I glance at Maximo.Ifhe’ll let me leave, and that’s a big if, then I’ll simply move to Italy. I enjoyed Parma. But if he’s going to be astronzoabout it, then I will find a way to vanish. Italy’s a big country. I’ll just make sure there aren’t any tracking devices planted on me or my belongings before I head out the door next time.
The more I consider this new plan, the more I like it. From Italy I can also explore more of Europe. Touring around with Gin had been fun, and I think I could do more of that on my own. I mean, I got myself across the country, from New York to California and didn’t have a complete meltdown. Progress.
This trip wasn’t a complete waste. I’ve proven to myself that I can be independent, that I can rely on myself and make my way in the world. Alone.
Well, sort of alone, if what Maximo says is true and he’s been hovering around me like an infuriatingly possessive guardian angel. Though he waited three days to come for me. Why? Why give me time and space to breathe, seemingly away from him for a while, if he planned to capture me again? He’s a very confusing man.
We land at the airport. I’m about to stand up when Maximo grabs me around the waist and pulls me into his lap.
I gasp. “What are you?—?”
“You’ve been a naughty girl, Elena, and bad girls get punished, remember?” He growls into my ear. Cold metal clasps around my wrists before I can react to his words or his actions.
I try to squirm out of his lap but he holds me in place with one massive arm looped around my waist.
I cry out, “Let me go! You can’t do this to me.” He’s so infuriating!
He takes hold of my jaw and angles my face toward him. We’re so close, our noses nearly touch. His sea foam green eyes burn with rage, and something else that I can’t quite define. Hurt, maybe?
“Remember that you’re mine to protect,” he snarls. “Which means I will protect you from everything, even from yourself.” His jaw ticks. “If you ever do anything that reckless again, you’ll get my belt across your ass.”
An inferno of heat reddens my face. Did he seriously threaten tospankme? Every cell in my body vibrates with awareness and sudden need. I ignore those sensations. They’re sowrong.
“I hate you.” My tone comes out strong and steady, even though I don’t feel either of those things right now. Not as I’m handcuffed on a plane, facing my captor’s wrath.
“Oh,cara mia, you know you don’t. Not really.” He shoves me off of his lap and stands. Gripping my arm, he escorts me off the jet and into the waiting car. There he buckles me into the space beside him. I’m extremely uncomfortable trying to sit upright with my hands behind my back. The biting metal digs into my skin. I’m going to have bruises.
All the way back to the penthouse, Maximo continues to ignore me. He scrolls through his phone, scowl firmly set upon his features. He keeps inhaling deep breaths, like he’s trying to calm his raging Italian temper. How long has he been keeping that under wraps? For the duration of the flight?
I dread thinking what he has in store for me once we’re at his home. Any freedom I thought I had will surely be taken away. Will I be able to visit my sister and cousins? Or will he keep me locked in my room until our wedding day?
Pushing aside the pain in my wrists, I sit up straighter. This is just another temporary setback. I will get out of here. One way or another. I amnotgoing to marry him. If Maximo’s determined to stand in my way, then I will have to deal with him.
I deserve a better life. I won’t let an egotistical don keep me trapped forever.
We arrive in the underground, private garage. Maximo pockets his phone and unbuckles my seatbelt, refusing to meet my gaze, before hauling me out of the car. His massive hand comes around the back of my neck, which he uses to steer me to the private elevator. I keep my eyes on the ground, jaw clenched tight as we ride up to his penthouse. His fingers brand my skin.
Without a word, he drags me through the space to my bedroom. He stands behind me and I feel the cuffs loosen as he takes them off. Instantly, I rub my sore wrists.
I’m so angry that my body vibrates, and I don’t dare look at him. His smug face will surely send me over the edge and I’ll no longer be responsible for my words or actions. I’m just so, so…livid.
Suddenly, the heat of him vanishes from my back. With a soft thud, my door closes. For some reason his quiet departure irritates me even more than his domineering presence.
Needing to vent, I dig out my laptop and click on the writing app. Someone in my book is going to die.
The site gives me a404 page not foundnotice. I check the website address, ensuring it’s correct, and try again. Same result. Frowning at my screen, I switch over to the front user end of the website which has completely disappeared. It’s nothing but a blank white page.
“No, no, no. What’s going on?” I mutter to myself. Does this mean my story is completely lost? Dread creeps through me as I try to access the site again.
Did they at least pay me before they went offline? I bring up my banking website and log in. An alert pings on my phone. I stare at it in horror.
My account has been frozen. I can’t access any of my funds. Access denied.
For a long moment, I sit there and stare at the screen. Utter futility washes over me, and I feel sick. In the span of ten minutes my entire safety net, my livelihood, has gone up in smoke. Not only has my book series and my work in progress vanished, but I also can’t touch a single dollar of my earnings.
I have nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Helplessness and despair morph into cold fury when I realize this isn’t my fault. I’ve done everything in my power to build thislife for myself. One person is responsible for trying to take that away.
