Page 12 of Stolen By the Enemy

He wants to keep me in here, and he clearly wants me alive, so I figure that I’m here as collateral against my family.

This doesn’t make a ton of sense, though, because of the money that Marco knows my brothers are about to make on this deal with his people.

I remember that Carlos and Marco are cousins. In fact, when I met Marco after landing in Mexico, it seemed like the two were more like brothers.

So why would Marco be trying to sabotage the deal when he would also be benefiting from it going well?

I know that Marco’s parents died when he was still very young, and Carlos’ family took him in.

They are also close in age, so from our brief discussions, it seemed like Marco both loves and respects Carlos.

And Carlos has always taken care of his cousin. So why would Marco be trying to sabotage this deal by going against my brothers?

The fact that we both became orphans at such a young age really bonded Marco and I when we first met.

We didn’t even spend that long in each other’s company, but in that short time, we managed to find out about all the things that we had in common.

His pain at losing his own family was more intense than mine, however, because I still have my brothers, and I had my Nonna. He was all alone, save for his cousins.

Having no siblings, and then losing both of your parents in one day, would be devastating to anyone, but especially a child.

I couldn’t admit it then, but now that I think about it, there was a sort of injured puppy element to this man that made me warm up to him.

Which was clearly a mistake. He is obviously as calculated as all the men in my life.

I feel used and dirty.

Marco is nowhere to be seen, but he did leave me a whole welcome basket.

He’s too kind—leaving his prisoner some fruit and snacks so that she doesn’t get too hungry.

At least my sarcasm is still intact. For now. It’s the only protection I have against my wounded pride and hurt feelings.

The fact that Marco hasn’t hurt me yet should be good news, but I can’t help but wonder if I’m in more danger right now than I realize.

If he wanted to hold me for a sizeable ransom, couldn’t he have done that in the US?

Here, we can’t get the police involved, and most of our family’s associates will refuse to mess with the cartel, so there’s very little chance of me getting out of this situation completely unscathed.

I can already hear my brothers lecturing me on why we don’t get drunk, make out with a sexy Mexican, and let them kidnap us and take us all the way to Mexico.

They haven’t had to do much lecturing in the past, as I’m usually the smart one in our trio, but things at the wedding just got so out of hand.

I plop down onto a soft chair and roll my eyes at myself.

Just three days ago, I was living my life and free.

Now I’m stuck in this house, and I have no idea what’s going to happen to me.

How did I get myself into this mess?

Can I really not handle my alcohol at all? Am I that attracted to all the wrong men?

But I admit to myself that there is something different about Marco. He makes me think that he has a softer side—that he might actually have a good heart.

I frown at this thought. I know how unlikely that is. Most of the men I know, including my brothers, don’t have many scruples about doing bad things.

Honestly, the fact that my brothers haven’t contacted Marco to find out where I am says a lot about what I can expect from all of the men involved in this situation.

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