Why was he doing this? It didn’t make sense. We’d never lost a child. His sister had. I thanked God every day that I never conceived with Marco. Why lie and pretend it was with me?
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Sympathy appeared on Gaige’s face and I couldn’t tell if it was genuine or not. It appeared so, but nothing about seeing him again made sense. He wasn’t even going by his own name.
Marco let go and my head rose the moment I was free of his touch. Unfortunately, his arm came back around me. “No need to apologize.” I stood a little taller, knowing that what I was about to say was going to get me in more trouble than I’d ever been in. Especially on top of shaking Gaige’s hand. “Marco’s overprotective of me. It wasn’t our baby. We don’t have any kids. I think he meant his sister’s son. Sometimes his English isn’t all that perfect.”
Gaige’s head tilted. “Oh, I see. I’m sorry for her loss.”
“Yes, we’re all sorry. I must have gotten the words confused.” My husband’s fingers clutched into my bicep. They squeezed so hard there were going to be bruises appearing before the hour was out. I bit my lip, breathing heavily through it. A sound escaped just as he began to ease up. “Are you okay?” Marco leaned over peering into my face. The look he gave me was pure evil and my breath caught. “You’re not having those stomach pains again, are you?”
It was over. I knew what he meant by that.
“I think I may be okay,” I whispered.
“No,” he said, shaking his head, slowly. “I can tell you’re not.” Marco turned to Gaige. “Please excuse us. My wife is getting over a stomach flu and although I tried to keep her upstairs to rest, she insisted she join the party. She’s obviously not feeling very well. I’m just going to go upstairs for a few minutes and put her to bed. Feel free to help yourself to the refreshments.”
I locked stares with Gaige, pleading to him with my eyes. All I got in return was dismissal.
“I will, thank you. I hope your wife feels better soon.” He spun around and was gone before Marco could even tell him thank you.
The grip tightened as he led me up the stairs. Not one word was spoken as we entered the long hallway and headed for the bedroom. The need to apologize wasn’t present. Only anger. Seeing Gaige sparked a flame deep inside. My strength to fight renewed and I weighed whether I should even go back inside that room. What if he didn’t come back? What if he thought I chose this life?
My feet tried to plant to the floor, but slid against the tile. “Wait,” I gritted through my teeth. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Don’t make me go back in there. I want to finish the party. I promise not to say anything else.”
His palm flattened on my back, shoving me forward with enough force to almost make me fall. “Keep going.”
I turned around, facing him head on. “No. I want to go back downstairs.” My chest hurt at how fast my heart was racing.
“Get your ass moving.” He stood still, waiting for me to make the decision on my own. Repeatedly, he balled up his fists. Desperation had me moving off to the side, but closer to him.
“I want to go back downstairs. Please.”
Marco’s eyes followed me, his lids lowering more with each step I took.
“I’ve been in the room for days. You have my word I won’t act up again. I’ll do anything.”
“You defy my orders?” He took a step forward. “A good wife doesn’t disobey, Elizabeth.”
Elle, I wanted to scream. Elizabeth was not my name. “I’ll be the best wife you could ever imagine if you allow me to go back with you.” Instead of moving past him, I walked closer, swaying my hips, knowing his one weakness was what he loved to do to my body. Not to mention his need to have me by his side while in the presence of others. “I’ve never asked you for anything.”
“You have no right to do so.” His hand flew out and grasped the back of my pinned hair, pulling me forward. A scream almost left my throat but I held it in. “You ruined your chance. You made me look like a fool.” A hard jerk had my head leaning back so I had to look up at him. “Your night is over.”
“No.” I shook my head, the pain tingling down my spine at the tension.
He smiled down, narrowing his eyes. “Oh, yes. You’ll be lucky to move at all when I’m done with you.” His other arm gripped around my lower back, pulling me in until our bodies were molded to each other. I pushed my feet into the tile, trying to break his hold.
“Everything alright there?”
We both froze and turned to look at Gaige standing at the end of the hall.
“Sorry, I was looking for the restroom.”
Marco’s hand eased out of my hair and he put some distance between us, but kept his hold on my shoulder. “Everything is fine. Bathroom is downstairs.” His words were clipped and I scrambled with what I should do. How would I convince Gaige that I needed to be set free? That I didn’t want this? Did he know? Would he even care?
Panic started to set in as he took a step back. He was still watching. Almost…waiting. Before I knew what I was doing, my eyes closed and I leaned forward, pretending to pass out. It took everything I had not to let my body tense. The floor connected with my head, hard enough to send lights flashing before my eyes. Pain was good, though. If Gaige saw me hurt, he’d hopefully stay long enough to see me get help.
“Elizabeth.” Marco’s tone may have sounded sincere, but I heard the anger woven into the name.
Footsteps pounded in the distance and I tried my best to keep my eyes relaxed and not move.
“Shit. You weren’t kidding about her being sick.” Gaige’s voice was close. Right over me from the sounds of it.
“No, of course not,” Marco snapped. “She’ll be okay. I just need to get her into bed. I’ll call the doctor to come take a look at her.”
“Here, let me help. Which room is it? I’ll open the door.”
I was lifted and Marco’s cologne swept over me. Fuck, I had to think.
“Last door. If you could just open it, that should be good. I can take it from there.”
A click echoed and I moaned, more playing the part, but also because of the throb that had settled in. My lids opened just as we swept through. Gaige was inside, but still holding to the door. Our eyes connected and I shook my head, still silently pleading to him with everything I had.
“Shh,” Marco whispered, looking down. “You’re okay, you just passed out. We’re going to get you all better.”
Flashbacks of the times I’d been hit before rolled through. What I’d said during the episodes weren’t quite clear, but I knew it was gibberish. Yes…
“I want to go home,” I pleaded to Marco, putting all my attention into him. “Take me home, please. I don’t want to be here anymore,” I sobbed. “Please,” I said, louder.
We leaned down as he yanked the comforter back. “You must have hit your head pretty hard, mi amour. You are home.”
“No.” The tears were really coming. My years of keeping everything pent up were flooding out now that I knew Gaige was here. As long as I didn’t implicate him in any way, I knew he’d be fine. “This isn’t my home. I live at 242 Oakwood Drive. 242 Oakwood Drive,” I repeated. “That’s my home. That’s where I live. Where I was happy.”
Marco laughed. “That was our old address, Elizabeth. We don’t live there anymore. This is our new home, now lie back while I call the doctor.”
I obeyed, content that Gaige would know he was lying. After all, Marco obviously didn’t live on our old road.
“I think she might have a concussion. People are known to get confused when they have one. She’ll probably be repeating nonsense for the next few hours. Nothing to concern yourself with. My brother used to get them all the time. Kept saying the same stuff over and over.” Gaige walked in closer, his eyes studying my every move. Marco glanced back at him.
“You’re probably right. I’ll just get her a pain killer and put her to bed. You can go back downstairs. I’ll be there shortly.”
His
hesitation was clear. I glanced at Marco, his back still to me, and mouthed the words, help me. The look I got, I couldn’t read. Gaige’s jaw clenched and his eyes lowered.
“Will you take me home?” Another sob left me as Gaige looked back up. “I want to go home.”
Those blue eyes appeared to turn dark and the look he cast chilled me to the bone. “You are home, Elizabeth. Lay back and get some rest. You’ll be better in the morning.” He looked over at Marco. “Definite concussion, but don’t look so upset, she’ll be okay. Just give it a few hours.”
“I love my wife. Sorry, it just kills me to see her this way.”
Gaige smiled. “I can tell. I’m sure she’ll be fine, really. Why don’t you take care of her and then join us back downstairs. I think we can come up with a deal. I have an offer I’m hoping you’ll be excited to hear.” He looked back down at me, the upturn of his lips still present. “Goodnight, Elizabeth.” With that, he disappeared from the room. My mouth parted, shock and terror inching their way through every inch of my being at his callousness. As my eyes rose to Marco’s, I cried harder.
I was doomed, destined to die in this house. Carson, the man I’d loved was dead because of me. His brother, the only person that would ever have the opportunity to save me, wasn’t going to for reasons of his own. Reasons I couldn’t think about. I had nothing left. Nothing to keep going for. So what did I have to lose? For the first time, I met Marco with a defiant stare. If he wanted to fight, I was game, and this time, he wasn’t going to get away unscathed.
Chapter 3
Gaige
Half an hour dragged out longer than any time I could ever remember in my life. Seeing Elle again after all these years left me dumbfounded. My mind reeled for sanity to sink in, yet I almost couldn’t believe what I’d witnessed.
The stick figure girl I once knew wasn’t a girl anymore. She was a woman. And one of the most beautiful I’d ever seen, with curves a man would kill for. I would kill for…The big glasses were also gone, exposing her beautiful face. I couldn’t believe it. She was alive. Well. And married to a fucking criminal.
My fists clenched in my lap and I forced them open, trying my best to keep it together. Marco eased into his chair in front of me and glanced down the long table at everyone who had sat down. The help me replayed in my head, but I pushed it away. Instead, years of my twisted fantasies blinded me no matter how much I tried deny them. The ones Elle starred in, and paid for my brother’s death. I could hurt her. Really fucking hurt her like I’d always wanted.
“I’m sorry about that. My wife wasn’t feeling so well. She’s resting in bed now so everything is fine.” The guests nodded, going back to their conversations. A line of men and women came out, holding trays full of food. While each one was placed in center of the table, I kept my eyes on Marco. He reached forward, grabbing the wine glass from the center of the table. My chest locked up at the cut on his knuckles. It looked fresh. Had that been there before?
“She’s all better?” I followed suit, taking a drink of the wine that was before me.
“Oh, yes. Sleeping like a baby.” A smile came to his face as his eyes rose up and to the left. I’d had enough training to know he was thinking back on something, and the micro expressions he’d displayed before he’d smiled threw red flags. I wasn’t even going to give thought as to what I picked up from Elle; her words, her pleas in every form. Help Me. What kind of man was I that I got hard at both her plea and the memory of it?
The wine disappeared from my glass in one swallow and I placed it down.
“Let’s eat and then we’ll move into the study to discuss business afterward.”
There was a certain lightness in Marco’s tone. A pleased satisfaction I didn’t like. When I’d come into the hall to see the way he was holding her…I was torn between whether it was passionate or not. His body language almost appeared so. But hers, not. It was the main reason I’d spoken up. It was either that, or fly down the hall and snap his neck for having his hands on her. I hated it. Hated that I wanted to protect her when she’d been the cause of my brother’s death. Maybe I could have forgiven her had I found her in a bad situation, but this…no, she was living the high life. She deserved to suffer. I could make her.
My stare rose to Marco, the scene of seeing my brother’s body replaying in my head. Had he been the one to kill Carson? I could almost bet my life on it. “I’m quite taken by the love you have for your wife. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people connect as well as the two of you. How did you both meet?”
Nothing. He was unreadable as he reached forward and took a slice of tenderloin from the large platter. “I saw her in a library, of all things. I was going in and she was coming out. We literally ran into each other and I helped her pick up her books. We were quite young then. Well, she was. I was twenty-two. Anyway, we didn’t talk, that time. It was later when I happened to see her again. I remembered her, and well, the rest is history.”
“You said earlier that the moment you looked into her eyes, you knew she was the one. That’s very powerful.”
Marco laughed and I took my turn pulling the meat from the platter.
“Her eyes are the most amazing shade of blue-green. I was lost when I saw them up close. They change color, you know. When she’s upset or angry. Especially when she cries. They almost glow, they’re so bright.” His tone reflected that strange, pleased satisfaction. It struck a chord in me.
I paused at putting the slice down on my plate. All negative terms. Not when she was happy or excited, but mad or crying.
“I once knew a girl whose eyes changed like that. Not the same color as your wife’s but more blue. It was amazing to see.” Lie, but he wouldn’t know. I just didn’t want him to get off the topic of Elle. Answers were what I needed.
“Yes, it is. She used to wear these glasses. Horrible things. I couldn’t stand them. It took a few years, but I finally got her vision corrected. Poor thing. She was a nervous wreck, but she pulled through okay.”
Screw her vision. How did they really meet? What was their relationship? Was it real or a cover? Fuck, I couldn’t stand not knowing the entire truth. But what was worse was that I even cared. I should leave her here to rot until they were all carted away for their crimes.
Marco scooped sides onto his plate. The buzz of voices down the table was a constant hum, but I focused more on what I could say to get him to continue talking. Which was exactly the wrong topic. I needed intel on his dealings, not his wife.
“I met this girl while I was in Europe. Not very beautiful, but there was just something about her. Probably my biggest regret. I never went and spoke to her. All we had was a look from across the room. Your relationship reminds me of that moment.”
Marco swallowed his bite. “You should have talked to her. If I’ve learned one thing in life, it’s to go after what you want, no matter the price. Regrets come and go, but what you have to show for your troubles is usually more than what it costs to get there.”
My hand lifted, gesturing around the room. “Great advice. It appears what you say is the truth.”
“From what I hear, you’re not so bad off yourself.”
I shrugged. “Never had a problem making my business life thriving, it’s my personal life that needs a life vest.”
The corner of his lips pulled back. “Opposite with me. I never looked out for the future until Elizabeth. I wanted what was best for her. With her by my side, I knew I could conquer anything.” His eyebrows drew in for the briefest moment. So…things hadn’t played out in that department for him. He may have success, now, but not when it came to Elle. Somehow, I knew that.
“Maybe you can teach me your secrets,” I said, gathering a big bite. “I sure as hell could use them.”
Marco’s eyes connected with mine, something flashing in the dark orbs. “Some secrets are worth sharing. Let’s see how things go.”
I nodded, keeping silent. I knew when I was pushing it, and any more would be an overkill. I�
��d let him soak in what we’d discussed. Maybe he’d get the impression that I was just a lonely, desperate guy in need of some feminine attention.
The dinner dragged on and I forced maybe half of it down. I’d been starving when I’d walked through the doors. The smell of the rich aromas had left my mouth watering, but seeing Elle, listening to her beg to come home, hearing Marco lie about living at her childhood address…he’d fucking taken her, and killed Carson. It was as clear as day, even if I didn’t want to believe it.
Marco stood and the rest of us followed suit. As we walked past the stairs, my eyes drifted to the top. How was Elle? Was she still crying? Hurting from her injury? Or was she truly asleep?
My legs slowed and I fought the urge to head back. I knew I couldn’t. A huge specimen of a man, nothing more than a thug in a suit, stood by the front door and watched while we all filed down a long hallway. The grandeur of the room we entered surprised me. A large crystal chandelier hung overhead and a two level library surrounded us. A desk rested in the middle, multiple chairs and settees surrounding it. Did this guy hold meetings or parties on a regular basis? Of course, it could all be for show. A rare occurrence like the situation he was in now.
My mind began churning, taking in everything I had learned since I’d been here. Although the men didn’t have guns visible, I knew they were carrying. I’d been patted down, rather poorly, but I didn’t doubt they did this to everyone who entered. They came and went, but were always watching. It wouldn’t be easy to slip past them. They weren’t specially trained from what I could gather, but they gave off a lethal vibe anyway. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Marco definitely had something going on.
“Okay, gentlemen. We all know why you’re here. I’m trying to decide whether I want to franchise into the States and I’m interested in what you all have to offer. Only one of you will be chosen, and no deal will be made tonight. I want to weigh the options, get to know you better. Then we’ll go from there.”
Gaige Page 3
