He snaps his fingers and yells, “Why is this fucking aircraft not airborne already?”
“I’m sorry, boss, the pilot tells me there’s a problem with one of the engines. He is working on isolating it, but it will take more time.”
His face deepens to an angry purple as he screams, “Tell him to get a fucking move on! I’m not letting this one slip through the net.”
My face hurts like fuck and I am shaking inside because marriage to this man is too horrific to even contemplate.
He peers past me and yells, “Bring me the priest!”
There’s a frantic movement behind me and then a small, thin man appears, nervously adjusting his spectacles as the scary beast roars, “Marry us now.”
I stare at him in horror as the man opens a bible and begins to recite the marriage vows, causing the man to screech, “Just get to the main part where you declare us husband and wife and then give me the marriage certificate.”
I shake my head vigorously, finally remembering I have a voice and scream. “I will not marry you. I’d rather you kill me first.”
Did I really just say that?
Another slap is my reward, followed by a deep, “Do not disobey my command–ever, or suffer the penalty. You will marry me, obey me and produce a child — our child and there is nothing you can do about that.”
“I will not.”
I openly sob as the horror of my situation hits hard, and yet the priest quickly declares. “Do you, Liam Dettori, take Alice Annalise Zaferelli as your lawful wedded wife?”
“I do.” His sudden leer makes my flesh creep, and the priest compounds my misery by saying, “Do you, Alice Annalise Zaferelli, take Liam Dettori to be your husband?”
“No, definitely not. Let me go.”
Another slap is my answer, and I swear I see stars this time.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
He thrusts a piece of paper at Liam and then scurries to the door of the plane where he exits as if his life depends on it.
As soon as he is gone, the door is closed and the engines scream into life, causing the bastard glaring at me to sneer, “Well, that went well and just so you know, as soon as this bird takes off, I’m gonna consummate this marriage whether you agree or not.”
If ever I felt real fear, it’s in this moment as I stare into the eyes of a deranged man. I notice the bulge in his pants straining against the fabric and the sweat gliding off his brow as he licks his lips, all the time staring at me with the promise of hell on earth.
I am powerless, beaten so hard it hurts and terrified, immobile and unable to defend myself and from the look of him, consummating the marriage will happen in the very near future.
The engines whirr and the aircraft moves, but he continues to stand in front of me. As the plane taxis toward the runway, he finally drops into the seat opposite me and buckles his belt.
“I’m going to fuck you until you beg for mercy, little dove, and guess what? There won’t be any. You will be my wife and earn my respect because until you fall into line, your life will be a painful one. You are mine now. I own you and the only way to survive what that involves is to do what the fuck I tell you. You are mine to control, and the sooner you learn that lesson, the happier you will be. And a word of warning–”
He leans forward. “Do whatever the fuck I tell you or I will beat you every day of your fucking existence. I am your master now, and the sooner you accept that, the happier your life will be.”
Real fear is tearing at me from inside because how did my life spiral so fast into this? Stefan never helped me at all; he was merely my passport to hell, and there is nothing I can do about that. Like it or not, I have run out of options and what happens when this plane leaves the ground is not worth thinking about. He may as well kill me now because what’s the point of living anyway? I will be married to a tyrant—not if I have anything to do with it.
CHAPTER 11
SIMEON
Inever appreciated how slow a fucking car can go when racing against the clock. I admire the skill of my driver, but time is passing, and we are unsure if we will make it at all.
We can’t even check with our contacts on the inside because a misguided call could blow their cover and their lives would be over and so would our chances of rescuing Alice.
It’s strange how I consider we are rescuing her. I doubt she will see it like that when she swaps one captor for another. She believes she has a year of freedom. She believes wrong. My intention is the same as Liam’s, but I like to think of myself as less of a psychopath. I am indifferent to the woman, whereas he will no doubt enjoy breaking every part of her spirit and scattering the pieces so far they will never be complete again.
I’m amazed that Sydney has lasted so long, and I must admire her foresight and cunning. If he stopped to notice what an asset she is, they would be more powerful because of it. I have always admired her despite the fact that she’s as corrupt as her husband, but this latest act of betrayal is impressive even for her.
