Page 67 of Niall

“I know you will worship me. Only me.”

“Never.”

He laughed, running his hand down my arms. I had to turn my head, hiding my revulsion. “When we arrive to your new home, your life will be mine. I am going to cover you in my marks. They will never be allowed to fade.” He pinched me once, hard enough I whimpered. “And you will wear them like a badge of honor.”

He walked away, leaving the door open. He flung himself onto the chair, pulling Heidi to his lap. She looked at me in triumph as she pulled his face to hers.

I shut my eyes and hung my head, concentrating on the pain and not them.

Tears slipped down my cheeks as I prayed for a miracle.

A miracle named Niall.

The next while, they acted as if I wasn’t there, except on occasion when they said things to upset me. They argued a lot. Bickered—both wanting control. I wondered briefly if I could somehow use that to my advantage.

I hurt from standing, my shoulders screaming in pain. I was scared and cold. My head ached and I was exhausted. I was terrified of my future. Longing for Niall. His arms and the safety he provided.

Heidi lounged in a chair, making plans.

“I miss the pool.” She turned to look at me. “Not that you’ll be allowed to use it.”

“As if I’d go into water you were in,” I snapped. “That would be like blood to a great white shark. Although I understand they are intelligent animals.”

Her eyes narrowed in annoyance, then she laughed. “Oh, bringing you to heel will be fun. I’m so glad I convinced Juan that we should have the fun of breaking you.” She glanced at Juan. “Maybe instead of killing him right away, you should send him pictures of his precious Anna as she progresses into the perfect slave. That would hurt the doughy Irishman more than a bomb.”

“Stop calling him that! Niall isn’t doughy—he’s a perfect specimen of a man.”

Juan stormed in, grabbing my throat. “You will never speak his name again.” He squeezed, cutting off my air. “He is nothing to you now. Do you understand?”

I gasped for air, unable to push his hands away.

Heidi laughed. “Don’t kill her tonight. All this will be for nothing. Come to me, lover, and I will calm you.”

Glaring, he walked out, slamming the door so hard it shook on the hinges.

I lowered my head, trying to catch my breath and ignore the sounds coming from the other room. A phone ringing interrupted them, and I was grateful. Juan spoke in another language then filled Heidi in.

“The plane will pick us up at seven tomorrow morning. We need to be ready.”

Seven?

My heart sank.

Would Niall find me in time? I stared at the fragments of my bracelet on the floor and prayed I’d done enough.

If not, my life was over.

NIALL

We approached the racetrack on foot, parking far away so as not to arouse suspicion. There were only the four of us. Other men were already guarding the exits, keeping watch, making sure we got in safely. The moment Roman gave the signal, his men would move in.

But until then, we went in. Silent. Stealthy.

I saw the dark sedan, bending and confirming it was the same license plate as I had memorized from the video feed. Juan hadn’t cared at that point about hiding himself or the car. He thought he had pulled it off. That we wouldn’t be able to figure out where he was and that he had won.

Soon enough, he would know what he’d lost with his careless ego doing the thinking. Just like his uncle, he was lax.

In my ear, Aldo whispered confirmation the security was off for the door we approached, and he quickly picked the lock. Inside, we shut it behind us soundlessly and listened. From the outside, the racetrack appeared as it was supposed to be—deserted. Windows covered, no one around.