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He scowled, “That’s what Chiara says.”
“Good. Then will you do what we’ve asked or not?”
He sighed heavily. Looked reluctant. “They harmed my family. They harmed you. I can’t let them get away with it.”
My gaze dropped. Why had I expected him to listen? A man like him would do what he wanted. My opinion would never matter to him.
I withdrew my hand.
He looked pained. “Beth, please.”
“Please what? I don’t want their blood on your hands. I don’t want you to have to live with that.”
“You don’t want Toby’s blood on my hands, you mean?” he said in a strained voice. “Your ex-boyfriend?”
“No, I don’t. I don’t wantanyblood on your hands. I don’t want my baby to grow up in a legacy of bloodshed and fear.”
Marco was breathing hard with his rage, but at my words, his breath eased a little.
“Our baby,” he said, a hint of wonder coming into his eyes. He sighed regretfully. “It would be weakness, Beth. I do not wish for our child to grow up in a legacy of fear either. That is why I cannot let these men live after what they have done.”
His rage, that fierce possessive look in his eyes, frightened me.
I shook my head. “Please, Marco. There must be a way.”
“There is not.” A wall seemed to come down over his face.
And I knew he would not listen. There was nothing more to say. He would not speak about this further.
“What did you tell my mom?” I asked quietly. “Is she okay? Please don’t say you told her what happened to me. She’ll get scared. Stress isn’t good for her.”
“When you went missing—” His voice cracked. He swallowed hard, looking guilty. “I didn’t know you were gone. I’m sorry, Beth. I should have looked out for you. I wanted to forget you, I was that angry. It’s my fault you were abducted.”
“It’s in the past,” I said wearily. “I don’t want to think about that anymore. Not right now.”
He nodded. Hung his head. “I didn’t go to see your mom. I thought you wouldn’t want me to. When you didn’t turn up for your regular visits to the hospital, your mom got stressed. The nurses called the contact number I’d left them, and Jacob answered. He told them you’d gone on holiday with me. That you’d visited her before you left, but she had been asleep. Your mother was happy you were taking a break.”
“Oh thank goodness!”
He looked baffled. “Really? I was furious. If I had only left them my own number, then they would have called me and I could have started searching for you.”
“Would you have?” I asked.
“Of course!” He looked offended.
I laughed sadly. “I don’t know. You were pretty mad at me.”
He looked tormented. “I should have listened to you. All night I’ve been thinking if only I had listened to you, then none of this would have happened. But I threw you out.”
I touched his hand. “It’s fine, Marco. Everything is fine now.”
“About the baby… We must get married.” From his pocket, he brought out his grandmother’s beautiful ring in its velvet box. “You left it behind.”
“No!” I said harshly.
His jaw tensed. “If you don’t like the ring, I can get you another one. One with better memories.”
“It’s not that. The ring is beautiful.”
