made me look like Ramon’s ideal version of his wife who was obedient and boring.
I moved to the mirror, brushing my hair and putting on a little makeup, sure he would demand it of me anyway. I noticed the clothes covered most of my scars and I left a few buttons open at my neck in defiance, showing off a crescent shaped scar on my collarbone.
I headed out the door and Ramon did up his suit jacket as he swept his gaze over me analytically. He moved forward, instantly buttoning the top of my shirt before cupping my cheek and smiling.
“Beautiful.” He took my arm and guided me down the hall, the heels he’d picked out for me pinching my toes. “This trip will be quick. There and back. If you cause a scene or try to run, I will not take you out of the house again and you will be punished. Understood?”
I nodded, not looking at him, my jaw tightening. If I had a chance to run today, he better believe I was gonna take it.
He led me into his Rolls Royce out on the drive and an entourage of guards followed in more cars as we exited the property, sailing into Sinners Bay.
“Dr Ramsey says you’re not making any progress,” Ramon commented after a while. “You must try harder. Then things can go back to normal.”
I kept my gaze on the window, pointedly ignoring him.
“You must remember some things,” he muttered angrily. “Like the day I proposed. I took you to the La Petite Fleur, got down on one knee in front of the whole restaurant. You smiled so bright…I’ll never forget it, my darling.”
I pressed my lips together and shrugged, my mind blank on that memory and I was glad of it.
“For fuck’s sake,” he growled.
We made it to the centre of town and I gazed out at the busy streets, wondering what would happen if I started screaming for help. But my voice was locked up tight today and I wasn’t sure I could force it to work enough to speak to strangers.
Carlos opened Ramon’s door to let him out and my husband pulled me after him, keeping me close. I looked to the people on the street, trying to catch someone’s eye but everyone was in commute mode, heading to work, their eyes on their phones or directed straight ahead. As a man half jogged past us, I opened my mouth but only a hoarse noise came out.
“You can’t even speak to me, of course you cannot speak to anyone else,” Ramon said in a low growl as he pulled me along.
Carlos hounded me so closely that he was practically breathing down my neck and I shot him a glare over my shoulder. One he returned, his beady brown eyes becoming even beadier.
Ramon led me up the steps through a rotating glass door into the bank and a flicker of some memory passed through my mind. I’d been here before, I was sure of it.
He led me to the front desk, but before we got there, a Chinese man with wispy hair came rushing towards us. “Good morning, Mr Hernandez. We have everything organised, follow me this way.”
We were led upstairs into a fancy office with leather chairs and abstract paintings on the wall. Ramon kept my hand in his as we dropped down into two seats opposite the man and Carlos stood right behind me like a dragon guarding its treasure.
“Can I just say, we here at Squire’s Bank are so, so pleased to see your wife has been found safe and sound,” he said, bowing his head to Ramon then me.
“Thank you, Lin,” Ramon said politely. “Now, onto business?”
“Yes of course.” Lin took some papers from his drawer and pushed them towards Ramon. “I just need your signature, here and here.” He pointed with his pen. “Then the funds will be released for you.”
“I want half in small bills,” Ramon growled.
“Yes, we have prepared it for you as requested.” Lin bowed his head again.
Ramon signed his name then pushed the papers back towards him.
“Wonderful, and you would also like to empty a couple of safety deposit boxes today, yes?” Lin asked.
“That’s right,” Ramon said. “I’ll empty box eighty eight and box three fifteen.”
“No problem.” Lin started tapping something on his iPad. “I’ll get the code for box eighty eight first.”
He slid the iPad over to Ramon who typed some numbers in then passed it back to Lin.