Chapter 39
Serenity
Somehow Paul is alive. And even though his gun is holstered, his hand touches it every few minutes. If only I could get to my gun safe … But could I do it? I’m not so sure I could shoot Summer’s father. What kind of fucked-up world is this?
The moment I left the barbeque, Paul grabbed me, bound my arms behind my back, and gagged me. Then he drove straight to Granite Falls.
He should win husband of the decade.
Paul paces around the living room while five other men are stationed around my house. But a woman sits on my couch. In my home. Staring at my … husband? If he was proclaimed dead, but he’s alive, are we still married?
Do I have two husbands now?
At this point, it doesn’t matter. To hell with both of them. If Victor didn’t immediately know I wouldn’t tell anyone his secret, then he doesn’t trust me at all. He may not be as evil as Paul, but when there’s no trust, there’s no relationship. I’ll finish out the contract and be done with it.
The woman crosses her legs, grabbing my attention, as if she hasn’t a care in the world. “We need to get going. I’m sure he’ll come looking for her.”
“No, we’re staying here. We gave them the address in Boston like we said, and Manny cut the wire to the cameras, so they shouldn’t know we’re here.” He cuts his eyes back to me. “Now tell me where you keep your stash of money.”
I try to talk, but it comes out garbled. There’s no hidden money. Every cent I earned went toward the property taxes and Paul’s loans. And even then, it wasn’t enough. It’s most of the reason why I accepted Victor’s deal in the beginning.
Tears form in my eyes. No matter how pissed I am, I … I still love Victor. My heart twists. This isn’t even about money anymore. I’ve never had help from anyone—never wanted any. But then Victor came in like my knight in shining armor at the exact moment I needed him.
Now I can admit he’s not the self-centered billionaire I thought he was. He’s so much more. The man who always adored Summer. The man who accepts me for who I am. The man who showed up to volunteer in Granite Falls even though he had a multi-billion-dollar company to run.
And then there’s the Victor who doesn’t believe in me to keep his secrets.
Paul pulls the gag out of my mouth, even though his girlfriend protests and barges over to his side. It’s as if he wants to rough me up so he put this ball of cloth in my mouth for no reason. “I can’t believe you bagged a billionaire.”
“Just let me go. If you have any warmth left for me—”
A sudden sting slices my cheek. I crane my neck and look at the bitch who hit me.
She giggles and shrugs. “Oops, my hand slipped.”
I ignore her. “I won’t call the police. I won’t even tell Victor. Just let me go.”
Paul kneels in front of me, and his rancid breath snakes inside my nose.
A beard now covers his face, and he looks like he aged fifteen years, not four.
“Summer is with your sister right now. I have a man watching their every move. If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’ll go and take her, and you’ll never see her again. ”
Every single comeback I have on the tip of my tongue dies.
“Are you sure he’ll go to the factory?” the woman asks as if my daughter’s life isn’t being threatened.
Paul laughs with a crazed look in his eyes. “I’m sure he’s as dumb as bricks. Probably has his underlings doing all his thinking for him.” He glances back at me “Now if you cooperate, nothing will happen to Summer.”
Nausea rises. I have to listen. If something happens to my baby girl because I chose the wrong man, I’ll never forgive myself. “Please, don’t hurt her, Paul. She’s still your daughter.”
Something slaps across my cheek so fast I don’t realize he’s even raised his hand. What is it with these people and slapping me? I bite my lip as my skin stings. I can’t show any weakness.
I don’t recognize this man standing before me. Paul never raised a hand to me before.
Even though he’s had me bound and gagged since he’s taken me, I never feared him.
But the sudden crazed look in his eyes is telling me a different story.
It’s not only my life in danger right now.
My pulse pounds in my ears as my mind concentrates on the fact that I only just found out I’m pregnant. And it’s still so early …
Hold it together. Summer and the baby need a strong mother.
“How can you be so sure he’ll come looking for her?”
“Stop worrying,” he spits at the woman. “Georgie let that billionaire’s man find my real name and picture. He knows what I look like since he’s been in my home, fucking my wife. He’ll put two and two together.”
She bristles. “That whore isn’t your wife. I am.”
If I wasn’t afraid for my baby, I would’ve told them where to stick it. Did he even think of Summer? Sure, he was distant toward the end, but he wasn’t like this. He wasn’t threatening innocent people. Or hitting people. At least, not that I knew about.
“I know, babe.” He pulls her in for an embrace. “This will pay off the rest of my debt, and we’ll set ourselves up for life.”
Paul is some sort of thug now, but he treats that woman better than he ever did me. How pathetic is that?
“Did anyone send him a message about the ransom?” Paul’s voice makes me want to scratch my ears out. “He can’t find us until he’s desperate and willing to drop the money in exchange for her.”
I close my eyes. If they want money, then it’s not really me they’re after but Victor. Everyone I love is in danger because I trusted the wrong man when I was younger. If he has eyes on Summer, then he knows where my sister is.
“Yes, I did, you don’t have to worry,” another man says from behind me. “We’ll all walk out of here richer.”
Inhaling deeply, I attempt to calm my out-of-control pulse. Everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay. I repeat that about ten more times, but every time I think about Victor coming … I swear if he gets hurt or killed because of me—
I stop my own line of thinking. Everything is going to be okay. If I think that enough, it means it’s true, right?
Fuck. This is exactly why I hate relying on others. Victor has only made me weaker, and right now, I can’t afford that.
Keeping my eyes closed for what feels like an eternity, I’m not sure how many minutes have passed. The couple continues to bicker about whether or not Paul still wants me, but if I don’t open my eyes, maybe they’ll think I’m asleep, and they’ll let something slip.
I swear to God if they touch anyone I love, they’ll regret it. I don’t care if I have my arms bound behind my back, I will make them pay for trying to destroy my family over money.
Popping my eyes open, I almost wish I hadn’t. Paul’s girlfriend is practically wrapped around him like an octopus. Maybe that’s why Paul lost interest in me. I wasn’t needy.
“We have to get going,” his girlfriend says, tugging on his arm. “We can keep Benny here with her.”
Paul shakes his head. “No, you go ahead. I have some questions for Serenity.”
The woman props her hands on her hips. “What do you have to ask her without me around? I knew you still wanted her.”
“I don’t want her.” He plows his fingers through his hair. “She might be more willing to talk to me alone than with everyone around.”
Ha. Like hell I’ll ever tell him anything.
“I swear if you cheat on me, I’ll tell Mommy,” she says before she pushes up on her toes and kisses Paul, almost sucking his face off. When she’s satisfied, she tosses me a smirk and saunters out of my home.
The door slams from behind me, and I heave out a breath.
Before I can question who “Mommy” is, Paul is walking toward me. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and aims it at me like he wants to take a picture. My heart hammers against my ribs, and bile rises the closer he gets.
“Smile for your husband,” Paul says, disdain dripping in his tone.
I keep my mouth pressed into a straight line when the flash on his camera blinds me. “Are you only doing this for money?”
“Shit, Serenity. You don’t know what the fuck I’ve gone through.” His voice is harsh—hardened into something I no longer recognize. “I owe so much money that even though you paid everything they’re asking, I still owe.”
I blink rapidly. “How?”
“Gambling. Drugs,” he pauses for a second and finishes, “Women.”
All of this should’ve come as a shock, and it would’ve, if I hadn’t seen Victor’s documents. But what does surprise me is the fact Paul admitted it. Is there still a good part of him left?
“How do you owe more than what I’ve paid?”
“That’s none of your goddamn business,” he growls. “At least now your Richie Rich has proof you’re alive so he can pay us our money.”
My breathing turns ragged as I try to inhale deep, steady breaths. I’m not so sure he’ll come for me now that he thinks I’m a sellout, trying to get a payday off his scandal. All this time, he’s chased me, and now that he finally has me, he’s done. Maybe his true colors are finally coming out.
I adjust in my seat, and my stomach rumbles.
“If your man doesn’t show with the money, I’m dead,” Paul says it so softly, at first, I think it’s all in my head. “I dug my hole too deep this time.”
Fuck. I hate his guts, especially now, but this isn’t how I want Summer’s father to die. But now that I owe so much in interest, I have nothing for him.
I have to think about Summer and the baby now. I can’t let myself fail here. Maybe I can escape. “I have money I can give you if you untie me.”
Paul scoffs. “You don’t have the amount of money I need. I’ve searched the condo.”
“I’ve been staying at Sully’s. I have money there.”
His mask falls for a second, and a vulnerable expression crosses his face. “Did you move there to keep Summer safe?”
“Yes.” A vice grip squeezes my heart. I almost felt bad for him, but something pops into my mind. “Were you the one who threatened her?”
“You don’t understand—”
I don’t let this scum bag finish his sentence. “You took pictures of her. Get the fuck out.”