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But my plans of escaping were being challenged by the weather.
Even though it wasn’t snowing, it was clear it’d snowed in a recent time. The ground was covered in a white, fluffy, nature carpet, which would only serve to slow me down and give away where I was running to. I had no options, though. I had to get out of there.
He kept pulling my hair to move me along into what could only be called a haunted mansion. The place seemed to have been imposing and beautiful at one point. Many, many, many years ago.
But right then, showcasing only the structure of its once opulence, the place looked like death and smelled like doom.
“Pretty, right? This is where it all began for my family. We’re going to have so much fun in here.” He smirked, once again making me shiver. “Well, me more than you.” He caressed my cheek with his free hand, and I had to contain the urge to throw up. “You’re very privileged. You’re the first guest at my celebration.” He looked me up and down leisurely. “Maybe we should get you more comfortable.”
Coming up with strength out of thin air, I spit on his face. “You’re more stupid than I thought if you believe you’re getting away with this. Danny and the others are coming for you.”
His grip on my hair tightened, forcing my head back, and I whimpered in pain as he cleaned his cheek. “Then we better hurry up. Although, them being here is actually a good thing. They’ll be my guests of honor. It wouldn’tbe the same without them.” Without any warning, he backslapped me so strongly that I tasted blood, just like the first time we met. He grabbed my face, tightening his grip on my jaw. “This is for your disrespect. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
He forced me inside, and my desperation grew. With each step into the house of horrors, my chances of getting out decreased.
“We need to get you ready. You have to be presentable for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I hated that my voice sounded weak.
“My coronation. I’m bringing one of your people today—you—and soon I’ll have the others who keep poking their noses where they don’t belong. That’s all I’m required for my christening. Better their blood than mine.” Fisting my hair again, he touched my face in what he probably assumed was a caress. “My boss has the first round, of course. But I can’t wait to have my way with you. And what kind of host would I be if I didn’t share? I hope you’re ready to work.” His laugh, just like his words, was making me nauseous. “I just wish Delgado was here to watch it.”
I wanted to scream, but that wouldn’t do me any good. I needed to stay sharp and rational. There’d have to be a way out of that nightmare.
He pulled me to what seemed to have been a huge living room, the kind where rich people threw cocktail parties and such. Built in an oval shape, the room was open and intimidating. All the once fancy furniture and decorations were strategically facing a flight of stairs that led to a gallery that surrounded the area with an intricate alabaster railing.
From what my eyes could reach, the space upstairs was lined with many other rooms and another flight of stairs leading to a second gallery. The space was a maze. And I was the mouse trying to get out.
My best chance to escape was to do it while Matias and I were alone. And since I didn’t know when his accomplices would arrive, I had no time to waste.
He turned his back to me, trying to light up the fireplace. No amount of heat would be enough to warm the death out of that place. From the smell of gas coming from it, maybe we’d be all dead by the time his people came—that’d be better than his plans for me.
Taking advantage of his distraction, and of my hands being tied at the front of my body, as silently as I could, I grabbed the fire iron he placed by his side. Mustering all my strength, I swung the poker and hit his head.
Then I ran.
My head start was short-lived, though. Roaring in ire, Matias ran after me as I tried to find a way out of that trap. I forced my legs faster, welcoming the adrenaline surging through me. But my will to live wasn’t enough.
Because his will to kill was just as strong.
Grabbing the back of my collar and a chunk of my hair, Matias pulled me to him, making me choke. “You’re going to pay for this,hija de puta.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
The night was already falling, and so far, we had no idea where Matias had taken Lisa.
I was reaching my limit of patience and self-control. I felt like a beast was trying to break free from inside me, and I was willing to let it. I wanted to destroy, to cause pain.
We organized to have Haley stay safely with Mia’s parents, and Aaron arrived shortly after I learned Matias had bested us. We still didn’t know how that had happened, but knowing the man who was supposed to protect her was dead on my doorstep didn’t leave much to the imagination. My only doubt was if the man was a friend or a foe. That answer could wait, though.
If that wasn’t enough, knowing the next day would complete one year without Zach wasn’t helping our mood. Instead of distracting us, having Lisa kidnapped seemed like a slap of reminder on our faces. A bad omen for an already horrible day.
They’d attacked us exactly one year before, and we’d lost more than we were ready for. Were we about to lose another one the same way? On the same day?
Just like the previous time, the weather wasn’t on our side. But instead of raining like the year before, it was snowing. Once again, Mother Nature was making sure we knew we had no control over anything. I used to respect her. But at that moment, I just wanted the witch to give me a break.
Aaron entered my office for the umpteenth time. The four of us were agitated like ants before a storm, trying to pull answers out of nowhere. Addressing Mia, he said, “Your call was right. Pablo Salazar tried to escape prison this morning. Good thing I’d pulled some strings to increase security over him.”
“Why would he try to get out now?” she wondered.
