a man of his choosing. He’s made it incredibly clear that if things don’t go the way he wants, if Zane tries to interfere, he’ll retaliate. My mind is spinning.
He thinks he can control me, make choices for me, but he doesn’t even know who I am. I’m going to have to play by his rules until I come up with a plan, but the second I figure something out, I’m gone.
When we reach the bedroom and walk inside, Zane closes the bedroom door behind us, flicking the lock into place. A gasp escapes my lips when I’m pinned to the nearest wall. Lifting my head, my gaze collides with his. Fiery rage flickers deep in those depths. I can see his pain, feel his rage as he lifts his hand, and gently strokes my cheek.
“All I could think about while we were down there was how he planned to marry you off to another man, and how I will do everything in my power to stop him from doing so.” His teeth are clenched so tightly the words come out clipped. “I can’t let him take you from me. I didn’t do everything I’ve done, fight tooth and nail, barter, and beg to get you back, only to have you given to another man.”
The pain and anguish in his voice feel like a dull butter knife cutting through my flesh. Placing my hands against his chest, I fist the fabric and tug him closer. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not marrying anyone. All he’s trying to do is get you to react. You should know, I won’t just do what I’m told.”
A hint of a smile creeps onto his lips. “Oh, I know you don’t do what you’re told, but that’s with me. How do I know you won’t bend to his will if he threatens me, if he tries to hurt me or someone else you care about? I won’t put you through that. You aren’t any safer here than you were with Christian or Xander. We’re leaving, and we’re doing it tonight.”
Swallowing around the thick knot that’s formed in my throat, I ask, “Tonight?”
“Yes, tonight. We aren’t staying here another night.” I’m not sure we should try an escape so soon.
Part of me thinks Matteo will expect it, but part of me feels that if I tell Zane we can’t leave yet, he’ll think I want to stay when really I want to put as much distance between us and this house of terror as I can.
Ghosting his lips against my forehead, he pulls back and walks over to the window. He pulls the curtain back and peers outside. Slivers of sunlight enter the room but disappear when he lets the curtain fall closed. Turning back toward me, determination oozes from his pores. His gaze is hard, and I know there isn’t any point in trying to sway him.
“We’ll spend the day biding our time. Come nightfall, we’ll leave.”
“Okay.” I nod. I don’t tell him how nervous I am, or that I feel like something bad is going to happen. It’s probably nothing. Or at least, I hope it isn’t.
By the time night falls, I’m a nervous wreck, but Zane has shot down any of my reasonings. I tried my best to talk him out of this, but nothing has worked.
“It’s time,” Zane says, tugging me to the door. “Remember, stay behind me.”
I nod and follow behind him as he steps out of the room. We find the hallway quiet and empty, but we both know that Matteo’s guards are around here somewhere. I haven’t noticed any cameras inside this place, but that doesn’t mean there are none. Maybe he’s just good at hiding them. We have to be fast and precise because we’ll likely only get one shot at this.
On light feet, we walk down the hall, about halfway down the stairs, we catch sight of one of the guards. Luckily, he is facing away from us, so we have the element of surprise going for us. Silently and fast as lightning Zane rushes toward him.
The guard doesn’t see us coming, and Zane has an arm wrapped around his throat, squeezing the life out of him before he can make a single sound.
Shocked, I watch as Zane with nothing but a void expression in his eyes, chokes the man to death. I watch as he struggles until his body slowly sags to the floor. Strangely, I know I should feel some type of remorse, feel