Chapter 3
I was inches from the front door when a hand grabbed my bicep. I rolled my arm and tried to jerk away, but when the hand moved from my arm, it grabbed my wrist. I stopped and tried to appear defeated. Sagging my shoulders, I lowered my head and faked panting.
I glared over my shoulder at Anthony's unique eyes. "Let me go."
"I can't, Riley. It's time you knew what happened five years ago."
I glared at him and begged the universe at large to grant me the ability to melt his brain with my mind.
That is actually going to work someday,and then I'll feel guilty for melting someone's brain.
“Fine. What do I need to know?” The smartest thing I could do was play along and hope they'd lower their guard.
Elias chose that moment to come down the stairs on my right, chest still bare. "Come into the living room. I'll tell you the truth. I'll tell you everything." With Anthony holding on to my left hand, I was in the perfect position. I punched Elias as hard as I could with the limited range Anthony gave me. I hit him, closed fist, right on that magnificent penis that had rested on my butt a few hours before.
That rotten, conniving man didn't even flinch. He just grabbed my right hand, and the three of us walked, hand in hand, into the living room. How was he not writhing on the floor? They pushed my shoulders down until I sat firmly on the couch, before backing up, both standing sentry in front of me. I slipped my bag of clothes down beside the couch.
Anthony looked at Elias and shrugged. "Any idea where to start?"
"How about the beginning?" I answered for Elias. My bravado was failing, and I was beginning to feel scared again. These men were most likely the reason my children were gone. I was convinced they’d killed my family, and I sat in front of them, vulnerable and unable to seek justice for my boys. They reduced me to a quivering mess.
Elias cleared his throat. He seemed scared. "Riley, we have a long, unbelievable story to tell you. All I ask is that you hear us out. First and foremost, your children are safe. They're happy and well cared for. At this point, they're probably more than a little spoiled."
The possibility of my children being safe made my heart soar. I clung to the idea and wished fervently for it to be true. Tears pooled in my eyes.What about Michael?
Anthony stepped forward. "You said to start at the beginning, and I'm going to, but the beginning is much earlier than you might imagine. I promise the long back story is necessary for you to understand everything that's happened." I pursed my lips and crossed my legs. As I slouched against the couch, I folded my arms over my chest and raised a single eyebrow. I spat as much aggravated body language at them as I could.
"Early in the thirteenth century, in the land now known as Peru, an ancient god named Inti lived among his brethren. Legend says that Inti became bored with his kinsmen and decided to create his own race of people. The stories vary on how he was able to do this. Some say he created the Inca with the magic of the gods, and some say the Inca were the children of Inti and his wife. We don't know for sure how the human Inca people came to be."
I interrupted. "I meant to start at the beginning ofwhy you took my family! Why are you rattling on about ancient civilizations?" I eyeballed the door and tried to judge if I could get out before they’d catch me, but I couldn't see how I’d make it. They'd surely capture me.
"Ri-Ri," Elias said, trying to placate me.
"Donotcall me that! You no longer have the right to use a pet name with me. Get on with it. Tell me whatever you need to tell me so I can leave."Yeah, right.I'm not getting out of here alive.
Anthony continued, "There’s so much information that you don't know. You'll be overwhelmed, and most likely, you won’t believe us. But I promise you, whether you believe me or not, I'll tell you the truth.” He backed up a few steps. “I'm going to sit down so we can talk without me standing over you like a kidnapper, but I warn you, even if you get out the door, even if you get outside, I'll find you and drag you to safety. I'll do everything in my power to keep you from harm, but at this point, you’re in too much danger to leave."
My eyes were so narrowed my eyelashes almost blocked my view of Elias. "Get me a cup of coffee. This is completely insane, and I'm going to need it." My energy waned. If they were going to put me through this, they could at least caffeinate me.
Elias jumped up, willing to do anything that might soften my heart toward him a bit—even though it wouldn’t help.Jerk.
"Continue," I snarled at Anthony.
He sat on the sofa beside me, so I scooted to the far edge. I couldn't shake the perception that all wasn't as it seemed with him. He was too...much.
“Right. The Inca were created by Inti. Inti was the god of the sun. Inti’s brother was named Supay, and Supay was the god of the underworld,Ukhu Pacha. The Incas believed, and their descendants still believe, that Supay’s underworld was literally under the world, the land of the dead lay under the Earth’s surface. The story goes that Supay grew jealous of his brother’s creation and decided to make his own. Supay’s creations were fed at the spark of life from the legendary underground springs. You see, the water ofUkhu Pachawas life sustaining. It didn't make one immortal, but it granted an incredibly long life. Additionally, Supay used magic from his underworld kingdom to create his people. He intended them to be faster, stronger, impervious to disease, as well as long-lived.”
Enoughwas enough.“You’ve essentially kidnapped me, trapping me in this house. You tell me my children are safe, mention nothing about my husband, then proceed to tell me a fairytale?” I stood and gripped my head as a bolt of pain shot behind my eyes. “And I keep getting these crazy headaches! I'm leaving. If you want to stop me, you'll have to kill me.” I brushed past Elias as he entered the room with a fresh cup of coffee.
Leaving Anthony sitting on the couch, I marched defiantly to the front door and jerked it open to find Anthony standing outside. “How'd you do that?” I was in a horror movie. Reality was subjective. “You didn't have time to go from the front living room, through the kitchen, out the back door, and around the house.” I backed away from the front door until my ankles hit the steps, where I plopped gracelessly. Tears threatened to fall again. He was impossible. How could he move like that?
“That, too, I'll explain, beautiful Riley. Please, come back into the living room. I’ll even explain your headaches.” He crowded me, trying to help me up. I pushed his proffered hand away and glared at Elias's outstretched hand.
“We did this for your own good. Once you know the entire story, I believe you'll stay with us willingly.” Elias's voice was thick with regret.
I heard his sorrow, but I was so angry I couldn't meet his eyes. I whirled around and stalked to the living room, again defeated. That was the second time Anthony moved impossibly fast around me.Maybe I have a brain tumor.That would’ve explained the headaches and Anthony’s superhero speed.
No longer trying to come off like a crazy woman, I sank down on the couch, defeated. “Go on.”
