with a broken hand, but she made it back to the village. Now it was just a question of what she was going to do about the psychopath she’d aligned herself with.