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“Get in the car, where it’s safe,” he orders instead of acknowledging anything I’m saying.
“You need to go back and make Antonio stop before he does something that could get him killed or worse.”
“There’s something worse than getting killed?” he asks drolly.
“He could go to jail for life.”
He gets the strangest look on his face as he looks at me. It’s enough that it makes me shift uncomfortably. “You consider that worse than death?”
“I’ve spent a lifetime being a prisoner while surrounded by luxury. I imagine prison would be worse. In those scenarios I can assure you, death would be preferable at times.”
“Yet, you’re still alive.”
“I’m either foolish or stubborn. I’m starting to think it’s a mixture of both.”
For a second, I think I see his lips twitch, but then it’s gone. He motions toward the door. “Don’t be foolish now. Get in the car where it’s safe.”
“It’s not a car. It’s a tank,” I mutter.
He shakes his head. I know I’m talking so much because my nerves are getting the better of me. I can’t seem to stop myself. I get inside and sit gingerly on the seat. I expect him to close the door. Instead, he opens the driver’s door and reaches inside. Part of me wants to see what exactly he’s doing but I can’t drum up the energy. I bring my gaze down to stare at my hands that I’m wringing together in my lap. I’m nervous and scared. I don’t want Antonio to get in trouble because of me. I don’t understand how he’s even here. I find myself wondering if he is the one that has made the deal with my brother and if so, what does this even mean? Has he truly been searching for me? It would seem that it’s true considering he showed up today. He said I was his. I can’t deny the thrill that moved through me when he said it either. I’ve missed him from the moment I walked away from him, and that ache just got worse with every passing day—even if I did find joy in being truly free. I have so many questions swirling in my head that I’m literally dizzy.
“Here.”
I look up to find Antonio’s man he called Victorio standing there again, only this time he has two bottles of water. He’s shoving one in my direction. I cautiously take one, watching him closely. He opens his bottle, so I do the same. I swish the water around in my mouth, feeling even more awkward when he pours it on his shoes. I wince and as inconspicuously as I can, spit out the water. When I look up at him, he’s watching me. I take a sip of the water, forcing myself to swallow it down. “Thanks,” I mumble grudgingly.
He doesn’t respond but he reaches in his pocket and pulls out a pack of gum. I try to keep my hand from shaking as I reach out to take a piece. I’m not scared of him. He’s not giving me those vibes, and I’ve been around enough men to pick up on it if he were a danger to me. No, I think I’m just shaking because of everything I’ve been through. It’s not every day a girl finds out her father sold her into sex slavery. I knew he was a monster, but I thought he might have limits.
I guess I was wrong.
I put the gum in my mouth, savoring its peppermint flavor and hoping it helps my nausea. I wad the wrapper up unsure of what to do with it. Victorio answers that question when he reaches out his hand, palm up. I swallow and then put it in his hand.
“What’s going on here?”
I look up to see Antonio marching toward us. Victorio turns around and shakes his head. “Just getting her inside for safety.”
“Safety would be her ass in the car with the door closed and you out here with the gun drawn, knowing when motherfuckers approach,” Antonio spews out, clearly still angry.
“I was about to close the door,” Victorio points out.
“You were holding her damn hand. I’m not Niko. You can keep that pretty face of yours away from Lina. Got it?”
“Got it,” Victorio answers, and he unwisely seems to smile and barely contain his laughter. I think if I was in his place, I wouldn’t find that smart at all.
Antonio all but shoves him out of the way. His dark eyes lock onto mine and I shiver at the expression on his face. “Scoot your ass over, Lina.”
I start to argue, but I think it’d be smarter to do as he asks. I’ve had enough excitement for one day—for a lifetime really.I quickly move over as Antonio crowds his large body over against me. I move over more, intent on making it to the other side and putting some distance between us. Before I can achieve that, he reaches out and somehow lifts me up and slides under me. I squeak, holding my head down afraid I will hit the top of the cab as he maneuvers. I don’t realize that I have my eyes closed until I peek through one eye and find him smirking down at me.
God, I’ve forgotten how beautiful he is.
“Stay away from Victorio,” he orders me.
“Uh…you’re the one who told him to bring me to the vehicle,” I point out.
“I need to hire some ugly bodyguards,” he responds with a frown.
“Huh?” I ask because at this point, I’m completely lost.
“Are you feeling better?”
