Page 57 of Wounded Hearts

Rhea advanced on him, her steps slow and measured, her clothes immaculate, and looked down at the man who’d tortured Mara. Nazareli stepped out of her way but kept the gun to his head. Mara could see the sweat dripping down his forehead into the collar of his designer suit.

Mara watched in fascination as Rhea gently stroked his face. A look of complete love on her own. Love and sadness and Mara knew that Brayden wasn’t walking away from this.

“You did save me, my dearest Gary.” Mara cocked her head fascinated; the last five minutes had turned into a soap opera. “You’re still weak. You allow emotion to control you. You’re quick to anger; you love too hard.”

“I love you, Jo.”

Mara saw her flinch again at the name.

“I know you do, my sweetling, I know. But we can never be, could never have been. There was only ever him for me, just like there was only ever me for you.”

Rhea turned and nodded silently at Nazareli, who quickly secured his hands with ties and placed tape at his mouth. Mara froze as Rhea turned her attention on her then, and she knew what real terror was. “Now, my dear. You’ll sit quietly while I conduct my business with my nephew and once it’s concluded, you’re free to leave with him.”

Mara didn’t know what to say or do at this juncture. It was the last thing she’d been expecting but then she wasn’t dealing with a sane woman. “You aren’t going to kill me?”

“Not today.” Rhea giggled like a schoolgirl then.

The doorbell rang and it was the most bizarre situation. Rhea turned and nodded at Nazareli who smiled a sickening, evil smile before she headed towards the back of the room dragging Brayden with her as she left via a different door.

A radio crackled and Rhea listened to it before smiling. Moments later the door to the living room opened, and Drew stepped in. Mara let out a rush of breath as their eyes met. She catalogued his body to make sure he was okay; he did the same to her and she saw his jaw tense at the sight of her cheek, and she surmised she had a bruise.

“Are you okay?”

Mara nodded but kept silent. She wanted to warn him of all the threats but didn’t know how without costing them both their lives. The fact that Rhea had left her able to speak and unsecured made her uneasy, like it was some trick. Her nod reassured him a little and she saw his shoulders relax just a tiny amount.

“Drew. I wasn’t sure if you’d come.”

“You gave me no choice. What else could I do?”

“True, although I’m surprised you managed to get Lucy, Lizzie, and Megan here. My guards tell me they’re walking freely.”

“Are we here for a chat or are we going to get this done?” Drew snarled, his fists clenching. Mara had been wondering the same thing.

“Be civil, Drew. As you can see, Mara is safe and unrestrained. I haven’t hurt her.”

“What about her face?” His neck muscled bunched as he watched Rhea.

“That was unfortunate, but Brayden has a temper.”

“Don’t you mean Gary Beard has a temper?”

Rhea smiled and clapped her hands with glee. “You found out, how lovely. But yes, Gary has a temper, but I have a friend handling that. You may know her actually.” Rhea lifted her hand and spoke into the radio. “Darling, won’t you come in when you finish what you’re doing. I have an old friend of yours here, wanting to say hello.”

A slight look of concern crossed Drew’s features at this unexpected turn. “Who is Rose?”

Rhea sat down on the couch like it was a social call and lifted her hand to Drew to do the same.

“I’m good.” He remained standing.

Rhea inclined her head as a good hostess would, despite the fact that three armed men held guns trained on Drew and her. “Rose was a budding star among the gifted. She was a healer and could read minds. I tasked her with learning about your mother and befriending her. I knew Marcus didn’t treat your mother right and I was going to offer her a place with me here. A place for you, too, despite your lack of a gift. But then Marcus discovered Clarissa had a friend and killed my Rose.”

Mara saw Drew’s reaction in the flexing of his hand.

“Rose left behind a husband and daughter. Her husband never knew about her place within the Divine and he thought Marcus was a jealous lover. A lie we let him believe, but her daughter deserved the truth and now she’s my rising star. She’ll be by my side when the new beginning rises.”

“What do you want the Bennet sisters for?”

“Well, my dear, they have a gift that nobody else does, one that only works when they’re united. They are prophesied about and revered among our people. Only with them can the world be restored and cleansed.”