Power, control and wealth. It was all he cared about.
“Shouldn’t people marry for love?” she dared to ask. “Like our parents.”
He scoffed. “This isn’t a negotiation,hermana. You’re past your prime and need a husband.”
“I’m thirty-two.”
“Exactly. It’s time a man takes you off my hands and puts some babies in your belly.”
Chauvinistic pig.She bit her lip, knowing it would be pointless to argue. Especially when she planned to run away and never return.
“Why don’t you fix your appearance—maybe put on a little more makeup? Perhaps change into a dress?” he suggested, raking a critical eye over her. “We have guests arriving for supper tonight, and I expect you to look your best.”
“Guests?” He never invited her to dinner when he had guests. Hell, he never invited her to dinner when he didn’t have guests. Normally, she ate alone. And at this point, she would have preferred things to stay that way. Because, unfortunately, she had a pretty good feeling she knew who these guests would be.
“Yes. Men I’d like you to consider for marriage.”
Act surprised.She let her mouth drop open, but before she could think of a suitable response, he pinned her with a dark look. A look that promised swift punishment if she disobeyed him.
“Don’t even think about rebelling or causing a scene tonight. If you do, I will make you regret it in the most painful way.”He straightened his suit jacket and smiled. “You will meet these men, Estrella. And you will choose one to marry.”
Be docile and accommodating, but don’t raise his suspicions. Deflect.“What if they don’t want me?”
“Why wouldn’t they? When you put some effort into yourself, you’re a beautiful woman.”
Gee, thanks.“I’ll meet them, but we shall see how it goes.”
“See that it goes perfectly,hermana. Comprendes?”
She forced herself to nod, playing the role of dutiful sister and pretending compliance. But inside she was screaming, completely furious at her brother and this turn of events and wishing she could pound her fists against his chest and demand he be the one to marry a stranger.
Instead, she merely responded, “Yes, José,”
He studied her for any signs of deceit, eventually seeming to accept her willingness to cooperate. “You will like them.”
She pasted on a fake smile. “I hope so.”
Essie despised them. Manuel and Joaquín Cardenas reminded her of the slimiest, lowest, vilest pair of excuses charading as human beings. The way they ogled her made her skin crawl. Even worse, they spoke to her like they already owned her. Like she was nothing more than a possession. Chattel.
I’d rather marry the devil himself.
A flash of the prisoner in the mine popped into her head. His long fingers tightening around her arm, pulling her closer. Sheshifted in her seat, remembering the current of electricity that had zapped through her. Not much caught her off guard, but the stranger with the vivid blue eyes had. Because the truth was, she hadn’t hated the feel of his touch. It made her strangely curious. Lit up parts of her that she’d ignored for far too long.
Taking a sip of wine, she dug deep and counted down the seconds until dinner was over and she could flee. Whenever anyone asked her a question, she forced out a pleasant answer. José seemed to approve, and that’s all that mattered to her. The last thing she wanted to do was cause any suspicion or raise any red flags by being disagreeable. Not when escape was so close she could taste it.
Suck it up, Essie. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be nowhere near here or these disgusting, power-hungry men.
The dinner dragged on far too long. Eventually, José gave her permission to leave, saying he and their guests had business to discuss.
Yeah, she bet they did. Business concerningherand which brutish brother José planned to marry her off to. Shoving her chair back, Essie bade the men goodnight and tried not to run from the room. She’d wasted enough time and had packing to do.
Tonight, she would walk away from the only life she’d ever known. For the first time, she would take her fate into her own hands. Even if that meant putting her trust in a stranger. A man who could very well be planning to strand her in the middle of dangerous territory to fend for herself.
Essie was freaking terrified.
Chapter six
At exactly midnight, Essie shrugged on her backpack and slipped out of the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her. On silent feet, she crept down the cool hallway, sticking to the shadows. Silence loomed, full of potential promise and so much uncertainty. She reached the stairwell, snuck down to the door connecting to the abandoned mine, and sent up a quick prayer before entering.
