17. Chapter 17 #3
“They’re hurting him because he won’t give them what they want.”
“I know.”
“He could make it stop.”
Rafael nodded, his jaw clenching.
“All he has to do is tell his people to give Father what he wants or obey Isabeast, but he won’t. He’d rather let them torture him than give in.”
My voice shook again. I didn’t want to upset him further, but he needed to know why I was placing my fate in Lachlan’s hands.
“And last night, I tested him as you suggested. I opened his restraints.”
Rafael’s eyes scanned my face as his hands moved to hold my shoulders.
“You freed him?”
“For a little while.”
“Isabella.”
“I had to know whether he could walk.”
“That was not what I meant.”
“I know.”
I almost laughed despite everything.
“He was completely unrestrained, Rafael. He had every physical advantage and could have used me to get out, but he didn’t.”
Rafael said nothing.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
“He was careful with me. Then when it was time…” My voice softened despite myself. “He let me cuff him to the chair again so no one would discover I’d helped him.”
Rafael’s brows drew together as he looked toward the door.
“He’s either an exceptionally disciplined man or completely insane.”
A shaky laugh slipped out.
“Probably both.”
The corner of Rafael’s mouth rose.
“And he named Marcela Isabeast.”
I smiled and nodded.
“I heard two guards call her that this morning and wondered where it came from.”
“Lachlan.”
“It suits her.”
“I told him the same thing.”
Rafael cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing beneath my eye.
“You like this man.”
Heat touched my face despite the tears.
“He’s impossible not to like.”
That earned me the smallest smile.
For a few seconds, the pressure in my chest eased.
“He’s funny,” I said. “Which seems completely inappropriate considering where he is. And he doesn’t mistake quiet for stupid. Somehow, he sees me better than people who’ve known me my entire life.”
I looked toward the door.
“And he promised to take me with him.”
Rafael’s expression sobered.
“I know a promise is not an escape until I’m on free ground.”
“Good.”
“But I can’t let Marcela destroy him while we wait for the perfect opportunity.”
“We are not waiting for perfect.”
He released me and picked up one of the bottles, studying the label before setting it farther back on the shelf.
“I’ve been working on another possibility.”
“What?”
“An agricultural shipment leaving the compound soon.”
I straightened.
“What kind?”
“Coffee and other produce. I’ve been watching who loads it, which men inspect outgoing vehicles, and where they take it.”
“Could we hide in it?”
“Possibly.”
“Then why haven’t you told me?”
“Because possibly is not enough when getting caught means both of you die.”
He held up a hand before I could argue.
“I don’t yet know whether I can trust the driver or who will be at the gate when it leaves. And getting a man of his size from the dungeon to the truck remains the hardest part.”
His radio crackled at his belt.
A man’s voice asked something about a delivery.
Rafael lifted the radio.
“Keep the southern road clear until I say otherwise. No deliveries through the west side.”
A quick acknowledgment came back.
He clipped the radio to his belt again.
I stared at it.
“You can move guards?”
“Some of them. Some of the time.”
That was more than I’d realized.
“Which is why you must stop making yourself difficult to protect.”
“I wasn’t trying to make myself difficult to protect.”
“You were carrying two bottles of liquor and a lighter toward the kitchen while announcing your intention to burn the house down.”
“Well…when you put it that way, it sounds reckless.”
“It was reckless.”
“I was so angry.”
“I noticed,” he grunted.
I almost smiled.
Rafael didn’t.
“There is another problem,” he warned.
“Isabeast.”
He nodded. “She has more men than I thought. Mateo’s been moving them into positions that matter, and Ciro is too arrogant to notice.”
“So you think something big is about to happen.”
“Soon. And when it does, we may only have minutes.”
I wiped away the last of my tears.
“What can I do?”
“Go back to your room. Change into jeans, boots—something you can run in. Keep the key and knife on you.”
“You think it could happen today?”
“I think you need to be ready if it does.” He glanced toward the corridor. “Pay attention. The moment an opportunity opens, take it. I’ll keep working on the plan, but one pull of a trigger could change everything.”
“I will.”
“And if nothing happens before tonight, sleep in those clothes.”
That got my attention.
“Rafael—”
“Night has a habit of bringing surprises around here, mi nina. I want you ready for it.”
I nodded.
“I won’t set anything on fire.”
“Good to know.”
“For now.” I smiled up at him.
His mouth twitched.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.
Rafael held me for a moment, then kissed my forehead.
“We’re getting you out,” he murmured.
I closed my eyes.
“And Lachlan.”
His hand squeezed my arm.
Rafael had always been able to steady me. Now he’d given me a plan, something useful to do with all that fear, and for the first time, freedom might finally be within reach.